AFTR Update

"Along for the Ride"

18x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Well I didn't get as much done as I'd have liked. The basket and the handle bars are looking good though.

Instead of painting all day, I fulfilled a x-mas promise to my wife by setting up a stereo in her studio. Now it sounds great in there.

Bri-

Along for the Ride Update

"Along for the Ride"

18x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Today, I put what will probably be the last brushstrokes on the background. I want it to appear out of focus and blurred by the motion of the bicycle's movement.

I've added some details to Lucy's face, put a collar and tag on her as well. The client asked for jewels on the black collar and that will be done using Golden Interference Paint. When the light hits it from different angles it really lights up. The paint has an iridescent quality to it.

Stay tuned as this painting progresses.

Bri-

Nikki Update

"Nikki"

12x9 acrylic on canvas
$350.00 unframed
SOLD

I've added her tail, enlarged the eyes a little and fluffed up her ears.

I've really enjoyed painting this little dog.

Bri-

X-mas Coffee Hounds

"X-mas Coffee Hounds"

5x7 coffee and ink on paper
SOLD

This was the card I made for my wife this X-mas.

Our little dog is the one closet to you, the viewer, and our big dog is laying in front of the tree. There is a 60 lbs. difference between the two, and the little one fits under the big one without ducking.

If they were fish they'd be the kind that swim through the aquarium castle. They both love to go under furniture, and each other.

Bri-

Coffee Penny

"Coffee Penny"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in the US
Email:dogbri@q.com to purchase

The Coffee Hounds are going to look better, starting today.

It may seem like I got an early x-mas present, but I've had this scanner for years. Last night I realized I had a rack system that would fit in the corner of my studio. So I will longer be photographing them, I'll just scan them directly.

This is a dog named Penny from NYC. I had painted one of her sisters on the Animal Planet TV show K-9 Karma. Hopefully, I'll get another 15 minutes someday.

Bri-

New Brushstroke Style

"Brushstroke Big"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in the US
SOLD

After completing the coffee and ink painting of "Coffee Playtime" I knew I needed to do something different. I felt I didn't have enough control over the ink in that piece.

It might seem that I would have more control over a pen verses a brush. In reality a brush works better and faster. So yesterday I went out to Ryder Brothers, our local office supply store and bought some drawing ink. The funny thing is the local art supply store didn't carry it. Go figure.

If you can't tell, I love working with the drawing ink. It's awesome.

Bri-

Lebron Final

"Lebron Licks His Chops"

14x11 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I made some subtle changes to the tones on his chest and added some touches of orange to his tongue. I'm very happy with how this turned out.

While I was finishing this painting the snow has been falling off our roof. It comes crashing down with loud thuds. It's really sunny here today, but I have a feeling there's more snow on the way.

Bri-

Lebron 02

"Lebron Licks His Chops"

14x11 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Shading is all that's left to do. Shading, just a little shading.

Okay, so shading is the most time consuming part of painting, but it's also what brings life to a piece.

I've had a little trouble with his left side, because the photo I'm working from has a dark shadow, and his form is lost in it. Ah, the simplicity of painting a black dog against a black background.

Bri-

Lebron

"Lebron Licks his Chops"

14x11 acrylic on canvas
$400
SOLD

If I didn't have a winter solstice party to go to, I'd finish this painting today. Excuses, right?

I need to make some adjustments to the proportions of his chest. It's a little broader and not quite as long as I have it right now.

If you look close to his right side you'll see where I made some corrections already. I use a similar color to the background color to correct mistakes. One of the things I love about painting is that the medium is also the eraser.

Bri-

Kaleigh Waiting

"Kaleigh Waiting"

18x36 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I went through quite a few books on tape while painting this beautiful greyhound. I love doing large work and dogs that have brindled coats. I've done a few but always forget how much time I spend getting the coat just right.

Here's the list of books I listened to.
"What I Talk about When I Talk about Running" by Haruki Murakami
"Brimstone" by Lincoln Childs and Douglas Preston
"Petria Thomas: Swimming Against the Tide" by Petria Thomas and Andy Shea
"Still Life With Crows" by Lincoln Childs and Douglas Preston

Now I'm going to get started on a new painting.

