"Hawkeye" was my first dog painting. My sister's young Basset Hound, Hawkeye, passed away unexpectedly at age three. She mentioned to me she wished she had a way to display his dog-tags. (She was keeping them on her key-ring and was afraid if she ever lost her keys they would be gone forever ~ but she wanted the everyday reminder of him).

This inspired me to do a painting in which she could frame his tags. I painted Hawkeye from a snapshot, (and memory), and presented it to my sister for Christmas. The tears in her eyes told me I had gotten it right.

Hawkeye now hangs in my sisters home, looking in on her every day, as I believe his spirit really does.

"The expression Rachael captured in Hawkeye's eyes is simply amazing. Now everyday I can look up on the wall, with him looking back at me...and he is there." ~ April