Witness :2012 Painting Project by Leigh Jackson: A1067428

A1067428

A1067428. Male. Approximately 5 months

Killed January 2011

Orange County Animal Care Center, Orange, CA

Rest in Peace

Photo Reference from Josh Liddy/SwayLove.org

~~Painting available for purchase here~~ SOLD . thank you !
Prints, Framed Prints and Stretched Canvas available here

8 comments:

Linda O'Neill said...: Wow, Leigh...made me cry. What a great project...to highlight the plight of these beautiful Pitties. Can't wait to see more...; January 4, 2012 at 7:23 AM
Anonymous said...: Oh man, I knew this work would be powerful, but I did not expect to feel punched in the stomach when I saw the first portrait. THANK YOU so much for telling his story. The hope I feel is that his life will not have been in vain. He will be part of the moment the killing stops.

With much gratitude and respect.
~Margi; January 4, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Anonymous said...: wow instant tears as soon as I read "killed January 2011"; January 4, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Kerri Nolen said...: You are doing a wonderful thing. This picture made me tear up, he looks like mine. I rescued her from a shelter in Austin and she is the sweetest, most loyal dog I have ever owned. Thank you for helping these amazing animals and letting their voice be heard.; January 4, 2012 at 1:41 PM
Anonymous said...: i love this picture, are you going to be putting these pictures up for sale? this way these dogs can live forever in our hearts and our homes. please let me know, im not a rich person, but i would love to see if i could give one of these paintings a home for life, since i could not give this pittie a home in life. I have 2 pitties and, your painting is so powerful, it made me cry. thank you for painting these pit bulls that cant find homes. kimberly.singer@rocketmail.com; January 4, 2012 at 2:34 PM
Anonymous said...: I saved my pittie from the death chamber a few years ago. He had been held for 2 months the next day he set to be doomed but we got there first. I love my pit bull!!; January 4, 2012 at 3:43 PM
Anonymous said...: killed 2011, sick fucks; January 4, 2012 at 9:31 PM
tom lohr said...: wow, great painting. disturbing message.. rescued my dog from orange ctny. pound 4 years ago, one of the best things i ever did.; January 4, 2012 at 9:37 PM

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As a dog portrait artist, I usually paint dogs who are greatly loved. I wish all dogs were so treasured. However, there are millions of dogs waiting at shelters for a family who would love them enough to have me paint their portrait.

The majority of dogs languishing in shelters are labeled as pit bull type dogs.Brought to the shelter due to breeding, abandonment and/or abuse,they face extreme discrimination based upon appearance,not behavior.

Although pit bulls score better than 121 other breeds on temperament tests, propaganda has branded them as vicious, dangerous dogs. Breed specific discrimination laws are enacted, people are afraid to adopt them, and insurance policies do not allow for them.

Until all dogs are treated as individuals, the myths and politics surrounding pit bulls result in shelters having to kill happy, healthy, and perfectly adoptable dogs.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Weisel wrote about the power of bearing witness to history. "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness," he wrote."To forget would be not only be dangerous but offensive: to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time."

I choose to bear witness for the all pit bulls who did not make it out of the shelters. They are more than a number or a statistic. I paint their portraits to put a face on this shame. I will be painting at least one portrait a week for the year.

These portraits are based on photographs taken in 2011 by Josh Liddy and J.J. Woofin Paws. These are not all the pit bulls euthanized in 2011. This is not a scientific study or exclusive to the shelters mentioned. These dogs and their portraits represent the millions killed every year at all shelters.

It is emotionally challenging to create these paintings. It is not easy to look at their faces, but I ask you please do not look away. Bear witness. Remember these dogs.

My paintings for Witness would not be possible without the amazing photographs taken by Josh Liddy and J.J Woofin Paws. I am thankful for their permission to use their photographs as references.

I encourage you to follow Josh's pitbull advocacy on Facebook here

Follow J.J. and her rescue agency on Facebook here

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All paintings,words,opinions are mine (unless otherwise noted) and are subject to copyright and intellectual property protection. Please do not post my images without giving proper credits & links.