Strays of San Xavier
Posted: February 6, 2024 Filed under: Uncategorized 248 CommentsDuring my recent workshop weeks in Tucson, we spent a day drawing at the San Xavier del Bac Mission. It’s a very special place, and my drawings of the mission will be coming soon, but I had so much fun drawing the stray dogs from there that I thought I’d post them first.
We spent the day sketching on the plaza that faces the church. At first we had the place to ourselves but one by one, about half a dozen strays appeared. They were gentle dogs who were clearly well fed and had no intentions other than to keep us company. They milled around and dug holes in the dirt under a tree. One of them walked across a sketchbook that I had carelessly left on the ground. Several of them eventually napped in the shade under our stools. They were good company for the dog lovers among us. We shared our lunch leftovers with them, but they ate their portions slowly and carefully — turkey first, cheese next, bread after that, and finally lettuce and tomatoes.
It was hard to capture their poses in my sketchbook while I was teaching, but I took many photos and added them in later with my water-soluble fountain pen.
A special note: If you read this post, please send me a comment or a like. It seems to me that the subscribers on my WordPress blog have all disappeared. It may be a glitch, but it would help if I knew that this was making its way to you.
Got your blog post. Great dog sketches!
Happy thoughts from Riley in Sweden 🙂
PHEW!! Thanks Riley!
Thank you for sharing the dogs.
My pleasure Libby!!
Yes, fun to see the dogs. As a dog lover, I love looking at dog pictures.
Thanks Donna!!
Got it! Thanks again for all the great information!
Christy
Thanks Christy!!
Still here!
Susan
Great!!
Get your blog posts and notifications by email so I don’t usually bother to go to your website but ALWAYS enjoy seeing your work👍👍.
Thanks so much Paul!!
I’m here too!
Always a pleasure to see your sketches and to read about your adventures!😍
Marilyn, thank you!!
Love your drawings!
Thanks Frieda!
Maybe you should do an online tutorial about drawing (dogs)
Loving your posts! Tucson is a sweet, beautiful memory. 💕
Brenda Swenson http://www.SwensonsArt.net
For me too!!
Hi Shari. I got you blog
Thanks so much!
Love your work. Have been following for years
Susan, thank you so much. That means a lot.
Great dog sketches! I received your post, and am a long time follower and fan 🙂
Ginny, Glendale CA
Ginny, thanks for letting me know! What a relief.
I still get them and read them all. Love those dog sketches. And working with watersoluble pens for shading
Thanks Dan. Glad my subscribers are still out there. What a relief.
And a big yes to those watersoluble pens!
got it! Always so pleased to follow you around through your lovely sketches! Thank you so much for sharing
Brigitte in Virginia
Thanks for letting me know Brigitte!!
Received your drawings of stray dogs. Always looking forward to your posts.
Many thanks Sharon!!
I am loving your posts, Shari! These stray dogs sketches are really terrific. Also, a belated congratulations on your move!
Thanks Kathy!!
You had given us a heads up about the dogs so I was prepared. They really were good company but, then, I was in very good company among your students.
Michael, we were in good company with you too! You can join me anytime!!
I love your posts
Thanks Susan!!
I look forward to your Sketchbook Blog. It inspires me to doing sketches more often than painting a full half sheet watercolor painting.
Thanks Barbara. Yes, I agree. Even if I don’t have time for a bigger painting, a sketch still makes me feel like I accomplished something.
Always enjoy your varied studies – this time of dogs. Thanks!
Thanks for having a look!
Love seeing the doggies and hearing about sketching with them. As a dog lover, that would have made my day!
They were very sweet dogs! And they made my day too.
I LOVE your posts and am receiving them!
Denise – Austin, TX
Thanks Denise!!
I love to see dogs in sketches – I include them, too! And I like the use of water soluble ink! Thanks for sharing your sketches.
Thanks so much!!
Very nice 👌 Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Kate!
Nice!
Thanks!
Love the doggos!
Thanks Amanda!
Got it thru me ema
Great!
The wonderful dogs of San Xavier have found their way to me.
I’m happy they did!!
I always marvel at your talent!
Gretta, thanks for having a look!
Love the dog sketches!
