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About
Shamrock -- Shelties & Artwork...
 From
as far back as I can remember, I loved animals -- especially horses
and dogs. But, because I grew up in an apartment in New York City,
my "menagerie" was limited to cats and birds. When it
came to dogs and horses, I had to be content with painting them,
and I did so with a passion from a very early age.
My fascination with Shetland
Sheepdogs began when I was introduced to a friend's Sheltie, a
smaller version of "Lassie", whose beauty and loyalty
were so endearing. I became interested in breeding and showing
Shelties after buying my first pet dog from a show breeder. Her
stories of show weekends and exciting wins heightened my interest
and led to the acquisition of my first show/breeding prospect in
1986, a bitch named Aislinn's Lyrical Shamrock.
"Colleen" became the dam of my first champion, "JJ"
(above left) -- CH Shamrock's
Cranberry Tiger.
 Our
kennel, Shamrock Shelties, is a small hobby kennel in Maine and
because my interest lies more in painting dogs than breeding them,
we have very few litters. Through the years we have finished
four
champions, all of whom were owner handled, since beginning
our breeding program. Our first showdogs were Ch. Shamrock's Cranberry
Tiger (top of page); Ch. Shamrock's Joy
(left);
"Joy's" daughter, CH
Shamrock's Cheerleader, "Mandy" (right);
and
CH Bone-Afide Shamrock, "C.C."
(below right), a "JJ" daughter. "CC"
came to us as a puppy through the generosity of her breeder, Janet
Gregory (Bone-Afide). Click on the links below to view some
of our current dogs.
When I first became
interested in showing and breeding Shelties, I "hit the books" in an effort to
educate myself about the breed I had come to love. This meant
studying everything I could find, including beautiful photographs
of the breed's "greats." I couldn't resist drawing these
dogs, and I began bringing these drawings to my first show
outings. Before long, other breeders and exhibitors began
commissioning me to do portraits of their dogs. For over 20 years
now, I have delighted in the many beautiful subjects I have been
given the opportunity to capture in pen & ink drawings,
pastels, watercolors, oils, acrylics and on wooden kennel signs.
I have been honored that
several Sheltie clubs have purchased my artwork as specialty show
trophies. Clubs have used packets of my notecards and art magnets
as useful but inexpensive awards for class placements; while
custom portraits and kennel signs have been given to dogs awarded
Winners, Reserve Winners and Best of Breed. I also designed three
logos for the American Shetland Sheepdog National Annual
Specialties -- one in 1995, held in Marlborough, Massachusetts,
and hosted by the Western Massachusetts Shetland Sheepdog Club,
the logo for the 2007 National which was hosted by the Pacific
Northwest Shetland Sheepdog Club in Washington State, the
Sheltie Canadian National cluster which was held in May, 2008 and my most
recent commission for the 2009 Sheltie National being held in
Georgia. In addition, I have been honored that the
American Pomeranian Club chose my artwork to be the logo for their
2007 National held in Kentucky and the American Belgian Tervuren
Club commissioned me to design the logo for their 2009 National
which was held in Rhode
Island as well as a breed standard life sized sign to be used to
welcome exhibitors. Also, watch for the logo being used by Linda
Churchill, respected judge/breeder mentor, for use in her "Sailing Through The
Sheltie Standard" seminars. In addition, The National Gloster Canary Club
based in Massachusetts commissions me every year to do paintings of the top winning
birds at their annual National Specialty.
~Jeanne
McNally
Jeanne
and "Danny"
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