Karen Killian

The Shop Dog Collection

Portraits • Stories • A Living Archive

A project by artist and writer Karen Killian

Some dogs greet customers.
Some supervise from behind the counter.
Others quietly become part of the heart and personality of a business.

They become local celebrities. Customers ask about them by name. Children come back just to see them. Long after they're gone, people still tell their stories.

The Shop Dog Collection celebrates these remarkable dogs through original oil portraits and the stories that make them unforgettable. Each portrait becomes part of an ongoing collection preserving the history of businesses and the dogs who helped define them

What's Included

Every Shop Dog commission includes:

• An original oil portrait of your shop dog.

• Personal consultation to discuss the portrait and your dog's personality.

• Photography session and design work.

• A professionally written story about your dog, your business, and the role your dog plays in welcoming customers.

• Consideration for publication as part of the ongoing Shop Dog Collection, including stories, exhibitions, and future publications.

• Permission for your business to use the finished portrait in its own marketing and promotional materials.

The Process

Every Shop Dog has a unique story.

I begin by spending time getting to know both your dog and your business. During my visit, I'll photograph your dog, learn about their personality, and hear the stories that customers and staff love to tell.

From those conversations, I'll design the portrait and write the accompanying story. Before painting begins, we'll review the final design together to ensure the portrait reflects both your dog and your business.

The portrait is then painted in my studio using museum-quality archival oils on fine Belgian linen canvas, creating an heirloom designed to last for generations.

Portrait Options

Every commission is designed specifically for the subject.

Portraits are available in three general formats:

• Head Study

• Three-Quarter Portrait

• Full Figure Portrait

Final pricing depends on the pose, canvas size, background, number of subjects, and overall complexity of the painting.

A detailed quote is provided before work begins.

A deposit of one-half of the quoted price reserves your place in my painting schedule and covers the consultation, photography, design, and preliminary work.

The balance is due upon approval of the completed portrait.

Framing, shipping, and travel expenses, when applicable, are additional.

Image Use

Copyright of the artwork remains with the artist.

Businesses participating in the Shop Dog Collection receive a perpetual, royalty-free license to reproduce the commissioned artwork for their own promotional and business purposes, including websites, social media, advertising, brochures, postcards, greeting cards, press materials, and similar uses.

The artwork may not be licensed, reproduced, or manufactured by third parties, or used on fabric, apparel, home décor, or other commercial merchandise without the artist's prior written permission.

More Than a Portrait

Every shop has a story.

Sometimes that story has four paws.

Years from now, customers may not remember every product they purchased, but they'll remember the dog who greeted them at the door, accepted a scratch behind the ears, or watched faithfully from behind the counter.

My hope is that every Shop Dog portrait preserves not only a beloved dog, but a piece of a business's history.

A Growing Collection

Each completed portrait and story becomes part of the growing collection, preserving not only the likeness of the dog, but also the history, personality, and traditions that make each business unique.

Through original paintings, written stories, exhibitions, and selected publications, my goal is to introduce readers to these unforgettable dogs and the places they call home.

The first feature, The Endless Goldens of The Summer House, has already been accepted for publication in The Laurel magazine, with additional Shop Dog stories and portraits planned as the collection continues to grow.

The Shop Dog Collection continues to grow one remarkable dog at a time. If your business is fortunate enough to have a dog whose story deserves to be remembered, I'd be honored to help preserve it.

To discuss your Shop Dog or request additional information, please contact:

Karen Killian
The Watermark Studio
PO Box 111
Tryon, North Carolina 28782
860 . 460 . 5787
www.watermarkstudio.com