Inside Look: Uniform Pets - Firefighter Aussie Australian Shepherd

A quick catch up if you’re just joining in: for the next several posts, I’m going to be giving you an inside look into my new series “Uniform Pets”. I’ll be sharing the insights and inspiration behind each piece. You can see my previous post for my inspiration on the Police German Shepherd and the Girl Scout - Chihuahua.


The series as a whole came about as I was thinking about how we identify and categorize, specifically, dress code pertaining to jobs/organizations, as well as breeds of pets. We know a police officer in a crowd of people because we’ve identified their uniform. We’ve come to expect a certain dress code associated with our doctor’s visits. If he or she were dressed in a tie dyed t-shirt and shorts, we would question their abilities and professionalism. Yet, this same doctor might be dressed that way on their “off hours”. We don’t have the same feelings towards a Chihuahua and a Pit bull.  One has become an icon of the Hollywood elite and the other has been mired in PR issues with news reports spreading incidents of their aggressiveness.

Most of the time, we don’t think about these connections. They are part of the operating system that runs below the surface. In this series, I hope to make viewers stop and think more about these connections and assumptions.

For this post I’m sharing about the inspiration behind the Firefighter Aussie Australian Shepherd.

I wasn’t one of those kids who said he wanted to be a firefighter when he grew up. I think I always knew on some level that I wanted to be an artist. But coming from a long line of family in public service (police mostly), I understood the importance and sacrifice associated with this position. Firefighters are called to be courageous, self sacrificing servants for the safety and good of the public. I will never know such a burden or call myself, but I readily acknowledge that they are to be thanked and praised for their selfless, and often dangerous work.

This piece was created to honor them and all they do. I’ve only know a few firefighters personally, and they have always been people of integrity and service. And often the sacrifice they face can be great.

In 2014, my brother lost a close friend in the line of duty. Lt. Gordon "Matt" Ambelas was killed when he became trapped while looking for victims in a high-rise fire in NY. He left behind his wife Nanette, and two young daughters.

I had the privilege of knowing Matt, through my brother. He was unassuming and in true form of a firefighter, a servant. He was an everyday man. And those like Matt, serve us everyday, risking their lives for our collective safety. They don’t run away from danger, but towards it.

In the case of September 11th 2001, the images of selfless firefighters (among others) running into the collapsing World Trade Center will forever be etched in my mind. They are true heroes.

So although this is a small offering, I hope this portrait honors all past and present firefighters.

I matched firefighter with an Australian Shepherd, or Aussie as they’re affectionately know as, because it’s been said that that breed is happiest when they have a job to do. They are wonderful family companions and a true working dog at heart.

As far as the two different color eyes (a genetic default known as Heterochromia Iridis) there are a few legends surround this, such that dogs with two different color eyes can view heaven and earth at the same time or that heterochromatic dogs are natural protectors. The truth behind why I chose to include this in my portrait is that I just thought it looked cool, and reminded me a bit of David Bowie :)

This piece was digitally painted using my iPad Pro, and app called Procreate and Photoshop on my Macbook Pro.

It's available in 3 options:

Deluxe Matted 8x10 giclée art print (final size 11x14) -  $65
Gallery Wrapped 16x20 Canvas -  $320
Gallery Wrapped 24x30 Canvas (Limited Edition - 250) - $720

Do you know someone who would love this? Share it with them. Or better yet, why not get one as a gift to show your appreciation!

Inside Look: Uniform Pets - Girl Scout - Chihuahua

First a quick catch up: for the next several posts, I’m going to be giving you an inside look into my new series “Uniform Pets”. I’ll be sharing the insights and inspiration behind each piece.


The series as a whole came about as I was thinking about how we identify and categorize, specifically, dress code pertaining to jobs/organizations, as well as breeds of pets. We know a police officer in a crowd of people because we’ve identified their uniform. We’ve come to expect a certain dress code associated with our doctor’s visits. If he or she were dressed in a tie dyed t-shirt and shorts, we would question their abilities and professionalism. Yet, this same doctor might be dressed that way on their “off hours”. We don’t have the same feelings towards a Chihuahua and a Pit bull.  One has become an icon of the Hollywood elite and the other has been mired in PR issues with news reports spreading incidents of their aggressiveness.

Most of the time, we don’t think about these connections. They are part of the operating system that runs below the surface. In this series, I hope to make viewers stop and think more about these connections and assumptions.

For this post I’m sharing about the inspiration behind the Girl Scout - Chihuahua.

This one reaches back to some of my earliest memories. I have a sister who is 3 years older than me. All through elementary school, she was a part of the Brownies and Girl Scouts. My mother also helped in her troop, so I would be taken along.

I remember craft projects, the uniforms, the badges and achievements. I remember sitting in the cafeteria of St. Rita’s Catholic school (where we both attended) after school hours with the smell of mop water still hanging in the air. And the cookies. Oh, the cookies. That’s probably the biggest marketing promotion for the Girl Scouts ever. Even to this day, I doubt people associate much else with the Girl Scouts beyond the cookies. But there is indeed MUCH more.

Consider their oath, while raising three fingers (long before a Hunger Games salute was even a thought): "A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency."

Later on, I did my own, albeit short, stint in the cub scouts. And even though it was short lived, I’m glad I did it. I have fond memories of pinewood derbies (but I always lost), playing “steal the bacon” with our bright yellow scarfs, and learning a little about some tools from our a neighborhood friends father who was our den leader.

