800 pet portraits, 2 weeks, 4 art teachers, 1 Astropup (me):

Animal portrait artist Brandis Sarich recently spent two weeks at St. Joseph School as artist in residence. Students had the opportunity to work with Ms. Sarich to create portraits of their pets or adopted pets from April 16 through April 27.

“We started with pencil sketches and added bold lines with graphite crayon to bring out the suggestion of the pets’ personalities along with their basic structures. The next step was to use layers of acrylic paint to define the overall coloring of the pets along with background and we finished up with pastels to define details such as eyes,” Ms. Sarich explained.

“We really had to work fast and keep moving to finish the work. The kids are very talented and overwhelmed with joy,” she related. “It was just great to work with them. I was just amazed at what they did,” she added. Each class met once each week during their regularly scheduled art class time.

Ms. Sarich, a novice in the classroom, relied on elementary and middle school art teachers Ani Geha and Mary Kay Culver. “They helped me to simplify what I do and make it understandable for children,” Ms. Sarich related. “This has been great fun.”

In addition to helping each of the students, Ms. Sarich worked to complete a portrait of Ms. Geha’s dog, Glaze, during her two-week stay in Sylvania.

That portrait of Glaze along with the students’ artwork was unveiled for parents at a Meet-the-Artist reception on Friday, April 27. Parents also had the opportunity to order frames through American Frame with a percentage of frame sales donated to a local animal shelter.

Ms. Geha had been instrumental in bringing Ms. Sarich to Sylvania and St. Joe’s. “I met Brandis at an art fair in Maui a few years ago. I just loved the style and bright colors of her work. I went back the following year and found the gallery that carries her work, which enabled me to connect with her and invite her to be our artist in residence,” Ms. Geha recalled.

“It has been over 10 years since our last artist in residence,” Mary Kay Culver, middle school art teacher, reported. “We have been so excited all year and were delighted to have Brandis in the classroom with our students. Bringing her here from Maui was possible because we have many families who support our art fundraising campaigns during the school year including ‘Young Masters’ and ‘Art to Remember.’ We also have anonymous donors who generously donate to the art fund each year,” she noted.

Ms. Sarich, an architect by training, has been drawing all of her life. She has also loved animals and found herself running a dude ranch for a time. She began painting dogs, horses and other farm animals as a hobby, which evolved into her new career. In 2005, she and her husband Kevin changed their lives in order to pursue her career in art. Dividing their time between painting studios on the island of Maui and in the mountains near Sun Valley, Idaho, Ms. Sarich creates what she describes as “joyful paintings of relationships and love. In making my art, I seek to understand what dogs mean to us, our relationship with them, and the importance of their presence in our lives,” Ms. Sarich offered.

To read the article on the Sylvania Advantage site: http://sylvaniaadvantage.com/2012/05/04/artist-in-residence-brings-astropup-to-st-joseph-school/

Brandis Sarich, a professional pet artist from Hawaii, shows St. Joseph School eighth- grade students how to paint the background for a pet portrait. Her two-week stint is the first time she has taught art and the first time in 10 years that the school has had a guest artist in the classroom. Her animal portraits are commissioned by pet owners.

Pets are the order of the day in art classes at St. Joseph School in Sylvania, where artist in residence Brandis Sarich has the students painting portraits of their favorite animals.

Ms. Sarich is a professional pet artist from Hawaii doing a two-week stint at St. Joseph. It’s the first time she has taught art and the first time in 10 years the school has had a guest artist in the classroom.
Ani Geha, who teaches art and heads the school’s art department, said she met Ms. Sarich at an art show on Maui and loved the pet paintings she had on display. The school’s art fund is paying Ms. Sarich $3,000 for the two-week visit. Most of her paintings sell for $5,000 to $7,500.

Mary Kay Culver, middle-school art teacher, said the instruction in animal art was broadening students’ outlooks and sharpening their skills.

Ms. Sarich said that when she gets a commission, she works from photos of the pet and tries to capture the image of the pet in the owner’s mind. She has the students doing the same thing.

Alex Beutel, 14, said he painted his pet gecko, Paco. “I’ve learned a lot,” he said.

Nolan Dooley-Homish, 13, did a rendering of his golden retriever Ditka and said, “It turned out pretty good.”

Ms. Sarich, 43, said she formerly was a residential architect in Sun Valley, Idaho. Five years ago, she and her husband, Kevin, closed their business and moved to Hawaii so she could paint professionally full time.

She said she has had about 360 commissions, the highest-priced of which was $10,000. She said her work will soon hang in “a doggy boutique/gallery” in Paris near the Arc de Triomphe.

She said she was born in Raleigh and grew up in San Francisco. This is her first visit to this part of the country. “I’ve always heard that the Midwest is a good place. I’m starting to get it. People are very friendly here. It seems very focused on the family,” she said.

