Successor

In this piece, I painted my grandparents’ new puppy, Samantha, named after their late dog, Sam. My brother and I grew up alongside Sam, so we were used to his laid-back personality, deep interest in what we were doing, and the white and black spotted pattern of his fur. When Samantha was introduced, it was immediately obvious that she was starkly different than Sam. She was immensely energetic, and her coat was a bright shade of gold. I began to feel like my bond with Sam had faded, now that there was a new puppy to take his place. I know everyone still had Sam on their minds just as I did. There was also a comparison being made between the two dogs, no matter what it was. I made this piece in hopes that I’d be able to portray Samantha in her own light, not as a replacement for what once was, but as a symbol of a new beginning.