Artist Statement
Animal Behavior

At first glance, it is easy for someone to catagorize my costumed animals as merely whimsical or gimmicky paintings with one-liner appeal. For me the animals go much deeper and I hope that as well as enjoy and be amused by my imagery, the viewer will spend a little more time studying them to figure out the internal and often personal viewpoint I am offering. My childhood is present in my works, influenced by the children’s book illustrations that I was most enchanted with, worlds I wished to belong to and creatures that were more appealing than the humans that ostracized me.

As an adult I became aware of the illustrations in a deeper way. The truth is humans are animals as well and we often lose touch with that reality and mask ourselves in such foolish pomp and arrogance, inventing standards that demolish kindness and harm the innocent.The brutality of nature is no match for the brutality human beings have cultivated in the name of their refinement. These view points are not dealt with heavy handedly though. I find much pleasure in lovingly mocking our flaws, embracing them with delight and a bit of an eye roll. Often I use the classical portrait as a means to convey these perceptions. Like the poor mocking the rich, my creatures mock us by actually taking themselves a bit too seriously in the roles I have assigned them.

Another anspect of my works is to honor the beauty of all creatures and with that, the beauty that is inherent in all of us. I don’t mean this in a trite, New Agey way, I mean it as an observer in all that is natural. We are them, they are us. Sometimes regal, at other times buffoons. Violent, passionate, dull-witted or clever. All of these traits are common in all things, though we may be blind to them when gazing at our own reflections.

You are invited to explore my galleries of illustrations and paintings and to contact me for the availability of a piece, or to commission a new work expressly created just for you.

SarahHigdon.com is dedicated to the loving memory of my sister Jane Higdon.