Each of Sunny Hodge's paintings of animals - mostly dogs - featured on Sunday has a story, and Hodge was excited to tell them all to visitors at Capital Arts "Give the Gift of Art" event.
Mayor Carrie Tergin was among a stream of well-wishers who came by to chat with the featured artist. "There's a lot of talent here," she said, motioning to Hodge's artwork.
One of Hodge's subjects is of a dog dressed in NASCAR gear, complete with sponsors. It's in honor of a friend who likes to sit with his dog and watch NASCAR. "You don't bother him on Sundays," she said.
Hodge, who grew up in the restaurant business and oversaw restaurants in Kansas City's Crown Plaza until the late 1980s, owns a cat and takes care of seven adopted dogs.
Another one of her featured paintings was of a duck and goose that belong to a friend. The duck was abandoned by its mother, but became fast friends with a goose. The pair are still friends to this day, she said.
Hodge didn't start painting until later in life, and jokes that she focused on animals after her daughter disparaged her other works.
Most of her featured works were pieces that she completed in the last decade, and most were either donations or gifts to friends and family that featured their pets.
She's hoping to turn her talent for painting pets into a for-profit business in the future. "I hope I sell some, because I'm running out of paints," she said with a laugh.
Sunday's annual exhibition featured snacks and drinks and artists that included Chris Durrill, who spins silk for a hobby and helps organize fiber art events in the area. The event featured various art as gift ideas for the upcoming Christmas season.
"A lot of people might not be aware of how many artists there are in this area or the quality of their work," said Jeff Boyer, executive director of Capital Arts. "You don't have to go to another city to find amazing art work or affordable art work."
He pointed to detailed, hand-painted Christmas ornaments that were being sold for $12 at the event.