Future School of Fort Smith students support ‘Pet Pawtraits’ program

Forget having a Monet or Picasso that may be costly to protect or can’t be showcased outside a museum. The hip new art is “pawtraits.” And the coolest ones are those painted by students of the Future School in Fort Smith that may be part of adopting a pet.

Future School of Fort Smith art students, under the guidance of art teacher Jessi Philpott, have partnered with the Pet Pawtrait Project to help local animals in need of adoption.

Started just a couple of months ago, Pet Pawtrait Project founder Heather Zanow has partnered with 11 local and out-of-state artists. Zanow notes on her Pet Pawtrait Project Facebook page that she is hoping to connect with more. The project’s mission is “to paint overlooked and long term shelter dogs to help them get adopted.”

Artists are drawing animals from four area shelters. The plan, according to the Facebook page, is to expand to other parts of the state and nationwide. As “pawtraits” are completed, they are displayed at one of four local businesses who have agreed to display custom adoption listings on their walls or in their windows. According to the page when the featured dog is adopted, the new pet parent can have the portrait, if they so wish.

“The Pawtrait goes with the animal if a Pawtrait is available. Sometimes an animal is adopted before the Pawtrait is finished. When that happens, we reach out to the rescue/shelter to see if we can get the adopters contact information. Once we get that, we reach out to the adopter to inform them of who we are and that a Pawtrait is coming their way if they accept,” Zanow said.

When Philpott learned of Zanow’s efforts, she reached out and asked if her art students could help. Then she talked to her students, who were so eager to help and they talked to friends, who also helped spread the word. Of the 240 students who attend the Future School, more than 50 have signed up to complete a Pawtrait, Philpott said.

“A lot of the students signing up to participate aren’t even art students. Our students just feel very passionately about this cause,” she said.

Several of the student volunteers are creating multiple pawtraits, Zanow said. Future School students are completing pawtraits for The Artemis Project, a local non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehab of homeless animals in the Fort Smith area.

“I wasn’t expecting that many students to participate, but it turns out that her students have finished at least 50 portraits! 50 Portraits and counting,” Zanow posted on the project’s Facebook page. “Ya’ll, I’m obsessed with these pieces! They’re so good!!! But what’s even more AMAZING is that these kids WANTED to HELP these furbabies. Many students created portraits for multiple doggies!!! And cats!! These art students came together as a whole and donated their time and ability to do something bigger than themselves and help these innocent souls find their way home. And that’s what it’s all about ya’ll. Doing something bigger than ourselves.”

Philpott said many of the students participating in the project have no art training, which to her makes their commitment even more exciting.

“Art can be scary,” Philpott said. “But these students are getting to learn something without having to compare their work to someone else or wondering if somebody is going to like it. This is not only wonderful for the dogs, it’s wonderful to see the students this excited about art and helping.”

Students receive volunteer hours for each project, something that is important as the LEARNS Act requires seniors to have 75 volunteer hours before they can graduate, Philpott said. She said the students are also connecting with the community. Philpott said that connection is driving her students, and the other students, to keep creating. The goal is to create 100 pawtraits, Philpott said.

“They can see that what they do is making an impact in the community. Maybe that’s something that some of them have been missing,” she said. “These students are always stepping up to do whatever they can to help others. I had so many teenagers say they wanted to help, but couldn’t draw. Despite their fears of rejection, they stepped outside of their comfort zone to help make a difference. They are more fearless and fiercely kind than we give them credit for. I might be an art teacher, but they constantly teach me how to be a better, more selfless person every single day.”

Students are using a variety of mediums to create the pawtraits. Some are using Canva, a digital program the school uses in classes. Philpott said just learning more of what they can do with Canva is helping them to prepare for their end-of-year presentations. Other students are “straight up drawing” the animals using different mediums and processes, Philpott said.

Though there are a number of businesses in the area displaying pawtraits of animals in need of adoption, art by the Future School students are being displayed at the office of Farmers Insurance Agent Elizabeth Johnson in Fort Smith.

“She works directly with the Artemis project. Plus her office has large windows, so all the students’ art can be displayed in one space,” Zanow said.
The Pet Pawtrait Project is hoping to soon to create artwork that brings awareness to animal welfare issues in society.

“It’s all about humbling yourself and having compassion for those who don’t have a voice,” Zanow said.