Christmas Kenshi

In the midst of creating over a dozen ACEO cats for Christmas gifts in December 2017, I also wanted to get back into designing my own Christmas cards.  I had been far too busy in 2016, which meant I skipped Christmas cards entirely that year (I didn't make my own cards in 2015 either, though at least I sent some premade ones).  I didn't want that to become the norm--I love making and sending my own cards every year--so despite the heavy workload I already set myself, I took a break in the middle and spent a couple days drawing this.  It's a picture of my dog, Kenshi, who passed on in February 2017.  He was with me almost my entire adult life, save for the first year I moved out on my own (he stayed behind at my dad's house until I could find a place that allowed pets), so I decided to celebrate his memory with a peaceful depiction of him taking a nap 💙 I didn't want to be too sappy or bring down the mood around Christmastime, so that's why this is just a simple portrait.  I wanted no one to know it had sad connotations unless they already knew Kenshi.  Christmas is about joy and I want my memories of Kenshi to be the same.

Ink and marker on marker paper, with Photoshop, approximately 7x8", completed December 2017

Check out my blog for progress photos and more about the making of this piece: www.studiomikarts.com/2018/01/…