Deanna Cluff

Artist’s Statement

“Mankind and Animals – An Inseparable Connection”

The concept for “Mankind and Animals – An Inseparable Connection” is a result of my desire to capture the joy, love for and dependency on animals by the human race. I strive to show the emotional aspect between people and animals in my artwork. The project comes from my own love of animals and the sense that there is more to the connections between animals and humans than just sharing our planet. It isn’t just owning a pet, or working with a trained animal, or enjoying the zoo. There is an intangible link that brings our species together in ways that communicate love and joy. Pets who are considered members of the family, the police officer who’s life may have been saved by a four-footed partner, and seeing the face of a child at a petting zoo is to experience the types of connections we have with some of the wonderful creatures around us.

My chosen medium is oil paint on canvas. I work on larger sized canvases, often 48” x 36”, so as to depict the figures with as much detail as possible. I start with very detailed sketches on toned canvas, and begin to add layers of paint. I start with thin glazes and work toward thicker layers. In order to capture the emotional connections between animals and people, I strive for compositions with two equal focal points: the face of the person and the face of the animal. Backgrounds are muted and simplified so as to enhance the focal points.

It is my own love for animals and what they have meant in my life that inspires me. Animals come in so many different shapes, colors, textures and levels of personality and understanding, that to an artist, the possibilities are endless. When adding the human factor, the paintings can touch us very deeply.