The Problem With Dogs

A Disclaimer: Before I start, let me just say, the above title may be misleading. I, personally, have no problem with dogs. However, I cannot speak for any rabbits or cats who may or may not be in the room, and who may or may not approve (to use Cinnamon's word) of dogs.

That being said, I would like to clarify that my problem with dogs is simply that painting them and drawing them can rather stymie me.

I love dogs. Big, small, whatever.

The thing is, I've never had a dog.

I did once exist in the same space with a dog, I think, when I was first born. I seem to recall seeing some pictures of me as a very cute (of course!) baby pulling all the canned goods out of the cupboard to build a fort, and there in the background of the picture is a black dog.

But, it was so early on that my psyche has no recollection of ever "having a dog."

Baby Yard Rabbit is fine with no dog!

Baby Rabbit update:

Baby Rabbit is growing and doing fine.
Liking the dogless yard.

Someday, I hope to maybe have a dog. Who knows?

But, presently dogless, here's the problem for me: Not having had a dog makes it challenging to draw and paint them. It's as if I don't know their ins and outs, you know?

A cat? Easy. I have had so many cats in my life that I could draw their sweet little faces in my sleep.

A rabbit? Now that I've had Miss Zoe for 5 years and have spent hours of each and every one of those wonderful days of those years playing with her and staring at her cute face and body while she does, well-- everything, the same thing goes for rabbits. Could draw them in my sleep.

Me with the Sweet Miss Zoe.

Look at Miss Emmie's sweet Cat Face!

I say all this ("There," you're thinking. "She's FINALLY getting to the point!") because I recently got a commission to paint a dog, and every time I get a commission to paint a dog, it's the same. It's as though my muscles have forgotten the dog shape. Their eyes, their noses. I have to relearn it every time.

For this one commission, I have gone through, like, a dozen incarnations of the dog's face, trying to get it right, trying to get the eyes just right.

You have to get the eyes right.

Anyhow, just thought I'd share my recent art trials and tribulations. If you dog people out there have any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them. What makes a dog face a dog face?

That last sentence made Miss Zoe laugh. She is rolling around on the floor saying "Dog Face! Ha, ha, ha!" right now. Funny bunny.

Miss Zoe is not at all interested in hearing your dog comments, so send those to me.

When I do finally get that dog done, I'll post a picture. Hopefully, that will be soon.

Also coming soon: The Wee!Art Contest Winners.

Stay Tuned. Same Rabbit Time. Same Rabbit Channel.

Flip Friday

It's been quite a week here in the Rabbit Room.

The windows have been open.

Contest Winners have been chosen.

Not one, but TWO willow balls have been eaten. Completely. No pieces left for Miss Lilly to play with, even. (And, she is disappointed by that, I am sure.)

And, of course... it's Friday.

"Isn't it time to celebrate with a Rabbit Video?" Zoe says as she hops to the hay box. "Oh, and I guess you could show one of the cat, too." (Munch, munch, munch) "If you have to," she adds.

And so, here you go.

First, a Cat Movie:



And now, starring Miss Zoe:



ENJOY!! And, happy Friday.

Wee!Art Original Pet Portrait Giveaway

The Time has come!!

It's the Moment you've been waiting for.

Well, maybe not the moment in the Grand Scheme, but it's a a pretty good moment. You have to admit that.

What is this moment all about, you ask? Why should you be SO EXCITED?!? It's time for Miss Zoe and I to announce the Winners of the Wee!Art Pet Portrait Giveaway!!

But then, you knew that, right?

Right now, Miss Zoe is resting from the harrowing work of nosing her way through many little folded up pieces of paper to pick the Winners.

Miss Zoe rests in her sunspot.
Please, she doesn't wish to be bothered just now.

But, since you weren't here for the actual event, let's rewind and view a pictorial representation of the choosing process.

Assessing the competition...

Nosing through...

Choosing Winner #1
(this paper went all the way in her mouth--
you can barely see it sticking out.
And, yes, she got it pretty gooey.)

And, Winner #2
(she took Winner #2 away to a more
remote location, but #2 didn't get so gooey!)

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Luckily Miss Zoe didn't munch them
so much that they were unreadable!

Kavindra's Wee!Art Pet Portrait will feature none other than her wonderful cat, Lucy. (By the way Lucy, I think everyone misses the litterbox once in awhile!)

Ash's Wee!Art Pet Portrait will feature not her own animal companion, but another animal who was special-- a poodle named Dexter who belonged to her voice teacher.

Kavindra and Ash, please send pictures of your Animals and your mailing addresses to Miss Zoe and me at zoejobie(at)gmail(dot)com.

Many thanks to all those who sent their stories in for the contest. We have to admit, many of them were so sweet, they made us cry. Though, even if pressed, Miss Zoe will not admit that.

Oh, and Kavindra, Miss Zoe says to feel free to send that yummy carrot you promised. She'll be waiting...

Flip Friday!

Yes, it's that time again!!

FLIP FRIDAY!!

