His Wife Took Everything but the Dog, So He Got Creative: 30 Adorable Illustrations

On his 30th birthday, Rafael Mantesso's wife left him and took everything with her, including furniture, photos, and decorations. The one thing she didn't take was a bull terrier named Jimmy Choo. Left with a bunch of blank walls and a dog, Rafael got inspired.

Everything the Light Touches Is Our Kingdom

Mantesso didn't exactly feel on top of the world when his birthday was ruined. But eventually, probably after crying a bit, he saw light in the darkness. "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," he said.

So the Brazilian artist grabbed a marker and began doodling around Mr. Choo, transporting the bull terrier to different countries, planets, and fantasies. The man-dog duo created their own kingdom within the boring white walls. We wonder if his ex-wife regrets leaving the canine muse behind after seeing all this fantastic art.

A Fish, a Dog, and an Inseparable Bond

One fish, two fish, red fish, dog fish. With the way that Jimmy is staring so intently at the little creature in the water, it's easy to forget that the fish wasn't actually there when the shot was taken! This picture really had us convinced that Choo was bonding with the sea animal.

Rafael shared his personal connection and love for the piece. "I love this pic so much because it's not our job to be everything to everyone, we don't need to feel selfish for focusing on our self-care and happiness. I am mine before I am anyone else's," he poetically said.

The Easter Doggy

Jimmy Choo thought he could trick Rafael into thinking he's the Easter bunny, not a bull terrier. This whole disguise for just a few extra chocolate eggs. Nice try, Jimmy, but you're not fooling anyone with those drawn-on ears and paper teeth! Better luck on Halloween.

While Choo sure didn't fool us into thinking he's the Easter Bunny, we are getting very strong Regina-George-dressed-as-a-rabbit vibes. Maybe Rafael can make a whole Mean Girls inspired exhibit with one showing the dog as a mouse. We really just want to see him say "I'm a mouse, duh."

Up, up, and Away

David Blaine better watch out! The illusionist recently strapped himself to over 50 balloons and hovered tens of thousands of feet above the ground for his latest stunt, Ascension. But his title as the only person to make our childhood dreams come true may be under threat by Jimmy.

The thrill-seeking dog and his charitable owner shared some good news along with this picture. "5,616 is the number of dogs that were adopted since our partnership with @pedigree_adotar started. Hope this number is still growing," said the artist. A mesmerizing stunt for a good cause? Doesn't get any better.

Snoopy and Jimmy

Just when we thought these illustrations couldn't get any better, we found this gem! The picture below appears to be dedicated to the American comic strip, Peanuts, that ran for nearly fifty years. Choo is sitting on top of Snoopy's house, with one of America's favorite dogs leaning on the house below him.

We can already imagine the adventures of Jimmy and Snoopy. One imaginative, good-natured beagle and an artistic, photogenic bull terrier. They could get into some good trouble together. We just hope Woodstock, Snoopy's little bird friend, doesn't get jealous!

Tour de France

Look ma, no hands! Or, in this case, no paws! It's hard to believe the bull terrier wasn't actually riding a bicycle when this picture was taken. Seems like he may have been taking a nap, which would mean that the floor in Rafael's apartment is impressively white.

But really, can't you imagine this cutie riding his bike down the wide, open California roads? He's leaving behind all of his troubles, not thinking about that devastating time that his owner forgot to say goodbye before leaving for work in the morning.

What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

Oh, we've all been there. Hungover after a bachelor party, searching for our missing friend, and worrying about a lost tooth. Fine, we haven't actually been there. But this picture is reminding us of The Hangover and all of a sudden we're craving a wild night in Las Vegas.

For this shot, Rafael managed to stage a pair of jeans and black boots in front of a sitting Jimmy Choo. After taking the picture, he doodled a spectacular desert landscape. The drawing brings to mind the old wild west, but make it modern with some power lines.

Rock n Roll

This piece by Mantesso makes us want to rock n roll all night, and party every day. The adorable dog was captured sitting down and looking pensive. Rafael then drew an intense mohawk on Jimmy's head. That hairstyle looks like it requires a serious amount of hair gel.

The grunge look was completed with black nail-polished hands and punk, studded bracelets. Choo's new look was an ode to the music genre on International Day of Rock 'N' Roll. Rafael captioned the image, "Happy world rock n roll day." We'll definitely go listen to some Led Zepplin in Jimmy's honor.

A Day at the Lake

You know what they say, "Give a dog a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a dog to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Well, it looks like Jimmy Choo didn't get a fish nor did he learn how to catch one himself. Someone get this pup a fishing rod, please!

This picture really makes us wonder what the friendly dog is thinking about. We love the way Mantesso flawlessly drew a dock under Jimmy's butt and a fish diving into the water. The terrier looks so pensive sitting with his back to the camera, staring off into the distance.

He Came in Like a Wrecking Ball

We clawed, we chained, our hearts in vain, we jumped, never asking why... Jimmy Choo came in like a wrecking ball in this shot. We love that Rafael Mantesso seems to find inspiration in everything around him, including some pop culture icons. We think Miley might be impressed, as well.

