This is the final painting of the series, and one that carries a lot of meaning for me. It was winter on one of the coldest days of the year that I found myself on Lincoln Ave. in the middle of beautiful Lincoln Park. Lincoln is typically a bustling avenue that passes through multiple neighborhoods. However, on this bitterly cold day, the sidewalks were practically empty. And in that moment for some reason, I felt a sense of solitude and sadness as I was practically alone. However, as I looked down the avenue, I noticed the sky and it was stunning.

So, as I began to capture this moment on my canvas months later, my dog, Buddy, was by my side where he planted himself without exception whenever I painted. But after a small break from working on this piece, I returned to it without him. He was no longer by my side and his absence was profound. Honestly, it was not easy to finish it without him. But I realized many of the feelings I was experiencing, and still are about his loss, mimic what this painting is all about, an emotional rawness possibly from grief, or even just loneliness or sorrow that can creep in and out of life. And at the same time, it’s about the beauty and light that can coexist with the pain.

With Buddy being so present during the creation of this entire series, he had the honor of being the pup to bring it to its completion. He, and a purposely nondescript me, are the only two in the painting. He tolerated the coldest of days better than I ever did and always remained curious and interested in his surroundings no matter the conditions. Here in the painting, something piqued his interest across the street, perhaps another dog, maybe a squirrel or even the mail carrier who spoiled him with daily treats.  Whatever the curiosity was that Buddy always had, I hope to carry it with me wherever I go.