Gabriele Koenig Rewis

Although diamonds are supposed to be a girl’s best friend, dogs are certainly true friends to both men and women, and they have been so for over 14,000 years. Dogs bring us unconditional love and endless joy. They warm our souls every single day. They are patient, kind, and loyal. In short, they are the perfect companion. Dogs love us more than they love themselves, and I suspect that they use their heart to wag their tail.

Painting dogs is a wonderful challenge. Each dog is unique. They have their own personality, spirits, and expressions which I try to capture in each painting. Preserving cherished memories brings me immense joy, and I tend to fall in love with each dog I paint. I also enjoy painting cats, birds, and other animals. Leonardo da Vinci wrote that “the smallest feline is a masterpiece.” For me, every creature has a soul, an inner beauty, a story to be told, and each one is indeed a masterpiece. I strongly believe that animals give meaning to our lives and make us better humans.

All my paintings are done in oil in a very traditional process that involves the application of many thin layers. Each layer needs to thoroughly dry before I may apply the next one. When possible, I try to get to know my subjects in person, and ideally, I prefer to shoot my own reference pictures. This allows me to know the animal personally, but also to later play with light and composition and transform reality into fine art. 

Last but not least, my animals are often displayed wearing a party hat. The colorful cones provide a surrealist element to an otherwise photorealistic portrait and symbolize all the joy, fun, and cheer dogs give us daily. For naughty dogs, the hat may remind the viewer of the dunce cap that misbehaving schoolchildren used to wear in 19th century Europe. I have one such dog myself at home!