Hold that Pose, Please

Katie and Zoe with my Zoe Painting

For the last 15 years I taught young artists in Ranney how to create an old fashioned selfie. We worked on circle portraits, Mona Lisa inspired selfies, Andy Warhol style portraits, paintings of portraits, drawings of portraits, photo manipulations of portraits and even iPad portraits. The smiling faces of our self portraits filled the gallery at school every fall and welcomed everyone to art.

At home, I have the pleasure of being greeted by the smiling faces of my canine subjects, their gaze captured forever in an inquisitive pose on the surface of my canvas. To date, I have completed seven dog portraits, and each one was a joy to bring to life. With each portrait, I learned something more about art, about painting, and about the unconditional love of an animal. I must have learned a thing or two with Zoe's painting above. When Katie tore off the wrapping paper from this gift, she began to cry and the dog started barking franticly at her image. I love that memory. I got something right.

Norman with Babs

Babs' painting was done many years ago as a Father's Day present for Norman. It was a photo that I was playing around with on the computer and loved the Andy Warhol look of the image I manipulated. Beautiful picture of my husband. Babs is a large canvas and hangs in my kitchen.

Dave the Dog

Dave the Dog was painted by request as a present for Erin's graduation. The chair gave me the most challenge but was fun to paint. I love the side of the big beagle mouth collapsed on the arm of the wicker chair. Great dog, great personality. King Dave.

Tattoo (also known as Queenie)

Tattoo was painted for Anthony at school. She was his son's dog that had recently passed away. I grumbled over painting the silly tiara over her head but when you do a commission for someone else, you give them what they ask for. Anthony never paid me for my services but he took care of my maintenance needs at school so I think it was a fair trade at the time.

Hannah Banana

Hannah was my precious puppy. She was born in our house and was the cutest, most affectionate of all of Babs' puppies. She lived over 16 years and survived a lot, including the loss of her mother and the loss of an eye. This painting was completed just before the end of her life and shows her on the deck looking up at me (with two good eyes). The wood grain was a delight to paint as I love realism and fine detail work. But painting Hannah was the epitome of all paintings for me. She came to life on the canvas. When I saw her expression in my brush strokes and when the fur felt so real to me that I could almost reach into the canvas and hold her soft body, I knew I captured her.

Zoe

Zoe is Katie's rescue pup. As a photographer, Katie was posting many great shots of this adorable pup and I had my choice of inspiration for this canvas. Zoe was painted in my new art studio at home and after completing her in record time, in a space I loved, I knew I had to figure out how I could retire this year and do this full time.

Harley

Harley was Pat's request for Matthew's 30th birthday. This white fluffy dog made a post on Instagram after she was complete and the post completely ruined the surprise for Matthew (not aware that he was following me!). Of all my social media fans, though, I was most thrilled that Daddy liked this painting. I am 61 years old and I still look for approval from my father. He always will be my creative mentor and the greatest artist I know.

Princess

And finally there is Princess (what else would you name a poodle with pink undertones beneath her curly, white fur?). She was another request from Anthony at school. Anthony came to my art room with news that his mother-in-law's poodle died. So did Hannah. They passed away the same week and we were both in tears. I am still not sure if he will pay me for this one, but how could I refuse to paint her? We both love dogs. Princess was the first painting I completed as a retired lady. With time to kill, it only took days to do, not months of it sitting on my easel.

I don't just paint dogs, and in fact, some of my favorite paintings do not have any fur at all. Dog portraits have just been a theme for me lately. The first painting I get paid for, though, will be something to celebrate. So what's next?

I am a retired art teacher

This is what Day 5 of retired life looks like. I am sitting in the den going through bags of stuff I brought home from Ranney. Some of the toiletries have been in my desk at school for 15 years. Do you think the Aleeve is still potent or the bandaids still stick? I am breezing through papers, cards and notes written by students, teachers and parents. Some of the letters make me smile, and almost all of them bring tears over memories that touch me deeply. I am anxious and uncertain of my future, leaving a job I was really proud of having. I had no business being a teacher without an education degree, but I think it was good to be an artist first. The kids got that and respected me for that, right from the start. They happily embarked on a long journey with me as we learned how to explore and create art together. What I could paint or draw, they learned how to paint or draw. My passion for children's book illustration, art history, technology in the arts, and applying paint on a blank canvas was never questioned.

Next to me on the computer desk, is a bear dressed up as an artist. This bear was made for me during my first year at school as a thank you for painting the scenery for the Lower School musical. I must have made an impression on the staff for the principal's secretary to create something so special. And after they saw the work I was doing with the kids, they asked maintenance to hang another bulletin board in the hallway, just so I had another place to display artwork. Everyone gave me the freedom to figure out how to teach and what to teach and they rewarded me with awards for teaching excellence. As I left Ranney School, I was proud to say I was an art teacher. I said goodbye to close friends in the faculty and the most adorable young artists who loved art class.

Six days ago, I lost my identity as an art teacher. It was my choice to stop and even as I know I was ready and it was the right decision for me, it still hurts. What will life look like now?