digital_LB118_2023 | Page 32

Artists & Galleries / Pet Art

UPFRONT ASSEMBLING THE LOCAL AESTHETIC

Paw Prints on Your Heart

ANIMAL LOVERS TIFFANY DNAKA AND DEBBY CARMAN CRAFT TREASURED PIECES OF ART DEPICTING THEIR CLIENTS ’ FURRY , FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS .
By ASHLEY RYAN

For many , pets are a cherished part of the family . From man ’ s best friend to mischievous yet playful felines , there is nothing like the love and loyalty of an animal . Laguna Beach artists Tiffany Dnaka and Debby Carman have their own unique styles , but one thing they have in common is the gift they give pet owners : art pieces that showcase their beloved animals in style .

Wondrous Watercolors

Tiffany Dnaka ( left ) creates custom digital watercolor portraits of pets .

F ollowing the loss of her dog Moxey , Tiffany Dnaka was looking for an artist to create a watercolor portrait of her beloved pet , but struggled to find the style she was seeking . After her search repeatedly turned up empty , she decided to learn to do it herself .

Despite having no formal training , Dnaka explored the world of digital art to create her portrait of Moxey . When the COVID-19 pandemic hit , she started making similar pieces for other people in her spare time and , when she lost her job in 2021 , she decided to pursue her artwork full time and hasn ’ t looked back since .
Her soft , romantic watercolor style makes Dnaka ’ s pieces perfect for hanging in the home . “ What I enjoy most is knowing that I ’ m helping the people purchasing it in some
way , either by helping a friend grieve a little easier by doing a custom pet portrait or just having someone who really admires their pet turn to my artwork as a way to cherish that love for their animals ,” she explains .
The digital nature of her pieces allows her to customize them from the comfort of her own home . “ I do it all with my dog , Finn , by my side ,” she adds . Clients simply send over a photo and she personalizes it with her own style , with the option to add names or dates . The same artwork can also be placed on things like ceramic keepsakes , garden flags , keychains and greeting cards . In addition to custom pieces , Dnaka partners with rescue organizations to help them find homes for the animals by donating artwork . “ I always ask them to send me their most in-need dog that has been
sitting with them for quite some time ,” she notes . “ And then the artwork goes to the person who adopts the dog .” The organizations often use the pieces to gain attention for the pet in question as well .
So far , Dnaka has collaborated with more than 20 different rescues , including Barks of Love Animal Rescue , Pasadena Humane , One Tail at a Time , the Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California and more . She also created artwork locally for the Pacific Marine Mammal Center , which was sold in the nonprofit ’ s gift shop .
“ My mission is to help dogs [ through my art ],” Dnaka says . “… I think that ’ s what sets me apart .”
CUSTOM PET PORTRAITS BY TIFFANY DNAKA 949-734-0644 ; TIFFANYDNAKA . COM
COURTESY OF TIFFANY DNAKA
32 LAGUNABEACHMAGAZINE . COM