b'THE ART OF DOGArt is the Illusion of Spontaneity by Anna Cooke and Suzanne Sheran*Every cover, since our first issue published in 2006, has featured an original work of art by a different artist. This issues cover artist is New Yorker Suzanne Sheran. She has a Florida connection with family in Boynton Beach. Works of Arf is her collection of dog portraits. Suzannes paint style is alla prima, an approach that takes advantage of spontaneity. However, the artists skill and intuition must be acutely fine tuned to match colors and value. Monet, Van Gogh and Czanne painted in the alla prima style. What follows, is the artists perspective on life and work, in her own words. Hazel, the dog on the cover, is a Silken Windhound, an American breed of sighthound. Hazel, with a neck as long and graceful as Audrey Hepburns, has quite the following on her Instagram page @hazelthesilken.Suzanne Sheran, Lucy & MaxAs an artist already working in other cre-ative fields, I had the notion, one day, to paintaportraitofmy Wheaten Terrier, Lucy. I just thought it would be for fun. After friends saw the finished portrait, they began asking if I would paint their dogs and Works of Arf took off from there. Combiningmytwoloves,artand dogs, into a career seems so obvious now, but it took my muse, Lucy, coming into my life,forthatepiphanytohappen.That portrait hangs in our family room. Lucy is 10 years old now. She isfunny, neurotic, affectionate (on her terms only) andalwaysathighalertforbunniesto chase.Sheisaweirdoandwewouldnt have it any other way. Max is our seven-year-oldStandardBernedoodle,an80 pound doofus, and a total mommas boy. He adores the whole family, but wherever I am, thats where he wants to be. He is alwaysinmystudiolookingforchin scratches. Lucy is more independent and will woof from upstairs if she needs me.44 THE NEW BARKER'