CJ and Georgie.

Diana Hefti

ONE OF CJ Grote's earliest memories is of sitting on her mother's lap and drawing with crayons. Her mothers recognition of CJ's creativity meant she avidly fostered her artistic talent.

CJ has always loved dogs, and grew up with the companionship of two cocker spaniels ... puppies her parents had purchased shortly before she was born.

CJ's father was in the service and she was born in Hawaii, the eldest of two children. The family moved to Massachusetts where they continue to live. Some of her memories from girlhood in Massachusetts include hunting with her brother and uncle after school nearly every day, to help put food on their table.

English setter on a leather pouch.

Her uncle taught her about hunting, nature, gun safety and most importantly, about dogs.

CJ went to college to get a teaching degree but when it came time for her to do her student teaching, she realized this was not the career she wanted. She has since worked at jobs such as a medical electronic technician, and has owned her own cleaning business. But like many artists before her, CJ finally decided she needed to do her artwork to be happy.

CJ is currently owned by two Doberman Pinschers named Chance To Run' Greensleeves, CD, RA, CGC (Georgie), who she is showing in obedience, and new baby Jesse.

CJ's portrait of her beloved doberman, Georgie.

She has had Dobermans for a long time, and always believed it was important to train her dogs, although Georgie is the first dog she has shown. She has become hooked on obedience showing and does not know who is more excited, her or the dog, when they pull up to a show.

One of the first artistic projects CJ did for sale were flags during the 1970s. While many people now have seasonal and decorative flags, CJ says she was ahead of the trend and they did not sell well at the time.

She had always been interested in airbrushing and eventually invested in paints and an airbrush. Without formal art courses CJ would watch and talk with other airbrush artists to learn some techniques.

A dachshund on slate welcomes visitors.

CJ's first airbrush projects were things like T-shirts and sweatshirts, and covered all themes. By the early 1990s CJ decided to concentrate her artwork on her first love — dogs. She has produced T-shirts, sweats, jackets, hats, leather pouches, slates and nearly anything else she can paint on!

CJ has made patterns for 56 different breeds of dogs (plus different color combinations within the breeds) and a few cats. She starts by taking pictures of friends' dogs, or dogs at shows. Then she uses her computer to tweak the pictures until she has an outline she feels reflects the dog's breed.

Cool cap for the basset hound lover.

The image is then printed and a stencil cut from mylar. The stencils are practically indestructible, holding their shape no matter what is done to them. These stencil patterns produce consistent breed outlines but all interior work is done freehand which ensures each piece is unique.

Before starting her painting, CJ "sees" the completed dog on the piece. CJ says for her, the painting is easy, since it is "already there" ... it's a natural process.

The slates she uses for her signs have been recycled from old farm house and barn roofs in the New England area. They can be tricky to paint as there is no paint absorption in the stone.

Terrier on a slate welcome sign.

Leather is one of her favorite materials to paint on as it takes the paint so well and is very forgiving. Since most of the surfaces CJ paints on are flat she relies on shading to create an illusion of depth on the dogs.

Much of CJ's art is sold wholesale to gift shops for tourists in the Northeast (USA). She lost a lot of business after 9/11, as tourism in the area went down so she began selling on eBay where her feedback shows a loyal and enthusiastic following.

She will occasionally do commission work, but really prefers to do her art according to her own inner vision.

CJ's art really captures the expression of the breeds of dogs she paints. They seem likely to jump right off the surface and into your arms. As CJ said to me, "I'm all about the dogs."

Check it out and enjoy!