Most recently, I have become more active using Facebook and Twitter, to network and spread the word about shelter dogs looking for homes. I'm finding out there are so many amazing people out there willing to offer their time, homes, and money to help dogs that are having difficulty getting adopted from the shelter. But sadly. there just aren't enough homes out there for all the dogs that find themselves homeless. It's a difficult task for those of us who really care about dogs... so many heartbreaks since not all dogs an be saved. Anyone who is willing can help, even if it's just to let others know about a certain dog that gets your interest, in fact, anywhere, in any state.
On Facebook, you can find my at www.facebook.com/Ara.Witmer
Or follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/artfordogs

Here's a portrait I did of "Miss Dolly" for It's The Pits Dog Rescue here in San Diego. I've also donated $500 worth of pet portrait vouchers along with it. I was able to create this art by using a wonderful photo supplied by It's the Pits. This original art is 12" x 16" and is painted in acrylics on stretched canvas. This was a very fun portrait to do!
Miss Dolly is in foster care, waiting for someone to give her a "forever" home. See her on Pet Finder.

Benton (the dog on the right) is making himself comfortable in his foster home, while my sister is still trying to find his owner. In this photo, Voltage and Benton are watching a Lassie movie. He has already been neutered and gets along with my sister's Belgian Malinois. Click here to see what Benton looked like the day he was found alone on a remote road back in October.

My four rescued dogs take on a new life as rock stars! My beagle mix, Odie, plays lead singer, Ginger and Blackjack on guitar, and Honey on drums.

Well, kind of. I just sold this shirt online to someone in Austrailia... For a rescued pit bull,  "Blackjack" is really getting around.

To make this shirt, I used a photo I took of Blackjack, adjusted it in Photoshop, then uploaded the finished digital art to CafePress.com.

You can see more products featuring this Smiling Staffie here. 

On Oct. 22, I donated a pet portrait voucher to the Tails at Twilight Gala, here in San Diego County. My offer to paint an 8" x 10" custom pet portrait brought in $75 to help the Escondido Humane Society.

I still have a limited number of these vouchers to donate to any non-profit animal rescue that would like to contact me.

My sister, Andria, just found this dog, standing alone in the middle of a remote road near Bishop, California, 20 miles from any home. He is very emaciated and un-neutered. Probably about 2 years old. A very friendly German Shepherd mix, Andria is still looking for his owner, but if  that doesn't work out, she will have him fixed and trained and then get him adopted. For now, his name is "Benton." If I didn't have a house full of dogs already, I'd go get this guy myself. More updates on Benton will appear on my blog here.

Being able to help animal charities with my art is one of the wonderful joys of being an artist. On Sunday, my fine art print "Kissing Dogs" raised $110 during a silent auction at the 2nd Annual Hoots N Howls fundraiser in St. Augustine, Florida. This was a great event, wish I could have been there!

Here's a custom portrait of 3 rescued dogs I created for a customer in San Diego. This one required two different photos combined into one painting. Sometimes this is a real challenge. This is made easier when all the photos have natural light coming from the same direction, as was the case here. Anyway, the dogs' owner was thrilled with the result!

Well, I think it's about time I started a blog so I can have a central location for all updates concerning my art. This will be the place where I show you how I create my paintings, talk about how my art helps animal charities, and anything else related to art and animals, especially dogs. And of course, I'll be posting photos of my four rescued dogs.