Saturday, July 6, 2013

FINALLY...I've finished the Painting

A co-worker/friend commissioned a painting from me of her rescued collie, Kelly.
I did a post about it HERE.

Then this May, Kelly had to be rushed to the University when she suddenly could not walk.
It was all very unexpected.
Once there, it was discovered that she had a blood clot in her leg. 

My friend was constantly on the phone, conferring back and forth with the Veterinarian.
They were running various tests and Kelly's "Mom" was struggling with the decision on whether or not to approve the removal of the leg, if that was what would be needed to be done in order to save her life.

She was torn between all that Kelly had already been through and whether or not to do the surgery.
If she approved it, she wanted to do it for the right reason.
To make Kelly happy and healthy and not to make her suffer because she could not bear the thought of losing her.
She was agonizing over this decision as the hospital tried to stabilize Kelly and bring her to a point where she would be able to handle such an amputation.
During this frantic time, another blood clot to her heart, took her life.
Startling and heartbreaking news.

Everyone was devastated and the veterinarian was in tears when my friend's husband made the trip to go get Kelly and bring her home to her final resting place.
Kelly had touched the heart of all those who had tried to help her.
Thankfully she had a loving home in the final months of her life, a home where she was with other dogs to run on an acreage and to know true love.
My friend commissioned another painting of Kelly from me.
At first she wanted something exactly like the first painting, to give it as a "gift" to the veterinarian.
I told her that I wasn't sure if I could reproduce it and then after talking, we decided on a different pose but still the same Starfish story.
I wanted to do this one also as a Mixed Media and I asked if I could include a rainbow in the painting to represent the Rainbow Bridge.
My friend liked that idea.
For some reason, I had a difficult time with this painting, I just could not seem to get it "right".
Finally I have finished it.
My friend was very happy with it and my other co-workers liked it a lot.
I'm glad.
Of course, being me. I'm very critical of it but if she's happy, I'm happy.

8 comments:

An Urban Cottage said...

What a horribly sad story. You did a beautiful job on the painting. It must have been difficult to do.

Anonymous said...

such a beautiful tribute. it's so easy to see all the flaws when you're the one creating, but all i see is beautiful!

Jan said...

I love the expression you have captured on her face. A loving tribute. What a terrible emotional time that must have been, what a hard decision to try to make. So many rewards in loving our pets and yet such wrenching moments as these make us question why we keep getting more. But I could no more not have a pet than I could fly to the moon.

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

I miss Kelly and I did not even know her....you have done such a wonderful job with her portrait. I hope this creation of love from your heart will ease her painful loss. You are one spectacular friend...to man/woman and beasts alike. Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Anonymous said...

Looks really good!

Have a great day!
Christer.

Unknown said...

You captured such a sweet expression on her face. I think this is beautiful. xo

carla said...

Hi!!! I love the painting!!! It is beautiful!!! Sorry for the loss...but this is for a wonderful memory!!!

Gillian, @look_mama said...

You are really getting your style together. I am totally not surprised they love it.

Two thumbs up.

xx