Alison Friend’s Animal Friends: Celebrating Beloved Four-Legged Companions and the Mental Health Benefits They Bring

British artist Alison Friend paints beloved four-legged human companions with big doe eyes. Her cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs alike are engaged in delightful and charming everyday human activities. Friend’s paintings give their viewers a little something to smile about, much like the joy that these furry companions bring to their owners. 

Her paintings remind their viewers of the benefits of going through the day with a positive attitude, finding small happiness in everything from a piece of biscuit to a good hair brushing session. This is why her paintings align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health and Well-being.

A survey done by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) has found that 74 percent of pet owners have reported mental health improvements from pet ownership. Aside from that, 75 percent of pet owners have also reported that their pets have helped to improve the mental health of friends and family who frequently interact with their pets. Viewing Friend’s paintings may not be able to substitute the full experience of cuddling with a four-legged friend, but its warm aesthetics may just help to stave off some of the cravings.

Friend’s paintings are done in a contemporary romanticism style, a period in Western art history that ranged from the late 18th to mid-19th century and was characterized by its emphasis on emotional impact. These paintings feature subjects with pronounced expressions, as if they were in a stage play. In Friend’s paintings, this manifests as the children’s cartoon-like expressions found on the animals’ faces.

Another characteristic of Romanticism-era paintings is the strong contrast in colours between those used to depict their foreground subjects and their background. These colour palettes were commonly found in paintings by the likes of Francisco Goya and Eugène Delacroix. Alison Friend has added her twist to the style by introducing bright pastel colours for self-care items that the animals are interacting with. For example, the bright pink donut held by the guinea pig that is full of anticipation in Party Time. Or, the bright orange socks worn by the cozy rabbit in Bunny Was Very Pleased With Her New Socks.

Alison Friend’s enchanting animal paintings not only celebrate the joy and companionship that pets bring into people’s lives but also serve as gentle reminders of the profound mental health benefits that they bring. Her whimsical depictions of four-legged friends engaging cheerfully in human activities capture the essence of finding joy in small everyday occurrences.

Find out more about paintings by Alison Friend and their other initiatives by checking their Instagram at @mcfriendy.