Rufus ABC's

I am sure that by now, if you know me, you know Rufus - that handsome lil’ character shown above and also the inspiration for my painting and philanthropic career. Well now he is at the center [literally] of a new program I am announcing today. My sweet Rufus' image, that I painted as an original, will be printed on a blank canvas, and then I will paint on/around (in art vocabulary that’s called embellish) the rest of the canvas in a theme related to each specific letter of the alphabet. Get it? Rufus' ABC's!



This concept is a first for me! So, let me expand on the process... it is part limited edition and part original. The edition part of these pieces makes them more economical yet the original part allows you the opportunity to have a large (30 x 30) Burns piece on your wall that you can actually see all the brushstrokes and vividness associated with my hand-painted, signature style!

You can see black and white and a few color sketches of all the pieces here, now. Next you’ll see the rest of the color sketches going up as I complete them. And, finally we will post all the paintings as they are finished.

Please take a minute to check them out. I hope you enjoy the images, the titles - alliterations - and the images of my boy Rufus. I think they would make a great birthday, anniversary, mother's or father's day gift or be the perfect image for a baby or kid's room - pick "your" letter before it's gone!

Best,
Ron
Rufus' Dad

Thanks to Two Plates Full

A very big "Thanks" to Terri and the wonderful staff at Two Plates Full for a great booksigning and for using our Furever Homes Raffle Program. I stayed an extra hour signing books with a percentage going to help r.e.s.c.u.e.. Over $1000.00 was raised to help find furever homes.

One lucky winner received their choice of any Burns limited edition valued at $2000. And three runner's up won a $100 gift certificate.


Ron and Terri

Links:
Two Plates Full
r.e.s.c.u.e.
Rufus Rhymes Book
FureverHomes Program

Rhyming w/ Rufus

Rufus, the lead character in my series of lullaby books for dogs, has his very own blog at www.rufusrhymes.com. There, every Wednesday he posts a topic and starts out the rhyming with his own witty little rhyme. Last week, his rhyme was about Animal Planet and went a little something like this...

I love to watch me some Animal Planet
Everything seems so real
But when I forget it's only TV
It takes my nose a day to heal



His rhyming ways must have seeped into my Facebook friends too, because I got this great comment from my friend DeEtte Starr in Silicon Valley, California after she received her copy of Rufus Rhymes.

(to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle)
I just got my book today
Read it through and just must say
Love it dearly,
Yes I do.
Looking forward to Book 2.
Forward grabbed my heart away
Rufus lives on to this day.

The Latest

I thought I'd take a moment to do a sort of week end wrap-up for all those interested parties.

The first part of this week was spent in Flagstaff, Arizona with my girls (my wife Buff and our two girls Loganberry and Emma). The weather was great and the house we stayed at had a great porch for Emma, who LOVES the outdoors, to lay on almost 24/7. We did a lot of hiking, which our whole family really enjoys and took some much needed R&R time.

Now, though, it's back to reality and there's some really great things happening in the world that I want to share with everyone.

First, Rachael Ray is doing a REALLY GREAT thing. She's donating about $200,000 to shelters from the sale of her Nutrish(TM) dog food. Animal welfare organizations can sign up to be a part of a bracket-style contest, and potentially win the $50,000 grand prize, while collecting $1,000 at each tier of the contest. The program is called Mutt Madness, and you can read about/enter by visiting http://blog.rachaelray.com/index.php/2009/08/06/announcing-mutt-madness-a-rewards-program-for-animal-activists/.

Secondly, North Carolina just did a REALLY GREAT thing. According to the article posted by ohmidog! the state just passed a bill that "calls upon the Department of Agriculture to establish basic humane care standards. It requires facilities with more than 10 female dogs and more than 30 puppies to register with the state, undergo yearly inspections and provide proper veterinary care." To learn more about it, visit: http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/08/07/nc-senate-passes-puppy-mill-bill/

Third, I just found out that I have a couple of RV-loving "buddies" at RV Buddies Online. The team is a few people rolling around the country talking RVs in their original on-line series. And, they must be good people because they support Prize, Not Fighter - my partnership with The HSUS to stop dog fighting and make sure that everyone knows dogs are to be prized, not fought. They're also a-okay in my book, because they are accompanied by a couple of dogs, Tobias and Alexander P. Bull (Tobias just passed away about a month ago and my thoughts are with his family). To check out the whole crew and a moving tribute to Tobias, visit: http://www.rvbuddiesonline.com/buddies/.

And lastly, I can't let Rachael Ray and North Carolina show me up! So, I'm giving away a Rufus Rhymes book, set of note cards, and a SIGNED LIMITED EDITION print to one lucky Facebook friend. So go join, befriend me, and I'll tell you how to win!

