Jake Spencer, 39, of Glen Mills, loves dogs… and he loves painting dogs. He set out to paint his own dog, a cute Jack Russell named Gabby. Then, what started as a one-time art activity to paint Gabby blossomed into “Pet Portraits by Jake and Caron,” an inclusive project that merges their unique talents. It truly is a creative partnership that fosters creativity, self-esteem, communication, teamwork, and community engagement for the artists.
Jake and Caron had so many requests for portraits, they started doing them on commission. So far, they have painted over 40 portraits and have a waiting list of clients who want them to paint their beloved dogs or cats. They paint in acrylics, from a photo of the pet, and they personalize each background to relate to the pet and their owner. Pet Portraits by Jake and Caron were showcased in a solo art show held in June at the Media Theatre Studio, where four-legged guests were included with their humans. One patron said: “Their portraits are amazing, so real they are better than a photo.”
Jake’s art activity blossomed into a partnership doing pet portraits.
“Art relaxes me and helps me be calm,” said Spencer. “I like coming up with the backgrounds and I enjoy meeting the dogs and their owners, I like to see how happy they are with the paintings.” Pet portraits by Jake and Caron also demonstrate the value of DSPs who are crucial to support the health, safety, and quality of life for people with disabilities. There is currently a national DSP crisis due to poor wages and a high turnover rate.
For years, it was challenging for people with disabilities to participate in the arts, from visual arts to music and acting, but now people recognize that including neurodiverse individuals in the arts is life- changing for everyone involved.
To commission a pet portrait by Jake and Caron, send an email to Jake’s mom, Trish Cofiell, at PCofiell@gmail.com.
