A family portrait in progress.

There is something exciting about the middle of a painting. The canvas is no longer blank, but it is still full of possibility. This one is a big piece, and it is growing slowly on the easel in my studio.

It is a portrait of me and my son with our two dogs. I wanted to make something that feels like us, not a perfectly polished version of us. The painting is about the kind of love that lives in the everyday: being close, sharing space, and having animals who are part of the family story.

The dogs came first.

Right now, one of the dogs is already taking shape in oil while the rest of the scene is still drawn in and waiting. I love that the painting has its own little rhythm. One part gets clear while another part is still only a line or a soft patch of color.

Keeping the feeling close.

I have been looking at photos of the dogs and thinking about the little things that make them themselves. Their expressions, the way they sit together, and the feeling they bring into a room all matter as much as the bigger picture.

This is why I love painting animals. A pet can be funny, comforting, dramatic, protective, or all of it at once. Putting that into a painting is the part I am most excited about.

Still becoming itself.

There is a lot more to do, but I am excited to see where this one goes. It is already becoming a portrait of the love I have for my pets and the people I hold close.

If you have a favorite photo, a beloved animal, or a story you would like to turn into a painting, I would love to hear about it.