Thanks Brenda!
Love the dog sketches and your description of their eating pattern. So funny. I did have a glitch trying to comment on my computer but it seems to be going ok on my iPhone. We will see. I love all of your work and am so inspired.
Thanks so much Mary! The dogs reminded me of picky school children.
As for the glitch about the comments, that has been happening a lot lately. I’m not sure why.
Love the dogs!
Thanks Cynthia!
You captured their gentleness so well!
Je reçois tes toujours tes courriels… et ce, avec grand plaisir!
I love these, Shari!
I spent a day at the church of San Xavier about a year ago and also painted in the square. I only saw one or two dogs but I was intrigued by the native families selling food in their makeshift stalls. How different they look from the pueblo people in my area. The church also fascinated me because of its relative extravagance in comparison to pueblos churches.
A return trip is in order for me! The journey from Albuquerque is an easy day’s drive with lots of great sights along the way.
Peggy herrick
Even the pups love your workshop! Very nice sketches.
Haha, I guess so.
The dog sketches are great. I love your little stories.
what a wonderful class! I’m glad the dogs were mellow and enjoyed everyone’s company. A very special sketching opportunity.
Everyone enjoyed having the dogs around. They kept us entertained.
I know that Mission – a beautiful place and very unique for the area. It seems you got out beyond the resort more this year.
San Xavier is a favorite spot – I love the image of your group painting in the square, surrounded by dogs. Thank you for all of your inspiring sketches!!
The blog is making its way to Newmarket New Hampshire just fine. Thank you.
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Great!!
Shari
I Love your puppies :).
A few years ago, I was in a small town outside of Puebla, Mexico. There were some stray dogs hanging out near our restaurant.
They were friendly, but their situation seemed dire. They were starving and appeared to survive by their wits.
Today’s sketches bring me joy – it is refreshing to see well treated strays 🙂
Yes, I was happy to see that they were cared for. I’ve also seen really scraggly strays in other parts of the world. Thanks for having a look at these, Chris.
These dogs are delightful.
Thanks Sheila!!
Glad the dogs were happy in your classes company.
I think they were. And they made us happy too.
I always enjoy your art and sketching stories. Thanks!
San Xavier is one of my favorite places to visit in AZ, although I haven’t been there in several years and didn’t know about the dogs. Your sketches are delightful. I’m excited to see your paintings.
Love these sketches. What a treat to sketch at San Xavier for a day. Wish I could have been there.
Dogs are great company
They sure are.
Such sweet looking strays!
They were sweet dogs. I tried to capture that in my sketches.
Love these sketches Shari.
Thanks Pamela!
Shari….i
I need to unsubscribe from this please. Do not want a bunch of comments.
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I’m a faithful blog follower, but have refrained from commenting because I know how busy must be and don’t want you to feel compelled to “like” my comment (which is just gushing, anyway!).
David, I appreciate that but it’s nice to hear from you today.
I get your posts and read all of them. It is wonderful to see your work.
Sandee
Thanks for the dog sketches. What a fun memory.
Thanks Dianne!
Email received, thank you!
We’re still here, just milling around and bumming snacks!
haha!
Got it. By email too
I received your blog post. Love the dog sketches!
I’m not sure if my comment went through, but I received your blog post.
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Love the dogs. Always inspired by your sketches.
Hi Shari
I would be lost without your blog, so am here to gratefully say it arrived in my email. (You have to secretly be glad that I wasn’t sketching with you as I ALWAYS have dog cookies in my pocket…the dogs would have been climbing on the artists!!!) All the best to you from the Rockies!
Lori, the dogs would have loved you and would have ALL slept at your feet, leaving the rest of us alone to sketch. Thanks for writing and for following!
Love the strays!
Thanks Christine!!
Hi Shari, receive your posts regularly in my email. All good! I enjoy your blog and love your sketches and painting, the mix of line and colour. Beauty in my in box. Thank you!
Cat, thank you!!
Here and loving your work as always!
🙂
Yes I love your posts. Fran in calgary
Fran, thanks so much for writing!!
I’m sorry, we are all disappearing! I for one want to stay on your blog. I don’t often respond but I really appreciate the inspiration and encouragement
you give me to keep up with my art and be more consistent in drawing and painting the everyday things about me. Thank you.
