Who says humans are the cleverest creatures? Spend five minutes watching a bird do a happy dance, or a cat knock something off a table just because it can, and you’ll see wisdom, mischief, and pure joy in action.

This collection is a love letter to the animals that share our world and steal our hearts. Finned, feathered, furry, or fantastical, they remind us to lighten up, stay curious, and embrace the magic of play. In painting them, I remember what it means to be fully alive: joyful, expressive, and wildly ourselves.