Meet “Dog Artist” Skip Hartzell & His Four-Legged Muses

Skip Hartzell in his art studio with his dogs

South Florida artist Skip Hartzell is known locally as “the dog artist”. He creates large oil paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures inspired by man’s best friend.

Small Dog Sculptures ("Furries")

His inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The canine-inspired artworks that he creates are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties. He may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but Hartzell says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

‘Toy Four’ (2018), Oil on Canvas, 60 x 48 Inches

“Dogs are always in the moment. Although nothing in life has held my attention longer or has been more fascinating to me than dogs, my work is about much more than that. It is about form, movement, color and texture. The dogs are a recognizable common denominator that allows me to communicate my joy of living, passions and sentiments,” explained Skip Hartzell.

Skip Hartzell Collector, Curator Dr. Milagros Bello
Curator Voice Art Projects (CVAP) Miami

Hartzell’s art studio is crawling with canine-based works. Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork. “When you walk into Skip Hartzell’s studio you are greeted by hundreds of dogs in all shapes, sizes, textures and colors. There are dogs on the wall that create an intriguing color field installation. There are medium size dogs standing or sitting and hanging all over the place. And his large dogs just ask to be hugged,” said Rickie Leiter, Publisher of The Rickie Report.

‘Astonished’, Mixed Media on Paper, 24 x 30 Inches

“The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork.

Happy Skip Hartzell Collectors, Art Palm Beach Fair

The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach to name a few. He is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters.

Sculpture 16 x 16 x 12 Inches, and ‘The Muse Returns’ (2018)
Mixed Media on Paper, 53 x 48 Inches

“If you love dogs, you are going to love Skip Hartzell’s soulful pieces. His work is representative of caricature features of dogs,” said J. Marshall Adams, the executive director of the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. For more information about this fascinating artist, for sales, commissions, or general inquiries, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com and visit www.skiphartzell.com

Artist Skip Hartzell: For The Love Of Dogs

Skip Hartzell Dogs

For South Florida artist Skip Hartzell, inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend.

'Big Pink', Papercrete and Resin, 36" x 32" x 16"

Local “dog artist” Skip Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. The artist creates large oil paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures inspired by man’s best friend. Skip’s inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The canine-inspired artworks that he creates are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties.

'Bosco', Oil on Canvas, 48" x 48"

Hartzell’s art studio is crawling with canine-based works. Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork. “When you walk into Skip Hartzell’s studio you are greeted by hundreds of dogs in all shapes, sizes, textures and colors. There are dogs on the wall that create an intriguing color field installation. There are medium size dogs standing or sitting and hanging all over the place. And his large dogs just ask to be hugged,” said Rickie Leiter, Publisher of The Rickie Report.

Skip Hartzell in his art studio

Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Skip’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork. “The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.”

Happy Skip Hartzell Collectors

Skip says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

Aqua Art Miami Fair solo exhibition during Art Basel Miami Beach 2018

Though he is talented and infinitely qualified to sculpt and paint any number of things, Hartzell continues to be inspired by the dogs who accompany him on his morning walks, share his studio space and offer love and loyalty. In effect, Hartzell lets them take the leash. “I love where they lead me,” he says of how the four-legged friends have helped him become known as “the dog artist.”

‘Astonished’, Mixed Media on Paper, 24 x 30 Inches

The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more.

'Always In My Heart', Oil on Canvas, 48" x 60"

“If you love dogs, you are going to love Skip Hartzell’s soulful pieces. His work is representative of caricature features of dogs,” said J. Marshall Adams, the executive director of the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. For more information about this fascinating artist, for sales, commissions, or general inquiries email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com and visit www.skiphartzell.com

Port Saint Lucie “Dog Artist” Skip Hartzell Creates Art Inspired By Man’s Best Friend

South Florida artist Skip Hartzell creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog”. He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life.

'Wall Dog #2', Papercrete and Resin, 8 x 10 Inches

Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork. “When you walk into Skip Hartzell’s studio you are greeted by hundreds of dogs in all shapes, sizes, textures and colors. There are dogs on the wall that create an intriguing color field installation. There are medium size dogs standing or sitting and hanging all over the place. And his large dogs just ask to be hugged,” said Rickie Leiter, Publisher of The Rickie Report.

