Pet Portraits, From A Distance

If your idea of animal art is those dogs sitting around playing poker, listen up. Pet Portraits are big business.

One of the finest artists in this genre actually lives in our area and she's producing works that are sent all throughout the U.S. and in Canada.

Dick Mortimer loves his dog tickles so much that he wanted a portrait done of his trusty companion. The bond between a hunter and his dog is so intense it's difficult to put in to words.

So he turned to Deanna Lewis, who appreciates the irony of an artist who never gets close to her subjects. "Gods got a sense of humor," jokes Lewis.

Deanna has good reason to say that, you see this premier pet portrait artists doesn't avoid her subjects because she wants to, she avoids them because she has to.

"It's probably a little way I can live vicariously through what they have. I've been drawing since I was a little girl and that's because I couldn't have them," Lewis remarked.

She couldn't have any of these furry friends because she's allergic to most animals.

So in this serene setting Deanna works her magic, miles away from her subject, a dog back in Denver. She works from a picture and she'll be the first to tell you her art moves from her hand to the owner?s heart.

"Some people well up with emotion. A couple of guys have burst into tears at the kitchen table. One gentleman couldn't say anything and then wrote a few days later apologizing because he was so emotional and he didn't want to show that emotion."

Maybe it's because Deanna captures more then just the animal?s features, she also captures their spirit.

"It doesn't get better then getting up every day and doing something that you really adore and makes you feel good. I'm blessed, truly blessed," Lewis noted.

And that's exactly how Dick Mortimer felt when Deanna delivered her portrait in person, he felt blessed. Mortimer gushed, "Oh my goodness, look at that, it looks just like her look at that. You get to see that love for this creature that's poring out of them." Lewis is self taught, she used to work at a financial planning firm as an office manager before breaking away to go on her own as an artist just a few years ago. Now she says every day is a Saturday.

Click ?Play Video? to watch Mike Walter?s full report.