Here are portraits of some best furry friends. This gallery will evolve as it features a few golden oldies and the newest from my easel. And little stories will pop up as I see them! Some works are available as prints, and those will also appear in the The Studio’s Store > Prints tab. Enjoy your visit!
of The Summer House
“I’m so so happy to greet you!”
Highlands, North Carolina
Oil on Belgian linen; 20×16”
©2026 Karen Killian
~ working cover for new book Shop Dogs!
Oil on Belgian linen; 24×33”
Collection Joan Anderson Interiors
Cashiers, North Carolina
©2025 Karen Killian
Summer and Tally
~best friends
Oil on Belgian linen; 36x26”
©2025 Karen Killian
Collection Dunnagan
Southern Pines, NC
Oh to be with a wet Golden Retriever on the most interesting ladies’ tee on the course! This is a large but intimate painting full of very favorite things in Highlands. And the only thing that could make this scene more Western North Carolina would be a bear, probably ransacking the cart for snacks!
Gracie
Oil on Belgian linen; 24×33”
Collection Leland
Highlands, NC
©2025 Karen Killian
I have always felt that rescued dogs know. They just know. And they are the most grateful souls on the planet. Which is such a cozy thing!
Ro, loyally under Pitty-Pat’s arm, as always!
Oil on Belgian linen; 12 x 16”
Collection Bassett
©2025 Karen Killian
Bear at the Lake
Oil on Belgian linen; 18 x 18”
Collection Kuhn
Asheville, North Carolina
©2025 Karen Killian
Oakley, with her good buddy, Chuck, on the porch at Riverside, his wonderful antique store* next to the studio at The Brush Factory, Centerbrook, CT. Oakley and Riverside and that studio are all gone now. Buildings are easy. And friends keep. But the dog… I still miss you, Little O!
Oil on linen; 9 x 11″
Collection Charles Hedge
©2008 Karen Killian
*Is that an “antique store” or an “antiques store”? 😜
Oil on Belgian linen; 28 x 21”
Collection Nelson
Watch Hill, RI
©2023 Karen Killian with credit and thanks to Alexander Killian Rudkin for reference photography
Goldiva’s Annie Get Your Gun; “Oakley”
Oil on Linen; 16 x 20″
Collection of the Artist
Godspeed, little girl.
©2012 Karen Killian
Oil on Belgian linen; 36 x 36”
Collection Casavant
Tryon, North Carolina
©2022 Karen Killian
More about this painting in the blog: https://watermarkstudio.com/the-bond
~ waiting for you
Oil on Belgian linen; 12 x 16”
Collection Chambers
Hobe Sound, FL
©2021 Karen Killian
~ been waitin’ for you, Blue!”
Oil on Belgian linen; 12 x 16”
Collection Chambers
Hobe Sound, FL
©2021 Karen Killian
~ Pure and simple.
Oil on Belgian linen; 17 x 20”
Collection Booher
Orlando, FL
©2021 Karen Killian
~ in “king of the world” mode
Flagstaff, Arizona
Oil on Belgian linen; 26 x 20”
Collection Morris
©2019 Karen Killian
“Karen we received our painting today and its even more gorgeous in person. Sending a photo of the model who definitely approves. Thanks so much you were so easy to work with and you gave a piece of Duffy that will be with us forever.
Patty” -Scottsdale, AZ
“I do so fit in this chair!!!”
Oil on Belgian linen; 23 x 18”
Collection Morris
Scottsdale, Arizona
©2020 Karen Killian
Oil on Belgian linen; 19 x 24”
©2019 Karen Killian
Available in The Studio’s Store > Originals
“If you drop the muddy lacrosse ball RIGHT in front of the tractor, he’ll have to stop, pick it up, and throw it again! At least 💯 times!” -Advanced Human Training 2.0
“Gator”
Oil on Belgian linen; 12 x 14”
Collection Nelson
©2019 Karen Killian
"She's a pretty girl with a big heart”, and, come on, I have to add “funny prima donna”!!
Oil on Belgian Linen; 17 x 22”
Collection McCorey
©2018 Karen Killian
Elvis “ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog!”
in the “Bassett grass”
on the golf course at
Roaring Gap, NC
Oil on Linen; 13 x 15″
Collection Bassett
©2009 Karen Killian
Darby, a Soft-coated Wheaton Terrier, minding the store
Fletcher & Lee Antiques and Interior Design, Highlands, NC
Oil; 16 x 20″
Collection Fletcher & Lee
© 2009 Karen Killian
Patrick
Hobe Sound, Florida
Oil on Belgian linen; 14 x 17”
Collection Geupel
©2021 Karen Killian
~portrait of a tennis ball~
Oakley in Hobe Sound ~whew, long day, but I think the ball is sufficiently squished!
Oil on linen; 9 x 11"
Private collection
©2012
