Life with Siberian Huskies

I’m headed to the 2020 Iditarod. I’ve never been to Alaska or the race before. You can expect to see some post starting about March 5th on this new adventure of mine.

I have lots of things planned for this trip. Private fund raising dinner with Lance Mackey limited to 60 people. Helicopter flight to a dog sled tour. Musher’s banquet with all the big names (another fundraiser.)

I’m really looking forward to this adventure and I will post how it turns out. I plan on presenting 4 times Iditarod winner Lance Mackey with this painting I did of his famous dog, Larry. I hope he likes it or at least recognizes him.

Larry was a bombproof canine, Larry helped Lance Mackey win a third straight Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. It will go down as the last race of Larry’s career. Larry has finished eight Iditarods — seven with Mackey and one with former Mackey neighbor Paul Gebhardt from Kasilof — and four Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Races, not to mention dozens of middle-distance sled dog races.

His record as a leader is remarkable. Larry has led teams in 10 races of 1,000 miles, and he has won seven of them. Along the Iditarod Trail, he has become almost as famous as Mackey. Larry made a big name for himself in 2007 by becoming the dog to win the golden harness in both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod. His master made history that year, too, winning sled-dog racing’s first Iditarod-Quest double.

Now his painting is on my wall of fame, but he won’t be here for much longer. I plan to give this painting to Lance on March 4th in Anchorage, AK.

I may have played a part in this one (Feature Story.)

The Seddogger Magazine, Winter Issue, free to read at your leisure.

https://www.thesleddogger.com/2019-Issues/Winter_2019-20/Winter_2019-20.html?fbclid=IwAR0M2nrBbhU_mLR9C7YwaqLEreoMjIYI-1JlmNDZQUa4BxbHvySvX1Q_ZfU

Look at the 5:23 minute mark, this is what it’s about.

A two minute prayer.

This is what they do best…run. A video from my friends at Evergreen.

I find it heartwarming to give something to someone who has lost their best friend forever. Owning dogs is a joy and when they pass it’s so hard to deal with. My latest work goes to one such person that spent a short 7 years with this dog. I felt the need to paint this magnificent Alaskan Malamute for them.

It looks like I’m headed to Alaska in March to see the Iditarod. That may not mean much to some but to me, it’s a dream come true. I’m also attending a private fundraising banquet with 4 times Iditarod champion Lance Mackey.

This is Mr. Amadeus with his new frame, and I’ve added him to my wall of fame, or shame depending on your point of view. I don’t know anything about his life. I’m sure he’s long since crossed over the rainbow bridge. I found his photograph in a shoebox full of photos belonging to Douglas Willett last time I visited him. But to me, he has the “Look” of a fierce sled dog. A dog anyone would be proud to have on their team.
His gaze says it all to me and is why I wanted to paint him.
ENDURANCE, FIDELITY, INTELLIGENCE

I thought I would try this and see what happens. There is a juried art show in Bethesda, MD. coming up in Feb. I submitted these paintings to see if I get in. 1st place pays $10k, 2nd $2K, and 3rd $1K. Considering I only started painting 2 years ago I won’t be crushed if I don’t get in, or place. I paint them because I love these sled dogs with a passion.

Paintings are 8×10 done in acrylic and sometimes spray paint for the background. I built the frames which are scorched oak, stained and clear coated.

All the dogs are from Shaytann Siberian Kennels in the Yukon, Canada. Except for Cooper who is one of my dogs. Two of them are 2-time finishers of the 1000 miles… Yukon Quest, and Iditarod (Bering & Max).

You can learn more about Shaatann Siberians here https://www.shaytaansiberians.com/

May the New Year bless us all.

Painting number 7 in a series of I don’t know how many yet. They have a lot of dogs for me to paint.