2025.08 GLOBAL PAINTING CONCLAVE

TITLE: A MOTHER’S LOVE  aka Mamma Floe & Baby Spunky

THEME: ANIMALS

EXHIBITION LOCATION: NOVA SCOTIA/CANADA

THE BACK STORY

This painting’s origins started several beginnings. 1, I started “collecting” black Giant Schnauzers chosen because I wanted a big dog and my then boyfriend wanted a Scotty. In my research I found a gigantic Scotty…the Giant Schnauzer. The Giant in this painting was FLOE aka CAJUN FLO in honor of my mother, FLO. 

Fast forward, at the time I had my first 2 Giants, Hoss and Floe.  Rodney and I went for a Christmas picnic off the coast of California on the Channel Island, Santa Crus.  A conservancy was returning the island back to its pre-white development days by removing any and all non-indigenous animals and fauna.  Each day There were 3 in the pen where we were picnicking that were born on Christmas Day.  I pointed out how cute the tiny spunky one was. 

We went home with Spunky but when Rodney mentioned how good he’d be as Bar-B-Q’ed, he didn’t realize that once an animal comes into my life, it stays forever.

That winter was the coldest I’d ever experienced so I turned my dining room a manger.  Neighbors donated newspapers (remember those) for under the straw.  It was so cute and fun bottle feeding this baby with the help of Floe my female Giant. 

Spunky was mothered by Floe (as seen in the painting) and rough housed with Hoss, my dormant male Giant. 

Spunky lived in my backyard, which I called, “The Far Back” for 16 years, a very long and loved life.  In a herd, his lifespan might have been 7 or 8 years if he were lucky.

And yes, I sheared him, tried spinning his wool but finally hired someone to do in 10 minutes what took me a hard week’s work. 
MEDIUM: Acrylic Paper Watercolor

SIZE:     YEAR: