11/27/2024
Abigail and Pedro: My canine teachers.
Before I ever set foot in a classroom, my best friends and teachers were two dogs: Abigail and Pedro. Abigail was a medium-sized, blonde short-haired sweetheart with a calming presence. Pedro, on the other hand, was a tiny, spirited Chihuahua who often acted like the leader of our little pack of three, despite his small size. They weren’t my pets—they lived next door—but they felt like family, and not a birthday or Christmas passed without a card from these two fur friends(with a little help from their humans, of course).
As the youngest in a house with two older brothers who were often busy with their own friends, Abigail and Pedro became my daily companions. From the moment I toddled into their yard, they were there for me. Abigail would patiently let me lean against her as I learned to balance and walk. Pedro, full of energy, would dart around, coaxing me to chase him in the grass. These two dogs taught me the fundamentals of trust, loyalty, and friendship—lessons I’d carry with me into my human friendships.
In fact they shaped how I approached the world. On my first day of kindergarten, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, I mimicked the social cues I’d learned from my canine friends. Feeling nervous, I clearly remember quietly growled and wrinkled my nose at a classmate. It’s safe to say my teachers were confused, but that memory always reminds me of how deeply these two dogs influenced my understanding of trust and socializing.
Abigail and Pedro were by my side for every scraped knee, every laugh, and every imaginative adventure until I was 13 years old. Abigail passed first, and Pedro followed not long after, as if he couldn’t bear to be without his lifelong companion. I helped bury them in their backyard, laying flowers over their resting place, tears streaming down my face.
That was my first real experience with loss, and it was followed by many more as other dogs and cats came into my life, each one leaving an indelible pawprint on my heart. Abigail and Pedro taught me not only about love but also about the bittersweet beauty of letting go with love.
Today, when I paint pets, I strive to capture that pure, uncomplicated love every pet owner knows so well. In honoring other people’s beloved pets through my art, I also honor the memories of my own cherished companions, starting with the two who were there before I even knew how to make a human friend.
Soon after the passing of Abigail and Pedro, at the age of thirteen, I began to study painting.
It doesn't surprise me that pet portraits have become my specialty over the years. Without fail, everytime I deliver a finished painting and see the inevitable tear that comes to the eye of its recipient, I experience that deep bond that's possible between human and non-human companions.
Member of the Portrait Society of America
Member of Cecilia Beaux Forum for Women Artists
Member of the O'Hanlon Center for The Arts
