
Rafael Mantesso’s wife left him on his 30th birthday. She took everything with her: the cookware, the furniture and furnishings, all their photos — everything. The only thing she left Rafael was the dog, a bull terrier named Jimmy Choo.
’With only Jimmy for company, I found inspiration in my blank walls and my best friend and started snapping photos of Jimmy Choo as he trotted and cavorted around the house in glee.
When Jimmy collapsed in happy exhaustion next to the white wall, I grabbed a marker and drew a new world around my ginger-eared pup. Suddenly, I felt this long-dormant inspiration for drawing — for art, for life — returning,’ recounts Rafael.
Soon, he’d made a whole series of photographs depicting various funny scenes with Jimmy. Now Rafael and his best friend have over 200,000 followers on Instagram, and in October a book is set to come out featuring the best photos of Jimmy.
You can’t help but be inspired by Rafael’s inexhaustible optimism — and his dog’s!
David Arthur
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Cassandra Noel Arthur
Lisa Carrico
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Got to love it!
Cj Eller
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Bri Weishaar these are so cool!!!
Sandy Colglazier
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Very clever, loved it.
Deborah A Wirth
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I want people like you as a friend!
Shelley Carpenter
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Fabulous! Love your art and your pup
Giovanni Bendetta
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This is Absolutely ADORABLE AND FABULOUS!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE—GOD BLESS YOU FOR THE LIFE AND LOVE YOU’VE GIVEN YOUR 4-LEGGED FRIEND! Thank you so much for sharing YOUR GIFT with all of us!!! I will be buying the book!!!
Giovanni Bendetta
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YOU MUST SEE THESE—THEY ARE FLAWLESS
Suzy Steele
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best in the world
Pat Harrison
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Clever guy – this is one way to overcome any regrets about a failed marriage. He’s a very talented artist & his dog is just gorgeous. xx
David Paton
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Allison Brown
Debra Howard
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Cute Pics!
Linda Wesley
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See being left with only a furbaby is the bestvthing of all. Thats all i wanted when i got free. Thats what i got.. My furbaby. Couldnt be happier <3
Tiny Htun
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Christia Francisca all anyone really needs is a doggy’s love
Lucille Palmer
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Absolutely amazing. Thank u for your positivity and artistic skills.
Sugandi Abeysekera
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Sweetest creation with a dog I’ve ever seen. Beautiful .
Myra Calilit
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Cute
Mary Ann Rukse
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Awesome
Guy Smithson
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Ben Jones
Dolores Abdilla
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Brilliant and great art love it
Emma Russell
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These pictures are amazing x
Juanita Simon
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Brilliant !!
Justin Edgerly
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Simply fantastic !
Kathy Davis Welch
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Really cute
Melita Shonis
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Awww this guy is great! It’s quite old lol if Aysia sat still lol we’d have fun minus her drunk sleeping poses
Anna Tomczak
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Laura Cook
Laura Cook
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Just love it!! Ha.
Ossie Benaldi
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He picked the right baby
Jo-an Rhoden
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Loved it
Paul Alves
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Kevin Cabral that’s awesome!
Gail Irene Pittman Blakeslee
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Loved looking at them
Wendy Jane Asher Lind
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Kate Thomson Chelsea Foster
Darren Dulling
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Carlee Carbis this is brilliant!x
Carlee Carbis
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Love it!
Robin Morasco
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Love This
Gudda Gudda
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Start making calendars an send them to Miami…We appreciate funny animal calendars…
Thomas Patterson
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Better off with ur dog more loyal
Judy Shull
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Good for him
Peggy Terrell
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Lucky him!
Melissa Wolf
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Like William Wegman with drawing. I love it!
Kim Gifford
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Lovely dog, brilliant imaginative art
Dan Wilson
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I’d prefer a dog if she has that attitude and mentality! Amazing pics
Aurie Bremer
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very clever
Cheryl Mckinney
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She left the, best behind
Anna Cuomo-Bertsch
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The dog is definately the best part of the bargain.
Angela A Harlow
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Awesome pictures.
Chantel Couillard
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Kelsey Buyer Jennifer Couillard
Shrimati Ghosh
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Great. Dogs are not like people. They give so much unconditional love
Richard Littrell
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I. Like. Jackie
Pam Tottman
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I absolutely love this