b'ICONSIDER MYSELFFORTUNATE to spend mytime meeting new dogs andpainting with my own dogsby my side. Beth Whitlow, artist.M Y FIRST OIL PAINTING LESSON was inthe summer of 2010 with Sarah Keathley,who founded the Lemley House Art Guildin Russellville, Arkansas.W HEN IBEGAN PAINTING ,MY HOPE WASthat (fingers crossed)I would be able topaint my dogs, which seemed out of reachat first. My husband had a birthday com-ing up, so as a gift I decided to pushmyself and try to paint our GermanShorthaired Pointer. It turned out okay, sonext I painted our Airedale and white,fluffy dog Penny (with a lot of help fromSarah). I tend to be a visual learner, andthe more I watched my instructor paint,the more I understood about how to laypaint on canvas. This greater level ofunderstanding increased my confidence,and I began producing work that mademe happy.G ROWING UP WE HAD A DOG NAMEDS .She was a nice dog who lovedCRUFFYbeing petted, but she mostly lived outside.I actually didnt realize dogs lived insideuntil I met Josh. His family had a blackLabrador Retriever, Lady, who would sitbetween us on the sofa.M Y HUSBAND AND ILIVE WITH THREEDOGS . Case, our Airedale, aka Mr. B. I lovehim to the moon and back. EmmyLou isour German Shorthaired Pointer. Shes fullof energy and the cuddliest 60 pound lapdog. We first taught Mr. B how to dig forsand crabs on the beach at Indian Pass, butEmmyLou has taken over as head crabhunter. Baron von Schnauzer is our newestdog. Hes a black and white parti MiniSchnauzer. He is a goofy little dog and hasbeen a bundle of energy. Were having fungetting to know him.(Continued) gwww.TheNewBarker.com Summer/Fall ~ 2015 THE NEW BARKER 37'