Artwork description:

This print from the Sussex series is not a sober print, but one celebrating hunting dogs. We had four English Springer Spaniels in the family over thirty-five or more years. My mother did the initial training. She was a real dog whisperer from shooting a cap gun over the head as pups to obedience and beginning field training. She could be seen walking on the gravel road with the dog heeling beside her. In the clearing behind the cabin, she would throw a retrieving dummy scented with pheasant or quail. Training with hand signals and throwing clay pigeons were her specialty. A good retriever can save a lot of wounded birds and a Springer can do both flush and find. Years later my brother who lived out of state asked me if I would check on April and Star. I told him nothing was disturbed and I would send him a copy from the edition of prints. I took a picture in the late evening with the western sky brightest making the foreground dark with furrowed light. The print captures the evening stillness and quiet grace of the fading light in the forest behind the cabin. No other place is as suitable to celebrate a beloved hunting dog.

Materials used:

Daniel Smith Traditional Black Relief Ink on Zerkall Book Smooth Cream over Somerset Satin White 250gm

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