Growing up, I really wanted a dog…

For various and practical reasons, it never happened. As a young woman I became an artist, eventually making works I loved.

The joy I got from painting seemed enough to fill the dog-shaped hole in my life. I married Steve, a musician who kept a rigorous touring schedule, and since we both traveled the globe together we were never settled long enough to justify a canine companion.

In 2005 everything in our world changed. We adopted our daughter Sarah.

The time once spent traveling and making art was now focused on making a home for our daughter. We were more settled than ever before, and after awhile with no plans for long travels, we realized we could make our family even larger. The life-long dream of having a dog finally came to fruition and we brought home Sherman.

When Sarah graduated from high school, I started to pick up my brushes again and paint with Sherman at my side (and often between my feet). I expected to feel like I was putting on a warm blanket as I rediscovered the joy of making art. But my painting didn’t have the same creative spark it once had. That was until an unexpected request: my longtime friend Ann Patchett asked if I would paint her rescue Rose.

Painting Rose brought a new dimension to my work. Studying her furry face for hours, attempting to distill her essence on canvas — it was like I was helping the world to see Rose just as Ann saw her. The process was new, challenging, and an unexpected delight. When Rose passed, I didn’t know if Ann would be able to have another dog in her life. Rose was beloved. But after a long, dog-less season, there was another rescue in the house: Sparky!

Parnassus Books (Nashville’s much loved independent bookstore that Ann co-owns) became Sparky’s daytime domain. Then, came Sparky’s fellow shop dogs…

Ann asked if I’d paint her mother’s dog Ewok, and I did.

From that, commissions started coming in. Because of the supportive redirection of a friend, I found the place where my work felt once again inspired. I shifted the focus and heart of my work to the fidelis canis. These were more than just dog portraits. These were meditations on profound relationships between dogs and their families; between canine souls and the world. It felt more like canonizing saints. As a painter I get to bring my expertise and joy together to honor beloved family members in a way that is intimate and one of a kind.

May I paint your dog?

-Deb

P.S. Sherman is still with us and remains my faithful muse.