Ken Bailey is a prime example of how doing what you love can breed success. What he loves is portraying dogs as “art stars” and celebrating them as the special, loving creatures that they are. Reminiscent of vintage advertising posters, his paintings evoke an emotional connection, a moment of pause, and a smile.

At first glance, his work appears deceptively simple. But on closer inspection, it’s ripe with contrast, movement, and hardline precision. Using acrylics on canvas, he first paints the lettering. This is the most laborious part of the process and can take up to a week. He then goes straight to paint and just roughs out a design before he starts. For Bailey, it’s how the catch phrases, the dog, and the product in each piece all work together that makes a painting successful.

Bailey recalls always having loved art. His first piece was a pen and ink tree. “My parents really liked it,” he remembers.

“I found out then that I was pretty good at it. You get credit for what you’re good at. If you’re not good at something, it’s always a struggle.”

Before Bailey embraced art as a career, he worked in advertising and marketing. Staying true to his passion, he soon left that field to open a gallery of Northwest Indian art. He’d display some of his own work on occasion. The first dog he painted was his wife’s Giant Schnauzer, Genny. “People really liked that painting. So, I started doing other dogs and it just went from there.”

While Bailey took art classes in junior high and high school, he’s primarily self-taught. “If you have the basic techniques down, I’m not sure what art school can do for you,” he says. “Sometimes school can over-teach people.” He also shies away from awards and competitions: “I don’t care what judges think, I care what people think.”

Bailey currently owns two dogs that he adopted from a rescue and feels it’s important to give back. He regularly donates pieces of art to rescue fundraisers. “If I ever won the lottery, I’d give it all away. The people who run those organizations are incredible and so giving and selfless. I do my part, but I wish I could do more.”

Prices begin at $245 for original paintings; commissions begin at $2500. To contact Ken, visit kenbailey.com.