Anthropomorphism

It's a big word, anthropomorphism. It's meaning is simple. Giving human charateristics to an animal. Like having a bunny ride a bike.

Or a moose for that matter. The images here are partial photos of paintings I did for my October show. The show was about bikes and about anthropomorphism. Polar bears, herons, frogs all got a spin on a bike. I love taking an animal and putting it in a human situation. Actually almost everyone does.

I am reading a graphic novel of "The Wind and the Willows". Most people have read or at least know of this classic. The author gives us a fantasy view of life in the marsh land with all of it's wildlife traveling, making friends, enjoying picnics etc. The confident river rat, the toad with all his finery. You can't help put want to shrink yourself to walk around and see their world.

I have a friend that doesn't like animals. I am truly sad for her. She will never get that warm glow when your cat reaches her paw up to pat your chest. She will never hear a dog groan with bliss as she nestles closer to the warm fire. She might have never considered putting a moose on a bicycle.