Artist Statement

The oil painting series “Portraits of the Human-Animal Bond” is inspired by my love of animals. It consists of portraits of people accompanied by their pets, emphasizing their emotional relationships.

As an artist, I portray my friends and family members who inspire me with their life stories and their strong bond with beloved dogs, cats or horses. My paintings describe this bond through gesture, facial expression and the spatial relations between the people and their four-legged friends. Through a carefully designed background, I create a subtle visual commentary on the portrayed person’s life and the role that the animal plays in it.

In the oil painting titled, “They Know,” I portrayed my friend Julia during her life crisis. Dark, muted colors convey her somber mood; a dry plant and a picture frame facing the wall symbolize her broken relationship. Julia’s four dogs, through their body language and facial expressions, convey her feelings of sadness, fear, and lack of trust. This painting is an illustration of a dog’s ability to read and reflect human emotions.

I am a lifelong equestrian and a dog owner, and for many years I worked in the field of animal-assisted psychotherapy. Both personal and professional experience taught me that animals can transform our lives. They can alleviate our anxiety and loneliness. They can increase our confidence and self-esteem. Animals often serve as mirrors, reflecting back our emotions, and therefore increasing our self-awareness.

“Portraits of The Human-Animal Bond” is an expression of my gratitude to animals for their ability to increase happiness. Through this series, I also want to increase the viewers’ awareness of positive changes animals can bring to their lives.

Contact me today to learn more about my passion for fine art or to commission your own custom oil painting.

Sincerely,
Aleksandra Szymanska