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!
Louise Duggin
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Emma Fox
Fannie Lund Connaker
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Looks like the two of u are doing just fine. Great artistry and photography
Shannon Simons
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This is just the cutest artistic concept. Please enjoy it!
Sharon Theorine
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good for you
Faye Ann
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I’ve made that trade it was a gooood deal
Ed Sisk
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Erin Marie
Craig Rimington
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Karen Alen
Justine Alen
Shauna Alen
Barbara Rimington
Samantha Zelner
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very good.
Daniel Hagdahl
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I would buy one or two
Scott Mullins
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Sometimes in our moments of “darkness” we can see “light”. Great attitude, his upbeat attitude surely is a strength to be admired. The best lessons we learn in life often come from times of despair. But it is up to each and everyone of us to see those moments as opportunities for a new path in life. And if we focus on the positive in each given moment of negativity, we will become stronger and wiser. 🙂
Catherine Knight Duncan
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This fellow’s ex-wife does not sound very nice. I, for one, am glad the adorable dog was left with the gentleman, and I think his drawings of Jimmy Choo are such fun.
Ronel Joubert
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Cool!!!
Elizabeth Sandoval
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Ha ha ha ha ha
Quara Lisa
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Kelly Bounous
Deborah Louise
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Very clever Olive Ray
Paola Vergara O
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Si la vida te da limones……
Kathy Glenn
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Better off!!!
Adele Salyards
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These pics are great!
Olive Ray
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Do profiles of your two? G’ night. XX
Maddy Hicks
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Nick Clarke how cute is this pup!
Sophie Russell
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Mark Poston
Michael Owens
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Well it’s good that she left and you got the best thing out of the whole relationship I would let her take anything she wants but not the dog and move on and have a wonderful life without her God bless you and your beautiful child aka the dog
Karin Johns
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He has a gift!
Vivian Obasi
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I would prefer to keep Jimmy Choo. Let the stuff go!
Mark Poston
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Garthy
Peggy Carney
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Lucky you
Marion Higman Furletti
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I love these! Such imagination…and a dog who is cooperative!❤️
Luella Ponte
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He got the best deal
Cheryl McFadden
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“Nothing but a dog” ????????
Connie Plum
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Wow! What if she had left all the stuff and taken Jimmy Choo instead? This fella got the best part of that deal. And I would definitely buy his book. Love these two!
Susan Veto Lemmon
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These are wonderful!! I think he got the better end of the deal!!
Mary Jane Louwe
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Love u doggie… Thank u sir for loving him…
Pamela Patalsky
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How cute! Glad he got to keep the dog!
Angela Baas-Rodriguez
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Adorable.
Keith Duckett
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He’s lucky he got the dog! I got sod all!
Goodnight Gracie
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so cute!! I hope you find a woman that appreciates you and your dog
Rosemary Hyde
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He got the better deal!
Alma Garcia
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Great job !
Lorie Villarreal Hanson
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That’s sweet
Rebecca Rabalais
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Good for him
Sheri Schongold
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These are great. He actually got the better end of the deal. He can color on his walls and no one will complain.
Linny Miller
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Love this!❤️
Lois Ross
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awesome
Gaynor Bridgens
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Bloody excellent!
Jeannette Norman
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fantastic love the dog the art works wonderful
Lenore 'Lee' Fonstein
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Clever!
Jennifer Magnuson Phillips
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Glad you got rid of the wife and kept the dog! 🙂
Carole Linnea Blair
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He’s a very good artist….what a great idea!
Bev King
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You’re an excellent artist, love your sense of humor too. Thanks for sharing these adorable pictures.
Maria Santos
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dont worry Rafael your dog is much loyal than your ex wife ,and God love you , i love you ,god bless you and your dog