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Story
This painting of
"Keche” was painted for the people whose home we had just purchased.
When we had looked at the home the owner apologized for having her dog
in the house (all 110 pounds of him) but I said it didn't matter and knew
we shared the same kind of love for dogs. Just before we took possession
of the home, "Keche", who was 12 at the time, let out a final howl and
dropped to his death in the front yard. I felt so bad. It was
sad enough that they were having to leave the home they dearly loved on
the ridge top in West Virginia. After noticing some of my art work
they asked me if I would paint him (I had never been commissioned to do
a portrait before). I said yes but that I couldn't charge them
for it because I didn't know if it would turn out the way they wanted.
I spent many nights toiling over this painting making sure I captured every
detail of his personality and appearance. When it was finally completed,
the owners held their breath and with tears in their eyes said it looked
just like him. That was my reward. I wanted to touch
their hearts and allow their memories of him to remain vivid in their eyes
forever. When we had to move back to Michigan they bought the home
back from us, and gave me a beautiful sculpture of two cardinals, the birds
we so admired from the deck of the home. -Suzanne |
