When Art Becomes Memory: Chumlee's Portrait

My art has always been about connection, but sometimes a commission comes along that reminds me just how powerful that connection can be. A few months ago, Brooklyn reached out after receiving devastating news about her dog Chumlee. What started as a routine vet visit ended with a diagnosis that changed everything - her energetic, playful companion was fighting cancer. The playful pup who was supposed to be by her side for years to come now had precious little time left.

Brooklyn's Commission

Brooklyn wasn't just losing a pet - she was losing her support animal, her partner in crime, her best friend. She wanted something that would keep his memory alive long after he was gone, and that's where our paths crossed.

What I didn't expect was the blessing hidden within this heartbreak. Because Chumlee was still with us when we began the commission process, I got to "meet" him through Brooklyn's eyes. She sent me videos that captured his personality - a traditional country puppy with a hint of mischief in his eyes and adventure in his heart. She followed my guidance on lighting for the photographs, making sure I could capture all those unique undertones in his fur and eyes that make a pet portrait truly come alive.

For this special piece, I chose a more traditional approach. While I still started with my signature loose style, I worked exclusively in oil paint without my usual mixed media elements. I wanted to honor Chumlee's rustic, outdoorsy spirit, so I painted directly onto a wooden panel with just a simple wash for the background. The natural grain of the wood complemented the undertones in his fur perfectly, while allowing his personality to shine through in that unmistakable smirking smile.

Before I completed the painting, Chumlee passed away. What was already a meaningful commission became something more profound - a first tangible memory of a companion no longer physically present. When Brooklyn received her painting weeks later, the emotion was palpable.

This is why I create. Not just to make something beautiful, but to capture moments, preserve connections, and transform love into something you can see and touch. Brooklyn will always have this unique reminder of her spunky best friend - not just what he looked like, but who he was.

Art heals. It preserves. It connects. And sometimes, like with Chumlee's portrait, it becomes memory itself.