Put your paws together for Noisy Dog

Looking for the perfect wedding gift to give a dog-loving couple? How about a creative way to decorate the baby's bedroom? Want to brighten your days at the office with a wily wink from your best friend Fido? For playful pet portraits, let your fingers do the walking to Noisy Dog Studio (www.noisydogstudio.com). After one look at this online gallery of insanely cute pooch paintings, you'll easily be able to imagine your walls whining for a Noisy Dog original.

Created by Gig Harbor artist Leigh Jackson, Noisy Dog Studio is not your typical artist's workspace. It's just as it sounds-noisy-with five rambunctious rescued dogs and a handful of cats. But the source of this "noise" is joy to Jackson's ears, not to mention the inspiration behind her whimsically wonderful pup portraits.

Though Jackson was never formally trained in her medium, Hollywood stars such as KaDee Strickland and Jessica Walter are lapping up her artwork left and right. And the smiles people wear when they peer into her paintings is a universal reaction that transcends all ages, races, religions and finances.

"The paintings reflect a love for dogs," she smiles. "It makes people happy just by looking at them."

It all started about 10 years ago when Jackson began playing around with some scrap wood squares in the basement.

"The first one I painted, I decided to put on eBay -- which was new at the time, mind you -- but it sold!"

At first Jackson thought it was a fluke, but the more paintings she posted, the more she sold. As she dug deeper into the artist's process she confirmed that the dogs which surrounded her were her number one inspiration, and she stuck with it.

"When I adopted my first dog Hugo, a Boston Terrier from the Bellevue Humane Society, I was just crazy about him; he was my muse," she recalls. Then she brought home a black Pomeranian named Poe, and another Boston Terrier named Albert.

It was all over but the barking, so to speak … but Jackson's life as a budding artist had just begun. In less than a decade, Jackson has created nearly 400 paintings and sold 90 percent of them. In fact, her waiting list is getting longer by the day. And if you have any inkling of commissioning art for the coming holiday season, she suggests getting orders in now.

Now don't fret, because there are lots of ways to skin this cat. (Sorry, the dogs made me say it.) First, you must decide what type of pup painting works for you. If you want to commission a piece for a unique gift or a fond remembrance of a pet who's passed, simply send in photos of your beloved pet and give Jackson time to recreate the dog's energy on canvas (see the directions online, under the "Custom" heading). Prices run $250-900 depending on size and are all created with professional artist-grade acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas. They are painted on all sides, making framing optional. They are also hand-titled and signed by Jackson.

If you have no need to be specific, or no time to wait in line, you can also buy some of Jackson's original portraits which were not already purchased for one reason or another, at prices ranging from $85 to $400. For an affordable, ready-to-hang work of canine art, check out the framed, limited-edition prints, matted and hung in sleek, black frames for $65. And open-edition prints of past paintings, titled and hand-signed by Leigh, are available for just $12.50.

Need something more indestructible for the kids' bathroom or playroom? The popular non-glare, scratch resistant, UV protected wall plaques-all reproductions of Jackson's original artwork-are a bargain at only $32 each. Gift certificates are also available. Whether you have big bucks or need more bang for your bark, there's a purchase possibility for everyone's price range without having to feel too guilty for pampering your pet-loving self.

Remember, there's nothing wrong with putting your pets on a pedestal. They certainly don't mind the added attention. In fact, if our pets had any say in the matter, it's likely that every one would be putting their paws together for Noisy Dog Studio. Tail wags to you, Leigh.