This is dedicated to the scouts and leaders who at the heart of it all, looked to the needs of others rather than themselves.

Close up detail of the Girl Scout Chihuahua 

And my choice of the Chihuahua just seemed appropriate for the sweet innocent look of this breed. A few friends and family members think I modeled this Chihuahua after my own, Cooper, but it’s not him (honestly!). Regardless, there’s something about those eyes that beckon you to buy cookies. Or an art print :)

This piece was digitally painted using my iPad Pro, and app called Procreate and Photoshop on my Macbook Pro.

It's available in 3 options:

Deluxe Matted 8x10 giclée art print (final size 11x14) -  $65
Gallery Wrapped 16x20 Canvas -  $320
Gallery Wrapped 24x30 Canvas (Limited Edition - 250) - $720

Do you know someone who would love this? Share it with them. Or better yet, why not get one as a gift to show your appreciation!

Inside Look: Uniform Pets - Police Officer - German Shepherd

For the next several posts, I’m going to be giving you an inside look into my new series “Uniform Pets”. I’ll be sharing the insights and inspiration behind each piece.

The series as a whole came about as I was thinking about how we identify and categorize, specifically, dress code pertaining to jobs/organizations, as well as breeds of pets. We know a police officer in a crowd of people because we’ve identified their uniform. We’ve come to expect a certain dress code associated with our doctor’s visits. If he or she were dressed in a tie dyed t-shirt and shorts, we would question their abilities and professionalism. Yet, this same doctor might be dressed that way on their “off hours”. We don’t have the same feelings towards a Chihuahua and a Pit bull.  One has become an icon of the Hollywood elite and the other has been mired in PR issues with news reports spreading incidents of their aggressiveness.

Most of the time, we don’t think about these connections. They are part of the operating system that runs below the surface. In this series, I hope to make viewers stop and think more about these connections and assumptions.

I’d like to begin with “Police Officer - German Shepherd”.

In today’s day and age, the public opinion of the police has been tarnished, especially where incidents of police brutality and misuse of power fills the news. While most artists, who are more activist in nature, might spend their efforts creating art around these injustices,  I want to honor those who do their job with integrity.

My father was a NYC police officer, a detective in fact. I grew up respecting the police. I got an inside look at what officers had to go through, the sacrifice, risk, and a level of stress that few of us will ever know.

Artists and the Police are often at odds, and that was a bit true in our household as well. My father used to teach at the police academy in NYC that overlooked one of the buildings of the School of Visual Arts. Legend has it that he and other officers would often shake their heads at the strange artists (after all, I’m sure there were a fair share of artists who had trouble with the law). As the story goes, he was quoted as saying, “None of my kids will ever go to such a place.” Ironically, probably a good 10 years later, that was indeed the very art school I attended. He might not have understood art, but he was supportive of mine.

As a tribute to my dad (who passed away a few years ago) I used his badge and shield number in this piece. The name tag cites "Shepherd", not only references the German Shepherd breed but also the role of a shepherd (to serve, protect, help bring order and guidance.)

For the dog breed, I chose a German Shepherd, the breed most associated with K9 units. They are known for their high intelligence, loyalty, ability to be aggressive and ease of training.

Close up detail of "Police Officer - German Shepherd" Painting.

This piece was digitally painted using my iPad Pro, and app called Procreate and Photoshop on my Macbook Pro.

It's available in 3 options:

Deluxe Matted 8x10 giclée art print (final size 11x14) -  $65

Gallery Wrapped 16x20 Canvas -  $320

Gallery Wrapped 24x30 Canvas (Limited Edition - 250) - $720

Do you know someone who would love this? Share it with them. Or better yet, why not get one as a gift to show your appreciation!

Are you investing in art from emerging artists? You should be. Here’s why...

Around the early 1960’s my mom had a receptionist job for a large bank in NYC. She recalled a time she had the opportunity to buy art from an awkward artist who shuffled into the bank with art tucked under his arm. He laid out several prints and original art that raised a few eyebrows. He had come to see the president of the bank, who my mom worked directly for. As he left, the bank workers commented on this odd fellow, but I don’t believe that anyone was really interested in his art. It seemed too strange.

Can you relate to that experience of buying art? You don’t know if the risk is worth it. You're not sure this will be a good investment. And some Artists sure can be… Odd. Why encourage that behavior right?

It turns out that the awkward artist who was trying to sell his work that day was… Andy Warhol. When my mom told me this, I gasped. WHAT???!!! We could have owned a Warhol??? He was a major influence in my work in art school. Her response was that no one really knew who he was at that point, and had no idea what the value of his art would be.

And that’s just it, right? No one knows. What artist might become really popular, and who might never make it out of the small town they grew up in?

Art is an investment. It’s an investment in the art work that is created, as well as the artist themselves. Buy art that speaks to you. That moves you. Art that is valuable to you regardless of monetary gain.

So I’ll ask again- are you investing in any emerging Artists? You may or may not be investing in an individual, or collection of pieces that increase in value, but you will certainly be investing in beauty, a point of view or a unique style and voice. You will be investing in Art (Capital “A”). What if you were one of the few taking the chance, believing in the artist, ready to be that catalyst that could make all the difference?

Invest in art. Invest in the artist. Is my writing about this a bit self serving? Sure, I have work available for purchase and would love some collectors. If you're interested you can view some of my paintings here. But even if it’s not my art, go invest in something today. It just might make all the different for you and the artist. Who knows, you both might get your 15 minutes of fame too! :)