Claire Ingram

“They told me the big black Lab’s name was Reggie, as I looked...

Sat, 05 May 2012 15:32:22 +0100

“They told me the big black Lab’s name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I’d only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn’t hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie’s advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn’t look like “Lab people,” whatever that meant. They must’ve thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.

See, Reggie and I didn’t really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too.
Maybe we were too much alike.

I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. “Okay, Reggie,” I said out loud, “let’s see if your previous owner has any advice.”
____________ _________ _________ _________

To Whomever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can’t say that I’m happy you’re reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie’s new owner. I’m not even happy writing it. He knew something was different.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he’s part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn’t done it yet. Doesn’t
matter where you throw them, he’ll bound after them, so be careful. Don’t do it by any roads.

Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones —-“sit,” “stay,” “come,” “heel.”

He knows hand signals, too: He knows “ball” and “food” and “bone” and “treat” like nobody’s business.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He’s up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don’t know how he knows when it’s time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. It’s only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He’s gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn’t bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

And that’s why I need to share one more bit of info with you…His name’s not Reggie. He’s a smart dog, he’ll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn’t bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this … well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is “Tank.” Because, that is what I drive.

I told the shelter that they couldn’t make “Reggie” available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could’ve left Tank with .. and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter … in the “event” … to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he’d do it personally. And if you’re reading this, then he made good on his word.

Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he
loved me.

If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that’s enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I’ll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you,

Paul Mallory
____________ _________ _________ _______

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver
Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

“Hey, Tank,” I said quietly.

The dog’s head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

“C’mere boy.”

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn’t heard in months. “Tank,” I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my
face into his scruff and hugged him.

“It’s me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me.” Tank reached up and licked my cheek.

“So whatdaya say we play some ball?” His ears perked again.

“Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?”

Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.”

Nicest and saddest thing I’m read in a while.

A little something from my sketchbook. (Taken with instagram)

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:28:00 +0100

A little something from my sketchbook. (Taken with instagram)

These high speed photographs of ink mixing with water by Alberto...

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:39:52 +0100

These high speed photographs of ink mixing with water by Alberto Seveso are just spectacular! You almost can’t believe that it’s just ink.

More photos can be found here - http://burdu976.com/?portfolio=a-due-colori

Had a bit of a meh week this week, but I got Boeys new book so...

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:29:00 +0100

Had a bit of a meh week this week, but I got Boeys new book so things are looking up! http://iamboey.com/ (Taken with instagram)

Wakana Kumagai, 7, visits the spot where her house, which was...

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:15:22 +0000

Wakana Kumagai, 7, visits the spot where her house, which was washed away by the March 11, 2011 tsunami, used to stand in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi prefecture March 11, 2012, to mark the first anniversary of an earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands and set off a nuclear crisis. Kumagai’s father Kazuyuki called his wife Yoshiko just after the March 11, 2011 earthquake to tell her to take the children to Omagari elementary school which was serving as a shelter. He was found near the shelter four days after the tsunami, Yoshiko said.

A year since the devastating earthquake in Japan. This story is so sad, like many others from that day.

I went on holiday with my boyfriend to New York last week. Even...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:59:11 +0000

I went on holiday with my boyfriend to New York last week. Even though we’ve been together for 9 years this was our first proper holiday together and we both had a fantastic time! It’s the second time I’ve been but it was still just as amazing as the first time! I love the busy city and how easy it is to navigate, you never know what wonders you’ll find around the next corner.

I took lots of photos (over 500!), so I’ve put some of the nicer ones on Flickr for you all to have a look at - http://www.flickr.com/photos/claireingram. The one above was taken on a lovely sunny day in Madison Square Park.

It was very inspiring so expect some NY related work coming soon! :)

yuhon: Nothing is more relaxing to me than drawing trees | ©...

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:28:00 +0000

yuhon:

Nothing is more relaxing to me than drawing trees | © Yuhon

Gorgeous lines and opacity. Very jealous! :)

Saw this lovely illustration by nessa-ninona and the texture...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Saw this lovely illustration by nessa-ninona and the texture adds so much depth. Make sure you zoom in to see the texture!

Can’t make my mind up if this is finished yet or not, but...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:04:52 +0000

Can’t make my mind up if this is finished yet or not, but I think that means it probably is. The original drawing was designed for Small Word, a lovely little poetry magazine designed by a work colleague for Allographic. Definitely worth a look!

Drawn in ink and coloured in Photoshop.

Drawing for a friend. A jelly/gold fish! Ink drawing, coloured...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:19:00 +0000

Drawing for a friend. A jelly/gold fish!

Ink drawing, coloured in Photoshop.

Just doing a bit of doodling in Photoshop.

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:37:24 +0100

Just doing a bit of doodling in Photoshop.

My sketchbook for Arthouse’s ‘Sketchbook Project...

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:20:05 +0100

My sketchbook for Arthouse’s ‘Sketchbook Project 2011’ has finally been digitised! If you fancy a look follow this link (http://www.arthousecoop.com/library/598#slide_1) or click the peacock above :)

(they squished a few pages but the first few are my favourite)

http://pinterest.com/claireingram/

Mon, 02 May 2011 20:13:02 +0100

http://pinterest.com/claireingram/:

I’m on Pinterest! Come by and have a nose through my boards :)

My Japanese print is now available as iPhone/iPod and laptop...

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:44:00 +0100

My Japanese print is now available as iPhone/iPod and laptop skins/covers. To see the range please visit my shop by clicking the ‘Shop’ link to the right, or alternatively click the image above.

All profits will be donated to the Red Cross relief fund for Japan.

iheartmyart: Jérémie Martino, Moment de Detente dans la Vie...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:09:29 +0100

iheartmyart:

Jérémie Martino, Moment de Detente dans la Vie d’un Peintre #1, 240 x 200 cm, oil on canvas, 2010

Simply beautiful.

What do you think?

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:57:22 +0100

I’ve decided to ‘revamp’ my blog to make it look a bit more professional. What do you think? It’s a lovely theme by http://businessbullpen.tumblr.com/

If you have any suggestions or problems then let me know :)

Evening!

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:51:13 +0100

Hey everyone!

It seems I’ve been away for a while… sorry! Been busy with work, helping people out and just generally relaxing, but I think it’s time to come back and start creating work again, so stay tuned! :)

All profits made from the sale of this piece on society6.com...

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:33:00 +0000

All profits made from the sale of this piece on society6.com will go directly to The Red Cross relief fund for Japan. I will post regular updates letting you all know how much it’s raised! Every art print purchase donates ten dollars to the fund no matter what size print you buy.

Buy the print here - http://www.society6.com/studio/illustrativeexploration/Japan_Ganbare_Nippon

Another submittion to Illustration Rally’s ‘Ganbare Nippon - Don’t give up Japan’ project. Origami and Photoshop.

Please donate or buy something lovely from the Etsy shop. All proceeds go to the Red Cross.

This is my submission to Illustration Rally’s...

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:53:52 +0000

This is my submission to Illustration Rally’s ‘Ganbara Nippon’ project to spread awareness of Japan’s devastating earthquake. Nothing says Japan like good old Totoro! (Ink and colour added in Photoshop)

Please donate if you can:

http://www.society6.com/studio/illustrativeexploration/store

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 17:10:44 +0000

http://www.society6.com/studio/illustrativeexploration/store:

Free shipping on all of my mini and small art prints! Only available for short time!