We lost her a month ago…

“We brought Winnie home when she was 13 lbs and 8 weeks old. She saw us through 9 years of a busy life: the loss of a parent, the birth of our now 7yo daughter, four homes, and a move from Seattle to Brooklyn. She was, from the very start, the gentlest,100-pound giant.”

I couldn’t read any further, as tears welled up. Winnie’s mom wrote me 4 paragraphs,each filled with the deep love everyone in the family had for their “furstborn”.

As a dog artist who doesn’t exactly paint from skills but is propelled by emotions, my fuel tank was so full and I was on fire to create the most special keepsake of Winnie for this family.

When I sent the first version of Winnie for approval, she replied “ I have no words. This is her. This is so precious. We will cherish this so. One day I will find more to say about this gift you’re giving us, but for today, I’ll just say: SHIP IT!!”

Little that she knows, before this version, I’ve painted 3 different pieces already, each time I said to myself, I can do better for Winnie than this. I love this capture so much and I am so glad she feels the same! 

I guess this explains my obsessions of painting dogs, not just for fun nor work, but a deep tribute to the most loving creature by our side.