One of the first characteristics that seems to command the attention of even casual admirers of D
oberman Pinschers is their natural beauty. Their clean, sleek, sculpted "lines,"arresting self-possession and the way they seem to own the ground they stand on, all add up to a picture of pure elegance.
Kevin Roeckl knows the breed well. And he has made capturing Dobermans as they are – their elegance as well as the softer side shared with close friends – a big part of his life's work. An artist for more than 30 years, Roeckl has a talent for capturing real moments in time, and the character of his subjects, on "canvas" in a way that is so realistic they are often mistaken for photographs.
Each of his Doberman paintings has a story. We will share a few of those stories in future blog posts. In the meantime, enjoy the excerpt below of our conversation with Kevin Roeckl. And if you would like the opportunity to win a 12X16 inch reproduction of one of his Doberman inspired artworks shown
here, simply post a comment to this blog indicating which of the four prints you'd like to win. A randomly selected winner (print valued at $65) will be announced one week from today. Our thanks to Mr. Roeckl for donating one of his fine art prints in honor of the Doberman Centennial.
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Q: What is it about Dobermans that inspires you to paint 
them?
A: Their poetic beauty and that near-human mind that makes them such fun to be around. Dobermans provide never-ending poses and expressions that are graceful, fascinating, or just plain cute.
Q: How and when did you start featuring Dobermans in your work?
A: In 1990, when my beloved Jake was 7 years old, I was injured in a violent crime. Jake saved my life. For the next year, while I was caught in the nightmare of the medical and legal system, there was retaliation from the "defendants." Twice more Jake stood by me and protected me from harm. Through it all, when everything around me seemed like treacherous quicksand, my courageous, devoted Doberman was a solid rock who never failed me. When I was finally able to work again, all I wanted to paint was Jake. I had such admiration for him, he was the most beautiful thing in the whole universe.
Q: What Doberman piece are you most proud of? Why?
A: My "Self Portrait with Jake", one of the first things I painted after the year of trauma. At that time it felt like me and Jake alone against the world, and the portrait captured that, the way we were connected at the hear
t. I was proud that I captured his dignity and nobility --- that head study of Jake is "Aristocrat", one of the prints I'm offering.
Q: What are you working on right now?
A: A portrait of a Doberman who was recently lost to cancer. Throughout my career I've painted more Memorial portraits - of both humans and dogs - than of living beings. This may sound strange, but I found that I have a gift for connecting with the spirit of the subject when I paint their portrait, and capturing their essence in a way you can't get from a photograph. That is the beauty of Fine Art, the emotion the artist puts into the work.