By Chelsea Reed
Do you have animal companions? How do you like to spend your free time with them? Maybe you enjoy taking a walk, relaxing on the couch, or eating a tasty treat together. Summertime is nature’s playground for humans and animals alike. There’s so much to do! To celebrate, here are Seaside Art Gallery’s top five art picks of summer fun with our furred, feathered, and scaly friends.
By Stan Robinson
This blissful acrylic painting of a boy playing with animals by the seashore stole our hearts. Even the seagulls seem to be pleased. When the storm clouds roll in, they don’t want their heartfelt playtime to end! It’s a scene that every child dreams of.
2. Finding Nemo: Crush and Squirt
Walt Disney Classics Collection
“You so totally rock, Squirt! So gimmie some fin!” If anyone knows how to have a good time, it’s Crush the sea turtle from the movie “Finding Nemo.” He sure hasn’t lost his surfing touch at the ripe old age of 150 years. The waves in this porcelain figurine are a great frame around the father and son duo. It’s the perfect reminder that you can never be too old to have summer fun!
3. H2O Dog
By Debra Kierce
Playing in the water with dogs is wet, messy...and marvelous. This acrylic painting combines the compelling details of a golden retriever’s delight in the water with fond memories of the artist. Whether it’s the ocean, lake, or a garden hose, you haven’t experienced summer with man’s best friend until you’re wet all over.
By Beverly Abbott
Bears have fun in the summer, too! This oil painting gives us a powerful picture of two young brown bears play fighting. What’s the story in this painting? Are they brothers goofing off in the water or beating the summer heat? Are they having fun out in the wild, or a zoo? Who knows. It’s up to the viewer’s imagination!
Bob Browne
Okay, we admit it. We simply can’t stop showing off paintings of dogs frolicking in the ocean. Can you blame us? One look at this fur baby holding up his stick like an Olympic prize will make you fall in love, too. His family in this oil painting probably thinks he’s adorable. So do we. Case closed: this painting is a keeper.
Do you have a favorite summer memory of your animal companion? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook! All of these art pieces are currently available at Seaside Art Gallery online and in person. If you see a piece that touches your heart, go for it. You’ll be reminded of the good times you had together long after the summer breezes end.
If you've ever turned over a piece of jewelry and noticed a tiny stamp reading 925, you may have wondered what it means. Is it real silver? Is it valuable? And what's the difference between sterling, coin silver, and pure silver?
At the heart of the etching genre lies its mastery of intricate detail, the kind that’s perfect for depicting illustrations and the lives of people across the ages in candidness and accuracy.
An award-winning master artist, teacher, and wildlife enthusiast, David Hunter enjoys demonstrating the craft of depicting animals and the great outdoors in his etchings. His wonderful interpretations of the Outer Banks are no exception, and they often herald the celebration of classic American summers and their natural settings.
