Welcome Dewey Beach Spring Golden Jubilee Members! 
Enjoy 10% off prints
now through the end of festivities on Sunday, May 12th
Enter code SPRINGGOLDENS2019 at checkout
​

Running Free

Running Free
11" x 14" oil on canvas by Ellen Rice.
Several sizes of gicle'e prints
available on paper and canvas.

Running Free

(Companion piece to Anticipation)
by Ellen Rice


Running Free has been on my mind to paint for a long time. It's painted from memory and a series of photos I took one summer way back when dogs were allowed to run freely on our state park beaches. (Yes, I know they still do. :)
​
Parked on a chair close to the water's edge with my husband and our son, Jeff, I often watched this Golden Retriever enjoy the freedom of playing in the surf.

He (she?) would run back and forth into the water countless times, chasing balls, sticks, chasing absolutely nothing, frolicking just for the joy of it, always running as fast as he or she could skedaddle on all fours back to its people. This happy dog was a seemingly tireless ball of salt water covered fur and always brought smiles to our faces.

We saw the same dog countless times that summer, sometimes accompanied by other dogs. At some point, I may do another painting of the black lab that another family had that played with the Golden. This smiling dog was a joy to paint.

I think I smiled back at him or her the whole time I painted! It was a happy time, a happy place, a very happy dog and now a very happy painting. Enjoy.

Ellen