Before the holidays, I squeezed in one more painting, and it was one of the most joyful pieces I have ever painted!

This painting is of two very special loves of mine – my granddaughter, Charlie, and her furry companion, Chewbacca (Chewy). I worked from a subject photo taken over a year ago, which when I first saw it, immediately sparked my imagination. To me, it was one of those images that was telling a story.

What story do you see?

I saw several possibilities. I scribbled down several different story outlines for a series of paintings or perhaps an illustrated children’s book. For example, I had one about an older dog who helps a young one learn what tastes good and what doesn’t. Another story about sharing. One about a dog and a girl who share a secret language. I came up with about 8 various outlines. Then I put them in a drawer, as deadlines for other work loomed.

Over the months, new photos of Charlie and Chewy would be sent to me, and my thoughts would return to these story lines. Every week I’d think about getting started on ” their project” but some other priority seemed to get in the way – that is, until this past month.

With Christmas on the horizon, I decided to begin with the image that originally started all these ideas. It was such fun to paint – the curly fur, the fly-away baby hair, the abstract carpet and those leopard pants! And as I painted, the stories kept percolating and a bigger project in my head has begun to take shape. Maybe 2025 will be the year it comes to be?

“Charlie and Chewy”, the painting, was opened this Christmas morning… with Charlie and Chewy to witness its enthusiastic unveiling! For now, it will be one part of their family story as it hangs in their home.

(“4.25″ x 5.5” ink and watercolour on archival watercolour paper)