'CH Snyder's Fireside Ed'

Last year the prestigious Grand National Grouse Championship was held in Wisconsin; a first in its 82 year history. In a collaborated effort between the Chippewa Valley Grouse Dog Association, Minnesota Grouse Dog Association, and the Moose River Grouse Dog Club, they put on a class event - where the top cover dogs in the nation showcased their athleticism, intelligence, experience, and manners on wild birds. Seventy-two dogs entered the one hour heat championship, and one dog was named Champion.

In an effort of preserving the legacy of a dog claiming such a hard earned title, it was my distinct honor and pleasure to paint a portrait of the Champion - Snyder’s Fireside Ed; owner: Steve Snyder, handler: Tammy Chaffee.

In the following months, I worked closely with owner Steve Snyder in creating a unique and lasting piece of Ed. We started with a handful of photos of Ed, and photos I had taken last fall as possible background references.

From there we pieced together our references, and composed a scene reflecting the champion’s winning run. Ed is standing breathtakingly tall and composed on a swamp’s edge, where he reached out to produce and handle a grouse, minutes before the end of his outstanding hour long performance. 

I would like to give a special thanks to the Grand National directors, Brad Peterson and Greg Johnson of CVGDA, for the opportunity.