Description
Jasmine is a commemorative portrait created in my mixed-media “Pilch” style, where each object embedded in the artwork represents a memory, personality trait, or moment in time. This piece sits beside another terrier portrait in the series and also serves as an example of commissioned work I create for people who want to honor a beloved animal companion.
The background of the piece is made with mustard seeds, referencing the biblical passage in which Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to move mountains. For me, the seeds symbolize the faith and creative trust I carried while making the piece. At the bottom of the work is a small vial filled with mustard seeds and a pearl. For many years my studio operated under the name “Pearls and Mustard Seeds,” so I often incorporate both elements into my artwork as a signature of faith, perseverance, and spiritual intention.
The piece contains feathers, representing Jasmine’s spirit crossing the Rainbow Bridge—a gentle suggestion that Jazzy now moves through the world like an angel. Throughout the composition are found objects connected either to Jasmine herself or to the time in my life when she was part of it.
A rope references the tug-of-war games Jasmine loved to play. A small Woody figurine from Toy Story marks the era in which the piece was created and reflects the playful spirit of that time. Jacks, a game I loved as a child, also appear in the piece. And tucked into the artwork is a tiny jackass figure, a humorous nod to Jasmine’s stubborn personality—because as loving as she was, Jazzy could be ornery and fiercely independent.
Jasmine came into my life when a friend who was struggling financially could no longer care for her. I took her in and trained her, and she quickly became a strong presence in my life. She was energetic, determined, and intensely focused—especially when chasing animals. Once Jasmine locked onto a target, nothing else existed in her world.
Despite that wild determination, Jasmine was also a joy. In my eyes she was a star, which is why some of the elements in the piece are painted silver and white, echoing her coloring and her bright presence.
Like many of my works, Jasmine is less a portrait and more a story told through objects, where memory, humor, spirituality, and personal history all come together in one piece.