Zoe would like to thank all of you who have participated in her (and MY!!)

Wee!Art Pet Portrait Giveaway!!

She has been especially fond of all the nice comments she has received about... well... herself.

Seriously, you have been too kind!!

"No, they haven't!" Miss Zoe just threw over her shoulder on her way to the hay box. "I think they've been just right."

OK, well, be that as it may, Miss Zoe and I are offering up a couple of great movies this week to thank you. These movies capture Zoe in some of her more private moments.

She thinks you deserve that much.

But before we get to today's features, she wants to remind you that there is still time to submit your own Animal Companion Story for the Wee!Art Pet Portrait Giveaway!!

Zoe won't draw the 2 lucky winners' names until

Sunday, May 10th at 5 PM!!

There is still so much time to submit your entry!!

OK, so without any more fanfare, here they are. The Flip Friday Features:

Duck!

Happy Wednesday! Happy Seis de Mayo!

First and foremost, Miss Zoe and I want to thank everyone who has written in to share stories of their most wonderful animal friends. They are all so beautiful!!!

(If you don't know what the heck I am referring to, go here to find out or to read some of the stories.)

Don't forget to submit a story to win your very own original Wee!Art pet portrait!! Miss Zoe will pick two lucky winners on Sunday, May 10th at 5:00 PM.

Secondly, I want to apologize yet again for amateurish production of last week's Flip Friday Zoe movie. Miss Zoe has still not quite forgiven me for messing up the soundtrack.

We did place an order at Sweet Meadow Farm for two bags of her favorite crunchy food, and 14 bags of organic hay, some of which are her favorite Timothy and Herbs Mix, so I'm hoping to be forgiven soon.

At any rate...

...you can see where we are right now. I am, as yet, unforgiven.

As for the title of this post, "Duck!" don't worry that Miss Zoe is going to throw something at you (though rabbits do love to throw things!). It's me she's upset with.

She still likes you.

"Duck!" then, refers to the pictures below, which were sent to me at work from one of my Library co-workers, Mary. Mary is our Branch Coordinator, and was out visiting our branch in Edinboro, when these little friends came to the door:

Apparently, the clerks at this branch turned away from getting library cards, as they could not provide proof of their current address. Sad, really, as the little ones look ready to learn.

"If they're smart," Miss Zoe said when I showed her the pictures and told her the story behind them, "they'll fly over to another branch and try again. Someone else might give in and issue the cards just because the babies are so cute. Ducks!" she sniffed as she hopped back to her hay box. "You just never know with ducks."

Miss Zoe thinks it's just like ducks to try to work the system. I'm not so sure, but since she's grouchy with me, I'm just going to go along with it.

You should, too, if you know what's good for you.

Wee!Art Original Pet Portrait Giveaway

Mammals are pretty darn Important here at the Lilypad.

We currently have four cats in regular Fur Suits and two cats in Sparkle Suits who have moved on from their Fur Suit-life to a Leisurely and Beautiful Life at a place we like to call Sparkle Pond.

Did I forget to mention that we also have a bunny?

Anyhow, one of our Sparkle Cats, Jobie, who left his Fur Suit in January of 2008, left behind
May 1st as the Official Sparkle Jobie Feast Day. May 1 had formerly been his birthday. We keep the day as a Celebration Day in his honor.

He demands it.

A Wee!Art Sparkle Jobie!

So, on Friday, as Blisschick and I were sitting in the rabbit room with Miss Lilly (who is certainly the reincarnation of Jobie without a doubt), Miss Zoe, who was of course also in the room, but who was sitting in her hay box munching, said between bites of chamomile flowers and rose hips, "What are we doing on the Blog to celebrate Jobie's Feast Day?"

Blisschick and I exchanged surprised glances. Not only had Miss Zoe come up with a brilliant idea, she came up with a brilliant idea that didn't involve...well...herself.

A Wee!Art Black Cat with Lotus

That's not to say that Miss Zoe is in any way a self centered bunny.

We'll leave it at that.

The idea we came up with, then, is to offer a Wee!Art Pet Portrait Giveaway.

Here's how you participate: After you finish reading this post and contemplating what a wonderful bunny Miss Zoe is (that's a Very Important Part of the process overall, mind you), after you do that, then write us a couple of sentences about a Fur Companion you had or have that meant or means the World to you.

OK, it doesn't have to be fur. It could be fur, feathered, or scaled. It could even be hairless. I love those hairless cats, don't you?

Anyway, write a comment to Zoe and me describing whoever this is and we will enter you in a drawing to win one of two Wee!Art pet portraits like you see pictured here in this post and at my etsy store Ordinary Enchantment.

Only, it will feature your little critter, whoever it may be.


That's all there is to it!! Write a comment and you're automatically entered in the drawing.

Everyone who enters will have their name written on a slip of paper and Miss Zoe, herself, will choose the winners this coming Sunday, May 10th at 5 PM.

So easy! Miss Zoe is accepting entries starting.....

NOW!!