When I asked Reilly’s owners to tell me about his personality, they described his acute awareness of and interest in his surroundings. At home he tends to follow his family around, keeping tabs on their whereabouts at all times. Outside he is curious about the natural environment. Each day, near his home in the Bay Area, he hikes for two hours through the woods with other dogs and his dog walker. Frequently stopping to sniff trailside plants, he has earned the nickname “the botanist.”

A typical boxer, Reilly is a real snuggler. He can be timid and sensitive, but also has a slightly mischievous side that comes out when he’s feeling frisky.

Mackie and Lannie will soon be leaving their home in Oregon and relocating to Texas with their family. They wanted a special painting by which to remember their adventures in Oregon, so I gave them a view of the scenic Pacific Northwest coast.

These two westies have become really good buddies in the last couple of years.  Mackie, on the left, is a very trusting and curious little dog (notice his inquisitive expression).  He made a big impression on a class of sixth graders when he visited them during school.  Lannie, who is younger and a bit unsure of things, looks to Mackie to be the leader, except when food is involved.

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.”

Tabi is a little rascal. He loves to chase geckos on the porch at his home in Hawaii. But he’s also a lap cat, and is fondly known by his family and friends as “Lounge Lizard.”

Tabi is also the name for traditional Japanese socks that have a spit between the big toe and the rest, so that they may be worn with thong sandals (for more on that, click here). They are ankle high, and usually white, just like Tabi cat’s “socks.”

In the painting, you can see how certain details really bring out the animal’s personality. During the couple of weeks I worked on Tabi’s portrait, I got to know his features pretty well. I know the shape of his ears, and the curve of his chin. I know about the little pink spot on the first paw pad of his right hind leg, and that he has too many whiskers to count. Without these, Tabi wouldn’t be Tabi. Without the wispy long hairs on his back and chest, you might not know he has a rascally side.

Like most retrievers, Shelby and Baron really love the water. Luckily for them, their family lives in Southern California, where they enjoy many adventures at the beach and on the boat. While creating this portrait, I had many wonderful photos to work from, which illustrated the dogs’ easy-going attitudes and great senses of humor. They are incredibly sweet and loving companions. They’ve got it good, and they know it, too!

Steffi’s destiny was to be part of Kathy and Ed’s family. They rescued her from a terrible situation and adopted her when she was less than a year old.  From that day on she lived a very happy life, loving them unconditionally. Despite numerous health setbacks, Steffi’s loyal and affectionate personality and her sense of humor brought much joy to her family for seven years. In the portrait, Steffi is wearing her studded leather collar and Harley Davidson scarf, without which she felt naked.

What is more cozy than snuggling up on a warm blanket and watching the snow fall outside?

These fluffy little shih tzus have a complex relationship. Cuddles is the black and white one - she is “queen bee.” Simon is the tan one - he is young and spunky. When Simon came into the family, he was a rambunctious puppy and wanted so much to become Cuddles’ best friend. Cuddles, who had had the family to herself for quite some time, liked her personal space and was reluctant to welcome his affections. The two dogs have been through a lot together and their relationship has grown stronger. While Cuddles still prefers her independence, she doesn’t mind him snuggling with her as long as he will “cut out all that Ruckus.”

Brittany’s owner told me that she “was a special little dog that never quite trusted the world.” When she was adopted at nine months of age, she spent the first two weeks hiding. Her family spent a lot of time lying on the floor, gently trying to coax her out from underneath the bed. She was always shy around strangers, but became an incredible companion to her family and loved them unconditionally. Morning walks and cuddling were moments she enjoyed most of all.

I wanted this portrait to emphasize her sweet personality and her soft, fluffy, white coat. Her position under the bed not only illustrates her early timid behavior, but helps reflect her petite size.

Delilah’s family is grateful to have such a well-behaved, loving companion. In her portrait, my goal was to bring out her gentle, calm personality and to accentuate her beautiful markings.

I am so excited to finally post this portrait. It was completed back in October, but since it was a surprise birthday present, I had to wait.

Elvis was rescued about two years ago by some good friends of mine. She had been in desperate need of a quiet, stable family to love her and show her how good life can really be. After a period of adjusting to the real world, Elvis’ personality made an appearance, and she blossomed into a wonderful companion. She certainly has an adventurous side, but cuddling at home is what she likes best. She’s finally found the home where she was always meant to be.

I worked from several photographs in order to achieve Elvis’ expression in this portrait. During the planning process, her ears were adjusted until they were perfectly asymmetrical and the right one had just the right flop. Another important feature was her enthusiastic smile.