08 September 2016

My Dog Ty

Three months ago my 13-year-old yellow lab Ty died. Actually, he was 13 years and 1 day old. We didn't even know he was sick, and the day before he died, on his birthday, I had a fantastic time with him. We went on a long walk at his favorite local place, the Mill River, and he had some canned tuna to celebrate his big day. The next morning I awoke to find him pacing around in the kitchen and I knew instantly that something was seriously wrong. After some visits to the veterinary hospital, it was determined that a tumor in his abdomen was bleeding and there was nothing they could do to save his life, so we euthanized him.

They say that losing a beloved pet is emotionally and psychologically as difficult as losing any other family member, and that feels true to me. I'm coming around now, but one of the things I've had on my to-do list while the grief is still fresh has been to design a print for a portfolio I'm participating in with Zea Mays Printmaking this fall. With Ty on my mind so strongly, I found that as much as I tried to not make my portfolio print about him, I couldn't get my attention to go anywhere else. So I'm working on a print and it's about Ty.

I started by looking at some photos of him. Here are a few pix, and I'll post again tomorrow to share the specs for the portfolio and how my ideas have evolved.

Ty was not allowed on the furniture. Except sometimes.
Ty as a youngster.

4 comments:

Wendy Willis said...

Art therapy at its finest. My heart fills with love just seeing Ty's baby photo. He seemed to be a fine, fine partner for you and Lynn. I will also eagerly await more on the print, and more photos of this sweet guy.

Bette Norcross Wappner -- said...

Such a perfect idea. I agree with Wendy as Art therapy at its finest. Blessings.

Ellen Shipley said...

I'm so sorry you lost Ty. Animals are every bit our family members as the human kind. I love your idea to make a study of him and your paint by number idea (I'm reading your posts backwards). I agree a woodblock print and a paint by number have a lot in common. I look forward to your project.

Annie B said...

Thanks for reading, Ellen, forwards or backwards! And thank you for your condolences. <3