“English Springer Study (Lewis),” 6x8, English Springer pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (thank you!). Lewis is 13 years old, and has a rare bone disease. This will be his last summer. His family is doing their best to make it as memorable as all the others, even going so far as to get a special “cart” so that he can still join them on their walks. They requested a portrait that would remind them of his squishy smooshy droopy face. I cropped in tight to get his eyes, and just the upper edge of his nose, as though his face was cupped in their hands. The scale of this painting is such that it is fairly close to lifesize, yet still remains intimate. A good starting point for recalling such a dear companion and friend. (On an odd note, this piece reminds me of that sad clown painting that hung in the back hallway of my childhood home. I wonder whatever happened to that painting….. it terrified us in the half-light, and probably ultimately ended up as a prop in a ...