She said the St. Joseph students “are doing very well. Even the first graders are attentive.”

http://www.toledoblade.com/Art/2012/04/25/Guest-artist-guides-students-to-completing-pet-projects.html

Brandis Sarich, a professional pet artist from Hawaii, shows St. Joseph School eighth- grade students how to paint the background for a pet portrait. Her two-week stint is the first time she has taught art and the first time in 10 years that the school has had a guest artist in the classroom. Her animal portraits are commissioned by pet owners. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT

A boxer is the subject of one of Brandis Sarich’s portraits. She works from photographs.

The Art Department at St. Joseph School is very excited to offer to students the opportunity to learn and work with acclaimed animal portrait artist, Brandis Sarich.

Ms. Sarich will be working with students in classes K – 8 the weeks of April 16 and 23.

Ms. Sarich possesses the unique ability to recognize an animal’s individual spirit and capture it beautifully in a painting. She will spend her time with the students at St. Joseph demonstrating her use of bold colors, as well as her ability to capture the expression and joyful emotions of an animal. Under the guidance of Ms. Sarich, students will create their own painting of their own pet or “adopted pet.”

Ms. Ani Geha and Mrs. Mary Kay Culver are the art teachers in the elementary and middle school, respectively. Ms. Geha states, “It has been over ten years since our last artist in residence and we are thrilled to have Brandis Sarich in the classroom with our students! Bringing Brandis here from Maui, Hawaii, is possible because we have many families who support important art fundraising campaigns during the school year including “Young Masters” and “Art to Remember.” We also have anonymous donors each year, generously donating to the Art Fund.”

Brandis Sarich is well-known for her animal portraits. “I create joyful paintings of relationships and love. My art is big, happy images of critters on colorful backgrounds. These pieces celebrate life using cheerful colors and expressing unencumbered emotions as read on animal’s faces.”

Students have been preparing for Ms. Sarich’s visit for the past two weeks. When classes resume after spring break, the hard work will begin but the end result will make the school hallways say “Woof!”

http://www.toledoblade.com/Our-Town-Schools/2012/04/05/Acclaimed-portrait-artist-come-to-St-Joseph-Sylvania.html

The Art Department at St. Joseph School is very excited to offer to students the opportunity to learn and work with acclaimed animal portrait artist, Brandis Sarich.

Ms. Sarich will be working with students in classes K – 8 the weeks of April 16 and 23.

Ms. Sarich possesses the unique ability to recognize an animal’s individual spirit and capture it beautifully in a painting. She will spend her time with the students at St. Joseph demonstrating her use of bold colors, as well as her ability to capture the expression and joyful emotions of an animal. Under the guidance of Ms. Sarich, students will create their own painting of their own pet or “adopted pet.”

Ms. Ani Geha and Mrs. Mary Kay Culver are the art teachers in the elementary and middle school, respectively. Ms. Geha states, “It has been over ten years since our last artist in residence and we are thrilled to have Brandis Sarich in the classroom with our students! Bringing Brandis here from Maui, Hawaii, is possible because we have many families who support important art fundraising campaigns during the school year including “Young Masters” and “Art to Remember.” We also have anonymous donors each year, generously donating to the Art Fund.”

Brandis Sarich is well-known for her animal portraits. “I create joyful paintings of relationships and love. My art is big, happy images of critters on colorful backgrounds. These pieces celebrate life using cheerful colors and expressing unencumbered emotions as read on animal’s faces.”

Students have been preparing for Ms. Sarich’s visit for the past two weeks. When classes resume after spring break, the hard work will begin but the end result will make the school hallways say “Woof!”

What can I say? I am in love with all nine big draft cross horses who serve the City of Portland. Could this be my next series of paintings? Oh yes! Asher, Monte, Beau, Yeager, Punch, Ian, Olin, Zeus, and Punch are sweet, gentle geldings who wear the badge. The facilities are a model for barns everywhere: clean, airy, light, fresh, unpretentious. The horses seem happy, and they are so steady! When I pet them on the street, they are still and relaxed. Apparently Ian falls asleep downtown when he’s standing around. And how do they get to be that way? Age and training. Punch was being “sacked out” when we visited. He had spooked at a plastic bag on duty, so Jenn, his trainer, was desensitizing him to plastic bag monsters. I also learned they don’t wear horseshoes. In the spirit of the town that Nike footwear comes from, the horses wear athletic boots with thick rubber soles to protect their feet.

