I came across this Golden Retriever cavorting in a stream while his owner threw a ball for him. Watching him brought back memories of my own Golden, Chauncey.
There was something almost humorous about his single-minded focus on that ball. Water, rocks, current—none of it mattered. There was only the ball. But there was something impressive about that concentration, too: the complete absorption dogs can bring to the simplest pleasure.
That combination of determination and pure enjoyment was what I wanted to capture in the painting.