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Solace

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David Austen Roses by Ellen Buselli OPA
15″ x 16″ – Oil on Linen

A few years ago, my brother’s beloved dog Calvin died. My brother was so saddened by this loss, I asked him to send me photos of Calvin so that I could try to do a portrait to immortalize Calvin for him and his family.  

I had never painted pet portraits before.  Also, I generally do not paint from photographs and prefer to paint from life. My best work of flowers, still-life, portraits, and plein-air paintings are always painted from life or on location, which I enjoy so much. Nonetheless, I made an exception and proceeded to attempt a portrait of Calvin from the photographs provided.  Years of training and painting from life enabled me to create from these photo references, and I painted two portraits of Calvin. My brother gave one to his wife as a surprise gift, and upon opening the package, she cried.  The other portrait became the image used for pet portrait workshops I was invited to teach during this time.

Calvin by Ellen Buselli OPA
12″ x 10″ – Oil on Linen
In Memory of Calvin by Ellen Buselli OPA
12″ x 10″ – Oil on Linen

This brings me to the reason I am sharing this story.  Around the same time this was all happening and I was trying my hand at pet portraits, my sister became seriously ill and could no longer take care of her beloved dogs and they had to be given away. With my newly discovered ability to paint pet portraits, I proceeded to paint a portrait of each of her dogs, framed them, and hung them in her living room.  She said that every night she would sit on the couch and stare at them – it was as if her dogs were actually in the room with her – the portraits had such a lively lifelike quality about them.  A few weeks later when my sister went into hospice care, the portraits were hung within easy eyeshot of her bed before she passed away. 

Molly by Ellen Buselli OPA
12″ x 10″ – Oil on Linen

I am so grateful that my painting journey includes all of these portraits – they mean so much to me and my family. 

Sometimes I have wondered:  What is the meaning of a painter’s life?  We are not saving lives or curing cancer.  I do know that there is power in art, and it can bring solace and comfort during times of sadness. 

Iron and Glass by Ellen Buselli OPA
20″ x 22″ – Oil on Linen

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Comments

  4. Your words touched me and has brought me to tears. In July I suffered the most devastating loss one can have. I lost my husband after being his caregiver these last six years. He was always my cheerleader and supported me in my artistic pursuits. It wasn’t long after that my local art group honored me with the title of Artist of the Year. Part of this award comes with a solo show for which I will have 25-30 of my paintings displayed. I began in earnest to paint, and I painted every day. It was my escape. My studio became my healing zone. With my heart broken I painted with a drive I can only describe as an obsession. With all my consuming energy directed toward my painting I am surprised to see that my work has reached a new level. Aside from that, in your words, “I do know that there is power in art, and it can bring solace and comfort during times of sadness.” Thank you for your thoughtful words and understanding.

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    • Carolyn, thank you for sharing YOUR story too! Sincere condolences on your loss. I have heard many stories of people finding solace in caring for others following devastating loss, but your story of turning to your art was just another facet of finding strength and healing from within. You are an inspiration.

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  5. Thank you for sharing. Your art is beautiful. We as artists can’t practice medicine and cure anything, but your pet portraits brought comfort and joy that no one else could provide. What a special gift you gave. It brought tears to my eyes.

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  6. Thank you for this beautiful story, reminding us of the power of art. A couple of years ago I did a little plein air painting of the path through the woods to our lake. A young woman came to my studio and just “had to have it” because it reminded her of a path she and her husband had to walk down to their lake, when he was still alive.

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  7. At 83 yrs of age,I am not in galleries or doing competitions but painting pets and gift them along with paintings people love but do not feel they can buy because of budget! It gives me great joy and satisfaction that my work brings memories and emotions to those who receive them! I believe the gift of painting that I was given serves it’s greatest purpose when given away!
    Thank you for writing Solace!l

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  8. It can sometimes be difficult to feel like our work, as artists, is important or relevant, especially in troubled times. But maybe that’s when it can be most important. Thank you for the reminder and for the beautiful paintings!

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  9. Beautiful story about what has driven some of your work.
    My condolences for the loss of your sister.
    There is clearly solace while painting and that peaceful quit is transmitted to the viewer.

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  11. Beautiful
    Written with so much emotion. After it’s all said, it’s what we do as artists, giving back. I hope so.
    Thanks sharing your thoughts.
    Your pet portraits are so life like and emotional.

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  12. The community hospital where I reside commissioned me to do series of local landscapes which were reproduced and installed in all the patient rooms. Every so often I receive a call from a patient telling me how much “solace” they got from the painting. That adds some validation to why I paint, but I still ask myself, I am I compelled to paint in the first place?

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  13. I enjoyed reading Ellen’s story of Solace. So sad yet heartwarming to know that the dog portraits gave her family joy and a wonderful keepsake of their beloved pets. As a owner of two dogs, Bella and Max, am a pet lover. I am also an artist and I do question at times what am I contributing to the world. Is a landscape painting giving the buyer a feeling of nature, peace, or of being in a familiar and comforting place? I think there’s just something about a painting that gives an individual a good feeling. Otherwise why would they invest in a piece of art.
    Thanks for sharing this story!

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    • I am so happy that the post resonated with you in a heartwarming way.
      I am also a landscape painter, and it is a challenge to try and capture a bit of this amazing earth – I never tire of painting on location.
      It fascinates me when people buy art–it resonates with them in personal ways: it could invoke a memory, or be a response to the capturing of a fleeting moment in time on our beautiful earth, or simply a response to the colors and mood of the painting.
      Thanks again for your insightful comments.

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  15. Ellen, first of all your work is beautiful! I am a pastel artist that specializes in horse and dog portraits and an avid animal lover myself. I too have experienced the joy and comfort a portrait can give to their owner, especially when the pet has passed away. I am so blessed that we have been given a gift that can be shared to make people happy.

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  20. I believe that an artist’s work can evoke many feelings in the viewer. It was wonderful to hear that her pet portraits elevated her loved one to a level higher above her level of pain and sickness…even if it was for only a moment. Beautifully written, beautifuly painted.

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  21. First, my heartfelt condolences to Helen.. I know the pain of losing a sister. How beautiful for both of you that your portraits provided solace during such a difficult time.. creating art is truly a gift to be shared. May those memories bring thoughts of love and comfort.

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  23. Thanks for writing to share about your experiences. Yes, art can be very meaningful. I know I’m used to thinking of art as mainly decorative but sometimes there’s more: hope, comfort, joy, a story to be told. I’m reminded now a year or two ago that one of my cousin’s asked me to paint a portrait of an aunt and uncle’s dog because that dog had died all of a sudden. It was a happy lively dog.
    Lovely painting of David Austin roses. They’re such beautiful flowers for painting.

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