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.

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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

Help World Vets’ relief efforts in Japan by purchasing Bo greeting cards

http://www.obama-dog.com/blog/2011/04/japan-animal-relief-world-vets.html

‘First Dog’ Cards to Support Relief Efforts for Japan’s Pets

Maui artist creates Bo Obama portraits to support volunteer vets.

April 21, 2011

http://www.mauiweekly.com/page/content.detail/id/503149/-First-Dog–Cards-to-Support-Relief-Efforts-for-Japan-s-Pets.html

Donate to Japan relief fund

Part-time Wood River Valley resident and part-time Maui, Hawaii, artist Brandis Sarich is raising funds for the World Vets Japan Tsunami Relief fund. With permission from the White House, she has created greeting cards with a painting of the Obama family’s dog, Bo, and is using the cards to generate money for World Vets’ Japan relief efforts.

Sarich’s work is on exhibition at Sun Valley Dog in The Courtyard in Ketchum. She will also be showing at the Ketchum Art Fair this year. The cards are available at www.Astropup.com or at Sun Valley Dog and Halo Salon at Alturas Plaza in Hailey.

http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005136187&var_Year=2011&var_Month=04&var_Day=15

Critics agree that Images Fine Art Gallery is one of Maui’s most distinctive galleries that Hawai’i has to offer. Images Art Gallery has gathered world-class artwork and brought it together in a spacious and beautifully appointed setting. The gallery offers a unique mix of contemporary artists and photographers from around the world including regional art inspired by and created in Hawai’i.

http://imagesinc.com/brandis-sarich/

Current Exhibition

Brandis Sarich: Joyful Paintings of Relationship and Love

Bubbling mud and erupting geysers might be beautiful, but, for me, it’s all about the animals! I erupted into squeals of delight seeing these North American big game animals showcased against a backdrop of fall colors at Yellowstone and Teton Parks. I hope you enjoy the photos that Kevin took with his big telephoto lens!