Recently, we got some bittersweet news. Our friends over at Yellow Brick Home are stepping back from doing pet portraits (I had to stop when I was reading it to hyperventilate) to make more time for the newest project they are cooking up, a baby girl! Ugh, it’s so hard to stay upset when it’s for such a good reason!
I am not sure I can put into words the feelings I have for the YBH paintings of my boys. Despite having tens of thousands of photographs of them, our YBH paintings are among the treasures I would rush in to save during a disaster. It’s not just that they are one-of-a-kind; they are one of my kind. My boys. I commissioned each one during a very definitive phase of our lives.
Melvin & Jake was ordered the moment I realized that my little odd couple were becoming soul mates. My very first, little family.
Melvin’s was ordered just before his 10th birthday, to capture how soulful his Eeyore face had become. I found out he was dying while Kim was painting it and it arrived one week before we said good-bye. ![holupka-melvin-scan[1]](https://i0.wp.com/ohmelvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/holupka-melvin-scan1.png?resize=584%2C584&ssl=1)
Jake’s was ordered just after Melvin died. During his intense grief, Jake’s eyes took on the most delicate vulnerability and I wanted Kim to capture it. Little did I know how poetic the timing was; his eye ruptured just a few weeks after the painting arrived.
I had just ordered Doug’s (in the hopes no sadness would surround the timing of it) when YBH announced they were stepping back from the pet portraits. I just recently received it. My collection is complete!
Some would say it’s all just paint on wood, but it’s infinitely so much more than that. Kim understands the connection between pet and person. There is an emotion in each stroke, the same way true love is painted into our hearts.
Farewell (for now) Yellow Brick Home. Thank you for the treasures!
xoxo
Tracey, Melvin-man, Googly Eyes and Crazy Doug
I don’t know, but these pictures speak to me! The spirit and soul of each pet comes through and I have never met them in person. Good Luck to the YBH artists. So happy you have all three of your babies with you.
Right?!! They scream LOVE!
I was so sad to hear they’re closing the Pet Shop – I have portraits of the pup and 2 horses…had put off ordering one for the newest of the ponies…but missed out 🙁
I was talking to someone the other day and they asked ‘can you even get another dog without the promise of a portrait?’. GOOD QUESTION! 🙂
I was so sad to hear this, too (but yes, happy at the reason why!). I love love my pup portraits that Kim made for me. I was ready to gift one to my parents this Christmas, but missed out. Well, at least I have mine 🙂 She does such an amazing job!
Totally agree with you!
They are just beautiful!
Yes!!! So beautiful!
I was sad to hear they were closing the shop, but they have such a good reason. I’m so glad I have portraits of Boomer, Dottie and Duke.
So. Much. More. Than painting on wood. My YBH portrait is one of my cherished belongings.
They are beautiful portraits, so simple and yet full of soul. Glad that you were able to get all the boy’s portraits done by the same artist. Having done a couple of pet portraits for friends I know how important it is to get the eyes right, an animal’s personality can be seen in the eyes and it helps with telling their story.