Wishes portrait finished!

When you read Alicia’s words about Wishes you’ll understand why this quiet, watchful pose was so deeply meaningful:

“Dobermans are described as watchful and alert and that was Wishes,

she was always listening and watching. When we traveled, she would not lay down to fall asleep in her crate but would watch out the window the whole time, even on trips that were 10 or more hours. Whenever she was in her soft crate, she liked the top open so we could sit or stand and watch everything but never tried to escape even when left unattended for long periods of time. At one scentwork trial I had to leave to go do something and told everyone she will be fine but if she tries anything to go ahead and zip her in. When I returned, they had taken some great pictures of her and said once I left the room her eyes never left the door until I walked back through it.  

Unlike Titan she was not showy and didn’t seek attention or want all eyes on her. She preferred to be the one doing the watching and not being watched. I think she truly believed the camera would steal her soul and hated to have her picture taken. All her best photos were always side profiles or ones she didn’t know her picture was being taken.

She was stubborn when she REALLY didn’t want to do something but would do pretty much anything I asked her to. I often wondered after she was diagnosed with cancer and was going through chemo if I should retire her, and asked several friends and judges if they thought she was still enjoying the game or doing it because I asked her to. A few judges who were also friends told me it was both, but saw how much she adored me and how she looked at me and watched me. I don’t think I ever saw it at the time but looking back at photos and videos that were taken of the two of us together I have been able to finally see what they saw, and the feeling was mutual.”

“Wishes”

Goldgrove New Years Wish FDC CAX FCAT SWAE SWM SHDN WAC RATM CGC TKN NW2

❤️  Commissioned by Alicia McCarthy

---

While I was working on Wishes’ portrait I wrote this to Alicia: 

“Each day before starting work in the studio on Wishes’ eye and upper face,

I read what you wrote about her. I really put a lot of focus and time into portraying her eye with perfection. The eyes are critical in every portrait, but especially important in this one because it so captures Wishes' watchful personality. After re-reading your words about Wishes, I realized this whole portrait is about her watchfulness that was so much a part of  her. And the way she watched over you.”

It was an honor to capture this beautiful and unusual portrayal of a true Doberman.

If I did it correctly it will look straightforward and simple, but technically this was a very difficult piece, because of the unusual lighting. 

🎨 Prismacolor pencil and acrylic wash on “Dark Grey” Canson Mi-Teintes paper

20 x 26 inches.