Pet Portraits
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She Was
A Good 'Ol Jack
Becca was our first dog as a married couple. She was our “kid before the kids”. If we could keep a dog alive, then we figured we could do the parenting thing, we joked. The portrait I painted of her hangs in a prominent place in our living room where I gaze at it every morning while sipping my daily coffee. She is sitting in an alert position, one ear half-cocked, as if her attention is caught by a squirrel climbing the tree outside the window. As I look at her intelligent gaze, I remember how we taught her to sit, beg, lay down, roll over, and play dead. We were proud parents showing off the skills we taught our first child. My husband and I reminisce about what a good dog she was in our early marriage. She lived for 13 years, and was with us through the birth of our first-born son, and twin daughters. She tolerated the kids well, even though our attention to her had dwindled greatly once they came along. She loved to take walks with her pack. She loved soaking in the sun. She loved playing fetch and chasing the kids around the fenced in yard. My son was 10 and my daughters were 7 when she passed. Now that they are older, they don’t remember much of her, but my husband and I do. She was an important part of our family, and always will remain in our hearts.
Story of a Pet Portrait
Samantha and her two sisters were looking for the perfect gift for their father's birthday present this year. They always put a lot of thought into what to get their dad, and find the challenge rewarding when they get "the" gift. This year, they all decided to commission a painting of his loyal and well-loved chocolate lab. Samantha found Lisa Bane through a google search, and reached out to her. Lisa answered her questions right away, and explained the whole process clearly and in an understandable manner. Samantha was excited to hear reports from Lisa about how the painting was progressing. When Samantha received an email with a photo of the final painting, she could hardly wait to see her dad's reaction when seeing it for the first time. Lisa captured the lab's gentle and sweet personality, and Samantha knew her dad was going to love it. When the day came for her dad's birthday party, Samantha and her sisters were filled with anticipation. When her dad opened the painting, tears came to his eyes, which Samantha had rarely ever seen. His dear, sweet, chocolate lab had been his loyal friend for the past 14 years, but was not doing so well lately. He would now have this beautiful painting to remind him of his loving companion that was part of his life for so many years.