Bri-

Mika

"Mika"

7x5 acrylic on canvas
$200
SOLD

So no coffee hound today. Well, Mika the dog is coffee colored.

The picture I had to work from on this piece was very small, and it was a little difficult to see the details of her face. Thanks to a second photo I was given, I was able to see things the main picture lacked.

In the end I was happy with how it turned out. My two favorite elements are the tongue and tail.

Bri-

Coffee Playtime

"Coffee Playtime"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 shipping in the US
E-mail me to purchase

These are our two dogs Zephyr and Bettini playing.

Because we don't have carpet in our house now, they rarely play like this, because neither one gains traction.

They still get their exercise by running with us four to five days a week.

Bri-

Coffee Grey Hound

"Coffee Grey Hound"

9x6 coffee on paper
$25 unframed $5 shipping in the US
E-mail me to purchase

Someone had recommended that I do one of a greyhound running as if it had just had a lot of coffee. So here it is.

Bri-

Nikki

"Nikki"

12x9 acrylic on canvas
$350
SOLD

This is Nikki and she lives in Bend, OR. I've been working on this painting all week. There's just a few minor changes I'd like to make. Darken the fur above her right eye, and some other minor shading on her paws.

I really love the way this has turned out and think it will go great with the other painting I did of her sister Gabriel.

Sorry no coffee hound today. Tomorrow I promise.

Bri-

Coffee Beagle

"Coffee Beagle"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in the US
SOLD

I did this little guy based on a picture I saw on Pet Finder. His name is Forrest and is available for adoption in Estacada, OR.

I just love the look of longing that beagles have and Forest was no different.

Bri-

Decaf Dexter

"Decaf Dexter"

9x6 coffee on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in the US
SOLD

This is Dexter, and he was a play pal of our dog Zephyr when we lived in NYC.

Once when Zephyr was still losing his puppy teeth. Dexter got blood from a loose tooth all over him. I had to reassure his owner that none of the blood was Dexter's.

This is another coffee hound that seemed great without any ink being added. The reason for the title is, I was using decaf sumatra.

Bri-

Commissions Update

"Along for the Ride" & "Kaleigh Waiting"

both SOLD

Each of these paintings is coming along exactly the way I want.

Sometimes a little slower than I'd like of course, but that's the way it works. Painting happens in real time.

In each painting I do I always see elements that I want to improve while I sit looking at them. Sometimes they are quick improvements and other times it takes hours to get where I'm happy with it. I spent roughly four hours working on a 10" square in the upper left hand side of the "Kaleigh Waiting" painting, and now I get to spend at least that much time on the right side.

These pieces are both great for me creatively and I can't wait to see what they look like tomorrow.

Bri-

Swimming in Coffee

"Swimming in Coffee"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 shipping in the US
SOLD

Our dog Zephyr is my training partner. I run with him 4 to 5 days a week and in the summer he's been known to swim a mile or two at a time with me. There is nothing he likes more than swimming.

This coffee hound painting is based on the first time he every swam. I was visiting a friend in Meredith, NY and we were picking blue berries out by this little pond. I figured I'd see if he liked swimming by throwing a stick in the water for him. Out he went, as fast as he could. To this day we can't be around water with him, unless we let him swim in it.

Bri-

Espresso Lab

"Espresso Lab"

6x9 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 shipping in the US
SOLD


I've taken a little break from coffee hounds, because of my commission work. This is the first new one in about three days.

I brewed a shot of espresso each except one that ended up unused. What a waste of that beautiful elixir, eh?

Well, back to the big acrylic paintings now. I prepped two canvases today and will continue to post new commission updates, so stay tuned.
Bri-

Along for the Ride 02

"Along for the Ride"

18x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

This painting is working out quicker and slower than I'd like at the same time. I'll explain.