Cute and tough

Today I endeavored to render a ground squirrel with a tough, yet cute expression. I painted the little guy to elicit the desire to cuddle him, but with a clue that approaching him could open a can of whoop ass. The squirrel leans against his antelope buddy with his arms crossed daring the viewer to “make my day.” I thought about what he’s saying, what he’s thinking, and the posture that goes along with that, and spent the day refining an engaging expression. But of course, I really have no idea what an animal is experiencing. My suspicion is that their world is so radically different than the one we live in that there is no way for me to understand an animal’s experience.

I have observed North American animals in the wild, studied them in books, and sketched them from trophy specimens that hang stuffed on walls. I know these animals are wild, yet I have a childlike need to give them human qualities. Because I love these animals, I bring them into my world. I give them friends, I give them expressions that convey human emotions, and I make up silly stories to portray in paint, pencil, and charcoal. I am creating narrative vignettes about my make believe animal friends while yearning to understand the true nature of the world in which we coexist.

I’m a Disney kid who worshipped Doctor Dolittle. But am I really that far off?

"Alan!"

In his blog from 2010 , Crowe writes: “Now that scientists studying animals behaviours and intelligence have lost their dread of being accused of anthropomorphism, we’re learning all sorts of extraordinary things.”  A story from David Attenburough: “On a university campus in Japan. Carrion crows and humans line up patiently, waiting for the traffic to halt. When the lights change, the birds hop in front of the cars and place walnuts, which they picked from the adjoining trees, on the road. After the lights turn green again, the birds fly away and vehicles drive over the nuts, cracking them open. Finally, when it’s time to cross again, the crows join the pedestrians and pick up their meal.” This story is totally entertaining, and it would be easy to paint these crows. Maybe my intuitive understanding of the natural world is what comes out in my anthropomorphized art.

I am doing animals a disservice by giving them human emotions that the viewer can relate to?

I worry about this because I, simply, love animals and people. I would not want people to think and animal is human and get hurt,  or worse treat animals like enemies and hurt creatures. I would hope, if anything, the

ground squirrel gesture sketch

result of empathizing with the emotions I have given an animal would be to respect that animal. Respecting animals should lead to wanting to preserve habitat, and really that means saving the world, right?

I’ll start on my super-hero costume next week.

—————————————————-

A bit of BBC ground squirrel humor:  \”Walk On The Wild Side – Alan\” You Tube

FETCH

For the Love of Pets

It’s Not Just a Painting: Astropup Animal Portraits

For some, it’s music that transcends them.  For me, it’s riding my horse.  For others (and for many in this dog-loving town), it’s spending time on the trail with their dog and best friend.

And it’s probably true that for most of us, we will never be loved by anything or anyone more than our dogs.

Brandis Sarich of Astropup totally gets it.  Her art is about the communion, love and joy that animals (all animals) bring to our every day lives.  To her, every big happy painting is much much more than recreating an image. She creates portaits of beloved of our animals, out best friends.

Brandis spends time working with the families, the animals themselves and sometimes an animal communicator to gain intimate knowledge of her subject.  The image she also works from is just a reference point.

Contemporary bold lines and vibrant colors combined with her architectural background (she’s a licensed architect in both Hawaii and Idaho) and a deep passion for animals create a unique style that exudes the emotions, energy and feelings of we all have for our pets.

Brandis has created countless custom portraits for clients from Japan and Hawaii to Twin falls and Ketchum, even some celebrity pups. Her own inspirations can be found locally at Green Antelope Gallery in Bellevue and also has an installation at Sun Valley Dog in Ketchum.

South valley rich with character, creativity

By JENNIFER LIEBRUM
Express Staff Writer

Brandis Sarich will donate to the local animal shelter 10 percent of all sales and commissions she makes during the weekend walkabout. Image courtesy of Green Antelope Gallery

Fall is a time when antelope are really out to play, so it’s only fitting that Bellevue’s own Green Antelope Gallery should host its second Open Studios tour of art spaces around town.

This Friday, Oct. 14, and Saturday, Oct. 15, a variety of artists and art forms will be on display with the Green Antelope Gallery serving as the hub.

This is an opportunity to meet the artists and see where they live and work at a reception and walking tour.

“We’re excited to build on the success of last year’s event with several new artists participating, in addition to many returning favorites,” said gallery owner Brooke Bonner. “We’re looking forward to drawing crowds from across the valley, and even some visitors.”

Friday’s opening reception starts at 3 p.m. and will feature a selected piece from each participating artist. Visitors are invited to come by the gallery, see a preview of the work and pick up the brochure and map to plot out a tour. Pace yourself and even consider coming back Saturday to finish. The Green Antelope is right on the bike path and the leaves are colorful and still mostly on the trees down south, so bring your cameras and your bikes.

A moose has been spotted just up the road. Deer often walk through town and you are just across Main Street from the enchanting Howard Preserve for an extended walk.

Brandis Sarich will do on-site demonstrations of her colorful animal portraiture and take commissions for your pet. A portion of any sales or commissions of her work during the tour will go to the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley.

