6 Quiet Years

Miss Athena has been gone 6 years this week. STILL we miss her, still we remember her. Long live the queen.

Reflection 24x24" oil on panel ©2015

You can visit this painting at the upcoming show 50/50 at Sullivan Goss opening January 7th, 2016. 11 East Anapamu, Santa Barbara.

Afternoon Easel

Athena

I've been working on this portrait of our beloved departed Border Collie Athena, on and off, for a couple years. For some reason I just haven't finished it. So today while feeling more quiet than usual I work on the small details that need work... namely, that darn Mexican blanket she is sleeping on. I'm reaching for the place where there is detail enough to define pattern but not so much that it is photo realism, not that I think I would have the stamina for that any more, it truly doesn't suit me.

Athena herself is looking pretty good, more work to be done in her black fur and small nuances with her freckles. It's that darn rug! It may very well be another 2 years before I call it finished. It is a nice diversion from the landscape images which makes me wonder... is a figure far behind?

Two years later....

and we still miss you. The holidays just aren't the same without our Athena. She was the best at unwrapping her gifts and even better at finding them under the tree. She knew if she stepped on each package one of them was bound to squeak, which meant it was hers to open.

Loved and never forgotten, long live Queen Athena.