Abyssinia, Jerry

In March, we lost a beloved dog, Jerry. He was hit by a car and killed. This experience left us reeling— he was an exuberant, joyful creature. I continue to feel his absence 4 months later.

left to right, clockwise from top left:

graphite composition sketch;
4”x8” watercolor & gouache color study;
4”x8” oil study (underpainting visible);
4”x8” value study in graphite4 and charcoal pencil.

Within weeks of his death, I started visualizing a composition, centering Jerry. It would be a nocturne, in a mix of jewel tones to contrast with the rusty red and bright white of his fur.

I remembered a photo of him sitting in our yard in front of a row of cast iron plants, and started experimenting in graphite with different compositions, using the cast iron plants as abstract geometric shapes.

I then moved on to a watercolor/gouache color study. I am more confident in watercolor than in oil, so it was easier to get my thoughts onto paper this way.

4”x8” color study of Abyssinia, Jerry. This is the finished version of the underpainting above.

I followed the watercolor with an oil color study, with a reddish-brown underpainting. This would be covered, for the most part, except in Jerry’s fur. The purpose of all of the prep work was to make sure that I was happy with the way that the composition flowed, that his anatomy “felt” right, and that the colors were harmonious.

20”x40” Abyssinia, Jerry. Work in Progress.

While I initially wanted to title the piece with a line from a Matthew Dickman poem, I decided to reference the last episode of Season 3 of M*A*S*H. I grew up watching that series with my sister, and that episode never fails to move me.

Despite, or perhaps because of my grief, creating this piece sparked many more ideas—which are quickly turning into a series.