The bidding was quite heated at last February’s “Best in Show” Event benefiting Sit Stay Read, the literacy organization taking dogs into Chicago’s public schools to help kids learn to read. In the end, the winners were Bonnie and Bob, proud parents of Rocky. Rocky and Bonnie are two of Sit Stay Read’s longest serving volunteers. This is the very-pleased Bonnie (right) with Sit Stay Read’s Executive Director, MaryEllen.
Bob, Bonnie, Rocky, his sister Margie, and I had a wonderful walk in the park in July so I could get some photos of Rocky doing his second-favorite activity, next to visiting schools with Sit Stay Read, which is lounging in the park. I got some great photos of Rocky from which to begin my commission.
And now it is finished – just in time to be used in the back-to-school programs Sit Stay Read will be starting up all over the city soon. This is the version that the kids will see on their book pages, the version they can color. Our older kids all know Rocky, so having him appear on their pages will be a fun surprise.
This is the computer-colored version. We can use this one for all kinds of fun Sit Stay Read fun.
And this is the watercolored original that will be framed for Bonnie & Bob. I put some extra detail into the background trees.
Next up: Rocky’s sister Margie deserves her own commission!
Our little Rocky looks so regal! Can’t wait for the kids to see him and color their pages.
Great job, MK!
MaryEllen