The background is coming along to slowly, because it's a large amount of the image and will take greater time than the subject. Lucy, the dog, came quickly and I can't wait to paint more of her and the bicycle. However, with the background on this painting taking up all that space around my subject I have to work on it first.

Well, my dogs need a walk so I'll have to come back to the paintings in a little while.

Bri-

Kaleigh Update 04

"Kaleigh Waiting"


18x36 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

I've started to add the red to the bed Kaleigh is waiting on. At first I wasn't sure I was going to like the red with other colors I was using, but with the pink in the highlights it works really well.

The main photo I'm working from is back lit and some of the defining features of her face are lost. To compensate I'm getting them from other photographs. Her right ear is what's hardest for me to define at this point.

What I really like is how Kaleigh's eyes are coming out.

Bri-

Along for the Ride

"Along for the Ride"

18x24 acrylic on canvas
$1800
SOLD

This is the beginning of a new painting. I flushed out the main frame work of the dog and the bicycle. Next I'll start to add elements of the background to the painting.

I also need to get rid of the top tube on the bicycle. I had been working from a photograph of our dog Bettini in a basket on my bike, which has a standard frame. The owner of the dog in the painting, however, is a little girl. I decided it would be more appropriate for the bike to have a drop tube instead.

The dog is named Lucy and is so cute. In the picture I'm working from her tongue is out and bright pink, just like the bicycle. My wife likes this painting so much she wants one just like it for our collection.

Bri-

Kaleigh Update 02

"Kaleigh Waiting"

18x36 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's a current work in progress. I have the dog in it with a darker base color than is her real fur. However, since she has a brindled coat, it helps to have the darker base to work the lighter colors over.

Today, I have made adjustments to some of the proportions, and added defining marks in other base colors that will provide me guides as I go along.

I'm really happy with how this is working out, but I need to go make dinner, so I have to walk away from it for a while.
Bri-

Finished Cooper and Beasley

"Cooper and Beasley"

12x24 acrylic on canvas
SOLD

Here's the finished version of the painting featuring Cooper and Beasley.

I included a detailed close-up to show the subtleties in the fur of both dogs, but more so in the back of Cooper. His black fur reflected a lot different colors.

It's not often that I get to work on dogs that are of such different sizes in the same painting, so this was a real treat for me creatively.

Bri-

Cycling Jersey

Dogs by Bri/Bella cycling jersey
$79 cycling jersey additional charge for shipping
available at Bella

One of my favorite things besides dogs is cycling. So this summer along with my friend Bev, a fellow cyclist, these jerseys were born.

So if you love dogs and bikes than this is the jersey for you.

Even though it's winter in most places there's no reason you shouldn't travel by bike.

Bri-

Single Shot

"Short Single Shot"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in US
E-mail me to purchase



Bettini hates having her picture taken and there are a couple paintings of her that she will growl at. I don't know if it's because she thinks I made her hips look to big or what.

Ah, she is a funny dog.

Bri-

Fox and the Coffee Hound

"Fox and the Coffee Hounds"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in US
E-mailme to purchase


Sorry for the brief break from daily painting. My wife and I were the race directors for our town's first ever Turkey Trot 5k. It was a huge success and we couldn't have been happier with how it all went. So for the days leading up to Thanksgiving, I was either working on race details or painting commissions.

Todays, painting is based on a photo I saw on the internet of a group of fox hounds preparing for a hunt with a fox hidden amongst them.

When I lived in upstate NY we had a family of fox in our yard. The pups played together just like dogs would. The instant our sliding door would open so we could watch them more closely, they'd be down their fox hole in a flash. So we learned to watch from behind the glass.

Bri-

Down Eared Timmy

"Down Eared Timmy"


9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 shipping in the US
E-mail me to purchase


Timmy was a dog that was in a photo shoot with our dog Zephyr when he was a puppy. At the time Timmy probably weighed about 5 lbs and Zephyr was around 35 lbs, but Timmy scared him to death.

Whenever they had to pose together Zephyr would slowly inch away backwards. It's so funny how little dogs can command the respect of larger dogs with such ease.

