Immortalise those treasured moments, preserve that precious bond and make the memories live on forever with a dog caricature by Helen Scotty King.
Somewhere between hello and goodbye, there was love. So much love.
The affection we feel toward our beloved dogs is insurmountable. The place they hold in our hearts is paramount.
It’s a love like no other, and yet when we welcome a dog into our lives, we inevitably know we are likely to outlive them.
As a wise woman once said, “Dog’s lives are too short. Their only fault really.” And boy, how true is that? What we wouldn’t give to keep our faithful friends by our side for eternity.
So, why do we love our dogs so much?
There’s no doubt about it, we are a nation of dog lovers. For many of us, the feelings of love and affection we have towards our pets (dogs and cats in particular), are as strong, (if not stronger) than that we feel for our friends and family.
Our dogs are the unsung heroes of our lives. They give us so much and yet demand comparatively little in return.
Their unconditional love and constant companionship provide us with the comfort and support that is often lacking in other emotional aspects of our lives.
Their very presence provides an outlet for our innate human desire to care and nurture.
Dogs are emotionally intelligent
Throughout their lifetime, dog and owner become entwined as one. Our dogs know our innermost thoughts, and our darkest secrets. They provide a sense of security and unparalleled friendship.
They can read us like a book, and when it comes to understanding my emotions, my dogs are far more astute than any human I know.
Whilst of course dogs communicate with us in their own canine fashion, there’s no getting away from it, our dogs are what we make them to a certain extent.
The way we treat our dogs and the interactions we have with them influences their character and shapes their personality. They are reliant on us for all their basic needs and over time they form an integral bond, just as a human child does with its parents.
The canine-human bond
This loco parental state is undoubtedly what makes us feel such a strong emotional attachment to our canine counterparts. Whilst human children may ultimately grow up and fly the nest, dogs remain dependent on us, in a childlike state, for eternity regardless of their age.
Their neotenic characteristics make them all the more appealing to us and combined with a lifetime of love and cherished memories, it’s no wonder that the bond we form throughout their lifetime is so profound.
So how can we preserve the precious bond we share? Immortalise those treasured moments, and make the memories live on forever.
Ways to remember your dog forever
Remembering our dog’s appearance is relatively easy. There are the million and one photos that we’ve captured on our smartphones for a start!
But remembering their character, their personality traits, their little habits that make us smile and that make us love them so intensely, that’s what is so hard to preserve.
Aside from the immeasurable devastation, my biggest fear after losing my precious dog Poppy in 2022 was that my memories of her would fade. That I would forget her quirky personality traits, her obsessions, and idiosyncrasies. Even, dare I say it, her characteristics that used to drive me slightly insane at times!
Helen Scotty King – A Dog Caricature Artist
I first met Helen ‘Scotty’ King, the incredible talent behind Scotty’s Cartoons, six years ago when I set up Dotty4Paws. We bonded instantly over our love of dogs. At the time Helen was owned by Jasper, an adorable black and white Cocker, and I was owned by Poppy. Both of us were equally crazy about our canine companions!
We were both in agreeance that dogs aren’t pets. They are an integral part of our lives, the centre of our universe. It was clear from the outset that Helen‘s life revolved around Jasper, just as mine did around Pops.
I’ve always admired Helen’s work, but it wasn’t until she presented me with this wonderful caricature of my girls, that I fully appreciated the extent of her talent.
It’s not until you have known Helen’s subjects intimately, and shared your life with them, day in day out, that her caricatures really come to life.
Helen understands the intense bond that exists between hound and human. And it is her depth of empathy that enables her to create such masterpieces. Her artwork is not just about preserving a dog’s existence, but capturing their essence and recreating a lifetime of love.
Through the incredible detail that Helen includes in her drawings, she brings to life those little characters who steal our hearts, sleep in our beds and take over our lives.
Capturing you dogs character traits
It’s not just the obvious, but the subtle details that Helen manages to capture so impressively.
I love getting lost in artwork that transports you to another dimension. Only this is far superior, it’s not an imaginary world but a pictorial representation of my happy place – the world I share with my dogs.
An observer can look at the caricature and make educated assumptions about the personality of each of my girls. However, only I know the true significance behind each exquisite detail. The humour and accuracy with which Helen has depicted their characters is truly miraculous.
What I love most is behind the vibrant facade of the caricature is a secret world that only I have the key to unlock. A hedonistic world immersed in mutual love and doggy indulgence!
Only I know why Winnie has a hair scrunchie in her mouth, why Gertie is lying on the picnic rug, and why Pops has discarded bottle tops by her side.
I always remember when I was a child, I was obsessed with a book called The Ultimate Alphabet. Every page represented a different letter and you had to search for as many artefacts as possible beginning with that vowel or consonant.
Helen’s drawings remind me so much of that favourite childhood publication. Every time I look at the caricature of my three girls, I discover another detail that I haven’t spotted at first glance. Something else about their character brings a smile to my face and makes me appreciate just how lucky I am to share my life with such incredible creatures.
Behind the scenes at Scotty’s Cartoons
Helen creates each caricature using a series of photographs and a personality questionnaire. The questions have been carefully worded so that Helen has all the information she needs to create an accurate representation of your furry friend.
Lines of communication are kept open, and if there are any additional details she requires, she can get in touch. I realised I’d initially omitted some of Poppy’s character traits, and it wasn’t until Helen prompted me that more magical memories of my precious girl came flooding back.
As somebody who is brimming with creative ideas, yet significantly lacking in the artistic talent department, I was eager to learn how Helen goes about creating each scene.
Choosing the package that’s right for you
Helen offers many different packages for her artwork. She creates amazing headshot caricatures, designs tattoos and company logos, and has undertaken a series of commissions including a design for narrowboat decals.
Initially, Helen suggested one of her Rainbow Bridge Scenes. But grief is a funny old beast and affects us all in different ways. My way of coping with the loss of my beloved Poppy dog is to believe she is very much still a part of my life. I try and keep her memory alive in every possible way, and as such, I asked Helen if she’d create a pet scene in which all three of my girls could be together.
I felt incredibly honoured when Helen announced she was treating me to her Ultimate Package.
This includes a print along with a choice of a Chromaluxe sheet, slate, or glass-framed version of the caricature. A treat tin, which as you can imagine Gertie and Winnie are particularly impressed by. And then a gorgeous glass crystal containing a photograph of all three of my girls.
Helen Scotty King, the talent behind Scotty’s Cartoons
Like I say, I have known Helen for many years, but it wasn’t until early in 2023, that I learned just how courageous this talented lady really is. At the age of just 17 Helen’s world was turned upside down when she developed, what was eventually diagnosed as, Dysautonomia. This debilitating, live long condition means that Helen is unable to sit or stand for long periods.
Despite having her heart set on a career in child psychology, Helen’s illness meant that she was forced to seek an alternative career path. As a young child, she loved drawing cartoons with her father, and so despite questioning her artistic ability, she decided to study remotely for a diploma in art which she passed with a distinction. Helen has learned to draw lying down and has specially adapted equipment that allows her to do so.
I am just in awe of her work. To re-create such a personal connection between dog and owner in such an accurate and creative way is nothing short of a miracle.
I really can’t thank Helen enough for this incredibly special tribute to my three favourite girls. None of us can keep our best furry friends by our side for eternity, but being able to preserve the memory of their unique little characters is the next best thing.
If you would like to commission Helen to create one of her masterpieces for you, you can contact her via email or check out her website.
Woofs and Wags
Kate, Gerts and Winnie
xox