Gerry, thanks for writing. I think my list is intact but for some reason I can’t access it so it seems like everyone is gone. Glad you are all still here.
Hello Shari, you’re coming through loud and clear on The Anthem of the Seas Caribbean Cruise. I’m sitting in the Music Hall Bar, waiting for Acapulco Gold from Mexico to begin their show. And I’m drinking Painkillers.
And your puppies look good to me, all 20 of them. ❤️ Bonnie
Wonderful site. I’m hoping to take a class someday
Hi Shari, overjoyed to still be receiving your amazing posts. Like so many others who have responded here, I too am such a fan of your work. I hope Alice wasn’t jealous of not being your “model” this time.
Denise, glad you are still here. As for Alice, she was just happy to have us home again.
Your post came through fine, Shari. Just when I was thinking, “Doesn’t Alice need a little friend?’ it sounds like these dogs are doing quite well on their own.
Haha, I don’t think I need another dog to worry about when I travel, so the strays did not come home in my suitcase.
I’m here too! Such a sweet dog story. Our dog has passed, but we are excited to pet every dog in our neighborhood and get our “dog fix”!
Thanks Terry. I hope I gave you a virtual dog fix!
So glad I’m still on the list. I love your sketchbook entries and your tutorials.
Sheila
Great to hear, Sheila. Thanks so much.
I got the wonderful sketches of the dogs and enjoyed it. Some day, when and if you have time, maybe you could talk about your use of water soluble pen. I assume you go beyond “make a line in ink and then use a water brush.” Am I naive? Frank in Mount Vernon
Hi Frank. Thanks for writing. I would love to talk about my water-soluble pen. In fact, I am working on a new issue of my newsletter “The Wheelbarrow”. I will do a little step by step in that. But in short, yes, I draw and then I wet the line. And these beautiful tones appear.
Yes , received it and as always enjoyed your art and travel stories !
I get your posts and enjoy them, thanks so much!
Thanks Tracey!!
Hi Shari – it comes through just fine. I just have a love hate relationship with WordPress – i had an account years ago that i closed but it won’t let me comment without signing in – so I’ve just given up and created an account again so I can comment!!!! Love these many poses of the doggies –
Thanks for writing Kris. WordPress has been especially problematic lately but I don’t want to give up on using it since I have such a long history here. But I did panic today when I thought everyone has disappeared. Glad you are all still around.
Thankfully I still get your messages.
Thankfully for me too Elly!
Love the dogs!
Hi, Shari! I get your emails but always need to switch to your sketchbook to see the art. I very much enjoy what you do and your explanations.
I always look forward to these posts. Thanks Sheri!
Thanks Shari, I am continuing to enjoy reading your emails from Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
Wish I could have been there. It has been so long since I have taken the time to just sit and sketch.
I enjoyed your stray dog sketches.
Cathy
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I read all of your posts and so enjoy seeing your paintings! Please don’t stop posting!
Yep, I’m still here too!
Loved your stray sketches! Always interesting reading about what you’re up to and how you sketch it. Thank you!
How lovely to have dog companions while painting!!
I am receiving and enjoying all your posts!
Love the dogs and a great idea to use the water soluble pen. I get your blog through Feedly and look forward to reading your posts every time they show up.
I am always here, just not talking much. Love your dog sketches. I am from New York.
I always enjoy your posts! From Seattle!
Hi Shari lovely dog drawings! I am getting your post. So not all of us are lost!
Hi. I received your post. I always enjoy reading them. The dogs look very sweet in your sketched. Mary
These are delightful! A wonderful way to remember something unusual on a sketching day. I receive all of your posts, which are always a highlight of the day.
❤️❤️❤️
•••Karimobile
514 9944433
Safely received, but having difficulty letting you know! WordPress not making it easy…
Love your posts, Shari.
Lesley
Love these doggies.
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I always love your posts. Please keep them coming.
Safely received, Shari, and I love those dogs.
Lesley
Nice story about the stray dogs!
Always enjoy your posts! Thanks
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I remember those mellow dogs. Was the scaffolding off the church?