Bri-

Cooper and Beasley Update 02

"Cooper and Beasley"

12x24 acrylic on canvas
Sold

This one is getting really close to being done. I spent about 3 hours today working on Cooper's eyes, snoot, and chest. It's all subtle shading and texturing and it doesn't show up that well in this photo. Next time I post an update it'll be from a photo taken during the day instead of with flash.

I'm really enjoying painting these two.

Bri-

Chow Coffee

"Chow Coffee"


9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in the US
E-mail me to purchase


This chow is named Sam and was a dog I photographed in Washington Square's Dog Park, while living in NYC. I just love the way she has squeezed her eyes closed.

One of the things I do while painting is listen to books on tape. The current book I'm listening to is "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein. It's the story of a race car driver told from the point of view of his dog Enzo. It's excellent if you like dogs or stories about sports. I imagine if you're reading my blog you love dogs.

The book I just finished listening to was 50/50 by Dean Karnazes and Matt Fitzgerald. It's a true story of great endurance. Dean Karnazes is an Ultra Marathoner, and this book chronicles his journey of running 50 marathons, in 50 states over the period of 50 days. He is truly an amazing person as well as an incredible athlete. Even if you're not a runner it's a great story of a man who had a dream and how he achieved it.

Chicago Style

"Chicago Style"

6x9 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in US

E-mail me to purchase

I've lived in a bunch of different cities around the US and I find it funny how in each one the normal way to have coffee varies.

In NY it's light and sweet, Chicago it's black, and in the Pacific Northwest cappuccinos are dry or wet, depending on the Barista. I like mine the way they make them in Italy. WET!

But enough about coffee. The reason there is no ink on this coffee hound series is to make the most out of the brush stroke. The more I can convey the dog without ink the better. Some paintings will have ink others won't.

Bri-

Note: My friend, artist, Tom Novak made the suggestion to leave this one without ink. I'm really glad I took his advice

Coffee Whippet

"Coffee Whippet"

9x6 coffee and ink on paper
$25 unframed $5 for shipping in US
SOLD

I'm a big fan of whippets and greyhounds, because our dog Zephry is part whippet. He's a great runner and when we are standing in my studio getting ready to go he whines with anticipation. Sometimes the whining is cute and other times it can be a bit much.

He's also a great swimmer and he loves doing that more than running. We spent one summer swimming together while I trained for an Ironman triathlon. Over the course of a three month period he spent roughly 90 miles in the water with me.


Bri-

Kaleigh Update

"Kaleigh Waiting"


18x36 acrylic on canvas
Sold

Here's the current state of the painting "Kaleigh Waiting". I like the way it's coming along and see a few things that need adjusting at this point too.

Her left ear need to come down slightly and color needs to be added of course. I also need to make adjustments to her paws. Right now they're out of proportion to the rest of her body.

One thing I really like is how her nose is placed in the painting. The main photo I'm working from has her nose obscured by her bed, and we all felt it would look better to have it visible in the painting.

Stay tuned to see more progress.

Bri-

Cooper and Beasley Update

"Cooper and Beasley"


12x24 acrylic on canvas
Sold

This painting is progressing nicely. Based on my clients request I made Beasley a little bit smaller than he appears in the photo. In the photo he seems larger than in reality, because of where and how he's sitting.

When I was told that, I completely understood, because our dogs vary greatly in size as well. We also have photos where our little dog, Bettini, looks much larger than she is.

Bri-

Coffee Yellow

"Coffee Yellow"

6x9 unframed
coffee and ink on paper
$25 plus $5 shipping in the US
SOLD



Sorry I missed posting yesterday. I was busy working on commissions instead. So, I was painting, but not with coffee.

This yellow lab is one I met in Portland, OR. I like this picture because it's such a classic dog expression. Curiosity and longing all wrapped up in the same look.

I've changed my technique since the first coffee hound. The way I create these paintings now is to use the coffee first, and then I go back into it with the ink. I found that when I drew with ink first the coffee would make it bleed. It'll be interesting to see what else changes over time.

