Spirit Animals in Art
What does a spirit animal as a creative person mean to you?
Bears as Spirit Animals
Feeling connected to animals, even if they are only representations of the real thing, can begin when we are very young.
In some cultures, spirit animals are guides who protect us on a particular journey. Spirit animals are symbolic representations which embody the qualities, talents, and traits an individual possesses or wishes to aspire to, such as ‘the strength of an elephant’ may refer to a weightlifter or ‘a nimble deer’, can be a metaphor for a young dancer’s agility, grace, and gentleness.
If spirit animals can reflect our inner characteristics and personality, which animal do you think you might represent? Are there animals you are particularly drawn to, which hold a special significance or have a connection? Are their animals who come up again and again throughout your life? What lessons can spirit animals teach us about ourselves? Can they give us personal power and inner strength if we imagine the freedoms they possess. Can we feel confined like animals locked in a cage?
Whether you are a spiritual person or not, we are all connected to animals in some way or another. Our pets give comfort and love and lift our spirits throughout the day. Some people collect knick-knacks and lucky charms, shells, stones, images of birds, fish ornaments and small emblems of creatures that make us feel better.
Creatives are drawn to colour, and beauty, like peacocks because of the inspiration they inspire through their vivid feathers. Butterflies represent transformation and order through the duplication of wing patterns. The wolf is often referred to as a spirit animal, embodying confidence, strength, and freedom.
Chinese zodiac signs use spirit animals as representations of a human’s spiritual energy, desires, characteristics, and personality, and by aligning these they can determine a person’s future. Astrological signs use some spirit animal representations such as the sign for Leo is a lion; Pisces a fish; Taurus the bull, Aries a goat etc.
Bansky, a famous street and commercial artist known all over the world, uses recurring motifs such as monkeys and rats in many of his artworks. Salvador Dahli, a Spanish surrealist artist, used ants and elephants repeatedly in his paintings as representations with meanings of power and courage. Animals have been used in art for many centuries, either as small additions, or in larger scale representation.
We are connected to animals by an invisible chord. We are drawn to them and have a particular concern and connection for the plight of endangered species. In nature, seeing animals grazing in a field can clear our mind of worries.
In many spiritual traditions and cultures around the world, spirit animals are believed to be messengers to teach and protect us throughout our lives, as totems, symbols, and talismans we are drawn to, providing comfort and inspiration at difficult times.
Spirit animals for the artist are like a meditation. As we paint them, they can calm our inner turmoil, conjure up feelings of love and gentleness, we can connect through a painting of an owl, escape into the world of a fox, feel inspiration in the size of a bear prowling through a landscape, feel strength when painting a lion or bear.
Whatever animals you may be drawn to, spirit animals will always hold importance in art and as creative inspirations for artists.
Three of my paintings come to mind when I think of spirit animals. I have always been drawn to bears, all kinds of bears and I love to draw and paint them as wells as all kinds of birds. Below are a couple of examples of my bear paintings and a peacock painting.
‘Storm Clouds Gathering’
Is a representational piece about the plight of large polar bears.
‘Where the Brown Bears Roam’
Is a painting inspired from a poem I wrote about the bears in Canada.
The Piebald Peacock
Is about difference. Piebald Peacocks carry an extra colour gene and should look odd, but instead this gene makes them into something quite beautiful.
‘Love, Joy, Create’ Blog – Please follow along with me and create your own inspiration for your art by learning about nature and the world around is art@patriciajvalentiart.com .
Patricia Valenti is a representational contemporary fine artist and life-long painter, based in Kent in the UK. Patricia began her artistic studies as a young girl. Her passion for nature and the beauty of animals and wildlife can be seen through her work, transforming familiar animals and wildlife into stunning, realistic interpretations with emotional impact. Her walks around the surrounding countryside near her home inspire her work.