Remy in Repose Finalist

This painting captures the quiet moment of a dog in repose, inviting the viewer to reflect on the intersection of stillness and anticipation. The dog, seemingly relaxed, rests in a state of calm, yet the presence of the tennis ball subtly shifts the energy of the scene. It is a moment suspended in time—just before or just after the play, where rest and readiness coexist.
The human-like qualities projected onto the dog—a sense of relaxation mixed with an underlying tension—mirror the complexities of our own experiences. The way the dog lounges evokes a sense of stillness, yet, the potential for action is always present. The ball, a symbol of joy and play, calls the dog to motion, tempting it with the promise of excitement, yet the dog’s repose suggests a pause, a contemplation of the next move.
This piece is a meditation on the tension between rest and the anticipation of activity, capturing that fleeting moment when one transitions to the other. It explores the space between calm and motion, and how we, as viewers, project our own sense of timing, energy, and readiness onto the scene. The dog’s repose becomes a mirror for our own moments of quiet reflection, balanced with the subtle pull of activity just beyond the horizon. The image lingers in that delicate balance, asking us to consider what it means to rest while also being on the verge of something more.