The big Black Dog
Customer Inquiry for this commission:
“Great – I’m so happy that you’re willing to consider the project :). So, this is a bit of the background. My beloved dog Shade passed last October at the lovely age of 14. I took over care of Shade when she was 11 from a friend who had developed an allergy. She became family right away and my whole family loved her. As I was in residency and fellowship when I had Shade, I was fortunate to have a bit of “dog share” arrangement with my best friends. And while we lived in Vancouver, our friend group all regularly “shared” her. She was a major part of our lives. Anyways, she was just the best dog for all of us. We always referred to her as ‘the big black dog’ – she was a cross between a Golden Retriever and a chocolate Lab – so go figure how she came out black. She was the most mellow dog and a great companion. She loved the water – the little lake in our local park, the ocean, her kiddie pool in the back yard – whatever was available. She was also extremely patient and bribable with treats – qualities I put to good use posing her for an annual calendar. Unfortunately, her age caught up with her and it was time to let her go. She was just such a huge part of my life and a bit of a symbol of that particular time in my life – finishing residency, moving away to fellowship, and forming bonds with friends that will be my friends for life.
My thought for the painting is to have Shade as the focus, near or in the water, with my friends and I kind of in the background – not with detail so we’re necessarily recognizable if that makes sense. I’ve attached some photos for reference. I have a bunch more – she was very photogenic. 😊”
– Allison
Acrylic on Canvas 2018
Canvas Size H 24″ x W 30″
