Summer Nostalgia & Remembrance

Hello all and welcome to my first post! Lately, I’ve found myself struggling to find the motivation to create art for myself. It’s much easier for me to create for a homework assignment or project that has a deadline. So, I’m giving myself homework. I know, I sound crazy right?

Dory at the Park

Can you think of one summer activity you look forward to going to each year with friends and family? Whether it be a state fair, a concert or a beach day, it’s tradition.

For me, I look forward to a free summer concert in the park series they hold in my hometown every summer. My family would bring our dog Dory with us because she was part of the family. Recently, she passed in May at the age of 16 and it was really hard going to the concert without her this year. I was dreading it.

Anyways… To keep myself busy while waiting for the concert, I usually sketch every time. Mostly, I would sketch Dory because she was right in front of me.

Now, her friend Ruger is sitting in her place, and I couldn’t resist putting pencil to paper. I whipped up this portrait of Ruger using a very antique set of soft pastels that I was gifted.

Dory & Ruger

I can’t explain why I decided to put more effort into this sketch with pastel instead of just pen.

Maybe I did it as a way to honor her.