Bri-

Coffee Zephyr

"Coffee Zephyr"

6x9 unframed
$25 plus $5 shipping in the US

E-mail me to purchase

This is a painting of our dog Zephyr on top of a hill near our house. He and I had been out running, just after the first snowfall of last winter.

Zephyr is always very content after we run together. I think this picture shows how at peace he is.

Bri-

Kaleigh

"Kaleigh Waiting"

18x36 acrylic on canvas
Sold



This is the beginning frame work for a painting of a rescued greyhound named Kaleigh.

I was planning on doing this painting as a horizontal composition, but after several sketches and talking with the client, we decided to make it vertical. I'm so glad we did.

After having been gone for a few hours and looking at the painting again, I think the bed Kaleigh is on will wrap around the edge of the canvas. Right now it looks a little small to me.

Check back to see the progress.


Bri-

Cooper and Beasley

"Cooper and Beasley"

12x24 Acrylic on canvas
Sold

This painting is a work in progress, and I would say I'm at the half way point now. I love the way these dogs are cuddling. My wife likes this one so much she wanted to pose our dogs in the same manner for me to paint as well.

I, however, think pictures like this aren't easily posed, you
just have to capture it as it happens.

Check back in a few days to see more progress.

Bri-

Coffee Lab

"Coffee Lab"

coffee and ink on paper
6x9 unframed
$25 plus $5 shipping in the US

E-mail me to purchase






I was talking to some friends at a party last night about my new daily paintings, and they wanted to see a lab. So this chocolate lab painted in coffee is for them.

I had first heard about daily painting from an article in the magazine Art Calendar and thought it was a great idea. I however didn't take part in the movement until I met painter Don Gray. He lives in the town of Union, OR, about 15 miles from where I live in Baker City, and he's a daily painter. Seeing his daily paintings really inspired me to start doing it too.

Note: this dog is based on pictures of labs I have painted in the past.

Coffee Hound 01

"Coffee Hound 01"

coffee and ink on paper
6x9 unframed
$25 plus $5 shipping in the US
SOLD



This is the first in a series of paintings I'll be doing called "Coffee Hounds". The idea is to create a painting almost every day using coffee.

I was first introduced to painting with coffee by artist Elanor King. She did all types of painting, but the ones I liked best were her coffee and ink.

The term coffee hound comes from a couple of coffee mugs my wife and I picked up at an antique store in Delhi, NY. The cups have completely different pictures on them, but they both say "Coffee Hound" on the front. Then on the inside there's a scale based on how much you like coffee. The scale goes like this: kids stuff, weak sister, half cupper, coffee lover, and finally Coffee Hound. And if you hadn't already guessed they're really big cups.

Note: the dog in this painting is our dog Bettini.

1st Entry

Hi I'm dog artist Brian Vegter, but you can call me Bri.

When I started paintings dogs in 2003, my home was in New York City. It was the perfect place to restart my art career. Spending hours everyday at the Washington Square Park Dog Run provided me with many subjects and inspiration.

The thing I love best about dogs as subjects is their expressive faces, as animals I love their loyalty, companionship, and never ending affection for us humans. When I depict them I use as many bold colors as possible to express the individual personality and movements in my subjects.

In the years I’ve been painting I’ve been featured on Animal Planet, in The Bark magazine, The New York Dog, and graced to covers and pages of regional newspapers around the country.

My dogs, Zephyr, a fox hound mix, started life in NYC and Bettini, a jack russell, is from Ohio. They’ve been with me to just about every city I’ve shown in NYC, Chicago, Portland, Los Altos, CA., and Miami, FL. They are also often the subjects in my paintings.

My wife Corrine, a tremendous ceramics artist, the dogs and I now live in Baker City, OR. Home to a wonderful arts community and unparalleled beauty. Besides creating unique dog paintings for customers around the country, I spend my free time training and racing long course triathlons. The dogs like running with me, but they love swimming more than anything, so whenever I can I head out to the lakes in the area with them.

I hope you enjoy my paintings as much as I enjoy creating them. Commissions are always welcome, there isn’t a dog I can’t paint. I love them all.