A lovable and loyal companion, Sandy has always been the family’s protector. And at nine years old, she still loves to play - she is always ready for a game of hide-and-seek and loves to jump for toys. As you can see from the portrait, her favorite toys are golf club head covers, which, in her household, are not in short supply.

When painting golden retrievers, I am always amazed at the color variation in their coats. For Sandy’s portrait I used many pastel colors, from dark reddish-browns to pale golds and tans, and worked in many layers to create her long, feathery fur. She has an especially beautiful tail, which she always holds high. Her family calls it her “show dog tail.”