Woofy the Second

[blackmare]

Conte pencils, white charcoal pencil, Wolff's carbon pencil on brown (Cachet Earthbound Sketchbook) paper. About 8.5 x 11".

Source was a photo I took at the dog park.

Comments

[baskerville]

Oh, that tongue! I love the implied motion in the hind leg and tail.

[blackmare]

Pure luck, to get that moment when the tongue was out. One of my friends who is much more knowledgeable about dogs has told me that the nose-licking is a sign of nerves. Not that the dog is unhappy -- he's clearly excited and pretty content -- but that he probably knew I was intently watching him and was a bit uncertain about that.

[baskerville]

Yup, it often can mean discomfort. But a nose-lick can also be a way of clearing his nose. I see this more often in cats, who seem to have a wider range of smells they dislike (largely other cats), and after sniffing something of which they disapprove will lick their noses as if to say "get this stink out of my nostrils!"

Alternatively, maybe the clever scent-hound is just keeping the tool of his trade nice and moist. ;)

[baskerville]

(But I agree, overall that posture says it's a guilty lick!)