Popart is Worth More Than a Thousand Words
by Korell Constable
Aaron Siskind, a great American photographer, once said, “Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”
As pet owners we cherish every memory our lovable pet helps us create. From the innocent messes they make to the unusual but adorable positions they cuddle in, we try to cherish them all. Our phone’s photo storage is a battle royal between our selfies, memes, friends/families and of course our pets. Unfortunately, as much as we try to remember and preserve everything about our pets, we can’t hold onto everything. Similar to our phone’s storage space, our memory is also limited, forcing us to make one of the most difficult decisions in modern times. We all face the recurring hardship of choosing which pictures are to be saved and those that have to be deleted forever.
Instead of loading our phones with countless photos of brief memories, there is an alternative method to preserving that “feeling” Siskind spoke about. Created in the 1950s, “Pop Art” has taken the world by storm with its widespread appeal. It is defined as “art based on modern popular culture and the mass media, especially as a critical or ironic comment on traditional fine art values.” The art style is unique, bold and timeless, as seen in the works of phenomenal artists like Andy Warhol (Campbell’s Soups Cans), Roy Lichtenstein (Crying Girl) and Keith Haring (Pop Shop III). Thanks to Pop Art being easily available, now every pet owner can transform their bundle of joy into an everlasting work of art that can evoke those sentimental feeling of love forever. Your background photo of your dog’s wonderful smile can now become the focal point of fine art in your living room. Instead of constantly flipping through multiple pictures to show friends your cat’s elegant poses, you can create an art gallery of them in the comfort of your own home.
One company, Pop Your Pup, understands this common dilemma. Their “About Us” states, “We believe that art is the perfect way to highlight and amplify the beauty in this world, and there is nothing more beautiful than the unconditional bond between a pet and their owner.” Through the use of Pop Art, that “unconditional bond” can be made to last forever. The process of Pop Art is very simple. Just choose your product, upload your pets picture, select a background, and then checkout. In about 1-2 business days you can review your Pop Art picture online before it is printed for any necessary revisions. Pop Your Pup prides themselves on a customer’s complete satisfaction stating, “Unlimited revisions until you are 100% happy with your Pop Art. We don’t print or ship unless you approve.” Pop Your Pup allows all pet owners be artists, like Warhol or Haring, creating memorable pieces of art for a reasonable price.
While Pop Art might be the new trendy craze for some, it may not be an ideal form of art for everyone. Instead of using Pop Art, pet owners can choose to use a more classic approach to immortalizing their pets, such as using Portraits. Pet Portraits can be used in a variety of ways, such as a simple still painting or with the addition of various influences (such as a Star Wars theme, or Knights Cosplay). Even the material it’s created on can be varied (wood, paper, or even the entire wall). With Pet Portraits the possibilities are endless and it will truly leave a lasting impact on anyone who views it. Thanks to modern technology, sharing our love for a pet has become a simple task. To preserve that “unconditional bond” shared between pet and owner the artistic process should be a unique one, filled with both love and appreciation that can be radiated throughout the artwork forever.
