For as long as I can remember, my pets have been a source of joy and loving connection for me.

When I immerse myself in the process of creating a pet portrait, I find my way into that flow. It's a fascinating challenge to understand and then convey the spirit of each animal, or human-animal relationship, through my painting.

I have done many of these paintings over the past 30 years in a variety of styles. Matisse is one of my favorite artists. Years ago I began to play with painting pet portraits that borrow certain elements from his work. I refer to these as my "Patisse" paintings.

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