I love dogs very much, but more often they appear in my works as companions to horses. Occasionally, however, dogs become the main characters in my paintings. I always rejoice in those moments.

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This Belgian Malinois shepherd was named Vena. I was lucky to meet her in person last summer, although the meeting was very fleeting, in the form of a night walk with her and her owner.

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Not long ago, Vena crossed the rainbow bridge, and I was commissioned to paint her portrait. I often depict those who have already crossed the rainbow, and it's always an amazing experience to communicate with an animal not just at a distance but across the spaces and subtle boundaries between worlds.

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I had almost no references to study Vena's appearance well. Besides, Belgian Malinois shepherds were previously not just incomprehensible but even aesthetically repulsive to me. Whenever I saw photos of these dogs or encountered them on the street, my first thought was that visually, they were not at all close to me. I would even say uncomfortable.

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However, I had the task of inviting Vena onto the canvas and being able to see her, revealing her primarily for myself. It was a very challenging task, and it made me feel noticeably nervous. After all, showing someone beautiful can only be done by expressing genuine interest and admiration for them. As I immersed myself in feelings while in contact with Vena, studying information about the breed, I suddenly realized that I had changed my perception. I saw beautiful, friendly dogs. I started to see the differences in their types and felt sympathy for this breed. And Vena joyfully leaped onto my canvas.

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When I paint someone on commission, it's crucial for me not only to make it visually similar but also for the person to see their friend on the canvas as they see or saw them in their living interaction. To feel the same emotions that this friendship brings them. And it's especially important when the animal is already beyond the rainbow.

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"Vena"

Materials: canvas, oil, acrylic, gold leaf, ink, markers

Size: 40x50 cm