Description

“Scottie of the Skye in the Sky” 

The sky is a rich resource for the artist.  The art is part of a series that explores the wonderful and weird sightings in the heavens.

In this image a Scottie  was found romping in the heavens.  The Scottie is an endearing name for the Scottish terrier – aka Aberdeen terrier.  It is part of the group of Skye terriers and therefore is fittingly suited for the theme of the wonderful sightings in the sky.

 The Scottie is one of the terrier breeds that come from Scotland.  Other terriers in this group include the Skye, West Highland Terrier, Dandie Dinmont and the Cairn .

The Scottie has a characteristic compact and powerful body.  The torso and head are rectangular, ears are pointed , eyes are almond shaped, and the beard has a long coat.  The legs are short but powerful allowing for agility and quick movement. The breed exemplifies “power in a small package” The confident and independent nature has earned them the nickname “Diehard”.  It is extremely territorial.

Both President Franklin D Roosevelt and George W Bush owned Scotties. George, the fourth Earl of Dumbarton owned a pack of brave Scottish Terriers, that were named “Diehards”.  Dumbartons regiment in the The Royal Scots were fittingly named the “Dumbarton Diehards”

Scotty Cramp is a disease in Scottish Terriers that causes muscle spasms resulting in hyperflexion and hyperextension of the legs. It is an inherited recessive trait of the breed.  It is  caused by a deficiency in serotonin.

The image was taken in the open seas of the Caribbean and is part of the collection called “Anatomy of the Caribbean Skies”