The Ottawa Dog Blog had the chance to interview pet artist, Lisa Graziotto of The Howling Canvas. Her portraits of dogs carry a beautifully expressive style and are alive with vibrant colours.

Name: Lisa Graziotto ~ The Howling Canvas
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Website: thehowlingcanvas.com
Blog: thehowlingcanvas.blogspot.com

What kind of Dog Art do you do?
I’m a contemporary portrait painter who works in oil.

How did you get into doing dog-related artwork?
Initially, I did a drawing of a dog when I was very young…I use this drawing in my bio because I think my destiny to become an artist was sealed for me at an early age…several years ago when my dog Dylan passed away, I found myself sitting alone in the studio missing him and so I started to draw then paint his portrait…then I moved on to another dog portrait, then another until I had both a portfolio and the confidence to show the work in public…I started off with a few dogs shows then moved up to the One of a Kind Show before a few American galleries pursued my work to be hung in their space…since then, I have been receiving commissions from clients around the world who have seen my work either online, at a gallery, in a show or on television.

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Ottawa Dog Blog had the chance to interview local business, Okwari Essentials who makes beautiful rustic dog feeders.

Name: Star Horn and Tristyn Kaitt
Location: Between Carleton Place and Perth, Ontario (approx. 45 min to Ottawa)
Website: okwari.ca

What kind of Dog Business do you do?
We make rustic Pet Feeders. These follow along in our rustic benches style of furniture, meaning they are made with various types of recycled pieces or fsc approved wood, and if they do not already appear roughed up enough then we add dents and scratches then sand, stain and finish them. They are usually in the shape of a dog bone (or for cats, a fish). They come with two stainless steel bowls and can be made in various heights to suit the pet.

How did you get into doing dog-related business?
I think out of necessity. We started with the benches simply because my son needed a spot to sit in the mudroom and put his boots on. Our dogs needed a nice place to house their dishes and we wanted them to be able to eat and drink in a more ergonomic position. It was fun and it was cheaper to make our own. Then one customer also had two cats and needed a feeder to accommodate 3 bowls. There we were, making Pet Feeders for everyone.

When did you first realize you are a wordworker?
Hmmm, I don’t know if that is truely what I am…i’m constantly learning. Out of necessity, again, i’ve had to fix things around the house. There’s always something that needs to be done and the more you put on a brave face and tackle it yourself, the more you learn, the more confident one becomes. Eventually you get really brave, you buy more power tools, you research, you study other people’s methods, then you try to build something bigger and more complex. Then you get REALLY brave and sell your creations to the public!!

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