Keeper of Memories

Hello,

I had a realization today that I kind of act like a keeper of memories. I do all these pet portraits and usually they are deceased pets, but either way the pet will eventually pass on. Pets are so ephemeral, though really all life is I guess. But I get to make them frozen in time.

I have this huge catalogue of pets, people’s soul animals and best friends. Even if not everyone knows the animal, I do. I get to keep a place in my heart for all these animals.

I used to want to be a tattoo artist to do memorial tattoos and portraits. It’s so surreal to realize that that dream came true, just in a different way.

I like being a keeper of memories. I hope people know that someone who doesn’t always know them, knows a being that they love and I try my best to communicate that love they have or had. I try to channel that pet-owner connection in my work.

So, if you ever get sad about thinking no one will get to meet your pet, know that they will live on if you have art of them. A little bit of them gets put into art and even if it ends up in someone else’s home down the line, that’s even better. They transcended their name and legacy to endear themselves to someone else.

Have a good day everyone,

Ellen