They come in different sizes, breeds, and colors. They have various personalities, purposes, and abilities. Some are fluffy while others are hairless. Food, sleep, walks, bones, snuggling, and companionship are, generally, some of their favorite things.
We love them. We collect them. We spoil them. We sometimes like them better than humans. Their joy is contagious. There’s always a reason to smile when they are around.
Dogs.
If you are reading this, you most likely agree that a dog can be an outstanding model for your design project. By using a dog as your muse, you’ll probably enjoy a cheerful creative process. But, did you know that your audience can also feel that joy when engaging in your canine inspired masterpiece?
Here are 5 reasons why we are so drawn to masterpieces that are centered on the dog:
1. Health & Happiness
Dogs don’t make us smile simply because they’re cute (and they all are). They are created in such a magnificent way that they provide mental, physical, and emotional health to humans.
Dogs can trigger the release of beneficial chemicals in humans. Dogs increase our levels of dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. These chemicals improve our moods, affect happiness, lower stress, increase feelings of pleasure, and boost our self-worth.
2. Adventure
Nothing excites a dog more than the sound of the leash and hearing the question, “Walk?” Their unmatched sense of smell turns every journey down the block into a great escapade.
Research shows that dogs can smell 10,000 – 100,000 better than humans. They have over 50 times more receptors in their noses and their brains can decipher smells 40 times better than humans.
Since dogs have such a strong sense of adventure, it is easy to imagine storylines about their fantastical secret desires. A canine subject is fun to humanize in a story or illustration.
3. Love
Why do dogs love us so much? I’m not sure but their selflessness and forgiveness make us feel happy and prized. The Oxytocin that we mentioned earlier is a key reason why dogs love us so well. Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone” and it is something that humans and dogs experience similarly. We relate to one another even though we are different species.
4. Optimism
You never have to feel unwanted when you have a dog. The happy fellow is so happy when you come home that his tail appears to wag his body. Recently, scientist have discovered that this friendliness is due to specific genes. That friendliness seems to illicit a contagious joy to those participating and observing.
I like to take my dog on walks through my neighborhood. Often, we pass by neighbors and other dogs. I find it funny that the kids always say “hi” to my dog, rather than me. I think it is because kids instinctively know that dogs are generally friendly and happy. They tend to see dogs in a positive light. They find them to be cute, comforting, and non-threatening.
The Oxytocin, known as the love hormone, is present when humans and animals interact.
Translatable Joy
Dog owners often associate pictures, photos, sketches, caricatures, paintings, and stories of dogs with the feelings they know from their experiences with dogs. That is why your canine art has such a powerful impact on your spectators.
We would love to hear your take on dogs and art. Connect with us at Geare Designs.
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