Butch, a Chihuahua, Born 12/25/10
Having Miles Hunter Simien (a Rat Terrier mix) for the past year has reminded me of the special bond that owners develop with their pets. The last time I owned a pet was when I was a teenager and I'm not sure if I had the level of maturity to appreciate his presence in my life (Dustin, a Pomeranian, 1999-2005).
After talking to a few people about their relationship with their pet- I decided to start a series of watercolor paintings devoted to pets. Initially I had concerns about this idea because through my education, professional training and personal interests- I have only advocated and pursued conceptual projects. Projects that require thoughtful research and imaginative execution. For this, obviously, I would have to deviate from that school of thought and try something new.
I learned from the first pet painting that it's ok to be literal. It's ok to not tell an elaborate story. Sometimes people just want to be reminded of their appreciation for something, in this case, their beloved pet. The initial stages of this series have shown me that what fosters our relationships with our pets is our dependence and appreciation of their humanistic qualities. When we're sick, they seem to understand. When we're sad, they seem to relate. When we're happy, they reciprocate. The basic idea of this series is to celebrate the humanistic qualities of our living pets and showcase the life of a pet that has passed away.
If you're interested in a 12" x 18" watercolor painting of your pet, please email me at jamar.simien@gmail.com.
-js
