This project was completed in a quick time period for the Waunakee Mutts on Main project in the summer of 2019. The idea was to celebrate our canine friends and build a sense of community through the project. Artists were given a choice of a dachshund, a German pointer, or a German Shepard.
I knew I had to do a dachshund because of the annual wiener dog races that happen at the Wauktoberfest event every September on the Endres Mfg. company grounds.
The pattern on the base is one associated with the Bavarian area in Germany. Waunakee has plenty of German heritage and roots. Having German roots on both sides of my family tree, I’d be remiss if I didn’t have something German like the Bavarian lozenge showing at something going to be auctioned off at an Oktoberfest celebration. The words on the scroll reads Behalte das Ziel im Auge which roughly translates to “Keep your eye on the prize”. I have my nephew who is fluent in German to thank for that nugget. I’m certain anyone running a foot race has thought that to themselves to stay motivated while doing the race.
The piece I created was done with acrylic paints after I primed the steel object with several coats of a white spray-on primer. I primed it after lightly sanding the surface with a light grit sandpaper and then giving is a wash down with warm soapy water and drying it off immediately.
My finished piece was lucky enough to hang out in the clubhouse at The Meadows of Six Mile Creek.
