31 Paintings in 31 Days - Day Five

"Felix and Oscar" - watercolor + ink on aquabord, 20" x 16" (SOLD)

Day five!  Release the hounds!  Felix and Oscar are a special pair.  Brothers, adopted by a dear friend whose heart and energy go to the local animal shelter.  This piece began as a commission for my friend, but ended up as a love fest between me and those two lovable hounds!

So Felix and Oscar have personalities nearly identical to The Odd Couple.  Felix is more reserved, doesn't smile much and will not be the one to instigate rough-housing or romping.  Oscar, on the other hand, smiles constantly (if you are a dog lover, you know what I mean about a dog smiling!) and is a bundle of goofy love and energy.  Nipping at his brother, chasing him around the yard, climbing into the lap of every willing visitor and leaping into and out of the back of the car (their favorite hangout on a warm, sunny day), Oscar is as happy-go-lucky as Felix is reserved and gentlemanly.

Now this may seem a normal, brotherly canine relationship to you.  And truly, it is.  But what makes it remarkable is the fact that Felix is a four-legged dog.  Fully equipped for romping and leaping and racing around the yard.  Oscar is a three-legged dog.  He lost his front leg as result of his previous life and injuries which made an amputation necessary.  The thing is, Oscar doesn't seem to know this about himself.    Perhaps Felix does, but he hasn't told Oscar yet.

As I watched these two interact with each other, their cat siblings and their humans, I was inspired and awe-struck.  Felix is the perfect example of a big brother looking out for his little brother, keeping his own energy at a safe and respectful level.  Felix teaches us compassion and compromise and flexibility with our families and whatever needs they might have.  Oscar shows us to ignore our handicaps, shortcomings, limitations and inadequacies and think beyond our physical boundaries.  A humbling experience for a two-legged human.  Oscar teaches us that anything is possible.

My sincere gratitude to these two and their amazing humans for allowing me to create this piece.