Xiao Blue and Haru: The end of 2013

Haru and Xiao Blue

The last piece I completed in 2013.

We are a family (2 kids, 2 parents, 2 grandparents) that loves dogs and, at the same time, has various allergies to animals.  The solution for us was 'designer dogs'.  We first adopted Xiao Blue, an Australian Shepherd and Standard Poodle mix.  At the time of our search my daughter asked her then 3 year old daughter what kind of dog she wanted.  Reply:  BLUE.  So mom searched for blue merl and found our first dog, bred on a Mennonite farm near Hamilton, Ontario Canada.  When he returned to his new home, he was named Xiao (little in Chinese...as was the daughter) Blue.

Years pass and some one...still don't know how it was decided...drove back to the Mennonite farm for a dog companion for Mr. Blue.  His sister Haru (Japanese for spring when she was born) shares the same Poodle father.  Haru's mother is a Golden Retriever.  The two dogs could not be more different.

Mr Blue is incredibly smart.  Understands 100's of words...even in conversation.  While Ms. Haru is a delightful DOG.  Wacky and wonderful.  

This year I decided to gift the parents and kids with the dogs' portrait for Christmas.  The background is a piece of blue fabric that is aptly printed with very faint Chinese characters.

I matted and framed the piece and it now hangs in the family office/study.

Ms. Haru

Mr. Blue