This one makes me smile every time.

For our 23rd wedding anniversary, my husband and I went on our first camel ride. What I didn't expect was Camille. She had absolutely no interest in staying in the line, spent the entire ride trying to get to the front and do her own thing, and had us in stitches the whole time.

There's something about their faces that makes me laugh. The long lashes, the slightly superior expression, those incredible dark eyes taking everything in. Funny, beautiful and far more expressive than I ever expected.

Some paintings begin with a deeper story. This one began with a really good day, an unforgettable animal, and a memory I wanted to keep.

Acrylic and oil on canvas · 20 × 20cm (8 × 8") · Original

Painted from a reference photograph by Stephen Barnes / Shutterstock.