"This is a very personal image for me. It is a painting of my Yellow Lab, Maggie. She often sits with me and keeps me company when I am working in the barn. The corner sitting area is one of her favorite spots. I wanted to capture her sleeping peacefully, warmed by the kerosene heater. It's nice to have a friend you can be peaceful with.

"I often take Maggie for a walk in the woods to play in the snow. Dogs don't seem to mind extremes in temperature. They can be playing in the snow one minute and then getting as close as possible to the kerosene heater the next. It makes for a peaceful image, one where the floor and walls also radiate the warmth I was seeking to convey."