I’ve talked about Brooklyn artist Dan-ah Kim a few times before but when she wrote in about some of her new work and I clicked on this, I knew I had to share with you a few of her most recent creations.

I love animals so The Lights Guided Us Here really touched my heart. I’m a girl who frequents pet stores, zoos, animal parks and rescue shelters just for comfort visits – I love petting and even talking to all the sweet animals. I have to say though, zoos where I live are pretty depressing, but the one in my new city is amazing! I can’t wait to go back to purchase a family card for the year so I can drop in whenever I want to. They take such lovely care of the animals and though I don’t like to see anything in captivity, there is a difference between poorly kept animals and happy, thriving ones that have good relationships with their trainers, handlers and other animals. There is also a lovely petting “forest” (tiergarten) with deer to feed, my husband went there all the time as a child. I surely will be visiting it in August (for the first time) as soon as I land on the other side of the pond. Here’s a map of what it looks like.

I could not live in a world without animals, in fact when people annoy me I often head to a pet store for stress relief. Sometimes others can disappoint us or flake out, which deeply annoys me when someone doesn’t hold up their end of an agreement. Animals are very loyal and what you see is what you get, there is no pretending or games. I felt annoyed recently and so to the pet shop I went and instantly I forgot my feelings and haven’t been bothered by the situation since. Visiting animals is my therapy I guess. That’s why I love seeing them in art and design; this print shown above with the pretty fox and the girl laying next to it reminds me of how comforting having a pet can be.

One thing about moving and no longer living between two countries as we’ve been doing for years now is that I can finally adopt a dog from a shelter. I need to learn more about this and how it works in Germany, but I’m excited about the idea of pet ownership again. I haven’t had one since 1994 so I’m ready to take on a new friendship with a furry critter. :)

(images: dan-ah kim)

15 Responses to “Dan-ah Kim Art”

1 catherine m. commented:
July 24th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

I own a couple of her prints! I love her work!
.-= catherine m.´s last blog ..a look ahead to fall : part 2 =-.
2 shelly commented:
July 24th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Holly,
Maybe after you get settled you could get a puppy or kitty. I’ve had a cat for many years and love him to death but I finally just got a dog a few months ago. I must say she is the best thing I ever did! I just love snuggling with her and seeing her little face when I come home. I highly recommend one of your own.
.-= shelly´s last blog ..pearl walk two =-.
3 simply hue commented:
July 24th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

Ooh, I just love these illustrations! Animals really do bring a lot of joy to life. We have a Puggle pup that keeps me laughing all day with his crazy antics.
.-= simply hue´s last blog ..Last Day to Submit Photos! =-.
4 Annie commented:
July 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pm

I couldn’t agree with you more about animals. I sure like you, Holly!
.-= Annie´s last blog ..Hi! =-.
5 Farmgirl Susan commented:
July 24th, 2009 at 8:59 pm

The fox and girl print is wonderful! So nice to hear that someone else finds such comfort and joy in animals. People often wonder why I never feel lonely living on a farm that’s miles from the nearest neighbor – but with dozens of animals around, you’re never, ever alone! They’re all great company, and I don’t think I’ve spent more than 10 minutes working in the garden before at least one cat or dog joined me (not that they do any work, LOL).

One of the best things about having this kind of space is being able to do things like drive over to the local (incredibly overcrowded) animal shelter and say, “Okay, show me which three cats have been here the longest – they’re coming home with me!” (Topaz, who loves to sit on the tractor and is now a farm cat through and through, had been there 15 months!) The shelter dog who finds a home with you is going to be one very lucky pup. :)
.-= Farmgirl Susan´s last blog ..Friday Dose of Cute: We Have a New Farm Cat! =-.
6 decor8 commented:
July 25th, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Susan I LOVE your animal shelter approach, how amazing are you!??! What a kind person you are.
7 Lauren commented:
July 25th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

Oooh – I love her work! The attention to detail is amazing, along with the little narratives in her art. I also love her mixed media paintings, too. For me, mixed media/collage is kind of like bright blue eyeshadow: sometimes it can look tacky, but if you do it right, like Dan-ah did, it can be the most beautiful thing ever.

Thanks for introducing us to her work.
8 Melissa de la Fuente commented:
July 25th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

Oh, I adore these prints….how beautiful! And I love Susan’s comment…someday I would love to have a farm and just take in animals like that! *sigh* how wonderful!
xo
Melis
9 viv commented:
July 25th, 2009 at 10:19 pm

This is awesome, really!
.-= viv´s last blog ..Charlotte =-.
10 mrs. jones' soapbox commented:
July 26th, 2009 at 9:47 am

So, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing, Holly.
.-= mrs. jones’ soapbox´s last blog ..Trial Combo Pack- Clean, Shine, Sparkle and Soapy =-.
11 papermichelle commented:
July 26th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

The girl with the fox illustration is divine. I love it and I couldn’t agree more with your post. :)
.-= papermichelle´s last blog ..The Sartorialist – August 12 US Release =-.
12 Brinja commented:
July 27th, 2009 at 2:36 am

Just wonderful, I totally agreé!
.-= Brinja´s last blog ..Randomly displayed pile of clothes… =-.
13 Katie Stephenson commented:
July 27th, 2009 at 6:48 am

oohh, the chandelier painting is gorgeous.
.-= Katie Stephenson´s last blog ..New Featured artist on Save Gocco: Lisa Congdon =-.
14 NB commented:
July 27th, 2009 at 1:05 pm

The girl and the chandelier are magical! I just snagged the last print of it from her shop–thanks for featuring her : )
15 alex*strawberry lemonade commented:
July 29th, 2009 at 10:47 am

Farm Girl Susan is the best! I love that story.

I’m also sooo intrigued by the Tiergarten!! We are big animal lovers in our family (my parents have always loved animals but Greg is a HUGE animal guy). I lean more towards dogs than cats, but somehow I am turning into the crazy cat lady over here—we had an abandoned house in the neighborhood that was home to a family of stray cats and it was finally torn down. Three of the kitties starting coming to our back yard and I’ve been feeding them. They won’t let me pet them yet, but I’m workin’ on it! They like me but they are verrry nervous. Then there is Tuxie, our neighbors cat who one day decided he didn’t want to live with them anymore and moved in with us! haha. he’s a big fatty but such a cuddler.
I totally agree that animals are therpeutic. (wait, that’s not how you spell that is it?? eek).
A friend at work as a fabulous chocolate lab named Henry that he brings into the office….I take “henry breaks” to go and cuddle with him every day just to soothe my mind and recharge me!

I can’t wait to see pictures of the Hannover Zoo!
.-= alex*strawberry lemonade´s last blog ..It’s late and I’m tired. =-.

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