1981-1995
The Portrait
The thickest fur, body smooth and white, dappled with black spots. There is a large black patch on her right side and a completely black head. Painting just her head, would make her look like any other black dog. Deciding instead to place her in a meadow amongst the buttercups, in a full body pose. This is her happy place, feeling the warmth of the sun and a scent on the breeze. When you touch her ears, notice how velvety soft they are, it’s difficult to stop stroking them! Using watercolours, I never paint the white, just leave the paper to be the white. A simple outline of the body shape in Paynes grey, deepening areas of shadows and shading. Gentle flicks of black for the spots, softened around the edges and flicks of grey for texture. Hookers, Sap and Viridian greens blended for the long grass, with splashes of Cadmium yellow flowers.
The Story
It’s early morning and my brother is preparing for his paper round. As usual, he goes to find Josie to put her lead on ready to accompany him. “Mummy, Mummy…there is a guinea pig in Josie’s bed” A surprise puppy, born during the night with no prior warning! Well done Josie, just getting on with it quietly in the night and thankfully with no complications. Despite trying earlier to have a litter of pups without success, now it has happened! Josie, aged 6 has had just the one pup. We just have to keep her.
Gemma grows into an interesting looking dog with her unusual markings. It isn’t until quite sometime after she is born, I considered, once again, who the father might be? Our neighbours have a boy dog called Sacha, a spaniel-cross, white smooth-coated with liver spots and liver face markings. Hmmm, I think our friend Sacha might have hopped the fence one afternoon, had his rendez-vous with Josie, and then hopped back over again. Combining his colouring and Josie’s colouring, the outcome may very well resemble something very much like this dog called Gemma!
Mum and daughter are good companions until Josie’s death 4 years later. Having this dog has been good news for my Dad’s health. Regular daily exercise morning and evening, with this dog that was never planned, as well as being an affectionate companion. Gemma comes to stay with me when my parents go off on their trips around the country, holidaying and visiting friends in Yorkshire or Scotland. I have to be firm with her during these visits. I won’t let her rummage in the hedgerows and long grass in search of discarded chip papers or half eaten sandwiches, like my dad does. I am sure she has been totally spoiled over the years, with extra treats from my Dad, so her girth is much wider that it should be. I get the ‘look’ when things are not to her liking or not what she is used to. After reaching her 14th birthday, she has definitely earned the right to be a little bit of a grumpy old lady!
On one of her visits, totally out of the blue, Gemma has a random urge to climb our stairs. In all the years she has never been interested in climbing up our stairs before. Up she goes, purposefully navigating the wooden treads and wanders about the rooms having a look. Coming down is a little more stressful, but she manages it. Next, we take a stroll down the back lane. It’s a beautiful midsummer evening, calm and still with a late setting sun, melting into the horizon. Gemma has unusual skip in her step, almost running and joyful as she accompanies us. During the night, without any fuss, just like the night of her birth, Gemma slips away. The next morning, we find her lying ever so still, as if sleeping. Shocked to suddenly find her like this, we assume it was quick and peaceful. Feel very sad, we reflect on the evening before and remark… that on that last day of her life… she was still curious enough to have climbed those stairs, and have a look round, taken the night air, then quietly left us without drama. It is a happy memory.
My parents return early from their holidays to collect her and take her home, where she can be quietly buried alongside Josie her mother. Transported in their VW camper van, I place a single flower on her wrapped body tucked up in her bed, then watch as they slowly drive away.