I have been working on a lovely portrait of this beautiful dog that has recently died. When I am given images of such beloved family members it is only natural that I also get to know the dog. Each has their own personality and their person is always so willing to tell me stories. During the course of painting I tend to get a little sad knowing the dog is no longer with us….so I take a break and work on something else for a little while.

This was today’s little break.

On the Easel….”The Coyote” a WIP.

In the news as of late have been reports of an increase in the number of coyotes…..pretty silly if you ask me. It is the fact that these animals have no where to set up dens for there is little land left in so many of the counties surrounding Atlanta. The spring is when these animals are looking for a safe den to raise thier pups….this is when you will have the most conflicts.
MOST of the counties in the Atlanta area have leash laws….that is right….leash laws. Do not allow your pets to roam….keep them on leash. Know the weight of a coyote is about 35 lbs. Many of the small breed dogs, and cats are considered prey….keep them on leash (yep, leash law applies to your kitties as well).
We can share what little land is left with these animals with safety in mind…

**Do not feed coyotes
**If you see a coyote, be aggressive in your behavior – make loud noises, wave your arms, throw sticks and stones.
**Do not allow pets to run free.
**Do not feed pets outside.
**Make any garbage inaccessible to coyotes and other animals.
**Eliminate availability of bird seed. Coyotes are attracted to the concentration of birds and rodents that come to feeders. If you do feed birds, clean up waste seed and spillage.
**Fencing your yard may deter coyotes. The fence should be tight to the ground, preferably extending six inches below ground level.
**Remove brush and tall grass from around your property to reduce protective cover for coyotes
**Teach children to appreciate coyotes from a distance.
**Regulated hunting and trapping increases the “fear” coyotes have towards people.
**Ask your neighbors to follow these same steps.

Yeah….for those that love the fun, colorful look of pop art we are now offering this for tee shirts, mugs and prints. I will be posting different styles within the next few weeks.

Our booth at the market….we are selling paintings on canvas, 11×14 prints and tee shirts. Hopefully this weekend the mug press will be ready to go….keeping our fingers crossed!

How fun is this, for the remainder of March pick 12 of the lovely paintings found on this blog and we will make a calendar just for you. Starting whatever month you would like (don’t forget Mother’s Day is right around the corner, great gift). Just $25.00 ($15.00 S&H).
Will post into paypal tomorrow when I have more time, along with the link to my web site.
Check back with us!