Zelda

Zelda's portrait is a birthday gift! This beloved Australian Cattle Dog is no longer with us, but her owner still misses her deeply.

This is where loving - be they animals or people - gets costly. No matter how well we're able to move on after they're gone, our beloved companions leave holes in our hearts that only they filled. But I'm sure most of us would agree with Tennyson that, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

To Zelda, and all those special furry friends who are no longer with us.

Penelope

Shhhh....Penelope's portrait is a surprise birthday gift to her mom! Little Penelope is a rescue, and like many rescues, not much is known about her past. Mom suspects she may have been abused due to her very timid nature and the fact that one of her ears never stands erect. But who knows! Either way, these quirks are part of what makes her Penelope, and she is loved dearly.

Uno & Dos

One and Two? No! It's Uno and Dos! Clever as their names may be, these guys are an equally cute pair. Uno is an adult Rat Terrier who had the world to himself until....little Dos! Dos (painted here as a puppy) is a mix - Chihuahua perhaps? And loves to give big brother Uno a run for his money.

The two play together all day long, and Uno has found that life is pretty cool with a little buddy like Dos.

Cooper & Lola

Introducing a lovable pair of English Springer Spaniels: Cooper & Lola! These guys were a joy to paint; "Dad" gave me free license to depict them in whatever fashion I felt suited their personalities. Cooper is a big clown who manages to give that classic Springer look when you get his attention (tennis balls and high pitched squeaking work best).

Lola by contrast is more dignified (you'd never catch her making a fool of herself like her brother) but equally accessible and especially sweet-natured. They're a well-matched, well-loved, and well-traveled (they spent the summer vacationing with Mom & Dad) pair!

Heeeeere's Monty!

The poll is closed, the results are in! It was extremely close with a ONE vote win.....Monty the Python is the name of my Super Tiger Reticulated Python! My thanks to everyone who participated (nearly 30 of you!). Monty thanks you too: he's finally being called something other than, "Hey Snake."

Some latest pics. Monty shed recently and is now over 3ft. long!