Image credit: Gladys Simpson

Catching her pet dog sleeping belly up and legs wide open by accident inspired Gladys Simpson to paint animals in unusual “provocative” positions four-years ago.

After painting her dog, Kuro, Gladys then turned to her friends to submit images of their pets in funny, awkward and provocative positions.

“I asked for belly up, awkward positions of their pets and the photos rolled in!” Gladys relates to Eksentrika.

Ever since then, “the accidental pet artist” experimented with graphite, colour pencils and water colours to create her art pieces.

“Graphite or colour pencils take much longer than an acrylic or watercolour piece. They differ in styles too. For my colour pencil pieces, I drew each and every single strand of fur!” she says.

Starting out her career in the advertising industry, Gladys gave up her full-time job after 15-years to focus on being a mother.

With her kids now grown up, she re-discovered her love for painting again during the years when her family was residing in the Phillipines and Hong Kong.

To be precise, Gladys began her love affair with “canine art” in November 2012 and now, after hundreds of paintings later, she is set to hold her first solo exhibition on October 23 to November 19, 2016 at Artspace ChinaHouse at the old CourtHouse Kuching, Sarawak.

While this native Kuchingite is stoked about going back to her hometown to do her solo exhibit, it took Gladys 12-months to complete the paintings just for this exhibition while juggling other commisioned artworks. (Pssst! Fun fact: Gladys was the illustrator for Everything About Us: Readings from Readings 3)

The exhibition is set to showcase a total of 26 paintings – 14 of the provocatively cute pets, eight more consisting of an orangutan, paintings of hornbills along with four travel sketches.

Best part, eight postcard prints by Gladys will also be on sale throughout the exhibition with parts of the profit going to Art for Stray Animals (ASA).

When probed further on her decision to continue this theme, Gladys has this to say:

If it were human beings, you’d probably say it was provocative? Alluring? I wanted to draw something different. Most of the paintings of dogs or cats I’ve seen are the normal headshots or they’re always upright, proper.

Well, we have to agree with Gladys – upright and proper paintings of pets are so yesterday.

Those who would love to check out more of Gladys pets in provocative, awkward positions can follow the artist on Instagram and Facebook. Gladys is contactable via email.

Are you an artist who is looking for a platform to share your work? Or are you an artspace set to hold an art exhibition? Hit us up at editors@eksentrika.com