Thanks Shari, I love how you caught the positions of the dogs. Pleased to hear they were well fed!
Great drawings.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
Shari I very much enjoy receiving your pictures so please keep them coming Shari. I like to do watercolours myself from time to time and I enjoy looking at your techniques and especially like some of your technical explanations of how to achieve them. I like the dog drawings also Ralph Sent from my iPhone
Kind Regards, Ralph Bailey Consultant B Arch (First Class Hons) , LFRAIA, AIA Meanjin – Brisbane | 19 Terrace St , Toowong QLD 4066 0402 074 946 | ralph@guymerbailey.com.au | GB-A.au We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. This email and all contents are subject to the following disclaimer, please click here to read.
Enjoyed your strays.
Your posts are coming! The dogs seemed to be compliant subjects for your sketches. Nice. Enjoy the warm climate, a respite from the East coast.
Loved your “strays” sketches. I live in Tucson, and have been to San Xavier, but I don’t remember seeing the dogs.
Muy bonito boceto de perros!
I enjoy reading each & every one of your posts! You are such a talented artist who can take the most ordinary subject & paint it into a beauty.
I enjoy all your posts—and marvel at your fresh, beautiful sketches. Love your clean, vivid colors.
Thank you for sharing your work.
It sounds like you had an enjoyable time and the strays as well.
Love your strays
Getting thru to me.
Glad those lovely animals are being fed somehow! Super sketches
Nice doggies! Don’t do that in India though! They flip in a nano second and the pack attacks you!
Love your dog drawings. Of course, you have practice with Alice.
Yes, I like the dogs, too I don’t often reply to your emails, because I figured you had plenty of email to manage, and still have time to paint.
Claire Russell.
I’m still here!
Still with you, Shari, but I don’t often comment as I’ve always assumed you have more comments than you can handle. However, if this isn’t the case, I’ll be sure to check in more often to let you know how much I appreciate your sharing your sketching with all of us who follow you. By the way, I have bought ALL your online tutorials, and I love them and learn so much each and every time. Keep sketching girl, we love ya!
always love your content – brightens my spirit to see a Shari Blaukopf blog – hope you get this
Hello !
Thank you for keeping this blog, you always bring reminders to keep on sketching with your excellent inspiration.
Does Alice know about this infidelity?????(haha)
I love your doggie doodles!
Love your dogs and story….. and your lettering. A joy to view.
Got it! And thank you for your ever inspiring newsletter!
Love reading your posts. What you are up to, the variety of sketches with different materials and the seeming effortlessness of your sketching. You are inspiring. Thank you for sharing
Got your post. Thank you great sketches.
Your posts are the highlightof my morning. Love your work.
Thank you for sharing your sketches and story of the dogs.
I always enjoy your posts!
I love dogs and yours are sooo cute!
Love from Tuscany!
Paola
Hi Shari! I received your post and thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to each and every one. I always watch to see where you are going next as I hope to join you one day. Do your sketching students all travel in pairs or do you have students that travel alone?
I love your posts and look forward to them!
Hi Shari,
Yes I’ve been getting your posts by email. I’ve been enjoying them!
Ginie Udy
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Got your post, Shari
I love reading your posts. Keep them coming please! Thanks
Yes, I got your post Sheri! I too find animals enjoyable to sketch! The many drawings of Alice has paved the way to wonderful experiences with other animals.
Hi Shari, I have purchased a number of your courses and have been enjoying your emails for many years – thank you for sharing! The emails do tend to go straight to my junk folder, despite me adding you to my safe senders list, so I keep moving them into my inbox. Not sure if it’s a WordPress issue, but I always open and enjoy. All the best, Andy
Get Outlook for Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg ________________________________
Safely received here too.
Loved your puppies!
Hi Shari,
Yes it’s reaching ME at least 🙂
I love your work and I just signed up for your Urban Winter course. You are one of my inspirational artists!
Have a great day!
Donna
Good morning Shari! I hope you receive my comment . . . these dog drawings are very expressive and communicate your love of dogs. I really like seeing your blog emails in my inbox, kind of a breath of cheerful air and light. Keep up the great work – and congrats on getting your painting into the Royal collection – that’s a real feather in your cap!
