MONTPELIER, VT (AP).- Folk artist Stephen Huneck, whose love of dogs inspired paintings, woodcuts and a "dog chapel," has died.
The St. Johnsbury, Vt., man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday in Littleton, N.H. He was 60.
His wife says he was despondent after being forced to lay off employees at his Dog Mountain studio and chapel.
The studio and chapel have drawn animal lovers from all over the world. The chapel offers a place of reflection for dog owners and their pets.
Huneck was born in Sudbury, Mass. He started out by whittling wooden sculptures and later specialized in dog-themed furniture, woodcut paintings and children's books.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
