Title:“Wind, Earth, Water”
Artist: Cindy Alvarado-Yeary
Size: 18″ X 24″
Medium: Watercolor
Price: Inquire
Contact National Purebred Dog Day to inquire about purchasing this piece.
Painting Details: I was excited to learn that the theme for this competition was diversity, as I think that is what is thrilling about the world of the purebred dog. The immense variety of purpose and appearance of different breeds has always captivated me as an artist, and I love studying breed standards and capturing their diversity on paper.
I thought carefully about this theme and what it meant to me before deciding on my breeds, my palette and composition. I decided to title it “Wind, Earth, Water” for the beauty and variety of breeds in this world, each with its own unique purpose. The ancient breed of Greyhound represents wind, floating in an airborne gallop from past to future. The Collie represents earth, herding sheep with cheerful determination, helping people on earth in so many ways. The American Water Spaniel puppy, a rare breed originating in the United States, represents water, gazing into the future from an azure lake. The history of each breed is fascinating, and breeders have created living works of history and art through their dedication. I decided to use watercolor as my medium for this painting, as I wanted to incorporate the diversity of my medium as well, the loose washes flowing into each other, the layered luminosity of washes and dry brush, and the delicate, tightly painted details. I chose to unify my composition of three scenes with similar elements of landscape, air and water flowing into each other. Each of these breeds means a lot to me personally as well, since I have had Collies most of my life and we now have a Greyhound. I have not had the pleasure of owning an American Water Spaniel, but have had several wonderful English Cocker Spaniels. Capturing the diversity of three very different breeds with what they are bred to do led to a painting that came from the heart.
Artist’s thoughts: Short dogs, tall dogs, smooth and rough coated dogs, all kinds of dogs have enthralled me and captured my heart since my earliest days. My favorite books were books about dogs, my heroes were those who illustrated them. I grew up with a smart, funny Dachshund, and all my dreams came true on my 10th birthday when my sable Collie, King, came into my life. We were an inseparable pair in obedience classes, which started me on my lifelong love of dog sports. In my late teens, another beautiful Collie came into my life, and I started obedience training in earnest with him. He was my first obedience titled dog, and brought me into the fantastic world of dogs shows, where I not only have met lifelong friends, but also started on my art career. I have been involved in dog shows since those early days, both as a participant exhibiting both my dogs ( Collies and English Cocker Spaniels) and my art at shows, and as an avid observer. The breeds that have been in my heart and life are Collies, English Cocker Spaniels, and now a Greyhound.
My art career in dogs also started in in those early days of showing my Collie. I have always been fascinated by the beautiful variety of dogs, the eagerness with which they pursue the goals for which they were bred, and the quality that they all have in common–their immense heart. I love capturing the spirit and unique conformation of different breeds in my paintings and drawings. I have won national awards at the Art Show at the Dog Show, an international juried show. I am a member of the Artists Registry at the AKC Museum of Dog, and one of my watercolor paintings, “Playtime” is in the permanent collection of the AKC Museum of the Dog. I have also exhibited my work in juried shows at the William Kenton Gallery at the International Museum of the Horse in Kentucky Horse Park, the Raymond James Financial Art Show, and the International Miniature Art Show (Miniature Art Society of Florida). My artwork has been featured in Dog Fancy magazine, Dogs USA, The Samoyed Quarterly, Hawaii Magazine, Collie Cues magazine, and the Collie Review. I was fortunate to create the 100th Anniversary logo for the American Shetland Sheepdog Association in 2011 and the Best of Breed trophy for the 125th Anniversary of the Collie Club of America in 2011. In 2014 I taught watercolor and acrylic painting at Midway University. Last year I was honored to be asked to create a painting for Take the Lead, which was auctioned at a live gala auction in 2015 with all proceeds benefiting Take the Lead. The Collie Club of America was the first breed club to sponsor this event, and since it took place in Kentucky, my painting depicted a Thoroughbred foal with puppies from all seven groups, with the Collie puppy taking the foal’s lead. My models were all beautiful puppies owned by the friends that I have made over the years in the dog show world, and was truly a labor of love. One of the most wonderful things that I have found about being involved in art and dog sports is that I have not only been lucky enough to paint and draw many gorgeous dogs of all breeds, but to make lifelong friends in the world of dog sports.