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An older Black woman paints a landscape on a wooden easel in a backyard while a white Maltese lies on the grass beside it. 8 / 26

Grandma Odessa Set Up Her Easel in the Backyard. Pearl Found the Best Seat in the House.

AI imagemaltesepaintingbackyard

A small canvas sits on a wooden easel in the backyard, already alive with soft greens, a winding path, and a cluster of trees under a pale sky. Grandma Odessa leans in with a thin brush, adding the finest touches, her glasses pushed up on her silver hair and a paint palette dabbed with blues and greens balanced on the easel's ledge. Her gold hoop earring catches the afternoon light. Down on the grass beside the easel's leg, Pearl lies stretched out with her front paws forward and her head lifted, her blue collar just visible through her fluffy white fur, keeping Odessa company with quiet devotion.

Painting outside with a pet nearby is a peaceful way to spend an afternoon, but a few precautions help. Many artist paints and solvents are not safe for pets to lick or ingest, and turpentine and mineral spirits can be especially harmful. Keep rinse jars and brushes out of reach, and wipe up spills promptly. White-coated dogs like Maltese can turn colorful in a hurry if they brush past a wet palette, so it is worth setting up where a curious tail will not swish through the paint. Plenty of water and a shady spot keep a small dog comfortable during a long session outdoors.

Pearl seems content just to lie in the grass and watch the painting come together. Every artist needs a muse, and Odessa may have found hers.

Maybe the next canvas will feature a small white dog lying in the grass. It would be the perfect subject.

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An older Black woman sits behind the wheel of an old pickup truck while a smiling white Maltese sits on the seat beside her.Grandma Odessa Climbed Into the Old Pickup. Her Copilot Was Already Smiling.An older Black woman under a patchwork quilt sits by a stone fireplace with a white Maltese snuggled against her.Grandma Odessa Lit the Fire and Grabbed Her Oldest Quilt. Pearl Knew Exactly Where to Go.An older Black woman hammers a fence board while a shepherd mix holds a stick and a white Maltese peeks up from below.Grandma Odessa Grabbed Her Hammer to Fix the Fence. Two Dogs Showed Up to Help.An older Black woman kneels on a green yoga mat in a bright room while a white Maltese stretches its front legs beside her.Grandma Odessa Rolled Out Her Yoga Mat. Pearl Had Clearly Been Practicing.