Capturing a "Distinguished Gentleman": The Story of Monty's Memorial Portrait
- Elena Valerie
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
A house can feel incredibly quiet after a beloved pet passes away. For Christine, the silence left by her Monty, who was with her for sixteen and a half years, was immense. Monty was tiny, but as Christine shared with me, he had a "massive personality." He was hilarious, a "distinguished gentleman" who gave off a wonderfully "snobby, obnoxious vibe" if he didn’t like you—a quirk his family adored.
He was a proper mummy's boy, following Christine everywhere. His high-pitched yap announced every movement, and without it, the house fell quiet. Three weeks after his passing, Christine reached out to me. She missed him terribly and envisioned a special portrait, just for her—a simple, minimalist piece where the sole focus was Monty. This is the story of how we worked together to bring him back to her wall.
The Vision & The Artist's Eye
Christine's initial email painted a picture of a one-of-a-kind character. She mentioned his dark, woody-brown eyes and his expressive eyebrows that gave him so much personality. When she sent through his photos, I was immediately drawn to one of him sitting on a red checked rug, bathed in gorgeous sunset light. Light is everything in a painting; it allows an artist to capture depth and warmth, and this photo had it in spades.
I suggested we proceed with my "True Likeness" Portrait, a head-and-shoulders commission that creates a beautiful, life-like scale, giving the tangible feeling of a pet being right there with you. Christine agreed, but we had a small challenge to overcome together.
The Importance of Trust & Collaboration
While Christine loved the light and "cheekiness" of the rug photo, she worried about some details. She preferred his fuller beard from other photos and noted that his ear and snout hair were pushed back in the reference shot. "I hope I’m not being too picky," she wrote.
My response was immediate: "... Please don't ever feel you are being too picky! This is a deeply personal piece, and your insights are what will make it perfect."
This is the most crucial part of any commission: the collaboration. An owner helps an artist see their pet through their eyes. However, I also explained that my experience has shown that grounding a portrait in one primary photo is the best way to capture an authentic spirit and avoid an unnatural "composite" look. I gently asked for her trust, promising I could use the other photos for reference to get his beard just right, but that the soul of the portrait should come from that one, beautifully lit moment.
Christine's response was everything an artist could hope for: "... Ok. Let’s go ahead with the rug picture as he looks so happy."
The Reveal - A Perfect Likeness
With Christine's trust, I began painting. My goal was to combine the beautiful light and expression from the main photo with the fuller hairstyle and beard she loved from the others. After weeks of work in the studio, I sent her the photos of the finished portrait.
Her reaction brought tears to my eyes.
"... Oh Elena! The way I just sobbed! It’s perfect. He looks perfect. I gasped and put my hand over my mouth. Your skill is amazing, you have captured my little guy so perfectly. I am beyond grateful."
This is it. This is the entire reason I do what I do. It’s the moment a client sees their beloved companion looking back at them from the canvas.
A Timeless Tribute
After Christine's heartfelt approval, the portrait was framed in the natural wood finish she'd chosen, varnished for protection, and sent on its journey home to her. Her final email to me was just as touching:
"... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness shows through in your emails and I have really appreciated it. It’s been a difficult time for me and I can not wait to see that little face shining at me everyday again."
Creating a pet memorial portrait is more than just painting a picture. It's a journey of trust, collaboration, and shared memory. It's about taking the quiet sadness of loss and transforming it into a beautiful, daily reminder of a massive, unforgettable personality.
