Lilly Louise

Lilly was one of the most intelligent dogs I've worked with. She was part of a team as a trained "shed dog". She and her trainer ( best friend) Tim, located antlers or sheds in forested areas where deer live. The pose Tim selected told their story. Lilly had the focused look on her face that said, "I'm ready ". The backlighting made this a difficult portrait for me to paint. It was hard to get the values right as Lilly's coat was light and I had to use a lot of blues and purples. My favorite parts are her eyes and the play of light on her left ear. Sadly, four year old Lilly passed from Lymes disease three months after I met her. My eyes fill with tears every time I think of Lilly and Tim and their family. I was so glad that we timed this the way we did.