Layla

2021

Graphite on paper

I am fortunate to enjoy a very unique relationship with animals. Animals come to trust to me very quickly, some almost immediately. Layla is one of the few exceptions. She belongs to friends, who live in Arizona. She is a rescue who never learned to play with people or other dogs. At the time my friends adopted her, she preferred spending time alone, rather than with her “pack.” One year after adopting Layla, her owners found a “doggy daycare” facility that was willing to take her for training and socialization. The hope was that she would learn, in a safe environment, how to interact with humans and with other dogs. The photo of Layla taken at the end of her first day there was the inspiration for this drawing. Layla – graphite on paper – 11” x 14” – 2021 (Photographic representation) I am happy to report that, at the time of my last visit, Layla’s personality had undergone an amazing transformation. While still wary of strangers, she is no longer panic stricken when encountering them. Where previously she viewed me as a stranger, she now accepts me into her home. She is still a bit shy around me but I expect that will continue to improve with time. The image seen in this exhibit is a photograph of the drawing. The original drawing now resides in the private collection of Layla’s owners.