Cheryl sent me the most adorable picture of Shasta “belly up” on the chaise yesterday. I’ve come to know her through Cheryl’s and Tk’s words in emails from each of them. So I was not surprised to see the big happy smile on Shasta’s face. Now I have a full understanding of why the particular photo we’re using for the portrait (left, on monitor) appealed to Tk. That smile is “pure Shasta”. And just a little bit of an impish twinkle in her eye.
Diane Barnes ordered this portrait as a gift for her son Takeshi (Tk) and his fiancé Cheryl. Here are Tk’s and Cheryl’s words....
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.”
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.”
In the studio, I’m working on Shasta’s white ruff with reference photos of her on my monitor. Doing my best to capture her personality.
Prismacolor pencil on "Felt Grey" Canson paper
20 x 26 inches
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