This is a PRE EVENT AUCTION LOT for the UK Bullmastiff Of The Year.

“A limited edition print from a very short run of 15. This print has been kindly donated by the Artist, Denise Laurent to raise money for UK Bullmastiffs in need. All proceeds go to the UK Bullmastiff Of The Year for bullmastiff rescue. This is a pre-event auction to allow those who are unable to attend the event, a chance to be actively involved in raising much needed funds for the many Bullmastiffs that find their way into rescue each year and of course the chance to own this beautiful print!
This Auction is open to all, worldwide please view the listing on Ebay and start bidding now!“

The UK Bullmastiff Of The Year will be held on the 11th February 2012 in Coventry. 64 of the Top Winning Bullmastiffs from 2011 will  compete for the title of ‘UK Bullmastiff of the Year’ and ‘UK Bullmastiff Puppy of the Year’.

The ‘Bullmastiff of the Year’ event will be an annual black tie event. This event is fully supported by the Bullmastiff Breed Clubs and the special events licence has been granted by the Kennel Club.

There’ll be a Grand Auction with many lots to help raise much needed funds for Bullmastiffs that come into rescue each year.

Have a look at the bag and many other lots on the UK Bullmastiff Of The Year web site. Or look them up on facebook.

Find them in The Painted Dog shop here.

Here is the final one CJ at Bijoux Falls. He is a very handsome dog and what a wonderful location too.

Here’s a close up…

Urbandream Honky Tonk Women for Jaarmoel aka Dax owned by Carol Wilson. Isn’t she a cutie? :-)

I love the colour contrasts between the lilacs, blues and greens and the warm ochre tones in her coat. She also has the sweetest expression with her paw firmly on her toy. She’s clearly a girl who knows her own mind.

This is an 8×8 inch acrylic painting on board. A giclée print of the painting will be going to the American Bullmastiff Association Nationals for the art auction.

Thank you Dax for being a lovely model!

Here’s how it was painted.

The under painting was done in burnt sienna with the dogs drawn in burnt umber. I picked out the main details of their faces and then started on the first coats of oil paint in the lake.

As the lake was drying I started on the dogs themselves.

Here’s a close up of the painting at this stage showing work starting on his face.

The finished painting. It took several layers in both the lake and the dogs to complete the painting, building up the layers of colour to create the richness of the final piece. The blue greens really make the warm reds and golds in their coats glow!

Satchmo and Tatoosh, 12×8 inch oil on board, SOLD.

And finally, a detail from the finished painting.

Isn’t he handsome? :-)

Rocky Relaxing
12×10 inch oil on board

Here’s how I painted him…

This is a 12×10 inch oil painting on board. I started with an under painting using burnt sienna, which I hope will make a good foil for the blues to come later on.

I’ve developed the darks in the painting and started laying down colour in his muzzle and body.

Once I have Rocky himself nearly finished I start on the blue cushion and the background.

And here he is finished. He just needs to dry and get a coat of varnish.

And here’s a close up of the painting.

This painting will be going to The American Bullmastiff Association art auction later in the year to help raise money for the great work they do for bullmastiffs.

There were 137 entries and over 10,000 votes! There were so many lovely photos, I wish I could paint all of them!

But the votes are in and the winners will come as no surprise because they were way out in front. In fact they were so close that I’ve decided to give two prizes! After all, it’s all for a good cause.

The two beautiful bullys who will be up for auction at the ABA art auction this autumn are CJ and Dax. I hope they’ll raise lots of money for bullmastiffs in need.

Now to start painting! :-)