Pop ARF: Modern Dog Art by NATHAN JANES

Article by Melissa Bayer

Pop ARF is a creative way to describe the dog artwork of Nathan Janes.  In fact, it is the title Janes has given to both his collection of paintings and to his website.  Janes began his art career upon graduation from the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio. At the beginning stage of his career Nathan concentrated on painting wildlife. Among his main subjects were ducks and other waterfowl, of which he was inspired by their wide array of color and design.  The beauty of these creatures kept Nathan busy constantly finding new ways to capture their range of colors in paint.  It was in the rendering of wildlife that Nathan developed his mastery of color he know uses to capture the spirit of his canine friends. 

Nathan first found inspiration for his dog paintings in two animals very close to his heart, his two dogs, Button and Zipper.  Janes says it was his own dogs that convinced his calling lay in painting four legged friends that said ARF.  Thanks to Button and Zipper Nathan found that, “Dogs are capable of being more than just a best friend.  They can also be your masterpiece!”

With an assortment of vivid colors and extremely controlled line work, Janes’ art differs greatly from that of other dog artists.  In the years since his graduation from art school, Janes’ style has developed into something parallel to his own personality: fun, bright, comical and sometimes loud.  Nathan is constantly thinking of how his next painting can be different from the last.  He loves to portray dogs in uncommon ways while sending messages that sometimes go deeper than what may be expected from dog art.  However, Nathan stresses that his work will always occupy a lighter side as well for “the world can be too serious at times.  Dogs remind us to live with a sense of humor and to look at things like we did when we were kids.”

Although Janes particularly enjoys capturing the wonder and uniqueness of the family dog, he has also put a few famous pups’ image on canvas.  Tinkerbelle, one popular and media savvy dog is the subject of “Riding in Luxury”.  We find that Janes is successful in capturing the essence of the canine heiress in a style that could be called pop art princess chic.