Voyager

Things have been really quiet here this month. I've been designing a new magazine which is about to hit the shelves. It's been a long-time dream of mine to produce such a title, and now this dream is coming true. But more on that later.

The other reason I've been so quiet is this portrait... Belinda is a long-time client of mine. She, like me, loves her animals, and her life and home revolve around their welfare and well being. I also knew exactly how she felt when she sent me a mail explaining how lost and devastated she felt after losing her beloved chestnut, Voyager. About a year later she felt she was ready to have his portrait done. It took me ages to decide what to do for her. She gave me two photos and carte blanche...

I felt that Voyager's portrait needed a special touch to reflect the bond that he shared with Belinda. I chose the butterfly as a symbol of transformation, an indication that life goes on, just as our connection to our beloved animal companions continues to exist across the boundary between this life and the next. I wanted this to be a picture of hope and freedom. I hope that I achieved that.

Dear Colleen, just wanted to thank you for the wonderful portrait of Voyager, the more I look at it the more I like it. It makes me feel at peace somehow, like the portrait shows him like he is now, free, calm without pain and somehow also waiting for me to join him again, its really very special to me. Although I still miss my boy everyday, the portrait gives me some closure, thank you for that and also thank you for understanding how special this is to me! You are truly talented in more ways than I think you know, you are able to capture what is not always seen - I hope that makes sense! Love Belinda