Hannah (oil, 16x12) by Ester Curini was an Animal finalist in the 24th Annual Art Competition. Curini is our March 2008 Artist of the Month.

Residence: New York City

Website: www.sassogatto.com

Inspiration for this Painting: Hannah, a gorgeous and free-spirited Boston terrier.

Working Process: Most of my work is done in acrylics, though sometimes I use oils. My subject matter is animal portraits, and I always work from photographs. I start the portrait by drawing, then I paint layer by layer, using very thin brushes.

I spend about three to five months on a typical painting, depending on the size and subject. Hannah was completed in about three months.

Why she creates art: Because I deeply love it.

Best critic: I always show the almost-finished animal portraits to my dog. Only if he barks do I feel completely satisfied.

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Edited by Grace Dobush, assistant editor of The Artist's Magazine.

Artists of the Month are chosen from our Annual Competition entrants. To learn more, visit our competition page.