b'The most cherisheditem in my studiois my easel.eGrowing up, we always very athletic dog, but now shehad cats.Our most beloved mostly sleeps in her bed, situatedcat, Mittens, was all black with near me. Teddi was my thirdwhite feet. He never wandered pet portrait.too far from home, but one time, A new studiohe went missing for days. Wecalled and called for him, until We just purchased a new homehe finally showed up one night, that overlooks two holes on alimping. He had gotten caught golf course and sits up high.in a rabbits trap and gnawed off The view is so tranquil. In myone of his back feet to escape! new studio I will be able to seeHe was so determined to come the sunset over the river from aI saved up for months to be able to buy the home. I remember being very distance. It was very importanteasel when I was in high school. It was the most sad about that as a kid, but he for me that the studio have aexpensive one at the time. Now, after years of use, recovered fine, and lived to be beautiful view, great light and beit is covered in so many colors of paint. 20 years old. large enough to set up an areaCover artist Carolee Vitaletti for filming for the purpose ofMy husband was not too teaching some day.fond of cats.Soon after we Lighting is everythingwere married, we adopted a to me.It just lifts me up andGerman Shepherd puppy namedBuddy. I felt Buddy needed a makes me instantly happy.friend, so I brought home aNorwegian Forest kitten, and The universe is so quiet innamed him Bill, after my hus- the mornings, except forbands dad. It helped him fall in the birds.I will open thelove with the cat. Billy thought window to listen to them whilehe was a dog because he was I am painting. It is one of myraised with a German Shepherd. favorite sounds. I usually paintThey would wrestle and play all until 3pm. After that, theday long together. lighting is not as good.The beginning of my pet Favorite items on my desk:portraits collection.Billy Pictures of my family, my catlived to be 19 and Buddy lived to coffee mug, and my Brittobe 10. My very first pet portrait Kermit the Frog sculpture. was of Billy, soon after he died in2005. It inspired me to dedicate If you could meet onethe time to paint 10 portraits of artist, dead or alive, whodogs and cats, all sitting on would that be and why?chairs looking very regal. Buddy Renoir for his brush strokes,was my second pet portrait. And, Norman Rockwell for histhat was the beginning of my detail, and Romero Brittofirst collection of pet portraits. for his whimsicalness. Teddi, our 17-year-oldShih-Poo,comes in my studiowhile I paint. She was always a Continued on the following page gwww.TheNewBarker.com THE NEW BARKER 53'