Remembering Hershey

"Remembering Hershey"

"Remembering Hershey"  - by Mary C. Aikens, Artist and Blogger

This is a painting challenge called "Best Friend Challenge" on Daily Paintworks that was posted on Saturday, December 3, 2012.  For a while, I was thinking about several dogs that my family had over the course of years, however; I picked painting a picture of a Miniature Toy Poodle since I always wanted a poodle very badly when I was still a teenager.  I can sense my family members wonder why did I chose to do a painting on Hershey, of all dogs, that they were and still not all crazy about him.  I am writing because I liked him as well was fascinated how that dog had a certain type of  history, his strange attributes, and not to forget, my aunt and uncle's making over along with spoiling that dog.

You probably wonder why I am blogging about this particular dog in brown letters....  Well, yes, I am doing that because of the dog's name and color.  This dog was named "Hershey" by Sarah Ann, one of my cousins, because of his fur color - brown. At times, I strongly believe that this same cousin loved Hershey candy products enough to give her dog that particular name..   It was somewhere a short time since Sarah Ann, my cousin, got married Paul who was a military man.  For Heshey, it was a very sad time for him to somewhere else since there are no pets allowed in military housing.  Well, Hersyey stayed for a short period of  time Sarah Ann's parents, one of my father's oldest brother and his wife, when they agreed to keep until it was possible whether Sarah Ann and her new husband, Paul, will be able to find a way to have Hershey again.   As it turned out... another aunt and uncle wound up keeping as well claiming Hershey until his death....

If I correctly remember, this aunt, my father's sister, and uncle who wound up keeping Hershey for the next seven-and-a half years really made over him many times until Hershey died.  Hershey was soo spoiled at the point that he acted as though he thought that he was a human - even sitting down at a child-sized Ottoman like a person.  On many holidays and special occasions, my aunt took Hershey at the dog groomer and have him soo dolled up, coifed, painted paw nails, and not to forget, ribbons tied in a ponytail fashion on his ears.  
In this painting of Hershey,  I put an orange and blue background since this aunt and uncle were both "Dye-Hard" Auburn fans, "Dolled-up" likenss (during Christmas), and this dog's "human-like" behavior whcich inspired me to paint this picture.


Title: "Remembering Hershey"

Media: Oil on Hardwood Panel

Size: 7" W X 8" H

Price: $60.00 (Currency Converter)

Shipping/Handling: $10.00 (USA)
                             $15.00 (CAN)
                             $20.00 (UK)



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"Welcome To Our... Tag-Along" for the serious RV-ers

"Welcome To Our... Tag-Along"

"Welcome To Our Tag-Along"

This is a wooden folk sign that I am selling on my Etsy shop.  There was a time that I was drawing as well dooding out ideas about RVs and signs relating to them.  On one late Sunday afternoon, I have gotten this idea through a man shortly after I was telling him about several ideas relating to this subject matter. He was drew out an image of a sign that he did for his own family's RV and then gave it to me for an idea.  However, I did do some deviations from what he game me while I was creating this sign.  

My Etsy shop address is as follows: Etsy.com/store/marycaikens1artlady.  When you log onto Etsy.com, you would see on the upper part of the strip that says "search for items or shops", then type in marycaikens1artlady, and you should not have any problems when you when you type my store's name.  This particular item is sold through Etsy, and yes; I do accept payments through PayPal and credit cards.

Thank you very much and blessings,

Mary C. Aikens, Artist  :-)

P. S., Please visit my Etsy store. 

"Summertime Reflections"

Can you tell which side is the right side?  The reason why I ask is that this painting challenge is known as the "Upside-Down Challenge" because it was designed to trick the eye.  It has been a proven science with the eyes is that what we see things "right-side up", the other side of ths lenses which are inside of our eyes see "upside-down".

So far, this is one probably the most challenging challenge that I ever did because of  doing it in a mirrored image.  First of all, I started painting the likeness of this picture similar to what I originally saw what  I saw  how the photo was done.  Then I drew out the watermelon and stainless steel bowl.  This was one picture that I painted and repainted over and over again in so many areas.  However, I stuck to this challenge and refused to painting this picturel  There, I did it, and I can say that I am really proud of myself to stick to this 

challenge even when I was sensing that I was struggling with it.  

One thing for sure, I can say that I enjoyed doing this painting because it is mainly about the subject matter as well colors.  It is really has a strong feelinging of America as well the Fourth of July which I am glad that I painted it.  Another thing that I enjoyed about painting this picture is about watermelons which I love to both paint about as well eat.

* Title: "Summertime Reflections"

* Media: Acrylic and Mixed-Media on Canvas Board

* Size: 5" W X 7" H

* Price: $35.00 (Currency Converter)

* Shipping/Handling: $10.00 (USA)

                                $15.00 (CAN)

                                $20.00 (UK)

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"Doubly Red Doors"

"May I please have your attention?"  

This is an art piece that is for the "Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser" program of the the Daily Paintworks, and I am choosing Samaritan's Purse as the business whom I choose to have the money sent.  The Samaritan's Purse is a ministry that helps people in war-torn and storm-ravaged areas along with sending out  filled shoe boxes to both children and younger teenagers alike.
Most importantly, this particular ministry does repair work as well counsels and evangelize to
people.

"Doubly Red Doors"

For some odd reason, I wanted to paint a pair of red doors because I was more 

in the mood to paint something that is architecturally-related.  Although these doors look as though that they are built around the large porch of a fine Southern house, however, they also look as though they were built at a Northern  home or an apartment - especially where there is a canopy-covered walkway.   Well anyway, I had the fascination and enjoyment in painting 

them.  The main reason why I chose red for those doors is because red is known

to be a very welcoming color.   The other two reasons why I chose red is because it is a beautiful and powerful color.

Title: "Doubly Red Doors"
Size: 6" W X 8" H
Price: $36.00 USD
S/H:  $10.00  USPS




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