Loved the stray dog sketches 😊
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Hi Shari — I get your posts in my email, then look at them in the blog. I’ve been following for a long time — Love your winter painting best. And, of course, Alice.
Love receiving your blogs.
Love your posts.
Hi Shari. Love your sketches!
Got it! I really enjoy your blog. 🙂
Hi Shari,
I love receiving your emails.
Please keep me on your list.
Hope you are having a great day.
Always enjoy your posts
I see it because I looked you up from reading your spread in the artists magazine, and loved your sketches!
Still getting your wonderful posts!!
Hi Shari
Got it! Sounds like Tucson was a lot different than last year. I’m looking forward to Carmel in April.
Keats
Yes I’m here, I have met those dogs too
I like the strays, Shari.
Pam in San Diego
I receive and read these posts as emails everyday and enjoy them immensely.
You do such wonderful dog sketches😊
Love them!
Hi Shari
I read on email, and look forward to your emails, even if I don’t always get around to saying so.
Lovely that the dogs had some human company for a part of their day, and thank you for sharing your lovely sketches.
Theresa👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥰
Kudos to anyone who can sketch a dog that’s awake! I can’t even sketch my sleeping dog 😄. Receiving the newsletter. Thank you Shari, Suzanne in Winnipeg
Hi Shari, I received your post. Love the dogs and that they were well fed and mannerly.
Dorothy
Love receiving your emails. I just finished teaching a 4 week watercolour course to seniors and at the end of the session I tell them they must check your courses out. I have 12 of them:o)
Hi Shari – still loving your posts – I love those stray dogs. I had one adopt me in Guatemala many years ago – he slept outside my adobe hut and watched as I did yoga. Yes – very sweet and gentle!
Hi Shari,
Yes, I do receive your emails & always enjoy reading them.
Thanks.
Cheers, Estelle Bogoch s.tell@shaw.ca South Surrey, B.C. (Originally from Montreal)
Hi Shari – Enjoying your posts but I don’t think I am receiving your “The Wheelbarrow” newsletter any longer. You made reference to pictures of your new studio in one of your recent posts and I did not see those. Can you address?
Thanks as always for your posts. Someday, I will be in a position to do one of your workshops. The SouthWest US has great appeal. Cheers
Dorothy Greenidge dorothyg1228@gmail.com
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Look forward to your posts and the descriptions of all of the great places you go! Love the pups! Kim
How fun that the dogs were so welcoming…and posed so nicely!
Dear Shari Thank you for your letters from an artist. I used to love sketching our border collie who liked to lie still for hours. Except when I sketched him. I notice your request about comments or likes; I do read your blog, but to respond I have to log into WordPress, which I don’t subscribe to, and don’t to want to.
Sketchily yours, Deb
Delightful sketches!!!
Commenting!
Got it! A lovely story and sketches.
Received and enjoyed.
I spent a few days sketching dogs last week myself – they didn’t look as
good as yours. Challenges around proportions.
Angus
Got your email and stray dogs sketch.
I was thinking of you in Tucson last week and remembering the wonderful experience I had at your workshop there last year! Thank you for all your posts, emails, and online courses!
Yes, I got your stray dogs email. And thank you for all your posts. I do enjoy reading them, the sketches, and the on-line courses.
Yes,, Shari! Received and enjoyed!
I sure look forward to your interesting posts. Keep it up and thank you Shari.
I’ve been a fan of you and your art for years. Thanks.
I read every post on the blog and I receive your newsletter. I’ve been enjoying your discovery expeditions around your new home. Alice deserves her after walk naps. You seem to be covering a lot of territory.
I got your “strays at San Xavier post” no problem! Thanks!
Blog post is working well! Your beautiful work and your dedication are an inspiration Shari!
Can’t wait for your post on water soluble pens! Love the doggies!
Nice little dogs… I’m from Spain and thought there were no stray dogs in the US
Reading this from Singapore! Much love🥰
Thanks Jerri!!
Hi! I’m new to following through wordpress, but yes got it!
Bellísimo Shari! Felicidades.
Love your sketch! My husband and I met three of the strays this morning.
That’s amazing!! I am going back there in January and I hope to see them again!!