Remembering Frankie: A Portrait Created in Love

Frankie’s portrait was painted as a memorial – a way to remember a small life that left a very large space behind.

When Frankie’s mom Michelle came to us, she was still deep in grief. Losing a pet isn’t “just” losing an animal; it’s losing a presence that shaped daily life in quiet, constant ways. The routines. The comfort. The companionship that doesn’t ask questions or require explanation, in many ways like a child.

She wanted something she could live with.
Something that felt like him.

Painting from Memory, Not Just Reference

Every portrait begins with photographs, but memorial portraits begin somewhere deeper. The reference images showed Frankie clearly; his soft white coat, his gentle expression, the way he seemed to look up with complete trust. But what mattered most wasn’t technical accuracy. It was capturing the feeling of Frankie as he was known and loved.

The goal wasn’t a dramatic setting or symbolic storytelling.
It was presence.

A Finished Piece, Ready to Live On

Once completed and framed, Frankie’s portrait became what it was meant to be, not a reminder of loss, but a continuation of love. Something that could live on the wall. Something that could be seen every day. Something that says you are still here with me.

For Michelle, this wasn’t about replacing what was lost.
It was about honoring what was shared.

Why Memorial Portraits Matter

Memorial portraits aren’t about grief alone. They’re about remembrance. About creating something tangible when the physical presence is gone. About allowing memory to exist in a form that can be touched, lived with, and returned to.

Frankie’s portrait now does what he always did — quietly keeps watch.

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With Gratitude

Thank you to Michelle for trusting me with something so personal. It is an honor to create work that holds meaning beyond the canvas.

If you’re considering a memorial portrait for a pet you’ve loved and lost, know that these pieces are created with patience, respect, and care; always at your pace, and always with your story at the center.