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Sweet Dreams, a portrait of my son

"Sweet Dreams," 8" square, acrylic on canvasboard, collection of the artist. Inquiries may always come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .

We really got our dog Finnigan for our son Evan. Evan's first word was "dog." My feelings were hurt, but only for a minute, because I realized I had a dog-loving soulmate.

BF (Before Finnigan), we were a cat household. As much as I loved dogs, I had been unable to convince my husband of the same. All he saw was poop getting tracked into the house by little shoes, those tell-tale yellow spots in the lawn, and a housesitter (or kennel) each time we went away.

But Evan persisted. And persisted. And persisted.

Finni (a blue heeler cattle dog mix) has been around for years now, but from the very beginning, he knew Evan was his partner in crime. He herded Evan and his buddies around the yard, then graduated to accompanying him on hikes and bike rides. Evan's taught him to play tag football (Finni is a great cornerback) and to "sing" along with the Michigan State fight song. Together they create all sorts of mischief that only a boy and his dog can. But there is a softer side to their relationship as well.

When I went to tuck Evan into bed last night, I was greeted with two warm snuggly faces - they were happily spooning under the covers. It reminded me of Finni's puppy days, when Evan would nap on the dog's bed and Finnigan would curl into him. I brought that image into the studio this morning.

Capturing a person's likeness is still new terrain for me. This is a pretty solid portrait of Evan, and I'm pleased with myself. Of course, it is easiest to do with the faces I know and love, but they still are difficult. To think that I did this one in a matter of a few hours is a great accomplishment. I can't wait to give it to him when he comes home from school today.

Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings with your friends and family.
See you tomorrow,
Kim
ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com
www.turtledovedesigns.com

PS Thank you for all the suggested titles for yesterday's painting. I decided on Carroll Hebert's "Little Britches," which perfectly described the suggested relationship between the pup and his boy. Thanks, Carroll!!
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