Description
Trigger is a mixed-media portrait honoring the artist’s beloved dog and companion. The piece captures the personality and memories associated with Trigger through a collage of symbolic objects and textures. At the center is the dog himself, holding the words “Happy Birthday” in his mouth, suggesting the piece may have been created around the artist’s birthday as a celebration of their bond.
Trigger was known for his playful mischief. A small boot appears in the composition, referencing the time when he was a puppy and constantly chewed up the artist’s boots. While it frustrated the artist at the time, the object now serves as a humorous reminder of Trigger’s youthful energy.
Other elements reflect the life they shared together. Flowers on the left side represent the times Trigger would dig up the garden. On the right side are flattened pennies, collected from a walk along the railroad tracks where the artist placed coins on the rails and returned after the train passed to see them pressed flat. These pennies preserve a simple shared memory from their walks together.
In the background, small pieces of polymer clay form abstract shapes representing the city of Fort Collins, where the artist and Trigger spent much of their time walking and exploring together. These shapes create a playful, textured environment suggesting the rhythms of city life.
Like many of the artist’s works, the piece combines personal storytelling with found objects and sculptural materials. Each element serves as a memory marker, turning an ordinary portrait into a narrative about companionship, loyalty, and everyday moments shared with a beloved animal.
The artist also invites viewers to participate in this process. Similar portraits can be commissioned, allowing people to have a custom artwork created that reflects the personality and memories of their own pet or loved one.
