2021 Paint Your Pet Art Show
In lieu of not being able to host an in-person art show this spring, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine collaborated with the Taubman Museum of Art for an artistic activity for our students, faculty, and staff that would help brighten not only our spirits but also our school’s hallways.
The VTCSOM community and culture team arranged a virtual “Paint Your Pet” activity. Participants sent in a photo of their pet. Artists at the Taubman sketched the photo onto the canvas with instructions for the participants to paint them. Check out the below video for more information about the process. Check out the masterpieces on the page below or in the hallways of VTCSOM for a limited time.
[Instrumental with various art show pictures]
[Alex Goslow, class of 2022]: This is Raj. He is an 11 year old american pit bull. Raj is the ultimate couch potato, but when he does get the opportunity to go outside he loves it. I love Raj more than anything. He's pretty convinced that he is either a puppy, or a lap dog, so I get a lot of snuggles!
[Lauren Cashman, class of 2021]: This is Loki. He is a Siamese cat and he's 15. When I was 12, he was super energetic and was like my little play buddy and would chase me around the house, and now that I'm studying a lot and less you know exciting, he is just the right speed. He'll sit with me, and my family jokes that he has been through four years of medical school and that he's getting his M.D. this spring, so I care a lot about Loki.
I like to paint, so I had kind of been hoping some time that there would be a like student participation art exhibit, and so the fact that it was also like paint your pet that was really exciting.
[Alex]: I knew immediately that I was going to do it. There was no doubt in my mind.
[Katrina King, Taubman Museum of Art]: During COVID-19 we adjusted our in-person classes and instead started doing paint your pet home kits. We draw out your pet's image on a canvas and then take you through a step-by-step process to create a lasting portrait of your pet.
[Alex]: Being able to have someone help me to start it and sort of give me an outline of what I was going to be working on was very helpful.
[Lauren]: I think there's probably some fear that a lot of people have that they like won't do a good job. I feel like it took whatever artistic abilities I had and really showed me how to apply them in the right way.
[Visuals of artwork completed by students and staff with voiceover by Katrina King]: Just relax, take a moment, observe, and use your paintbrush to create something beautiful.
[Alex]: This in particular was one of my favorite activities that has been offered to us. The school does a really amazing job of providing us opportunities to decompress and that's one of the things I value most about this school.
This is going in my bedroom. I've already planned it. When I was painting it, I chose the colors based on what I wanted to have in my room.
[Lauren]: Having it as like a keepsake of him for whatever does happen in the future it is really comforting to think about that I've kind of captured him at a moment in time. He's my special buddy!
Alex Goslow: Raj
"He is pretty convinced that he's either a puppy or a lap dog so I get lots of snuggles."
"This in particular was one of my favorite activities that has been offered to us. The school does a really amazing job of providing us opportunities to decompress and that's one of the things I value most about this school. This is going in my bedroom. I've already planned it. When I was painting it, I chose the colors based on what I wanted to have in my room."
Lauren Cashman: Loki
"My family jokes that he has been in medical school for four years and is getting his MD this spring."
"I like to paint, so I had kind of been hoping some time that there would be a like student participation art exhibit, and so the fact that it was also like paint your pet that was really exciting. I knew immediately that I was going to do it. There was no doubt in my mind. Having it as like a keepsake of him for whatever does happen in the future it is really comforting to think about that I've kind of captured him at a moment in time. He's my special buddy!"
