06 Mar Connecting Through Creativity: Unleash Your Furever Art
By Barbara K. Stump, MA
I’ve come to realize that I have become a “Dog Mom.” Once my kids flew the coop, who knew this would happen?! Although, I am aware that this phenomenon is not limited to my age group alone. I know plenty of 20-somethings who are also “Dog Moms” or “Dog Dads,” and to be fair, cats also have a corner on this market. I see you cat people out there, and I might not be one, but I understand your choice. There are plenty of other furry pet options to choose from besides dogs and cats, such as horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more. Whatever kind of furry friend you may have, have you encountered people who know your pet’s name and not your’s? I find this occurrence somewhat comical, and occasionally it’s people I don’t even know! Although my dog, Maple, is not a therapy dog, I can see why therapy dogs have become more accessible in psychology practices and school settings. For instance, at the Galvin Growth Group they have a Certified Therapy Dog available to clients, and her name is Lexie.
Even the Mayo Clinic supports the idea of owning a pet to lead a healthier lifestyle. The Mayo Clinic findings show there is a connection between pets and health, including improved physical and mental health. The research dates back at least four decades, with dozens of studies demonstrating the wonderful benefits. Denise M. Millstine, M.D., at the Mayo Clinic who specializes in integrative medicine shares these important benefits for pet owners:
- Pets keep us company, which makes us feel less alone.
- They make us laugh and smile, which can lift our mood and manage stress.
- Comfort us during hard times.
- Encourage us to exercise and get outdoors.
- Help us to maintain a routine and purpose.
To be honest, I hesitated to get a pet. It had been a long time since I had one, and my life just seemed busier. However, while I was working from home, during the final months of COVID-19 pandemic, my dad encouraged me to get one. Truly, it was a lift to our entire family when we brought Maple home. She was sweet, cuddly, and also full of mischief! It brought my dad joy to hear about Maple’s adventures, both good and naughty. Little did we know then, how much Maple would aide us in supporting my dad during his final days. She was the best medicine for all of us. Sometimes when I’m thinking of my dad, I give Maple some extra attention, through walks or petting, and it has been very comforting
My dad’s passing happened within the last few months, so we are still experiencing all of the “firsts,” including his birthday. My dad’s birthday and Maple’s birthday are both in February. So, to celebrate my dad’s first heavenly birthday I decided to make a portrait of Maple using collage techniques. I chose this approach to focus on the meaningful layers of what Maple has brought to our life, and also to include some birthday notions to make it whimsical.
Speaking of honoring our furry friends, did you know that April 11th is “National Pet Day?” I know, it seems like every day is national something, haha, but if you would also like to celebrate your pet in some way I have included some steps below to get you started in creating a pet collage of your own.
Here is a supply list for you to use:
- Watercolor paints (a 48-color non-toxic set with 3 brushes is $8.99 on Amazon)
- Watercolor paper- your choice in size
- Paintbrushes, water for rinsing brushes, and paper towel
- Magazines with colorful images, such as National Geographic, etc.
- Pencils and an eraser
- Painters tape
- Glue stick or Mod Podge
- Tweezer
- Ruler
- X-acto knives
- Sharp scissors
- Pictures from your phone for references
Directions:
- Take a photo of your pet.
- Using painters tape, mask off a border and tape your paper down to your work surface. You may use a ruler to mark off the size you would like to frame. I made mine 5” x 7”
- Using a photo of your pet, sketch it out lightly with a pencil on the watercolor paper. Or, if you do not feel confident with your sketching skills, you could cover the back of your image with pencil and then turn it over to trace the outlines of your pet onto your watercolor paper. You could also add some fun props to your pet. For example I changed the collar on my pet and added a birthday hat.
- Apply a watercolor wash to the background of your pet. Keep it colorful but light, so you can see the pencil sketch of your pet. It is ok if you get some paint into the pet image, because you will be collaging magazine swatches over this area.
- When you are finished painting, you will need to gather color swatches from magazines that are close to the fur color of your pet. You can cut these into any shape you would like to make your animal. Find a small container to collect the shapes you cut. I used triangles shapes, but you could use squares, or even wispy freeform shapes to resemble hair-like qualities.
- Wait until your painting is completely dry before gluing your magazine swatches.
- Some areas you can fill in with the glue, and then apply the shapes. Other areas will need to be added carefully using tweezers if it is a hard to reach area. The tweezers are also helpful when layering because fingertips have a tendency to pull off other areas that have already been applied. *Keeping a wet paper towel handy to clean off your fingertips as you work can also be helpful.
- Fill in areas and look for dark areas and light areas to add depth to your collage.
- When you are finished, gently remove all masking tape around the edges of your artwork. If some of the watercolor seeped under the tape you can try scraping that area lightly with your X-acto knife to clean it up. Sign and date your work!
This project can be spread out many days to work on, and it almost feels like doing a puzzle. So, I would suggest finding a space where you can leave your work out and return to it when it suits your schedule. I did a little bit every day for about a month, and it allowed me an opportunity to reflect on my dad as I worked. It felt soothing and therapeutic to set aside this time during his birthday month. Creating a project that was based on our Maple, who my dad loved so much, was meaningful to me. I was fortunate to have such a great dad in my life, and I’m glad he encouraged me to get Maple. Perhaps you currently have a beloved pet, or maybe you have treasured memories of a pet you once had. In either instance, creating a piece of artwork to acknowledge the importance they held in your life might be very rewarding for you.
If you had to think of a theme song to describe your pet, what would it be? Cheesy as it may sound, the song, “Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher,” came to mind to me several times while I was working on this project. I think pets can push us to look for that higher love, and past ourselves. In turn, to keep going because they depend on us as much as we depend on them. So, whether you choose to try making a collage of your pet, a sketch, or maybe even a painting, I hope you enjoy the process of unleashing your furever art!
Barbara is an art education consultant and G3 contributing writer.
