I was recently commissioned by my brother-in-law to paint a pet portrait of his best friend’s Cavalier that they had just lost. His name was Toby and he was a very successful show dog for several years. In his retirement he kept his “dad” company. I was told that the recipients loved the painting…and then I got this text …the kind of message that makes me love the work I do:
“Hi Kelly. I just wanted to thank you for the portrait of Toby that Billy and Suzanne asked you do do for me. Toby came into Lynnette’s and my life as a little fur ball that Lynnette bought unseen over the phone. We knew early on that he was no ordinary dog. He helped us get through the loss of our two sons and over time became like my third son. I miss him dearly.
I didn’t mean to go on but hoped this would demonstrate how much this means to me. You have a special gift and I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wish you the best that life has to offer.”
Bentonville Low Water Bridge…just completed this commission. I like it and hope she will too.
Just finished the portrait of Penny, a sweet little Corgi that got to spend her final years in the lap of luxury with a wonderful person and animal lover. Thank goodness for the special people like Denise who will take in old dogs and love them until the end.
This is Mister. He was a commission that was given to his mom for Christmas. I got the nicest phone call on Christmas day from the parents who gave the painting as a gift to their daughter who had recently lost Mister. They were very pleased….said there was a lot of tears but that she was thrilled with the gift.
I always love it so much when someone I have painted a commission for in the past contacts me to work for them again. This year I heard from Sam from Memphis who I had painted two of his dogs for before and he needed a portrait of Gracie….a rescue they had recently lost. Here is what he told me about her: “As I know you like some background on the dogs you paint here is Gracie’s story. We found her. Late one night Charlotte thought she saw a coyote, but it ran away quick. The next morning our next door neighbor called to tell us there was a dying dog on their porch, I don’t know if the coyote and Gracie were the same animal or not, but believe so. Well this dog wouldn’t let anyone get near her but me…..and only because I got on my belly to crawl up to her. I took her to the vet where we found out that she was near starving to death. We took her home and nursed her back to health, never thinking we would keep her as we had 2 dogs already. Charlotte named her Gracie, saying that all but the grace of me that she would be dead. Well it turns out that we found a girl that wanted her, with two small kids. She needed surgery, she was pregnant and had a ruptured spleen, either from abuse or a car, and the vet said she had to remain quiet for 6 weeks, which meant she couldn’t go to the home with kids, and would have to say with us for 6 weeks. You guessed it. After 6 weeks we 
couldn’t give her up. Maggie, the blonde lab died a year or so later. Hawthorne died 4 or 5 years later. So Gracie was queen of the roost by herself for the next 10 years….she lived to be 16. She was a pretty mellow dog. Always wanted to be in the same room as us, or if we were outside she wanted to be outside. Was as sweet a dog as you ever want to meet, but wasn’t really affectionate. I bet in 16 years she only licked me 2 or 3 times. Very well behaved and socialized. Can’t remember her getting into trouble……unlike Hawthorne who was constantly in trouble. She too wore a colorful color like all our dogs, but she had so much hair you can’t see it. Well hopefully this gives you some idea of her personality.”
The much beloved companion of Rich and Mary Ruth….this was a commission for Christmas. Such a cute pup!
I have been working on a commission for my friend Sandy on and off for several months now. She had a very specific need for a long narrow painting to put over a cabinet in her dining room. She wanted in the style of Matisse with “The Dance” included as well as teapot and certain colors. She was happy with it when she picked it up. Whew!
The Studio 