Looks like the talented artist caught his pup sitting, perhaps waiting for a treat. Only thing missing to make this an authentic Cyrus imitation is Jimmy's tongue sticking out. Plus a foam finger, a one-piece, and some twerking. We're sure Mantesso could manage that.

Musica, Maestro!

For this piece, the creative snapped a shot of Jimmy Choo looking upwards, and added an old-fashion, colonial style wig to the dog's head. Then a pair of arms, a baton and, vualá, the bull terrier became an orchestra conductor. Any moment he'll begin conducting Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

While some people think their dog's barking is annoying, Mantesso finds he is artistically stimulated by his dog's verbal expressions. Rafael was inspired by his pet's barking when he created the image above. And here we thought he was simply a lover of classical music.

Hit the Road Jack

This might be one of our favorite images so far. The fierce canine is rocking a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses better than we ever could. Mantesso was once again going for a musical theme here. He captured Jimmy laying down and then added a piano, microphone, and sheet music.

The final touch is the name "Ray" written on the sheet music. It seems that the artist was inspired by Jimmy's sunglasses and thought of the great American singer-songwriter, Ray Charles. But something tells us Choo has never told his owner "Don't you come back no more, no more, no more!"

Lady and the Tramp Style

Guess we know who Jimmy's Hollywood crush is- Lady from Lady and the Tramp. Does he know she's taken? The adorable dog and Mantesso shared a sweet message along with this Valentine's Day creation. "I was taught if we're born with love then life is about choosing the right place to put it," Rafael shared.

"People talk about that a lot, feeling right, when it feels right it's easy. But I'm not sure that's true. It takes strength to know what's right," he continued. "Being romantic takes... hope. I think what they mean is, when you find somebody that you love, it feels like hope." Please excuse us while we fetch some tissues.

A Bit of Boredom Eating

For the art piece below, the Brazilian artist took a photo of his dog sitting and then drew a fridge filled with food. The result is a very relatable image of Jimmy staring hopelessly into the fridge. The Brazilian artist captioned this image, "Please... Tell me your dog does the same as Jimmy."

Our dogs don't endlessly stare into the refrigerator, but we definitely do. This really could be a picture of the average person staring into their fridge hoping something new will suddenly appear. Alternatively, it's an illustration of how many of us have passed the time during quarantine.

Leonardo da Vinci but Make It Furry

We love this PG emulation of Leonardo da Vinci's famous Vitruvian Man. We're sure the legendary artist is rolling over in his grave (in a good way) over this fantastic drawing. Perhaps Jimmy Choo as Mona Lisa will be the next imitation. Fingers crossed!

Rafael shared an inspiring message along with this piece. "Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself," he wrote.

Someone's Been a Bad Boy

Who's a good boy? Apparently not Jimmy Choo, who is seen here in doggie prison. We're placing bets on what he was indicted for. Take your pick: chewing the sofa pillows, eating his treats before dinnertime, or sneaking out at night to meet some pals? Jokes aside, this piece by Rafael has some serious meaning behind it.

The artist was angered by laws in some countries that don't allow people to walk their dogs outside. "Do you like your dog and think he is your closest and confident friend? Do you like to... play with him, meet other people with dogs on park?" he wrote, before discussing laws that keep dogs "a prisoner inside their own house."

Some David Bowie

For the next image, Rafael Mantesso found inspiration in legendary British singer, David Bowie. The talented artist took a striking shot of the bull terrier staring deeply into the camera. He then added the iconic pink and blue lightning bolt, an ode to Bowie's alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust.

Along with the image, Mantesso wrote "Happy birthday, Mr. Bowie." We can fully imagine the canine belting out "This is Major Jimmy to ground control... Can I please get back inside?" after going out to the yard for some fresh air. If any dog can sing some Bowie, it's Jimmy Choo.

Little Dog in the Big City

The Big Apple inspired Jimmy and Rafael for their next piece. You can see Choo standing on four paws, staring off into the New York City skyline. You can even spot the emblematic Empire State Building standing tall above the rest. Perhaps Jimmy has plans to join The Real Housewives of New York City.

What would Mr. Choo do if he visited NYC? He seems to be a very artistic dog, so he would probably make sure to visit the Metropolitan and the Museum of Modern Art. But we can definitely picture him eating some hot nuts or a hot dog on the street. Well, maybe not a hot dog.

E.T. Phone Home

Jimmy looks like he's having the time of his life in this image. The adorable dog is seen sitting in a bicycle basket, riding along with a young boy. In the distance, a beautiful full moon. It's no secret Mantesso was inspired by the 1982 classic, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

This illustration is making us nostalgic for the 80s. All that's missing is Choo stretching his paw out with a shining light coming out of it. We can already hear him barking "E.T. phone home." He should definitely be cast for a future remake of the hit film.

Some Serious Toilet Training

Does your dog have to go outside to pee? Are you tired of getting up early every morning to walk him or her? Or perhaps you can't stop accidentally walking over the pee pads all around the house. If this sounds relatable, do not fear, Rafael Mantesso can train your dog to pee in the bathroom!