'Dogs of the Apocalypse', Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 Inches

“The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” 

Happy Skip Hartzell Collectors, Art Palm Beach

He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

Skip Hartzell with two of his wall sculptures

“If you love dogs, you are going to love Skip Hartzell’s soulful pieces. His work is representative of caricature features of dogs,” said J. Marshall Adams, the executive director of the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce.

'White Dog Stands Alone', Flashe and Pastel on Paper, 40 x 72 Inches

The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more.

Skip Hartzell in his art studio

Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. For more information about this fascinating artist, for sales, commissions, or general inquiries, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com and visit www.skiphartzell.com

National Call for Artists: Art for Animals 2020

'Another Life' by Zhanna Kanevskaya, Art for Animals 2019 "Best In Show"

Art for Animals 2020

The National Anti-Vivisection Society seeks entries for the annual Art for Animals art contest. Cash prizes: First, Second and Third place, one Youth (age 12 and under), one Best in Show. An opportunity for artists of all skills and ages to create images that inspire others to extend compassion, respect and justice to all animals. We are looking for fresh perspectives to illustrate NAVS' mission of ending the exploitation of animals used in science. Art for Animals provides an opportunity to get creative and give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Submissions may be digitally-created artwork or digital reproductions of original paintings, illustrations or photographs. No entry fee. Deadline: July 31, 2020. 

More info. / Apply Here

Email: art@navs.org or Call: (312)427-6065

Artist Skip Hartzell: Dog's Best Friend

For Skip Hartzell, known locally as “the dog artist,” inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk—accompanied by a furry friend. The act of making art is one of benevolence for Hartzell, and also his dog art sells. He is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters.

Happy Skip Hartzell collectors The artist creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog”. He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life.

Hartzell with two Wall Dog sculptures Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork.

Skip Hartzell collector, Curator Dr. Milagros Bello of Curator Voice Art Projects (CVAP) “The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

‘Golden’, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more. For sales, commissions, general inquiries or future show information, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit www.skiphartzell.com

Renowned South Florida artist Skip Hartzell creates unique art inspired by man's best friend

'Swimmer #2', Flashe on Canvas, 72 x 72 Inches   Canine charcoal drawings, oil paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures South Florida artist Skip Hartzell creates large paintings, sculptures and drawings that capture the essence of “dog”, all of the work is rich with intricacies of color and technique. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life. He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce.   'Big Pink’, Papercrete and Resin, 36 x 32 x 16 Inches "Every morning before I go into my studio I walk with my dogs for about two hours. We don’t have a schedule, the length of the walk depends on how many rabbits, squirrels, new smells, and other treasures they dig up along the way. Making art for me is very much like walking my dogs. I go in to my studio and sniff around. I pick up a thing or two, decide if it has interest and I might work on it or maybe begin something brand new. Like my dogs I’m always excited and ready to see where the work will take me. My art is the stuff that I leave behind after hours in the studio." –Skip Hartzell   ‘Toy Four’ (2018), Oil on Canvas, 60 x 48 Inches “If you love dogs, you are going to love Skip Hartzell’s soulful pieces. His work is representative of caricature features of dogs,” said J. Marshall Adams, the executive director of the A. E. Backus Museum & Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more.   'Wall Dog, No.5', Papercrete and Resin, 8 x 12 Inches Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. For sales info, private commissions, general inquiries or exhibition updates, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit www.skiphartzell.com

Artist Skip Hartzell Creates Work That Capture The Essence Of “Dog”

Artist Skip Hartzell pictured with his work

South Florida artist Skip Hartzell is known locally as “the dog artist”. He is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. The artist creates large oil paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures inspired by man’s best friend.

Skip Hartzell in his art studio with his dogs

His inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The canine-inspired artworks that he creates are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties.

‘Big Pink’, Papercrete and Resin, 36 x 32 x 16 Inches

Hartzell’s art studio is crawling with canine-based works. Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork.

Skip Hartzell Gallery at Art Palm Beach 2019

“The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

‘Litter’, Flashe & Graphite on Paper, 42 x 60 Inches

“If you love dogs, you are going to love Skip Hartzell’s soulful pieces. His work is representative of caricature features of dogs,” said J. Marshall Adams, the executive director of the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce where Hartzell has held exhibitions.

