I was asked to create a painting for a birthday gift. It would somehow incorporate a new puppy in the family with one they had lost. What a challenge! But this is what I came up with. Cisco, a big beautiful black lab passed away in 2015. Devastating for the family. And recently they got a beautiful red lab puppy. So I tried to convey with Cisco a certain ethereal or spirit like look by blending the background right into the highlights on his face, maybe as if he was already safe and sound in Heaven, and watching over us. But then Red is at the beginning of his journey here on earth. So I wanted to convey enthusiasm and "puppyhood". I was thrilled to watch them open it and see how they were touched!
Laurie, wow. What a heart-filled commission. Blending the background right into the highlights of Cisco's face: yes. Yes, yes, yes.
ReplyDeleteFrom Caroline Knapp's memoir PACK OF TWO: "Dogs are fantasies that don’t disappoint. I know this sounds wildly improbable, but sometimes I look back and think the dog trotted in, sniffed out that itemized emotional shopping list I’d been carrying around, and said, 'Okay, you want love without ambivalence? Intimacy? A sense of family? I can do that.'"
Thank you Dotty. And for the quote. At this point, I don't know how I will handle the day...........Wade (below) is so precious to me!
DeleteBeautiful work Laurie! You have captured experienced wisdom, and youthful exuberance!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sheila, for that. Those are exactly the qualities I hoped I would achieve.
Deletewonderfully well done!I think you definitely got the feeling in this piece. Good Job Laurie
ReplyDeleteThanks, Val. Reinforces me some more!
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