The Renaissance faire season has begun! For the next seven weeks, history, fantasy, and a little bit of whimsy will come together in a most exciting way.

Imagine, if you will, a world where animals come out of the woodlands and into the Renaissance. Some might find themselves dressed for the royal court, others might prefer the simpler life of a village commoner, and a few might have stories that are best left to the imagination. This was the inspiration behind my new collection of painted Renaissance animal characters.

Each character began with an animal and the possibility of imagining it in another time and place. What might this creature have looked like as a nobleman or woman? What sort of life would it have led? Would it have belonged in a grand hall, a village marketplace, or a quiet forest. Through research, costume, and a little imagination, these animals found their way into a world inspired by the art and atmosphere of the Renaissance.

With the Renaissance faire now underway, it seems the perfect time to introduce them!

Over the coming weeks, I'll be sharing the characters one by one, along with a closer look at their portraits and personalities. I hope you'll enjoy meeting them as much as I enjoyed bringing them to life.

But first, I'd love to know: if your favorite animal lived during the Renaissance, who would it be? A noble of the court, a traveler, a village commoner, or a one of the "merry" souls from the forest?

Welcome to my little corner of the Renaissance. I hope you'll join me for the adventure!