"how i became famous, as told by zoe, the boston terrier" ...written and illustrated by Celeste Vaught

Pets can enrich our lives in unimaginable ways. Those who know us understand how much we love our little Zoe, a Boston Terrier. Since she was a tiny, 2 pound baby, she wiggled her way into our hearts and has filled our lives with countless hours of laughter. On occasion the laughter turns to frustration...but those times are rare.

Anyway, it's been said that if you paint what you love, it will show. That's what I've done and thought it would be sweet to compile a collection of such paintings with a little story. "how i became famous, as told by zoe, the boston terrier" is the first book written and illustrated by Celeste Vaught. The illustrations throughout were created with acrylics and feature a loose, energetic style with a limited color palette throughout. The images have been described as full of joy and energy - the perfect description of Zoe! It's turned out really cute and is now available for those who are interested through blurb.com You can click the link below to enjoy a preview.

how i became f...

as told by zoe, the...

By story and illustr...

Book Preview

"Shorebirds"

I suppose I was longing for warm, summer weather when I painted this since we've had an ice storm this week. I've no idea what kind of birds these are, but I remember when they flew in as we sat on the beach in Florida I found them quite intriguing. I loved how they massed together moved in unison.

This was a little acrylic study on black paper - 8 x 10" in size.

"Hi There"

Whenever the doorbell rings, immediately Zoe runs to the door because she thinks company has come to see her. She gets so very excited. She stands up on her hind legs, dances around and if the guest leans over to see her, she jumps in the air planting a big, slobbery kiss right on their face. Oh how she loves visitors!

Acrylic on 8 x 10" black card stock.

"Third Prize"

Part of the inspiration for my current series was this painting of Zoe that I did back in mid-2006. I painted this acrylic "still life" from life tonight on 8 x 10" black cardstock. I purposely exaggerated the size of the painting/frame on the easel to improve the overall composition of this piece.

Play Ball!

A quicky tonight. Zoe in action...this is her thing! 9 x 12" acrylic on paper. This is how she plays "soccer".

"Let's Play" Video Demo

As promised, here's the acrylic painting session for "Let's Play" as seen in the previous post.

"Let's Play!" from Celeste Vaught on Vimeo.

"Let's Play!"

More than just about anything else, Zoe loves to play soccer...that's right, our 19 pound Boston Terrier is a soccer whiz. She can move the ball, a basketball by the way, a soccer ball's too small for her, anyway, she can move the ball across the yard in a heartbeat! She moves her little body from one side of the ball to the other, all the while running and pushing the ball with all her might. Once she gets it to you, she barks until you pick it up and hurl it to a distant place. That's when her other amazing feat might take place. If thrown just right, she'll leap in the air, catch it on her nose and bounce it a few times or run with it balancing on her nose like a circus animal. A sight to behold.

So, today, it was a sunny afternoon, and when she saw me coming outside she begged me, "let's play ball!" Here's a painting based on that instant in time when she hurried to find her ball so I'd play. I loved her little body leaping through the air and her mouth open - "smiling" with glee.

This is acrylics on Canson Montval Acrylic paper and is 9 x 12". A video of the painting process will follow.

"Atlas Life"

I've mentioned it before, but I'm convinced that both views on Boston Avenue right in the heart of downtown Tulsa are my favorite place downtown. This one focuses on the famous neon Atlas Life sign illuminated as darkness descends upon the city.

This was completed with acrylics on Canson Acrylic Paper and measures 9 x 12".

"South on Boston" from Downtown Dawning Series

So, I took a break from painting Zoe and got out the oils for a change. In fact, this is the first oil in the "Downtown Dawning" series. It's a cool view looking..."South on Boston" in downtown Tulsa from about 4th Street or so. In the distance you can see the historic deco structure, Boston Avenue Church. Left is the very cool neon Atlas Life sign. I liked how the shadowed buildings created a nice frame around the distant architecture. The painting is 12 x 16" on prepped hardboard panel and will be suitably framed.

Detail of loose brushwork:

"Meeting Peanut"

When Zoe was about a year old she had the opportunity to stay the weekend with her "cousin" Peanut, a Boston Terrier about a year older than Zoe. They got along like a house on fire and Zoe learned the "ways" from Peanut, like how to bark like you mean it, how to play til you drop.

Here's a little acrylic painting based on a photo of them getting to know one another.

"Pick Me!"

Here's another little acrylic on black card stock based on a tiny photo of the day we went to pick out Zoe, our Boston Terrier. She's the one of the left end. She made it very clear, despite her small 2 lb. size, with the biggest voice she could muster that she was to go home with us!

"Watching TV with Zoe"

So, after the success and enjoyment of painting "In the Living Room with Zoe", I just got on a roll and did this preliminary sketch from life using soapstone on black card stock. I liked the composition and decided to do the next one with acrylics on a new piece of 8 x 11" black card stock.

Here's the planning sketch and then the final painting.

"In Living Room with Zoe"

Just had to do a little "sketch" tonight to be painting something. Who better to paint than my little studio guest, Zoe, my Boston Terrier. So, this little acrylic was done on 8 x 11" black card stock.

"Up Boston...Not quite a Nocturne"

Just experimenting with palette variations and focusing on simplifying forms and getting good value variations. I wondered if I could pull off a nocturne using a panel toned with warm yellows...well, doesn't exactly read nocturne, more like late afternoon, early evening, but I did like the end results nonetheless!

Acrylic on 16 x 12" prepped panel. Another take on the same scene, looking north on Boston Avenue from 5th Street. I loved the way the bands of lights on the Williams Building lined up and although I set out to focus on the Atlas Life sign, as I was simplifying into rather basic forms, those lights in that building as well as the glowing top of the 320 S. Boston Building took over.

"Hotel Ambassador"

One of downtown Tulsa's treasures, Hotel Ambassador had its beginnings associated with Tulsa's "Oil Capitol of the World" days. Read about the history of the hotel here. If you're in Tulsa, be sure to go by and see the restored hotel and all its splendor.

My 12 x 9" acrylic on stretched canvas painting showcases the lovely arched entrance with the warm glow of lights inviting one to "come inside".

"Hotel Ambassador" is a nice addition to my "Downtown Dawning" series as the subject is an example of the commitment of individuals to Tulsa's urban renewal.