Rhyme Tyme fun on RufusRhymes.com

As promised yesterday, today’s entry is about the latest development on RufusRhymes.com – the beginning of good old fashioned rhyming fun on the Rufus Blog. Each Wednesday there will be a new topic for people to contribute their own rhymes to. The premiere topic is something very close to my heart, wagging tails! Go to the blog at http://www.ronburns.com/rufusrhymes/blog/index.php.

And my contribution is simple...

Furry, straight, or nubs, tail wags are fine by me

With treats in hand, wagging tails are all I see

Join the fun and add yours today!

Facebook... But More to Come!

Ok, I've been a little absent lately on the blog side of things. With all the Rufus Rhymes craziness, commissions, painting my annual holiday piece, and still trying to paint other originals for people, I've been a little busy! But here are my latest brilliant Facebook friends and the little blurbs they have for my paintings. Then, I hope to be able to introduce you all later this week to the Rufus Rhymes blog... but more on that later... I'll leave you all drooling to hear more!

Because I'm a little behind, today you get two bests... The first is from a summertime painting of two dogs enjoying a pool called "Make'n a Splash." It was originally done at a commission, but soon after made into a limited edition as well. The winning entry comes from Gerry B. from right here in HOT, HOT Phoenix. She has a couple of cats and a dog, and a whole photo album dedicated to them, which makes her a-okay in my book! If you can't read the words, the top dog is saying, "Look out below!" while the bottom dog is saying, "La, La, La, La, La....Oooh Noooo!"



Then, the next image comes from Rufus Rhymes and although more than one person said this response ("My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades"), I thought it was great and have to give credit to the first person who said it, which was Christine R. from New Boston, Michigan. Besides 80's music references, Christine also enjoys Harleys and art.


Thanks so all my Facebook friends who continue to make my day with all these great entries. Keep 'em coming!

My Latest Genius Facebook Friend

For Take Your Dog to Work Day, I put up a very executive level painting (see below) and asked my Facebook friends what this tie-clad dog might be thinking if his people took him to work that Friday. There was a LOT of humorous competition for this one, so the person that won must REALLY be brilliant! She Melissa F., a pre-school teacher who yesterday was having a very up and down day. Hopefully, this will make today an "up" day for her!

If you can't read the type, her winning response was, "You're probably wondering why I called this meeting..."



My next bubble contest focuses on Rufus Rhymes, which is now available for purchase for only $8.99 at www.rufusrhymes.com. This is the first painting from the dog-centric lullaby,
"Twinkle, Twinkle I'm a Star." To post your comments, become my friend or fan on Facebook!

Fourth of July

Life is still busy, busy, busy here at Burns' Studio. I'm working on a couple of commissions and trying to work in painting this year's holiday piece. I'm excited that in just a week and a half Rufus Rhymes starts the pre-order and even happier that people will start to get them in their hands soon after! This project has been a labor of love for me for years and I'm so excited to see it finally in the end stages. But, that also just means I have to start work on the second Rufus Rhymes installment! Oh brother!

Well, that's it for your old pal Ron for today. I am wishing everyone a SAFE and happy Fourth of July. Here's an article about keeping your pets safe too http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/07/02/akc-4th-of-july-tips/!

Be Kind

Well, this week is "Be Kind to Animals Week" and although I believe everyday is a day to be kind to animals, I figured I'd be especially kind to my "girls" Emma and Logan this week with extended walks and special treats. This week has also given me the opportunity to read them bedtime stories from my upcoming book, Rufus Rhymes. I think they really loved it, and I think you'll really love it too... more updates on that to come later!

InsPAWration - The Funny Things Animals Do

As you probably know by now, I'm hard at work on my new book. My first book The Dogs of Ron Burns took a serious tone as it highlighted working dogs, like those that do search and rescue. This book, titled Rufus Rhymes, will be much lighter as the book's imagery is inspired by the playful and everyday humorous anecdotes everyone with animals in their home sees on a daily basis.

Here are a few of my favorite animal related funnies...

From The Onion: Dog Experiences Best Day of His Life for 400th Consecutive Day
"SANTEE, CA—Family dog Loki experienced the best day of his life for the 400th straight day Monday, the black Labrador retriever reported. "I got to go outside! I got to sniff the bush!" Loki said, wagging excitedly. "I saw a squirrel and I barked at it and it ran up the tree! Then I came back inside, and the smoky-smelling tall man let me have a little piece of bacon and then I drank from the toilet!" Loki will experience the best day of his life once again tomorrow, when he digs a hole, chews on a slipper, and almost catches his tail"
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/32953

From an E-mail a Collector Sent: The Diaries

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary....

8 AM - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 AM - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 AM - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 AM - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5 PM - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
10 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a cat's diary....

Day 983 of my captivity - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfect clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Damn them!

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now....