Who let the dogs out? We did! For our June 2025 exhibition, the Peninsula Gallery will be displaying 35 imaginative renditions of our furry companions. “Four Legged Friends” includes paintings of different breeds and species — both real and make-believe — of cats and dogs from artists Angi Beauheim, Molly Sanger Carpenter, Inna Dzhanibekova, Andrea Kelly, Rebecca Scheuer, Judy Verhoeven, and Nancy Richards West.  

 

    Rebecca Scheuer is the only artist in this exhibition who uses a realistic approach to creating her pampered pooches. Despite this, her puppy portraits have a playful demeanor, as each is dressed in different attire. Derby hats, bathrobes, and Mr. Roger’s cardigan adorn the critters in Scheuer’s images. Angi Beauheim and Judy Verhoeven match Scheuer’s whimsy with their stylized imagery. Beauheim dreams up felines as part of the cosmos, envisioning them as different planets like the Earth, Moon, and Uranus. For the first time, she has also included an outer space dog, who is playing fetch with the moon ball. Verhoeven uses recycled paper — such as newspapers, old books, maps, and sewing patterns — acrylic paint, and other mixed media materials to create images that evoke childlike wonderment. Her pups and kittens are accentuated by colorful backgrounds of quirky motifs and uplifting verbiage.               

 

    Molly Sanger Carpenter and Nancy Richards West craft their animals using unconventional mediums. Sanger Carpenter produces fairytale-like mosaics that communicate a detailed story through elements made out of mixed media, glass, and gold. For this show, she is displaying her mythical merdogs and mercats, in addition to collage versions of regal poodles and cubist mixed breeds. The ancient Asian art of Sumi-e or ink-wash painting is the basis for Richards West work. While family pets are featured, there are also other varieties of felines and canines, such as tigers, lions, and foxes. 

 

    Inna Dzhanibekova and Andrea Kelly don’t necessarily make their animals the center of their paintings; rather, they depict the fluffy family members within their everyday locations. Dzhanibekova’s images capture house cats in their natural environment: lounging on the couch, exploring hidden corners, and prowling the neighborhood. Her bold scenes focus on interiors and architectural design. Similarly, Kelly’s pets are pictured with their humans, expressing the joy of spending time with their four legged companions. Her pieces have elements of fauvism, particularly in her use of blocky colors and elongated shapes.