Dogs are interesting to paint, but it isn’t often I get the opportunity to do so. Plus, since I use my own photographs as reference and I currently have only one dog, I can’t get varied and reliable pictures. However, this painting “Labradorable” has been waiting. I planned it out in 2007, when I started painting professionally, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The background of foliage intimidated me to no end until now, since I’ve had plenty of practice. I saw this adorable black lab at the John C. Campbell Folk School in 2006. He belonged to a contractor who was working on a building by the painting studio. This lab and his boxer friends would play in the high brush and weeds. Everyone watched them and adored their carefree playing. As the lab romped in a bush, he looked at me for just a second. He cocked his head slightly and stared before making a mad dash back to his friends. That memory always makes me smile. Dogs are like children, always curious and humorous and you never know when the next adorable look will come. “Labradorable” 8x10” acrylic on wood. © Cara Bevan 2009