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Maddy Buttling








    dead dog


abra kitchen, 2017 acrylic on canvas, 18cm x 13cm in private collection Abra follows mum, sous-chef. abra sofa, 2020 oil on plywood, 20cm x 15cm in private collection Painted from an old photograph of my late childhood dog. Sprawled on a red leather sofa, legs akimbo, she disappears in and out of the dark furniture, as black-haired pets often do. Eyes strain to find the end of sofa and the beginning of dog. While painting, I recalled how, after her death, muscle memory would jerk my head around corners of the house searching for her. abra bathroom, 2017 acrylic on canvas, 18cm x 13cm Abra follows mum, a visit to the toilet. abra yawn, 2019 oil on floorboard, 18cm x 18.5cm in private collection Abra, sat next to mum in 2016. abra pjs, 2021 oil on floorboard, 14cm x 20cm Abra's iconic sheep pjs. They have since been passed down to new dog, who wears them well. abra blanket, 2018 oil on canvas, 10cm x 10cm in private collection Pet portraits, the innovative future of contemporary art abra icon, 2019 oil on plywood, 29cm x 30cm Abra dies. dog=god, where it all began. abra with pheasant, 2022 oil on mdf, 14.5cm x 20cm Abra with her favourite toy, from a photo in 2013.