A number of westies were interviewed for this painting. The model was found at a dog show in Providence RI. He was very happy to pose, provided he got the dog bone in the end. He is painted with a little more hair than is currently popular among the show dogs.

Image size 11.5" x 21.75"
Limited Edition of 1000

Artist Bio -- Lorena Pugh

Whose art has gone to the dogs

When I was young I had two loves. The first was art and the second was animals (or was it the other way around?) At seventeen I went off to New York City with huge dreams. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts (with Honors) from Pratt Institute (NY). I also studied at other reputable schools, such as the Art Students League (NY), The School of Visual Arts (NY) and the Brian Shaw School of Art (London).

I spent the next few years in New York City striving to make art with great meaning. We can call that period “the lean years”. Next I moved to Newport, RI. There was fresh air! There were cows! I just wanted to paint cows and so I did. It was fun. It was profitable! People like cows!! Soon I had cow posters, cow calendars, cow T-shirts. I moooved (sorry) on to other animals and created a poster series, which was under my name at that time- Steinhauser, published by Arnold Art. Wild Apple Graphics became my second poster publisher.

After painting cows, pigs, ducks and bunnies I decided to paint something I love. I love Lucy - my dog. I found that dogs afford an endless supply of character studies and a lovely outlet for my peculiar sense of humor.

Now I publish many of these paintings as limited edition prints (the prints are signed and numbered). I call my business Purebred Editions. Everything is going great, in fact, many of my prints have won the esteemed Communication Arts Award of Excellence, five years in a row. For four years my paintings have been winners at the Contemporary American Dog Art Competition and four times have received Honorable Mentions from the Society of Illustrators. Most recently my painting “Chocolate Craving” won first place at the prestigious juried show “Art Show at the Dog Show” and the other entry “Stay” won the peoples choice award! So my art has “gone to the dogs” and I couldn’t be happier!