Pastel painting of a man and his dog sitting together next to a water hole by award winning Australian artist Emily Holsman.

Soul Mates

I had just started a new painting in my studio at home and stood back from my easel to study the charcoal sketch I had made of a man sitting at the edge of a waterhole.

I was happy enough with the composition and overall outline but somehow I knew something was missing.

The figure of the man was working well enough but he needed something to accompany him. A bag perhaps, a rucksack or a traditional rolled up swag.

And then it hit me like a bolt from the blue – a dog.

At first, I liked the idea of a Border Collie, so I sketched in the shape but it didn’t look right.

At the time my former partner’s best friend had a Doberman, but that wasn’t the image I had in mind.

I flicked through various book with photos of dogs and eventually came across one of a Kelpie. That stopped me in my tracks and I busily sketched it into the scene. ‘Yes’ I thought, ‘this one belongs.’

Adding a dog to the painting transformed the scene. There was an immediate chemistry between the two figures and the two of them seemed to bond together on the canvas.

Soul Mates became an obvious title and to this day I take great pleasure in the painting and the nature of their relationship.

Some months after I had finished the work, I decided to phone Richard – a friend I had lost contact with several years before. I told him about the finished painting and sent him an art card of the image. When he phoned me back, he sounded very pleased and excited. ‘I love the painting’ he said, ‘and I love the dog. I really love the dog. For some reason, I don’t have a single photograph of that dog. I just didn’t take any.’

A beautiful pastel art print, delivered unframed with a certificate of authenticity – signed and numbered by the artist. A limited edition of 300.

Available in two sizes: 12 x 18 inches and 16 x 24 inches.

Free shipping worldwide with Australia Post.

Printed on 180gsm enhanced matte art paper.

Pastel wall art makes the perfect gift or a beautiful addition to your home or office.