A Sweet Memorial
This week’s sweet story is about a beloved dog named Gator.
Gator recently passed, and his family commissioned a portrait to remember him.
When Gator’s mom placed the order, she wrote:
“Gator recently passed — he was such a gentle soul! He was my husband’s best friend and soul-dog for sure. Those two were inseparable.”
After I shared the finished portrait on social media, I heard from Gator’s dad too:
“Gator was my absolute best friend in the world, and I can’t thank my wife enough for finding you to help me keep him with me. Thank you for the perfect picture.”
This is why I do what I do.
Every story you share, every dog you love — it means the world to me!
3 Helpful Tips for Hiking with your Dog
Finn at one of our favorite hiking spots
Hey friends! I LOVE that Summer is here!! It’s my favorite season of the year: the trees are full and green, the sun is out, and the weather is warm! I thought I’d share one of our favorite pastimes with you today: hiking!
Hiking is great exercise, and I think being out on the trails is just good for the soul! Now that Finn doesn’t have that crazy puppy energy anymore, we have a great time on the trails together! Have you thought hiking with your dog sounds fun, but haven't ever gotten around to it? If you decide to give it a try, here are 3 things you need to know:
1️⃣Look at a trail map before you start. It's a great idea to take a photo or a screenshot of it if you're hiking somewhere new!
2️⃣Check the weather! If there are extreme temps forecasted for your day, you may want to wait! In the summer, we hike earlier in the day to avoid the heavy Georgia afternoon heat
3️⃣Bring water! Every time!! Even if it's a short trail, you don't know what the trail conditions are like until you get there. I can't tell you how many hikes I've been on that took twice as long as I expected.
Do you have a friend who wants to get into hiking with their dog? Share this article with them to help them get started!
3 Things that make a Fabulous Reference Photo
Here’s a Question I get alot: What makes a great reference photo for my dog’s portrait?
So here you go:
1️⃣Great Lighting: (outside if you can but bright lighting is key!)
2️⃣Face-On (not looking to the side unless that’s how you want me to draw your portrait)
3️⃣On their Level (squat down so you aren’t looking down on them, but looking them in the eye)
If you’re wondering if a photo you already have would do the trick, feel free to ask! You can fill out my Contact Page to touch base, and when I answer you can include it in the email!