‘Swimmer No.1’, Flashe on Canvas, 72×72 Inches

“Although I love dogs, my art is about much more, it is about form, movement and mostly about the painterly expression and texture of the surface,” Hartzell says. The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more.

‘Dog 46’, Paper, Concrete and Resin, 15 x 11 Inches

For more information about this fascinating artist, for sales, commissions, general inquiries or future show info, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com and visit www.skiphartzell.com

The Canine-Inspired Art Of South Florida "Dog Artist" Skip Hartzell

‘Swimmer #2’, Flashe on Canvas, 72 x 72 Inches

Skip Hartzell is known in South Florida as “the dog artist”, but Skip’s dogs are not ordinary dogs. Don’t look for portraits of your pooch or pictures of dogs playing cards, you won’t find them in Skip’s repertoire. The artwork he creates of man’s best friend are figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. His inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend.

“Dogs are always in the moment. Although nothing in life has held my attention longer or has been more fascinating to me than dogs, my work is about much more than that. It is about form, movement, color and texture. The dogs are a recognizable common denominator that allows me to communicate my joy of living, passions and sentiments,” explained Skip Hartzell.

'Dog Backwards', Oil & Graphite on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches

The artist creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog”. He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life.

Skip Hartzell Collector, Curator Dr. Milagros Bello, Curator’s Voice Art Projects (CVAP) Miami

Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork.

Wall Display of (4) Oil and Graphite Paintings on Canvas, each 20×16 Inches

“The texture is so important because the tactile experience of sculpture is so primal for me,” he says. “You grab with your hands and just start to mush things together and get your fingers on the materials, and there is just such a richness to the feel.” He says whenever he’s doing a show, he is quick to hand his sculptures to the patrons so they can enjoy the feeling, too. And whether it’s paint on canvas or sculpture, the texture is one of the most captivating and inviting parts of experiencing his artwork. Hartzell may not set out to mimic the look of someone’s beloved pet, but he says his sculptures and paintings often evoke a fond memory of a furry family member.

‘Big Pink’, Papercrete and Resin, 36 x 32 x 16 Inches

The artist has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach, A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more.

‘Two Missing’, Oil on Canvas, 36 x 24 Inches

“If you love dogs, you are going to love Skip Hartzell’s soulful pieces. His work is representative of caricature features of dogs,” said J. Marshall Adams, the executive director of the A.E. Backus Museum and Gallery in Historic Downtown Fort Pierce. He is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. For sales, commissions, general inquiries or future show information, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit www.skiphartzell.com

Artist Skip Hartzell Creates Paintings, Works On Paper, & Four-Legged Sculptures That Capture The Essence Of “Dog”

'Swimmer #2', Flashe on Canvas, 72 x 72 Inches

Canine-inspired charcoal drawings, oil paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures   South Florida artist Skip Hartzell creates large paintings, sculptures and drawings that capture the essence of “dog”, all of the work is rich with intricacies of color and technique. His painterly expression captures each dog’s own personality with beautiful textures, line and brush strokes using mixed media to bring each dog to life. He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce.   'Wall Dog, No.29', Papercrete and Resin, 8 x 12 Inches “Dogs are always in the moment. Although nothing in life has held my attention longer or has been more fascinating to me than dogs, my work is about much more than that. It is about form, movement, color and texture. The dogs are a recognizable common denominator that allows me to communicate my joy of living, passions and sentiments.” —Skip Hartzell.   ‘Golden’, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches Whether he’s painting or sculpting, Hartzell’s dogs have a wonderful quality of friendliness about them, and it’s hard to keep yourself from reaching out to touch. And that’s perfectly okay with Hartzell. He’s never been one to place a rope around his artwork. “When you walk into Skip Hartzell’s studio you are greeted by hundreds of dogs in all shapes, sizes, textures and colors. There are dogs on the wall that create an intriguing color field installation. There are medium size dogs standing or sitting and hanging all over the place. And his large dogs just ask to be hugged,” said Rickie Leiter, Publisher of The Rickie Report.   'Wall Dog, No.5', Papercrete and Resin, 8 x 12 Inches Skip Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. He has held numerous solo exhibitions at notable art galleries and prestigious art fairs such as Art Palm Beach,A.E. Backus Museum, ArtHouse 429, Paul Fisher Gallery, Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach and many more. For sales, commissions, or general inquiries, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com and visit: www.skiphartzell.com