The art of loving your pets

  • By Mike Murray / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, January 6, 2005 9:00pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

“Pets on Parade” offers another look at Americans’ love affair with their animals.

The art exhibit, which opens Thursday in Everett, takes a whimsical and affectionate view of the dogs and cats, birds and lizards, chickens and assorted other critters that claim a place in our homes and our hearts.

More than 50 artists are represented in the show, exhibiting photographs, paintings, ceramics, prints, recycled sculpture and more, all in tribute to pets. The exhibit is presented by the Arts Council of Snohomish County.

“Artists are a very nurturing, loving people, and they carry that on to their pets,” said Carie Collver, director of the Arts Council art gallery in the Monte Cristo Hotel and a devoted pet owner herself.

“I started seeing so many artists painting their own pets and other people’s pets,” Collver said, “and they all put their own little twist on it.”

Collver took note of this trend and came up with the idea of an art show devoted to pets and sent out a call for artists.

“We got hundreds of responses,” she said.

The resulting entries run the gamut of art styles and mediums, from traditional works that depict realistic-looking animals to more abstract works and those that place the emphasis on whimsy and fun.

Generally speaking, dogs don’t come in the color blue, but at “Pets on Parade” you’re likely to encounter likenesses of animals in a rainbow of colors, shapes and sizes. Call it artistic license.

Clinton artist Sandra Whiting takes a colorful approach to her pet portraits.

If someone wants a portrait of their dog, and the dog is black, Whiting might suggest purple or blue instead, to give the portrait some definition and character.

Her whimsical acrylic paintings, painted in a loose style with vibrant colors and textural layers, have found a following among animal owners who want to immortalize their pets.

Whiting said she was inspired by a trip to Mexico where she encountered a Mexican village were where the family dogs hung out on the roofs of houses.

She painted the houses, and the dogs, infusing her work with the bright, primary colors of Mexico.

Since then she has found a niche painting pet portraits on commission, and some of her paintings can be seen in the Everett show.

People have always wanted their animals immortalized in art. The landed gentry of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned family portraits by the leading artists of the day that often included a beloved family dog.

Whiting takes a more casual approach to paintings than those traditional portrait artists; if someone wants an exact replica of their dog or cat, she’ll direct them to another artist. But her customers are OK with her approach, she said, and one client even had her dog painting mounted in a formal gold frame and gave it pride-of-place in her home.

Generally, she paints from photographs along with detailed information about the pet submitted by its owner. Sometimes the personal stories are heart-rending, Whiting said. People will tell her about divorce, illness and even death, and how their animals have helped them.

Sometimes it’s the pet that is dying, and the owner wants a memorial portrait.

“It’s hard. I went through the same with thing with my own dog,” said Whiting, who owns two dogs and a cat. “I do a little bit of grief counseling.”

The invitation to Thursday night’s opening reception includes the public and their pets, provided the animals are on a leash, Collver said.

Representatives from the Northwest Organization for Animal Help, an animal adoption center in Stanwood, will be on hand with some adoptable pets and the public is invited to bring a photograph of their pets for display.

“Dog biscuits will be available,” Collver said. “It’s going to be fun. Hopefully, there won’t be any dog fights.”

“Pets on Parade”

Group show opening with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Arts Council of Snohomish County gallery, 1507 Wall St., Everett. The show is open Mondays through Saturdays through March 3.

The public is invited to bring their pets (on a leash) to the opening, and meet some of the adoptable pets offered by the NOAH Animal Adoption Center of Stanwood.

Information, 425-257-8380.

“Pets on Parade”

Group show opening with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Arts Council of Snohomish County gallery, 1507 Wall St., Everett. The show is open Mondays through Saturdays through March 3.

The public is invited to bring their pets (on a leash) to the opening, and meet some of the adoptable pets offered by the NOAH Animal Adoption Center of Stanwood.

Information, 425-257-8380.

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