Karl the Sheep and Other Studio Mascots
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There’s a painting in my studio of three sheep, quiet, woolly, standing in soft prairie grasses. But the middle one? That’s Karl. He’s a little sassy, a little scruffy, and, according to my daughter, definitely the one with main-character energy.
I didn’t name him.
She did.
And once she did, I couldn’t unsee it. He really does look like he’s about to say something snarky and brilliant before trotting off toward trouble.
Karl started as a sheep, but he’s become something more: a symbol of the unexpected personalities that sneak into my work, whether I plan for them or not.
The Cast of Characters I Didn’t Expect
Karl may have been the first to earn a name, but he’s far from the only character hanging around.
There’s the duck, painted mid-paddle, swimming alongside its own shadow as it slips out of the cool shade of a tree. I didn’t mean for it to feel symbolic, but there’s something about that moment that still feels like a quiet kind of freedom.
A soft exit. A choosing.
And then, of course, there’s my real-life studio entourage:
Neville, my Boston Terrier, who takes his supervisory role very seriously (especially when snacks are involved), and Simon the cat, who mostly shows up to sit directly on the paper I’m trying to work on.
None of them were ever part of a plan.
But somehow, they keep showing up, on paper, underfoot, or in the edges of my imagination.
These characters, named or not, painted or purring, remind me that I’m never really creating alone. The work is always in conversation with the little lives around me.
Art Has a Funny Way of Becoming Familiar
I used to think I needed to explain my work more clearly. Name everything. Offer intention. But then Karl happened, and I realized some things are better left open.
Letting people name what they see, like my daughter did with that sheep, is part of the joy.
And truthfully? I like that my paintings hold a bit of mystery, a bit of sass, a bit of whatever energy you need most that day.
So, Who’s in the Studio Today?
Karl’s still here, looking fabulous, and coming to the print shop soon.
Neville has been giving me some background noise with his snoring.
And Simon is stretched out next to me, catching some sun rays and waiting for his human to wake up.
When she is awake, my daughter sometimes curls up nearby, naming everything before I get the chance.
Art, Like Life, Is Full of Characters
Some are quiet. Some are bold. Some have names like Karl.
However, all of them serve as reminders that we’re not creating in a vacuum. We’re making things alongside the people we love, the memories we hold, and the wild little mascots that live rent-free in our hearts.
So here’s to Karl, and every small character that shows up uninvited and makes the whole story better.
💭 Want to help name the next studio mascot?
Keep an eye on Instagram, I’ve got a few creatures-in-progress that could use your input.
Or bring a little character into your own space.
Commissions are open, and if a sassy sheep, shadowy duck, or sunlit prairie feels like it belongs in your story, let’s start there.
→ [Explore Commission Options]