NANCY SCHUTT

Photo by world famous photographer Robin Layton. Really! Jan 23, 2012

A few days ago I was cleaning out some old files, the kind in manilla folders, and ran across this print of me in my studio taken by photographer Robin Layton for Seattle Magazine's Pet Issue of Spring 2003- back in the days of film photography. Since then, Robin has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, LIFE magazine called her "One of the top eight photographers in the world", and the video she made of her rescue dog Monkey was featured on the Rosie O'Donnell Show. She has photographed many celebrities, and their dogs! including one of my favorites, Jennifer Aniston. How fortunate for me to find these photos and be among such esteemed company. Thanks Robin!
(And everyone please tell me, I haven't changed a bit in eight years.)
check out her website at www.robinlayton.com and enjoy!

Winter in Seattle! Jan 19, 2012

Studio gets another layer of snow today!

WIne Label Winner again! Jan 8, 2012

"Out of Reach" wins best wine label in sweepstakes category at the San Francisco Chronicle 2011 Wine Competition, the largest competition of American wines in the world. With over 5500 entries, this is a prestigious award!

and the painting which won the Mutt Lynch Winery wine label contest last summer:

(image available as limited edition print)

Curie at Home Dec 28, 2011

Upon my request, clients who had commissioned two portraits from me, one for their Seattle home and one for their San Juan Island home (of two different dogs), graciously sent me photos they took of the painting at the island home while vacationing there over the holidays. Very beautiful setting for Curie the painting, while Curie the dog, looks on from the side. Curie the dog prefers the beach to the indoors, and is looking a little less frisky than when I originally painted her.

CAPTION THE IMAGE CONTEST- 19 captions Dec 22, 2011

So many clever captions submitted on my facebook page that I cannot decide which one wins the box of Dog Art Greeting Cards. Here they all are:

LR- "The good life!"
Pink Daisy - "Lifes a Beach!"
HEF- "Life's a bitch on a beach. ;)~"
JB- "Where is my pack? I fell asleep and woke up and they were gone."
NP- "Stay is so hard!"
NP- I have this wonderful print on my bedroom wall and I often think this obedient lab must be having a really hard time not racing into the sea.
NP- "High Noon by the Dune"
LMA- "A dream of distant places."
NP- "Dune buddy.
LBE- "Sometimes you have to relax and hit the "paws" button!"
LBE- "Dog Days of Summer"
LBE- "At the Canine, Canine Cabana! (sung by Barry Manilow, of course;)"
LBE- "I wanna be where I don't need a WOOF over my head!" hahahaa
SK- "Beach Bum!"
DTG- " Happy as a Clam at High Tide!"
BMcL- "Nothing is friendlier than a wet dog…"
GWS- "Fido relaxes in the shade while on vacation,and thinks to himself where did I bury that bone? ... Ah screw it, I'll just bark for some room service.... Inside wish you were here..."
JF- " Where is that dog from Ipanema anyway?"
TS- "In my solitude."

Please feel free to express your opinion in the comments box (at the bottom of page).

Theory vs. Reality, How Artists Spend Their Time Dec 21, 2011

How People Think Artists Spend Their Time- Theory vs. Reality
I spend about 15% of my work time actually painting. Here is a pretty good diagram of where the other 85% goes. Photographers are artists too!

Tribute to Darby Dec 7, 2011

Tribute to Darby

I had errands to run today and work waiting, but I've set it all aside. My heart is very heavy from the loss of a dog, Darby, the beloved companion of friend Moira. I thought that news of the loss of Darby would be a little bird who dropped in then went along it's way, but this bird has come to spend the day with me. I decided to give up on trying to accomplish much of anything, and to dedicate the day to Moira and Darby.

The loss of Darby has enabled me to feel again that deep gash in the heart that one experiences at the loss of a dog. I know exactly what Moira is feeling right now. I can see Darby, hear the little pitter patter of her toenails, her breathing, her sighing. I know those companions of deep loss and grief:

To know that you will never hear those sounds again.

The hole in the chest when you encounter the empty bowl no longer needed, or dog hair under the sofa pillows, the smudges on the car window.  How you never want to clean those things that remain as evidence of her life.

Moments of forgetting that your close companion is gone and expecting some part of your everyday routine to be on schedule, then remembering that it's no longer necessary.

The acknowledgement that an era in your life is over- the Darby era: the era of youthfulness, working for Kevin Costner, changing jobs, moving, starting a dog art blog, living the rural life, going on countless adventures.

The feeling that this pain will never go away.

Dogs become markers for our lives, and we grieve for the absence of the living/breathing being that shared so much with us. We also grieve for the end of those years, fully over and now marked by the dog's departure. Dogs don't let us maintain the illusion that things won't change, that life is a continuum without endings. Dogs force us to experience that gigantic truth- that everything changes, and we will eventually lose all that we hold dear including finally, our own lives. It's a harsh truth, we spend most of our lives avoiding it, protecting against it, or even closing our hearts so that the loss won't be so severe. Dogs make us look this truth right in the face and open our hearts to loving without restraint.  They continue to give to us even after they are gone. It truly is no wonder that Dog is God spelled backwards. I consider them one of the greatest gifts of all.

Rest in peace Darby. Experience peace Moira.

To read Moira's writing about the loss of Darby, go to her blog, Dog Art Today.

CAPTION THE HOLIDAY CARD! Dec 3, 2011

And win a box of assorted Dog Art Greeting Cards!

Goldens Rule! Dec 1, 2011

Better than Labs???

Not to be outdone by the other extremely popular Retrievers, Golden's display their athletic abilities, equal dedication to service, and their "undeserved" reputation for not being the brightest bulbs in the box. In your opinion, which Retriever rules? Goldens or Labs?

Lab Love Nov 29, 2011

FOR THE LOVE OF LABS

Even if you don't have a Lab, with their dedication ot service, desire to fulfill our every request, and goofy enthusiasm for whatever project is at hand, you gotta love 'em!

(All images are available as limited edition prints!)