Art has always been more than just an aesthetic experience. It’s a powerful medium for advocacy and communication. When it comes to animal welfare, art plays a crucial role in expressing the unspoken and challenging social perceptions.
Visual art has an unparalleled ability to evoke emotions. A single image can create a profound emotional connection that words might struggle to achieve. This emotional response is pivotal in shaping public opinion and inspiring action.
Consider a painting of endangered species or a powerful photograph of rescued animals. Such artworks bring the public face to face with the issues, urging them to respond with empathy and action.
Beyond capturing hearts, art can also generate financial support for animal welfare. Artists often collaborate with charities and organisations, hosting art auctions and exhibitions.
These events not only showcase talent but also raise essential funds for animal shelters and rescue initiatives. It’s a synergy where creativity meets compassion, enabling change through collaborative efforts.
Gorgeous Art Prints (that help barnyard friends)
In a world where words often fall short, art speaks volumes. This is especially true for those advocating for animal welfare. Artists across the globe are utilising their creative talent to raise awareness about the plight of animals. From paintings to photography, the link between art and compassion is a bridge to understanding and empathy.
Art For the Animals is an amazing online store, where you can buy gorgeous images of animal friends by a super-talented artist, and the profits made go to animal welfare too. How good is that?
The artist’s first collection is called ‘The Herd’, inspired by a trip to a retreat, where she stayed at one of the lodges. Volunteering to help these lovely bunch of animal friends led her to create a business that helped more animals on a wider scale.
Let’s support such a wonderful cause. Brighten up your home or office, and soon the success can help both animals, and the artist’s fledgling business, to hopefully create more collections! Keep up to date by subscribing to her newsletter and Instagram posts.
The happy images are of animals rescued by The Retreat Animal Rescue, but did not have such a good start in life. Note this sanctuary presently has a campaign to locate and rescue the calf that was recently on the news, having been rammed by a police car.
You can support the Kent retreat by purchasing the founder’s book, stopping by at the cafe, staying at the same lodge the artist stayed at, or treating yourself to something lovely at the thrift shop!
Evie the cow was just a couple of hours old, when she was found on top a rubbish pile. Now she’s as happy as an (enormous!) puppy. One of her horns did not recover so it was removed, so now she’s a happy ‘cow unicorn!’ She also ripped out her tag, as she knew she was more than a number!
Panda the calf grew up with his sisters, after arriving as a calf. He is now nearly 4 (almost unheard of in the dairy industry, as most males are shot dead, as they are of no financial value, if not sold for veal). This ‘gentle giant’ is very friendly and loves playing in the fields with his friends.
Princess is a gorgeous Jersey cow whose life ironically was saved from being a dairy cow, when it was found she was infertile. At least she was spared the sadness of being separated from a calf (they call to each other for days and through the night when separated shortly after birth).
She has since become ‘foster mum’ to several calves (including several ‘troublemakers’). She loves back-scratches, rubbing her face on visitor’s legs and purrs when happy! She is also best friends with a goat, and is a loving aunt to the new baby calf arrival (Rosa).
Chantal Kaufmann
Chantal Kaufmann is a Swiss artist who uses her God-given talent for art to help animals, focusing mostly on barnyard friends. You can purchase art from her Etsy shop and this helps her to have the freedom to support organisations that use her art to help animals worldwide. The range includes screen-printed cotton grocery totes, ideal for when you are stocking up on groceries at the the indie health shop!
Lisa Goldberg
This image by Lisa Goldberg was inspired by a dairy cow who escaped, profiled in the film Miss Liberty. Sales from her print shop go to Transfarmation, which provides help and support for livestock farmers to transition over to growing crops like oats instead. Previously an architect, she then studied in children’s book illustration, and works with the Art of Compassion Project (below).
Community Engagement through Art
Local art shows and fundraisers provide platforms for artists to showcase their work while supporting animal shelters and rescue organisations. These lively events bring communities together, fostering a shared commitment to protect and care for animals. They provide a space where art and advocacy meet, and every brushstroke contributes to a cause.
Art workshops creatively engage communities in animal welfare advocacy. These interactive sessions educate people about animal issues through hands-on participation. Collaborative projects cultivate an environment where creativity and empathy flourish, shedding light on local and global animal welfare challenges.
The Art of Compassion Project
The Art of Compassion is the first book of its kind, a collection of heartwarming and awakening art from 80 vegan artists from around the world. Through the power of art and literature, this book aims to empower animal welfare campaigners and a compassionate lifestyle.
The 180 art pieces are accompanied by in-depth artist interviews (20) and 7 touching poems. The perfect coffee table books, and all proceeds go to support animals welfare. Leigh Sanders was born and raised in South Africa, and now lives with her Catalan husband in Spain, where the light and colours of the Mediterranean inspire and make her soul sing. She is founder of this international vegan art collective.
The Art of Compassion Oracle is a beautifully illustrated 100-card deck featuring illustrations from 53 artists in 18 countries, designed to strengthen our spiritual connection to the animal world. Each card offers a message on the reverse, so you don’t need to refer to a booklet. Just pull a card for the day or work with various spreads. All those involved are members of the Art of Compassion Project, with all proceeds helping organisations to spread the vegan message.
