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!
Katherine Ballew Perez
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I’m sorry his wife left him, but at least he has a great sense of humor. Great drawings!
Mary Lou Hart
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This is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cute!
Jon Hammer
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Corinne Colbert
Corinne Colbert
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❤️ Jimmy Choo! A friend got me the book one year for Christmas. You should also check out Alice van Kempen and her BT Claire — she’s becoming as iconic as Jimmy!
Diana Pittenger
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Awesome♡♡♡♡♡ don’t ever let someone dampen your spirits or your attitude towards life. There is always a rainbow after a storm ….. (speaking from experience ♡♡♡♡♡)
Pesce Karen
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Lol.. I loved it thanks!
Stacie Stilp
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Love your stuff
Rachel Frost
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Becky Woody click through all the pages
Eileen Griffitts Fox
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I assume the dog was also happy to let the ex wife go …. he looks pretty happy!
Janet Clarke-Feeney
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He’s lucky. Usually they take the dog.
Jena Phelan
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Kandi Everhart
Kandi Everhart
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I’ve seen those
Jena Phelan
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So cute
Nancy J Tiemann
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This is a page for PUGS!
Edwina Prendergast
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What a guy good luck to him and his dog
Jennifer Carlysle Edwards
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I would be perfectly ok with just having my dog.
Margaret Bransby
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Agreat photo and a terrificidea
Rich Buchanan
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Looks like a happy family to me
Sheryl Rolan
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This is awesome, I have his book, great pictures
Carina Burtell
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Oh calm down.
Brody Cooper
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Fabulous!!!!!!
Stephanie Merriel
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Russell Jones – thought of Felix!
Kay Mullin
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All you need is puppy love
Jeffrey J. Smith
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Adorable pics
Morgan Patrick
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Good riddance! You’re better off without her.
Desiree Neft
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…he lived happily ever after 😉
Marja Wilens
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Welterusten dan!
Rosemary Moth
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Great artist,great dog ,I should think he’s better of with out his wife ????
Nicola Dennis
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Matt Knight
Jeni Cannell
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Wonderful.
Nichola Richardson
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I’m sorry to say I’d rather just have the dog to be honest xx
Kathy Oh Tiangco
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Dennis Tiangco
Tish Waugh
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Connie
Chris Hoppen
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He got a great deal!
Deborah K Palmer
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Truly awesome reckon the dog far better company!
Rebecca Peters
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Fantastic
Linda Johnson
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Blessings one your new life. You and Jimmy will do great.
Rebecca Collins
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Lucky him!!!
Di Fitzpatrick
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You got, by far, the best deal!
Carol Archer
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totally awesome
Vickie Henthorn
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What a great man with nothing. So very cool
Dimitros Papadopoullos
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Naomi James Ian Mckay
Jeanne Haylings
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Congrats on finding ur talent for drawing & having a dog like Jimmy Choo
Jeralyn Barcela
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so cute
Bill McCauley
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Really like this
Valerie Cook
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He got the best deal.
Josh McCullough
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Hannah McCullough
Janet Barnette Bilodeau
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Jody Barnette Hansel
Susan E.Zimmer
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Cute
Dorothy Brandon
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Brilliant.