Anastazy Aranel

BA (Hons) Illustration

Fuelled by personal loss of beloved feline friends, this project aims to help viewers understand the pain of losing an animal family member. Although having a pet is a socially accepted and normalised part of life, pet bereavement isnt a subject often discussed or illustrated. When a pet passes away, theres no professional counselling available. Work places offer no bereavement leave and schools have no policies to support students through such an experience: its at the discretion of employers and schools to allow for time off, which comes down to simply understanding and empathy. This shouldnt be the case, and those suffering from any loss – whether of an animal or a human – need support and sympathy. In a bid to help people find that sympathy and understanding I have created a series of paintings that aim to convey the emotional pain of losing a close animal companion. Employing a theme of fantasy and magic, as well as psychedelic bright colours, Im aiming to engage as much attention and thought as possible, which might not be as successful with more conventional representations of death.

My illustration practice engages with a range of themes, animal welfare being especially close to my heart. I enjoy working with narrative, translating everyday situations into fairytale and magical contexts. The expressive value of highly pigmented Japanese watercolours helps illuminate ideas by providing a translucent dreamy effect, and opaque layers allow more control in building the scene.


Mae’r prosiect hwn, a symbylir gan golled bersonol cyfeillion sy’n gathod, yn ceisio helpu gwylwyr i ddeall poen colli aelod o’r teulu sy’n anifail. Er bod cael anifail anwes yn rhan o fywyd normal sydd wedi’i dderbyn yn gymdeithasol, nid yw profedigaeth anifeiliaid anwes yn bwnc a drafodir yn aml. Pan fydd anifail anwes yn marw, does dim cwnsela proffesiynol ar gael. Nid yw gweithleoedd yn cynnig absenoldeb profedigaeth ac nid oes gan ysgolion bolisïau i gefnogi myfyrwyr trwy’r fath brofiad: dim ond yn ôl disgresiwn cyflogwyr y caniateir amser i ffwrdd, sy’n dod i lawr i ddealltwriaeth ac empathi. Ni ddylai hyn fod yn wir, ac mae angen cefnogaeth a chydymdeimlad ar y rhai sy’n dioddef o unrhyw golled – ni waeth p’un a yw hynny’n anifail neu berson. Mewn ymgais i helpu pobl i ddod o hyd i’r cydymdeimlad hwnnw rwyf wedi creu cyfres o baentiadau sy’n ceisio cyfleu poen emosiynol colli cymar agos sy’n anifail. Trwy ddefnyddio thema ffantasi a hud, yn ogystal â lliwiau seicedelig llachar, rwy’n ceisio denu cymaint o sylw a meddwl â phosib, rhywbeth efallai na fyddai’r un mor llwyddiannus gyda chynrychioliadau mwy confensiynol o farwolaeth.

Mae fy arfer darlunio’n ymwneud ag amrywiaeth o themâu, ac mae lles anifeiliaid yn arbennig o agos at fy nghalon. Rwy’n mwynhau gweithio gyda naratif, gan drosi sefyllfaoedd bob dydd i gyd-destunau tylwyth teg a hudolus. Mae gwerth mynegiadol dyfrlliwiau Japaneaidd a’u pigmentau cryfion yn helpu amlygu syniadau trwy ddarparu effaith freuddwydiol dryloyw, ac mae haenau anhryloyw yn caniatáu mwy o reolaeth wrth adolygu’r olygfa.

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