Pia Sweeting with Chester.
Camera IconPia Sweeting with Chester. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Top dogs have their days

Jessica NicoFremantle Gazette

The Kardinya artist loves dogs so much she surrounds herself with them, working as a professional dog walker and owning two dogs of her own.

This love has spilled over into her art and she will hold an exhibition dedicated to her four-legged friends at Memorial Hall Gallery in Hamilton Hill this month.

Though she loved drawing and doodling as a child, Sweeting said it was not until she was 26 that she decided to do a Diploma in Art and Design with a major in ceramics.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Sweeting said she loved bringing together her two loves for the exhibition.

"I love dogs… dogs to me represent unconditional love, loyalty, joy, living in the moment, forgiveness, intuition, spirit, adaptability and freedom," she said.

"Some of the dogs in my paintings and ceramics come from images I have found in books and on the net, others are from the dogs I walk and the pets of family and friends."

With up to 40 pieces on show in the exhibition, Sweeting hopes local art and animal lovers take to the stylistic-realism that runs through her work.

"I often use colours that are not true to life," she said.

"I love using bright bold and often contrasting colours in my paintings and my ceramic sculptures.

"If you love dogs, come and celebrate their uniqueness and diversity in colour and love."

Dogs Are Gods will be at the Memorial Hall Gallery in Hamilton Hill from August 29 until September 5.