Seriously though, this dog has better aim than some of us humans. Our public restrooms would be a lot cleaner if we were all good boys and girls like Jimmy. But since we can't exactly train people, we'll just start by showing our dogs this picture and hope they get the message.

Zodiac Jimmy

Wow, we're melting over our friend's alter ego, Zodiac Jimmy. This image is part of Rafael's Zodiac Series. Here, the dog was illustrated as part centaur, part dog and holding a bejeweled bow and arrow. This is evidently for all the November/December babies whose sign is Sagittarus.

We wonder how the artist would depict the other astrological signs. We can see Jimmy as an adorable lion for the Leos out there. Or with some horns drawn on for the Aries's ram. Mr. Choo would basically look incredible in any sort of costume.

Networking on Wall Street

Have you ever wanted to see a dog wearing a suit? Well, you're almost in luck. For this next picture, Jimmy appears to be wearing a blazer. But the situation got even fancier with the added champagne flute. We've never met such a classy and poised dog.

We're not sure what inspired the artist for this creation. But we see someone exhausted after another long, hard day at work. Or perhaps an employee at another weekly work cocktail hour for work. Networking can just be so exhausting sometimes. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there!

Back to the Future

It seems that Rafael Mantesso is a fan of 1980s film production. The creative artist posted this image in honor of Back to the Future Day. He wrote along with the image, "The Future is now my friends!!!!" Well then we hope the future is filled with more drawings like this one!

Mantesso captured Jimmy seemingly sitting by the time-traveling DeLorean automobile. Choo looks like he is staring curiously at Doctor Emmett Brown, the eccentric scientist who invented the futuristic car. Wow, this blast from the past is making us crave an 80's movie marathon.

Selfie Time

Below you'll find Jimmy having a grand old time with one of his buddies. We're curious how they can take a selfie with their paws, but maybe some things are better left unknown. We're sure lots of house pets slid into these two's DMs after seeing this shot.

Mantesso had a touching message to share with the world when he made this image. The creator wrote, "Dogs need to be free, happy and loved." We couldn't agree more. Perhaps Rafael's next project will be a dating app for dogs. We see start-up potential.

Honoring a Lost Friend

Just like all of us, Jimmy Choo sometimes has bad days. The dog and his owner were mourning the loss of a friend when Rafael made this creation. The cutie featured in the picture frame was a homeless dog that was sadly killed outside a supermarket in Brazil.

"Like her, there are millions of dogs like Jimmy, like yours, with same heart, with same soul but without a home, without love. She was looking for food and shelter and was killed," Mantesso shared. The artist took his grief and, once again, made something meaningful out of it.

Stop to Smell the Roses

We love this shot of Jimmy Choo enjoying the great outdoors. Although the picture is largely white, you can close your eyes and imagine the canine frolicking through a field of daisies. After running for a while, he stops and lays down to rest his furry legs.

His eyes are almost shut as he feels the sun warmly on his back. The terrier is about fall into a peaceful sleep, when out of the corner of his eye, he spots a beautiful flower and slowly reaches out to pick it. Later, he will gift it to his best friend and a magical love story will ensue. Did we overdo it?

A Doggy Activist

It's not all fun and games. Sometimes, Jimmy gets serious for the causes he feels passionate about. Below, you will find Mr. Choo wearing what appear to be sound-proof headphones. He is also holding in his paw a home-made sign that reads "Stop the fireworks."

The canine was protesting the mental and physical damage dogs experience because of humans's fireworks. We love to see a pup standing up for what he believes in. But it's unclear how his owner feels about Jimmy's activist lifestyle. The pacifist dog-lover wrote that he wishes for everyone to "Do what you love and do it often."

Netflix's Bird Box Gets a Makeover

A sequel to Netflix's hit movie, Bird Box, is coming to a theater near you! The follow-up to horror/sci-fi film is sure to break box office records. A new cast filled with some of Hollywood's most renowned actors along with some fresh faces that are sure to make an impression on the big screen.

Sandra Bullock better watch out! Okay, we're just kidding. Jimmy isn't actually starring in the next Bird Box movie. We're not even sure there will be a sequel to the film. But there's no doubt casting directors would have had a hard time choosing between Choo and Bullock.

Celebrating International Women's Day

We're absolutely loving this look on Jimmy. His hair blowing in the wind, ears sticking up straight into the air, a pensive look on his face. We're sure he would be one of the finalists on America's Next Top Model. He just needs a little help from Tyra to perfect that "smize."

But Jimmy actually got all dressed up and fabulous for a cause. The canine and his owner were celebrating International Women's Day on March 8. "When there is gender equality.... we will have reasons to celebrate. For a female future!" wrote the artist.

The Iron Throne

King Choo was simply not satisfied with Rafael's white walls and boring, empty apartment. He's accustomed to a more lavish lifestyle, filled with gold treasures and grand feasts. After all, he is the true king of the Seven Kingdoms. But this 2-D Iron Throne will do for now.

"One of my oldest pic of Jimmy (2014)," wrote Rafael. "An empty white apartment, unemployed, happy... and looking forward for the next day for the new GOT season. Same feeling now- with new furniture." The Game of Thrones finally would have probably been a lot better if they had given Jimmy a bigger role.