The Paw-cassos of Wareham High School
Kiko the cat who is energetic and funny, drawn by Aniya Chavis. Photos source: Wareham High School
Phenoix who was adopted recently, drawn by Ajani Rakotoarimanitra-Bunting.
The curious-looking Neveah, drawn by Madison Westgate.
Kiko the cat who is energetic and funny, drawn by Aniya Chavis. Photos source: Wareham High School
Phenoix who was adopted recently, drawn by Ajani Rakotoarimanitra-Bunting.
The curious-looking Neveah, drawn by Madison Westgate.
With ruff-drafts done and new paw-traits by their cages, art students at Wareham High School are using their talents in the real world to help pets at the Lighthouse Animal Shelter.
Students in Colleen Cuneo's Art One class used skills they learned over the course of a semester to create portraits of animals available at the Lighthouse Animal Shelter in New Bedford. Each student chose an animal up for adoption for their final projects, aiming to help the pets find their forever homes through purr-fect pictures.
Cuneo said that the project was successful, which was inspired by her own hobby of creating pet portraits. This is the second year partnering with the shelter, which began as a she hope to get the students out and involved in the community.
"Rather than just drawing a random animal, we can draw an animal that needs a home and help them find that home," she said.
The pieces accompanied by short descriptions about the pets.
Each animal that received a portrait will take it with them after adoption. From colored pencil to digital art, Cuneo said she let the students choose their mediums to explore what they learned in class.
"It was really fun to see where they took their artwork and where they felt most comfortable working as well," she said.
This project differs from others the students produce in class, as the work won't be taken home, but shown and displayed. According to Cuneo, that condition made the students more invested in the project, some even choosing to do multiple portraits.
"They like knowing their work has meaning behind it and it's not just me saying "Do this now,"" she said.
Some students mew-ses were adopted during the length of the project, which Cuneo said wasn't an issue. The Lighthouse Animal Shelter makes sure the new pet parents get their artwork made for their new furry friends.
"The woman who runs the shelter, she said she has one of the portraits from last year hanging in her house because she loved it so much," she said.
As an animal lover herself, the project is a culmination of many things Cuneo loves. Animals, teaching and art all came together.
With the spring semester beginning, Cuneo said she will be bringing the project back to do with her next class at the end of the school year. As lessons begin again, she has ideas to bring students to see the pets they will be drawing.
The animals in the portraits made by the students are available for adoption at lighthouseanimalshelter.org. The shelter is located at 596 Hathaway Road in New Bedford.
