COMING SOON
COULD YOUR DOG BECOME THE FACE OF MAN'S BEST FRIEND?
Some dogs don’t just live with us.
They become part of our story.
I’m continuing a long-term pastel project, my vision of Man’s Best Friend—one portrait for every breed.
And I’m inviting you to help shape it.
Man's Best Friend Continued
It all started long before I became a full-time artist.
Before pastel drawings covered every surface of my studio, I spent 17 years working in a veterinary clinic.
My days were filled with wagging tails, wet noses, nervous puppies, and grey-furred seniors, and the kind of unconditional love only dogs seem to master.
During that time I became a pet portrait artist, and looking back now, it's funny to realize that so much of my life has been spent looking into dogs' eyes.
Hundreds of hours.
Probably thousands.
And somewhere along the way, I started noticing something.
Every breed has its own personality.
Border Collies seem to be thinking three steps ahead. Bulldogs somehow make everyone laugh without trying. Golden Retrievers have a way of looking at you like you're the greatest person they've ever met.
They are all so wonderfully different. Yet, no matter the breed
They remind us of home
Of muddy paw prints by the back door.
Early morning walks.
The dog who insisted on sitting in exactly your spot on the couch.
The one who grew up alongside your children.
The one you still catch yourself thinking about years later.
That's where the Man's Best Friend Collection began.
Not simply as a collection of breed portraits...but as a celebration of the dogs who somehow become part of our families, our stories, and our hearts.
Now, I'd love to continue building this collection together.
Because there are so many breeds still waiting to be celebrated.
Maybe yours is one of them.
How it works
Step One - Join the Waitlist
You can join the Man’s Best Friend waitlist to be part of the upcoming selection cycles.
Those on the waitlist — along with CC’s List — will be invited to participate in the next stage.
This is where you become part of how the series unfolds from the beginning.
Step Two - The Breed is Chosen
Each piece will begin with a simple question:
Which breed should become the next portrait in the collection?
Through voting inside CC’s List and the waitlist community, one breed is selected to enter the series next.
This is the collaborative heart of the project — shaping the direction of the collection together, one breed at a time.
Step 3 — Submissions Open for That Breed
Once a breed is chosen, submissions open specifically for that dog - only from those on the waitlist.
From the waitlist, you will get a special email to submit your favourite reference photo along with a few words about your dog.
Tell me what makes them unforgettable. Their quirks.
Their habits.
Their personality.
I want to meet them through your eyes.
A $10 submission fee will be required at this stage
This helps support the review process and the ongoing creation of the Man's Best Friend collection. Every submission is carefully considered, but because only one dog is selected for each breed, submission does not guarantee selection.
What Happens
If your dog is chosen?
Your dog will become the official inspiration for the next portrait in the Man's Best Friend collection.
From that original artwork, I'll create fine art prints, greeting cards, and perhaps even future keepsakes like ornaments, allowing your dog's spirit to reach homes well beyond your own.
As a thank you for being part of the collection, you'll receive:
• A complimentary fine art print in the size of your choice (5" x 7", 8" x 10", or 11" x 14").
• The very first opportunity to collect the original pastel before it's offered publicly.
• Behind-the-scenes updates as your dog's portrait comes to life. Watching it come together every step of the way.
• The joy of knowing your companion helped shape a collection that celebrates the remarkable bond between people and dogs.
Why Continue the Collection?
Every year I receive messages asking if I'm taking on pet portraits again.
Truthfully? Some of my favourite reactions are when someone sees their best friend as a portrait.
But they also ask something different of me.
An original pastel portrait takes hundreds of thousands of tiny pastel strokes. Hours become days. Days become weeks. And these days, my heart is also being pulled toward wildlife, creating joyful greeting cards, and telling new stories through my art.
I've learned I can't do everything.
As much as I'd love to say yes to every pet portrait request, I know that's simply not possible anymore.
Then one day, another thought crossed my mind.
None of us knows how many years we'll get to do the work we love. Maybe one day my hands won't be as steady. Maybe my eyesight won't be quite the same. Maybe life will have other plans.
I hope that day is a long way off.
But while I can...I want to celebrate as many dogs as possible. Not for just one family. For every family who has loved that breed.
So instead of creating one custom portrait at a time, I thought...
What if we built this collection together?
A few new breeds each year. Chosen by the people who love them most.
A collection that celebrates the personalities, the stories, the muddy paws, the goofy smiles, and the dogs that somehow become family.
It may grow slowly.
But I think that's exactly how something meaningful should grow.
What Breeds have
Been Drawn
Bernese Mountain Dog
Boxer
Dachshund
French Bulldog
Golden Retriever
More to come... perhaps starting with yours?
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