Urban Animal October 31, 2005 • 30

Pup Art

Pop ARF's Nathan Janes takes us into his world of art with a conscience

 Nathan Janes is a young emerging artist who resides in Port Clinton on the shores of Lake Erie, Ohio. Nathan's art uses a mix of vibrant colours and controlled line work. His fun, comic- cal and loud paintings capture the personality of our canine friends and tell a story on their origins, antics and quirks. He's proud to be a native of Port Clinton, “It's a little town that's known as the 'Walleye Capital of the World'.” Apparently a walleye is a fish found in Lake Erie and Nathan's quick to inform us that they produce more walleye per hectare then any other lake in the world. Like many little towns trying to find an identity and a claim to fame, Nathan's hometown celebrates this in a most unusual fashion, “On New Year's Eve we have a celebration called 'Walleye Madness at Midnight'. The town drops a 20-foot long, 600-pound walleye from 60 feet in the air at the stroke of midnight! The town mostly caters to fisher- man, hunters and nautical enthusiasts.”

How did you start doing your particular brand of PUP Art?

It all started about a year and a half ago while I was concentrating on wildlife art. Among my main subjects were ducks and other waterfowl. I was inspired by their wide array of colour and designs. It was in the rendering of wildlife that I developed my mastery of colour that I now use to capture the spirit of my canine friends. It was in painting these cartoon-like ducks that the style I would soon use for Pop ARF began to develop.

It wasn't long after I adopted my dogs, Button & Zipper, that canines became my subject of choice. My dogs were the original models for my Pop ARF paintings and serve as a constant source of inspiration. The unique character of my dogs lend well to painting ideas. I'm even sure my dog Zipper's infatuation with poop will turn into a painting some day. 

Do you spend much time with a subject to get a good idea of their personality and how you'll portray them on canvas?

If the pet is available I will spend time with the animal to get a feel of its traits and personality. However, I don't feel I need to actually meet the pet to accurately capture its true character. I have found that pet owners can thoroughly describe their pet's personality and provide telling photos that help me portray their pet in its most original form. Some of my subjects are not people’s pets at all but merely characters I create and then put to canvas. I often notice certain distinct quirks about dogs I meet and later, blend them into a Pop ARF pooch. I love to portray dogs in uncommon ways while sending messages that sometimes go deeper than expected from dog art. Among my works with such a message is ‘Rosie', a painting that communicates tolerance, respect and care for both the human race and animals as well. 

Do people commission you to capture their pooch and do you have free reign to create a work, or do clients want to have some input to how the work will turn out?

I do accept commissions of people's dogs. In order to get a good idea of the pet's personality, likes and, shall we say, pet peeves, I ask my clients to answer a questionnaire about their dog. I also ask for photos of the pet that may show a variety of positions-any photos that may provide insight into the pet's character. I prefer to have free reign over the design of my work so that each client gets a painting that is truly an original art piece. This incorporates my creative interpretation of a pet's true character. If a client does have a special request for their painting, I will work with them so that they are 100% happy with the finished piece. 

You have a keen interest in animal rescue and re-homing shelters, tell us more about why you're so passionate about the plight of the abandoned and abused?

Having rescued my two pets, I am particularly touched by dogs that were once neglected or abused but now lead healthy and happy lives with loving families. I feel it is my responsibility to speak for dogs and to educate and encourage others to choose adoption as a way to find a new pet. As an artist, I try to communicate this message every chance I get. Many of the dogs I have painted have been in shelters and I use my website as an outlet for telling each of these dogs' stories.

One such subject in this category is ‘Les', a young dog that was found by an animal rescue agency at what could have been his last moments of life. Les was the victim of extreme neglect and was miraculously brought back to health after many months of rehabilitation. I feel that stories such as Les' need to be shared to raise awareness for the ugly side of animal cruelty. It's my hope that I can get people involved in a movement against it. The hope is that people will understand there are great canine companions just waiting for the right home in shelters. The way I see it-if one dog barks about something, the rest will bark back.

Do you only use dogs as your subject or will you branch out to other species?

Dogs are my forte, but I am open to painting other animals in the future. Actually, I am currently painting my first cat for the holiday cover art of Tails Inc. However, I feel my dominant subject will always be dogs. What can I say? They are my best friends and working with them is a bone-us!

Visit Nathan's Pop ARF site at www.poparf.com