Where Trust Is Money

I met Sharon, a pug breeder, at a local dog show. I’m a professional pet portrait artist, and she stopped by my booth to commission a painting of each one of her pugs to decorate her living room walls. She mailed her photos to me straight away so that I could begin the portrait process. I must say, to get all those wrinkles exactly right was a bit of a struggle for me. It was like a jigsaw puzzle, connecting this line to that and figuring where one wrinkle started and another ended. When three of her paintings were completed, we decided on a time that would be best for me to drive over to her home to deliver her portraits.

I had never seen a pug up close and personal before. As I drove up her driveway, I saw a sign that read Pug Crossing. “Ahhh, must be the right place,” I reassured myself. As soon as I rang the bell, pug pandemonium ensued. Over the din of barked greetings, I heard Sharon shout, “Boys, go to the bedroom,” “Girls, into the kitchen.” Sharon actually corralled her four-footed darlings in this way. They understood every word Sharon said to them and obediently went to their respective posts, which gave me a space to enter into the living room.

As soon as I sat down on the couch, there were pugs everywhere around me; in my lap, under my arms, snuggling up to my nose and lips for happy licks. As my eyes wandered around Sharon’s living room, I saw every kind of pug memorabilia to be had! There were pillows, plates, a china closet full to the brim, rugs - you name it. If it had the picture of a pug on it, it was proudly displayed.

I felt immediately enthralled with each little curious pug face that stared into mine. There were happy snorts of approval as tiny tails wagged a mile a minute.

I eagerly anticipated my return visit to her home to deliver more paintings. With each pug wrinkle that I painted, thoughts of pugs grinning ear to ear filled my mind! It wasn’t long before my return visit was scheduled. It was then I realized, for some puppy lovin’, there’s no place like home - a pug home that is!!!

© Connie Bowen

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Pet Portrait Artist, and Professional Illustrator Connie Bowen creates stunning pet portrait paintings on canvas from photos. Specializing in capturing the spiritual nature of dogs, cats, horses and other animals in a realistic fashion with impressionistic backgrounds as seen on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s TV show, Art Beat. Over 200 pet portraits completed and counting! Visit http://www.conniebowen.com to view exquisite samples.