Pet Memorials from the Heart Blog

While we at the Loving Hearts Tribute Series certainly understand the value of pet memorial art, to some people it might not seem that important to create art to memorialize a pet. Indeed, everyone is different, and everyone processes the grief of pet loss differently. There’s no one who can say that there’s one right way or wrong way to memorialize a pet.  However, pet memorial art can, in fact, be very meaningful to the owner who has lost a beloved friend—in fact, it can be very healing.  Here are some ways that pet memorial art can bring meaning:

1. Art speaks to us at a non-verbal level. Most communication, believe it or not, is non-verbal (that is, not using words). When we speak, for example, the tone of our voice, the look on our face and the gestures we use can communicate far more meaning than the words themselves.  By the same token, art has the potential to speak to our souls at an emotional level that is much deeper than words—and therefore deeper meaning can be communicated.
2. Memorial art can speak of life, rather than death.  Art, by its nature, is inspirational (at least, we strive for OUR art to be inspirational). By dedicating a piece of art to a beloved pet, that artwork commemorates the gift of life that was contained in the life of the pet.
3. Memorial art dedicated to a pet provides a lasting tribute. Not only that, but including some of your pet’s remains in the art itself is a way for your pet to continue bringing joy and inspiration to others, even after he or she is gone.  It’s a way for your pet to live on in memory for many years to come.

These are just a few of the reasons why pet memorial art can be meaningful. While not everyone may respond to the loss of a pet in the same way, allowing art to be part of a pet memorial can definitely be part of the healing process.

When most people think of pet memorial artwork, they probably think of pet portraits done in memory of a lost pet. They might not readily associate a work of abstract art as a pet memorial. That’s understandable.  But we at the Loving Hearts Tribute Series feel that creating abstract heart-themed artwork better serves our purposes, and in some ways can even be more beneficial than doing straight pet portraits.  Here are some of the reasons why we have chosen abstract pet memorial art versus portraits:

1. Abstract art can speak at an emotional level. A pet portrait can obviously be more easily associated with a particular pet, since it is supposed to be a direct depiction.  But our aim is not to depict an image, but speak more emotionally. Sometimes (not always) a portrait can get in the way of deeper experience. We desire our pet memorials to focus more on the emotional connection with the pet, and we feel abstract art does that more effectively.
2. Abstract art is more subtle than portraiture. Although our artwork is definitely a memorial for your pet, there might be times when you don’t want to talk about it with everyone. Thus, we choose a more subtle form of memorial, including your pet’s ashes in the final layer, so it is definitely associated with your special friend—it’s just not obvious to everyone who looks at it.  You have the freedom to share the story behind the painting, or not to share it. It’s up to your discretion.
3. Abstract art is more open to interpretation. With portraiture, it’s very easy to begin analyzing the artwork, to draw comparisons between the painting and the pet as to whether it’s an accurate depiction.  Abstract art bypasses all that, allowing for a more open interpretation. People see in the art what they need to see—and feel what they need to feel.

As with all art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and we realize that no piece of art speaks to everyone.  Some might prefer a pet portrait as a pet memorial, and that’s certainly okay. We prefer abstract pet memorial art over portraits because we feel it has the potential to speak to more people on more levels—and most importantly, we feel it can speak best to the heart of the person who has suffered loss.

The book Merle’s Door by Ted Kerasota is a tribute to Merle, his beloved dog found in the wilderness of Wyoming. It is not only a wonderful biography, but also offers readers well-studied tips and facts about the evolution of dogs and human relationships.

This heartwarming book is also one of the highest tributes to a dog ever published. Not just a pet memorial, Kerasote’s story takes place in Kelly, Wyoming, where he and Merle enjoyed nature together every day, hunting, fishing, or just hanging out.   Merle was not only the author’s best friend, but he was a teacher about why it’s important to let a dog be a dog.

Merle’s Door tells readers about the origins of dogs, how dogs think, and the human to dog relationship. Many dog owners don’t let their dogs be dogs, and even today’s popular dog trainers advise owners to be strong alphas to our pets, however Kerasote has proved otherwise.

Kerasote talks about giving Merle his own dog door so that he could come and go as he desired. The result was that he achieved the ability to solve problems on his own. The biggest lesson of the book is that we should replace our dog’s leashes with trust and respect for them to be truely happy.

Merle passed on at the age of 14 on June 10, 2004, and Kerasote and friends celebrated his death, remembering him by telling stories. Merle was not cremated and placed in pet casket or urn, but his life was celebrated in the tradition of Tibet, buried near two Tibetan prayer flags on Kerasote’s property with a golden “kata” around his neck. The kata is a silk scarf used by Tibetans as a symbol of good luck upon their departure.

Today, new and unique ways to celebrate the death of our pets include tribute art, and other very personal pet memorials. The Loving Hearts Tribute Series includes hand finished, signed and numbered, limited edition, giclee pet memorials. The paintings  on gallery wrapped canvas can hang framed or not.

Unlike urns, pet grave markers or other traditional pet memorials, Loving Heart Pet Memorials allow you to celebrate the spirit of the life of your beloved pet  every day, joyously.  Loving Heart Tribute Pet Memorials are embedded with a portion of your pet’s ashes in tribute to your loved one.  The ultimate obituary in celebration of Merle’s life is the book, Merle’s Door. For more about Ted Kerasote, go to http://www.kerasote.com/.

The depiction of animals has always played an important part of art – from the first known cave art in Northern Spain to the art of medieval times until today on everything from pet memorial paintings to jewelry. This type of art dates back 17,000 years, portrayed in a variety of mediums worldwide.

Often times, animals in art held symbolic associations.  For instance, the lamb served as an important sacrificial animal in ancient Near Eastern religious rites.  The griffin was regarded in antiquity as an attendant of Apollo and a keeper of light. Last, animals have always been used in calendars as zodiacal symbols.. Discovered in 1879, the Altamira paintings were found in a cave by a little girl and her Father who was a Spanish

nobleman and amateur archaeologist one day while they were looking for pre-historic tools in a cave. It was on the ceiling of the cave where they saw the bull drawings.

However, even more famous are the cave paintings which were found at Lascaux in the south of France around 1940.  Pestles and mortars were found in these caves, indicating the paint colors were  made from primitive crayons of red, black, white, brown and yellow, mixed with cave water and vegetable or animal oils to bind them. The paint appeared to be either sprayed on with blow pipes, or applied with brush-like tools.

It was around 1502 when animal art became more scientific in study as artists studied the anatomy of animals, setting new standards for artists. Then by the 1900′s, German Expressionist Franz Marc often used animals  in his spiritual paintings. Throughout history, many animals are also portrayed with symbolic symbols in death, on grave markers and  urns, and on pet memorials at burial sites.

Today, tribute artists like Denice Lewis honor our beloved pets, via beautiful abstract memorial paintings infused with a pet’s ashes.