[By Your Side]
by Qilu Cai
805 W x 606 H x 35D mm
Oil Painting on Canvas
 
Concept
This painting immerses the viewer in a dog’s world—low to the ground, where a frayed rope toy rests near a master’s unseen foot. The dog waits patiently, ears alert, gaze fixed upward in quiet hope. Warm, textured brushstrokes highlight the soft fur and well-worn toy, while light drapes gently over the scene.
The composition balances stillness and expectation—the master’s presence implied only by bare feet at the right side. The dog’s posture speaks of devotion: paws tucked, tail faintly twitching, ready for the next game.
 
It’s a tribute to the quiet bond between human and pet—love expressed not in grand gestures, but in the patient drop of a toy and the hopeful pause that follows. The moment feels timeless, familiar, and deeply tender.