Lala
Hi friends!
How have you been in this busy holiday season? This month is a cleaning month in Japan, and I have been busy for cleaning our house. I am preparing to welcome a New Year!
Today I want to show some of my miniature portraits again. I lost our beloved dog 7 months ago while I was in Canada. I was taking a class from my mentor, Patrizia from Italy there. Our dog’s name was Lala, a very pretty black female Labrador Retriever. She died when she was 13 years and 9 months old. After I lost her, I couldn’t paint for a while.
I learned how to paint animal miniature portraits from my teacher, Birgit Porter in the States in May at the Michigan school this year. I painted this Lala’s portrait with her, and at the time she was alive. I couldn’t finish this piece in the class, and I flew to Canada with this to attend the Canada international porcelain show. Then, I lost her. After I returned to Japan from Canada, I couldn’t see her photos and keep on painting on this piece. I couldn’t even blog for a while. I completely lost what I should do.
Lala, Miniature Animal Portrait
Lala, Miniature Animal Portrait
Lala, Miniature Animal Portrait
I painted her on a Limoges porcelain tile. I bought the tiles at San Do’s painting studio last year.
Lala came to our house as our daughter’s companion. We have only daughter, 20 years old. When Lala came to our house, our daughter, Nana was only 7 years old. They grew up together. Since we have to move around Japan from one place to another place because of my husband’s job, Lala had became a good company to all of us. She was a very smart, calm and pretty dog. She moved to 4 different places with us.
Lala
Lala
I still cry when I see her photos. I still can’t stair at her photos. I still can’t move on since her death. Even so, I finished her portrait last month. I have several good her photos and want to paint her more.
I also finished my friends, Gay and Bonnie’s pets portraits. The cat is Gay’s and the dog is Bonnie’s.
Animal Portraits
Animal Portraits
I want to paint my baby, Jiji (My favorite cat) on an another Limoges porcelain tile soon!
My porcelain painting blog 
December 12, 2014 at 5:27 am
Reblogged this on The Spirit of Japan and commented:
R.I.P Lala, My Beloved Dog
This is from my other blog. I have been showing my artwork on my other blog. I hope you visit the original post on my art blog. Thank you so much.
-Yumi
December 12, 2014 at 5:40 am
It’s a wonderful portrait, Yumi.
And I think it’s a great tribute to Lala.
As time passes you will feel better, an be able to smile and laugh about your memories of Lala, instead of cry.
December 12, 2014 at 8:22 am
Hi, Matt
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving the comment!
Yes, I know time heals our feelings, and it will take a time….. Some day even though I see her photos, I won’t cry. I realized that I haven’t completely moved on since her death. I still feel sadness and painful when I see her photos. I can paint her, but……
December 12, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Great paintings. Soon when you think of Lala, pleasant memories will bring smiles instead of tears.
December 12, 2014 at 1:37 pm
Hi, Dixie
Thanks for the warm comment. Yes, you are right. Memories will bring smiles instead of tears. Some day I will be able to smile when I look at Lala’s photos.
December 13, 2014 at 12:44 am
Yumiko-san, I’m so impressed with the way you painted the hairs of Lala. t’S so reall! I’d wished I could paint like that. I’m now struggling to paint ferret which my miece demanded to paint for her birthday.And agaig, I’m really sorry for your loss. I’d hope your next puppy will fill in your loss.Hope you will have a nice new year!
January 12, 2015 at 1:44 am
Looks wonderful, Yumi! The one of Lala is my favourite 🙂 Must have been very difficult to paint black fur like that.
January 17, 2015 at 2:25 am
Hi, Kristen.
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving the comment. When you paint black fur, use a little bit blue. That’s the key for painting black fur. 🙂