A little background about Shasta...
Shasta is 11 years old. Her portrait was commissioned by Diane Barnes as a gift to her son Takeshi, and his fiancé Cheryl who became part of Shasta’s life when she started dating Takeshi (Tk).
Tk and Cheryl met in Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada. Some of their first dates were hikes with Shasta in the Vancouver Island forests. This portrait captures Shasta on one of those hikes, with her big Shasta smile and twinkling eyes.
Before I portrayed Shasta I asked Tk and Cheryl to tell me about her. The words they wrote are below the portrait.
TK wrote:
“Shasta has a very playful personality. Despite her age, she constantly gets mistaken for a much younger dog because of her bouncy, playful walk. Being a herding breed, she's also very watchful and attentive to what Cheryl and I are doing. I find it very amusing how she'll switch back and forth between her playful energy and her watchful stare.
She's also the laziest Aussie I've ever met. She finds the energy if it's something she wants to do but plays dumb if it's something she doesn't. She also likes to let out loud, almost human-like sighs whenever she lays down or gets up, which we find funny.”
CHERYL wrote:
“Shasta is now 10 years old, and I came into her life when she was 3 when I started dating Takeshi. They share one of the closest bonds I have ever seen between a pet and their owner. Shasta is incredibly loyal to those she loves, and I'm happy to say I think I count among them now. She's also one of the smartest dogs I know, though sometimes that intelligence comes with a bit of sass.
Takeshi and I met in my hometown of Victoria, and some of our earliest hangouts involved taking Shasta on hikes. It's something we loved doing then and continue to enjoy now, exploring the parks, trails, and neighbourhoods of wherever we happen to live. Despite Shasta being 10 years old, I still often think of her as a young pup. However, don't be surprised if you find her belly up on the chaise lounge that she has now claimed as hers. Shasta is the second dog I have had in my life, and I'm happy I get to share it with her.”
🐕 “Shasta”, an Australian Shepherd, in a Vancouver Island forest where she loves to hike with her beloved people.
🎨 Prismacolor pencil on grey Canson Mi-Teintes paper, with watercolor underpainting.
20 x 26 inches.
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