Quick – when I say dhole, what do you think of? Most people have no idea what a dhole even is. It is probably because there are so little of them left in the world. Growing up in Thailand, I was somewhat aware of their existence but after doing some research, I was saddened to hear about their plight. This inspired me to raise awareness about the dhole with my newest painting – “Daydreaming.” This dreamy pair will be available soon in note cards, art prints and mounted art prints. Look for them soon

They are known for their extraordinary vocals – mostly for alerting pack-mates on dangerous conditions. Dholes are South Asiatic Wild Dogs that live in organized, extended family packs with a strict social hierarchy. Not the typical canine breed, as their range is severely fragmented and is falling under critical concerns. It is estimated that only 2500 Dholes are left in the wild worldwide. In the Wildlife Act of 1972, these little reddish-brown pups were officially declared as endangered due to rampant habitat destruction.

Last November, my husband and I were visiting family in Bangkok. During our stay there, we spent most of our early morning breakfast time watching one of the most talked about channels in Thailand – the Lin Ping Panda Live Cam. Best reality TV show ever! It’s basically a live feed of a baby giant panda’s day-to-day life in a Chiang Mai Zoo with her mother. My husband and I were absolutely drawn to this adorable, playful baby based on our love for pandas. Hey I have a bunch of baby stuffed pandas at home.

Anyhow, the little panda inspired me to redesign and reimagine the panda pattern I posted last year to include a second little panda as they play and frolic about their young, uncomplicated lives. As we all know, these beautiful creatures are endangered, and I feel it is our duty (as panda lovers) to spread the word and hope of the animal that is the symbol of preservation, as well as WWF’s logo mascot.

That being said, we’d love to debut our newest addition to our lineup, the Playful Pandas available in art prints and note cards. Let me know what you think.