This portrait was created in memory of Doc Holliday, a beloved family dog who passed away on September 2nd, 2025. Doc wasn’t just a pet or a dog — to those who loved him, he was family, a steady presence, and a source of love woven into daily life.

The commission came from Brianne, my old softball coach from 2009. Back then, our team didn’t win many games, but we built something more important. I even made a Facebook album called The Team that Changed My Life, with the description “Teammates… to family.” That spirit of connection has carried through the years, making this painting especially meaningful.

When Coach Bri reached out on TikTok to ask if I would paint Doc, he was still here. Neither of us could have known how soon the piece would become a memorial. There’s a tenderness in closing out the final hours of a painting while knowing the dog you’re painting has already left this world. In that way, this portrait holds both celebration and farewell — a tribute to Doc Holliday and the love he gave his family.