The Joy of painting

Do you own a dog? At the present time, we don't, but we have had many dogs as pets in the past. The last dog we had was Molly, her fur was mostly black and she was part collie and part lab. She was good sized and we had her for many years. One year when we came home from vacation in June she was gone. (when we went away our son would come over and look after her) I saw the impression she had left in my flowerbed where she loved to lay and sunbathe. I drove all over the neighborhood looking for her and calling her name. I was especially concerned because by this time she was old and hard of hearing, plus she probably had arthritis and other problems, the things that come with old age. We never found out what happened to Molly, we think she slipped her head out of her collar (she had a large neck but a smaller head) and wandered off somewhere. I chose to believe that someone took her in and cared for her, because she was very friendly. Even so, that was a sad moment. It bothered me that we weren't there when she left, she probably missed us.

Dogs are indeed members of the family. You grow to love them, and they you. They are an important part of your life, and they fill a gap that you aren't aware is there until they are gone. A dog can snap you out of a bad mood faster than anything. A dog can help mend a broken heart. And who else will wait by the door wagging his/her tail as you enter? From cuddling on your lap to slobbery kisses, a dog's love is something very special that only dog owners can appreciate.

A dear friend of mine's dog recently passed away from illness and age complications. To say it was a rough day for her is putting it mildly. I wanted to help her heal in some way, so I decided to do a portrait of her dog Joy. Joy was a leader dog, a wonderful companion and friend. While I have painted other dogs, this one was special. And I discovered that when doing a portrait of a dog, you have to capture the spirit of the dog, and that is quite the challenge. I don't find it easy. This is just my opinion, but I think it is best done through the eyes. After all, the Bible says "The eye is the lamp of the body." (Mathew 6:22) I hope this painting will help mend my friend's broken heart and be a reminder that to have lived with and loved a dog makes you rich beyond means.

I will end my thoughts with a quote from C.F. Frick: "Be the person your dog thinks you are."