|
Sandy
*
Español
June 30, 2024
by Britt Zaist, text and drawings
I have been doing pet portraits for over 35 years. I love drawing old dogs and I love hearing stories about them from the people who loved them. I have to say that there is something touching about drawing an old dog. They look different: not so spry, bent over, slow. It's like drawing an old "us." I know the feeling because now I am old, too.
Our first dog here in Mexico was Emma. A street dog, she came into our Galeria Izamal in the Meson de San Jose, and went into labor! That was the first and only time in our 29 years that we closed the gallery during our regular business hours.
Patient Emma
*
Emma remained her "own" dog for the 18 years we had her. The last of those she was very thin, unsteady and forgetful. We slept with our bedroom door open to the patio so she would be able to go out there quickly when she needed to. But she couldn't remember any more. When she needed to do her thing, she would wander throughout the house, never making it out in time. At the end, Emma, my husband, Henry, and I took our last walk together to the vet's where we held her as she went calmly to sleep.
Emma, 17-years-old by Henry Vermillion
*
There is a wonderful book on this subject called Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. Here is an excerpt:
|
|
|
|
"Jake, 16-years-old: As you can see, Jake eventually grew into his feet. You are looking at the faces - young and old - of a gentle, docile dog who is great with children. And that's a good thing, because 12 grandchildren come to visit Jake, and he lives half a block from an elementary school. That's a lot of little noses to lick: Jake tries for every one. Dogs don't understand photographs, so Jake probably isn't engaged in any sort of bittersweet reverie here. He's not being taunted by this image of his younger self. He isn't wistfully contemplating the heartless assault of time. You are."
| |
|
|
Jake
*
In my twenties my first husband and I lived on our sailboat for three years. We stopped at a marina in Bradenton, Florida to visit my grandfather. He was in a wheelchair. While an eighty-something friend of his was showing us her house, we came upon a wonderful old-timey photo of a beautiful young woman. I asked her who it was. She said, "It was me." I was amazed. At 28-years-old, I had no idea of the changes that occur as you approach 80. Now I do.
Finley
*
*****
Studio / Gallery Visits
**************
Britt Zaist was born and raised on Long Island, N.Y. Her grandparents were successful Italian and Spanish immigrants. After living on a sailboat for three years, cruising the Inland Waterway, making crossings to the Bahamas with her first husband, they hit dry land and moved to New York City. There she studied at the Art Students' League Of New York and became a Life Member. That marriage took her to Raleigh, NC, where she was active in several art groups.
In 1992, Britt and her second husband, Henry Vermillion moved to San Miguel. They and friends established Galeria Izamal, the fourth gallery in town. Britt managed the gallery for 29 years until it closed in 2021.
Britt is well known for her gestural ink drawings and sumptuous abstractions in colored permanent ink.
Britt and Henry now open their home gallery and studios to the public.
**************
*****
Please contribute to Lokkal,
SMA's online collective:
***
Discover Lokkal:
Watch the two-minute video below.
Then, just below that, scroll down SMA's Community Wall.
Mission
Visit SMA's Social Network
Contact / Contactar
|
|
|
|
| | |
Click ads
Contact / Contactar
copyright 2024
|
