Tavi Guy

Tavi rescued me in the summer of 2022. He was about seven months old, and I fell in love with his stinkin’ face immediately (who wouldn’t?). The file that came with him included a note: “Gave Benadryl for potential bee sting, but that is just his face.” Between that and his goofy charm, we were already cracking up and connecting before we even got home.

I couldn’t decide between Felix, Sagan, and Tavi for a name. (I can assure you that the name he had for two weeks, “Greg”, wouldn’t do at all!) In the end, I went with Tavi, after the protagonist in Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series. It’s short for Gaius Octavian, and when my sister suggested “Tavi Guy” as his full name, it stuck.

He’s been my sidekick, studio supervisor, and occasional muse ever since. His face shows up in my paintings like a signature—bold, familiar, and full of story. He tends to steal the spotlight, and honestly, I let him. Painting him feels like capturing a little piece of the joy he brings into my life, and around here, he’s the face of the brand—and he knows it.

A dog wearing a space-themed costume sitting on a sofa next to a blue blanket and other blankets.
A brindle-coated dog lying on a brown leather couch with its head resting on the armrest, looking relaxed.
A brown puppy with a black nose and tongue out, wearing a blue bandana with white polka dots, standing indoors.
A brindle-coated dog with a green collar and blue harness standing outdoors on grass with autumn trees in the background, looking to the side.
Close-up of a dog's nose as it rests on a person's stomach, with a television and living room in the background.
A young brindle-colored puppy with a blue bow tie sitting on a beige rug in a living room, looking slightly to the side.
A dog standing on a grassy trail in a wooded area, looking into the distance. The trail is surrounded by small white daisies and lush green foliage.
A brown brindle puppy resting on a white surface.
A cute brown dog with big dark eyes is sitting indoors, wearing a glowing turquoise collar and a dark blue bandana with white patterns.
A dog wearing a life jacket sits on a boat, looking at a person water skiing behind. The scene is on a lake with a clear blue sky.
A mixed-breed puppy with a brown and black coat, standing on a white surface, looking at the camera.
A happy, brindle-colored dog wearing a blue bandana with white stars indoors, standing on a carpeted floor with a blurred background of furniture.
Close-up of a brown brindle dog lying on a beige cushion, with a bookcase in the background.
A small brown and black mixed breed puppy lying on a white surface, looking at the camera with a curious expression.
A brindle dog wearing a blue and orange life jacket looking up at the camera with a happy expression.
Close-up of a happy brown and black puppy lying on grass with yellow flowers, panting with tongue out.
Close-up of a brindle puppy with a blue bowtie collar, looking to the side indoors.
A brown puppy with a black nose and dark eyes, wrapped in a blue blanket, sitting on a couch in a cozy indoor setting.