Beau - Pet Portrait

I began my career over forty years ago creating paintings of dogs. I honestly don't know for sure if I would still be alive had I not had the company and responsibility of caring for the dogs in my life. From the hundreds of dog portraits I have created for people over time, I know my story isn't unique. I have always proudly said, I found this dog on the road, or this one came from a shelter and so on. The knowing and unspoken secret between my dogs and I has always been, I was the rescue.

Please enjoy the little video of Beau. He is gone now, but he was special to me and it was an honor and pleasure to capture a little moment in a painting for Beau's person Warren.

Begin your pets memory today!

Contemplating the Essence of Gravity

I met Elvis and then I met another Elvis. The first time I met an Elvis was when I was in the first grade and The King was in my mother’s office. I saw him in concert a total of three times. The second Elvis I met was a hounddog. I spotted what looked like a glove on the highway between Santa Fe and Taos. I turned the car around and watched in horror as a car passed right over the top of the tiny dog. I stopped, got out of the car, and ran to the little hunk of burning love. He was only about three weeks old, emaciated, and the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I was on my way to Aspen for my opening at Mill Street Gallery. The veterinarian in Taos encouraged me to leave the sick puppy with him; he did not expect him to live to the end of the day. After a long discussion the vet gave me medicine for Elvis and told me I was in for heartache. A babydoll bottle from the five and dime and I was on the road. I fed and gave him medicine every two hours. I had an overcoat with me that had been my fathers. There was an oversized inside pocket and the baby Elvis lived right there nestled in a silk scarf next to my heartbeat. At the opening, I was greeting collectors and secretly bottle feeding my struggling companion. Each morning I would pray he was alive when I awoke. On my way back to Santa Fe I consulted with the vet who was astonished Elvis was not only alive, but improving. After a month of appointments and moments of deep concern Elvis began to turn hope into a reality, he was going to make it. For eighteen years and over 100 times, I painted Elvis the Rottweiler/Shepherd. This is one of my favorites. I hope you like it too. Thank you, thank you very much. - Rhett

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Gratitude

Each day about this time, I am uncertain for which I am most grateful, the grapefruit, the tea, the honey, or the little black dog that tries to eat my grapefruit and drink my tea.

The Difference Between a Sad Dog's Diary and a Sad Cat's Diary

A Sad Dog's Dairy.

A Sad Cats Diary.

Be the Person

Pieces of Me

​Pieces of Me

Throughout my career I have always used the image of a dog as a way to tell story. Sometimes it is my story, sometimes an observation. Pieces of Me is an insight into the fragmented world I live in. One moment I am an artist, the next a writer or actor, a husband, a Native American, a photographer, the guy who plays with the goats, a face in the crowd. The balance is placing the fragments just so and having them create a seamless image. Being whole.

Living in Two Worlds

Living in Two Worlds

When I was a child I would watch my father smoke a Camel Non-Filter standing at the front door and waiting for the morning paper delivery. I would get up at sunrise to have breakfast with him before he left for work. We drank our Folgers coffee black. He would read the paper and I would draw. What I would give to have just one more morning with him like that...