Julia Pfeiffer Burns Falls

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

I took a trip out to Big Sur, California this past summer and was flabbergasted by its perfection; miles and miles of it. There were so many state park on the PCH, but we made a beeline for this one. The beach where the waterfall makes its way to the ocean has rarely even felt the footsteps of man. The family that owned the land almost a century before had declared it off limits to park visitors when they gave it to the State of California. A walk along the trail high above this paradise was still inspiring and I took many pictures to bring back to the studio to render just a corner of this precious gem in Big Sur.

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

San Francisco Chinatown

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

When I was visiting San Francisco this summer, I took quite a few reference photos. But none of them sparked my interested quite like the one I took of Chinatown. The great architecture, the festive feel of the lanterns crisscrossing over the street and all that light! It was primed as a perfect cityscape painting! So here it is, my rendering of San Francisco's beautiful and bustling Chinatown.

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

Best Dog Park in the World

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

I doubt I will ever forget the bliss Rose exhibited when she barreled down the long flight of wooden steps that ended on the sands of the beach in Santa Barbara, Ca; it was indeed love at first sight, actually every sight for Rose. The long stretches of shore were loaded with smells any dog would relish. The cool ocean water and that constant breeze off the mighty blue Pacific always delighted her into endless silly dog shenanigans.  She made friends every time we visited and dragged her feet appropriately when it came time to leave. I find comfort in the belief that Rose has made it back there and is enjoying her favorite playground anytime she wants for as long as she wants....there was just no place she'd rather be.  

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

Full Steam Ahead!

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

I just love small dogs especially when they are running full steam ahead. In this painting, Delilah wasn't about to be left behind and flew little dog style to her Mommy when she was called to join them for a ride into town. My favorite part about how she was captured was tail straight up and one foot on the ground; very much the reason she won third place in my long ago held contest, "Your Dog in Motion".

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

Friend or Foe?

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

My girl, Rose, had a bit of a prey drive. I know she found chasing things off great fun. She did it to cats and squirrels and birds...birds, Rose, really? Mind you, she never hurt a fly, (she didn't like flies, either) she just loved to see if her big bark would send them for the hills. I'd always tell her in the middle of her game, "Rose! That is not funny!" as her nubby Rottie tail wagged as fast as it could. She'd sneeze and come over to me embarrassed she got caught again doing something so uncivilized. When the hummingbird season arrived in Santa Barbara, much to my chagrin, she took up her game with them as well. So, I decided to create a painting of her being curious and well-mannered with my much loved little enchanted friends and gave the painting a name that empowered her small harmless foe. "Fearless Flight" is one of my all time favorite paintings having two of my favorite subjects in it; Rose and a brave Ruby-throated hummingbird.

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

Lester takes the Prize

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

I'm always on the look out for top models. I like them hairy and with lots of character in their face. I like squished noses and wonky whiskers, the more wrinkles on the face the better.  I've always loved the Pug breed; I know them to be as wonderful on the inside as they are on the outside. This handsome boy, who answers to Lester, won my facebook contest "Who Loves a Pug".  From a photo I could see how special he was and knew he was loved to the moon and back by his family. I was thrilled and honored to paint such a top model's portrait. Here's winkin' at you, Lester!

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

The Colorful Coat of Bernadette

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.

Somebody is workin' it! Bernadette knows exactly how to get a cookie to come her way using those soulful eyes and pleading look. I met Bernadette and her parents in San Diego when I lived there a couple years back and learned that she got to go to the doggy beach by her house everyday. The weather on the coast of California is absolutely perfect for furry dogs like Bernadette as it hardly ever gets to be the scorching summer heat most of us experience.  What a lucky, lucky dog...I hope you are still joyfully playing on the sands of the beach you love, Bernadette!

© Kellie Straw, all rights reserved.