About (the artist) Ani (The “Why” Behind liltuki.com)

_{My name is Ani, and for 17 years, my world was colored by the spirit of a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Tuki.}

Behind the Art

They say that when you lose a piece of your heart, you have two choices: you can let the hole stay empty, or you can fill it with something beautiful.

For 17 years, my “something beautiful” was a tiny Yorkshire Terrier named Tuki. He was my shadow in the Sultan forests, my navigator on the Puget Sound, and the “real boy” who saw me through every season of life. When we said goodbye in late 2024, the silence in our home was deafening.

But Tuki was never one for silence. He was a dog of “Yorkie-tude,” vibrant energy, and a wiggle that brightened the darkest room. To honor that spirit, I made a promise: I would turn my grief into art.

More Than Just a Website

LilTuki.com is the fulfillment of that promise. While our dedication shares the full story of Tuki’s journey from a blue blanket on a ferry to his final rest in our wildflower garden, this blog will be the living, breathing extension of his legacy.

Through this site, I invite you to join me as I:

• Share Original Artwork: Every piece I create from actual photos with a twist of imagnation is dedicated to the tenacious, loving spirit Tuki embodied.
• Tell PNW Stories: From hiking the Cascades to life in Sultan, I’ll share memories of our adventures that I hope inspire you to explore with your own pups.
• Celebrate the Yorkie Community: Tuki had a way of making strangers smile. I want this to be a space where we celebrate all the “Pinocchios” out there.

Walking a New Trail

Tuki taught me that even the smallest legs can climb the biggest mountains. As I launch this site, I am walking a new trail—one without his physical shadow by my side, but with his light guiding my heart and my imagination.

Thank you for being here. Whether you found us because you love Yorkies, you love the Pacific Northwest, or you’ve recently had to say goodbye to a best friend of your own—you are welcome here.

This is for you, Tuki. Let’s make something beautiful.