“Pets are often the favorite family member, exceptional confidants and most loyal companions that we can know,” Sarich said. “Our relationship can go beyond the physical and bring us to our true nature and purpose: unconditional love.”

Other participating artists will be crowd favorites Martha Andrea, Melissa Graves Brown, Nolina Burge, Clifford Frates, Janet Houts, Steven R. Houts, Russ Lamb, Betsy Pearson, Mark Sheehan, Kirsten Shultz, Marie Stewart and Pamela Street. Art forms among these talented people range from quilting and textile arts to sculpture, photography, painting, mixed media and more.

All events are free and a map and brochure can be found on site at the gallery at 116 S. Second St. in Bellevue or by visiting greenantelope.net.

“Green Antelope is proud to organize this fun community event, showcasing the amazing talent and artistic quality all around us in the valley.”

Jennifer Liebrum: jliebrum@mtexpress.com

http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005138922

 

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Ariel Hansen

Brandis Sarich watched the events unfolding in northern Japan last month with horror and sympathy. For her, they hit close to home, because the tsunami threatened her house in Hawaii, where she spends part of the year when not at her home near Magic Reservoir.

The artist also has many clients in Japan, for whom she has painted pet portraits in her cheerful modern style. “All these dogs I’ve painted, they’re in Japan. The people were OK, but what about the animals?” Sarich said from her Hawaii home. As the news coverage continued, she learned that nonprofit organization World Vets had arrived to help within a few days, so she went to its website to donate.

“I thought, if I can do something to turn my few hundred dollars into a few thousand dollars, that’d make a bit more impact,” Sarich said. Immediately, she thought of Bo Obama, the First Dog, and how she could put her pet-portraiture to work.

After getting permission from the White House to work off the official portrait of Bo, Sarich transformed it into her signature style, and she found volunteers to donate the printing and packaging costs to make notecards from the image to raise money for World Vets’ efforts.

Less than a week after announcing the cards’ availability on March 31, Sarich said they already had raised more than $1,000. She’s readying to print another run because of their popularity.

The portrait of Bo Obama was created, Sarich said, like any other pet portrait she has done — until she got to the decoration.

“When I paint a dog, I’m really focused on trying to tell that dog’s story, but when I painted the lei on him, it was definitely with the thought that it would become an image of goodwill toward Japan,” she said. “Bo Obama is … the softer, kind side of our government. I put him with a lei because of the Obamas’ connection to Hawaii, and also because it’s a symbol of peace.”

That kind of thoughtfulness is consistent with her other work, said two women who commissioned paintings of their dogs after meeting Sarich and seeing her work at an art show in Sun Valley.

“She’s a total delight to work with because she cares so deeply,” said Debbie Scollard, who lived in Twin Falls until her recent move to South Dakota. “She is an extremely gifted artist, and we’re very lucky she’s chosen to do portraits of dogs. She has that gift for just looking at your best friend and bringing forth … You say ‘Wow, that’s exactly what I had in mind.’”

Lisa Collins of Jerome said her taste in art is usually more traditional than Sarich’s modern lines and bright colors, but she was immediately drawn to the artist’s ability to represent more than a moment in time in the portraits.

“What really impressed me was that she caught the expressions the dogs had so well. They’re fun and they’re different; I get a lot of comments on the pictures (when friends visit),” Collins said.

Veterinarian Cathy King, CEO of North Dakota-based World Vets, said she is grateful for Sarich’s help.

“It’s absolutely wonderful that she has decided to do this to raise money on behalf of helping the animals in Japan, to use her artistic skills,” King said. She said all money donated through Sarich’s card sales will go to the nonprofit’s efforts in Japan.

“Financial contributions are most helpful at this point. …We’re not looking for donations of products, because the import restrictions are very specific,” she said, describing the pallets of pet food, crates, collars, medications and other critical materials that World Vets is flying to the stricken nation. “It’s primarily for animals that are in the shelters now, who have been rescued or belong to people who have had to evacuate the country.”

King said she expects World Vets will remain in Japan to assist for at least a year.

Although the scope of disasters like that in Japan can be overwhelming, Sarich said she hopes her Bo Obama notecards will remind those who send them and receive them of the importance of pets in our lives, in times of turmoil as well as peace.

“I try to understand why they are so important to us, what they mean to us. Sometimes it can bring out the best in people,” she said. “Most of the time it’s such a positive experience, and I try to capture that moment where we’re just thinking about happiness.”

Ariel Hansen may be reached at 788-3475 or ahansen@magicvalley.com.

Read more: http://magicvalley.com/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/sun-valley-artist-interprets-bo-obama-for-fundraiser/article_d31d750a-6142-11e0-80ae-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1b0FX7ABV