“Each time I’ve lost a cat, I’ve gained something in my life—made decisions about my career, begun working in a new medium or style, found new friends. maybe the trauma of the loss caused me to see things from a new perspective, or it was a gift of gratitude from the cat I’d lost,” says animal artist and writer Bernadette E. Kazmarski.
She had figured out years ago to design animal sympathy cards as a lot of of the cards she’d received for her losses were not animal-specific, but wanted to make sure she had enough experience and perspective so she wouldn’t design something she’d later feel was incomplete or immature. One cat’s passing in 2009 gave her the space to follow through. As a fine artist as well as a commercial artist creating these cards was second nature. She intentionally chose photos rather than paintings for a lot of of the designs, feeling the realism of a photo was needed when expressing the deep and sincere emotions of these cards. She pictured the style, wrote out a list of sentiments that were a lot of heartfelt yet brief and general enough to be used by others, organized her own photos and created one dozen cards while still deep in the despair of losing that exceptional cat.
Each of the cats was or is one of her rescues, and the pet dog Tika was a therapy pet dog whose guardian she’d worked with on a pet loss project. She is careful with the images she uses, not only that they are easily recognized and representative of all animal companions, but that she knows the animal well enough to use its image for this purpose; they are conveying a heavy thought, and she doesn’t take the relationship with her subjects lightly.
“I’m shocked to find these cards are also purchased for the loss of a human, or even a ‘thinking of you’ card for persons who like animals,” she says.
The animal Sympathy set now includes 13 cards with the addition of a new card dedicated to the memory of a 20-year-old cat she’d rescued and lost after six weeks. In addition to the intentionally-designed sympathy cards are the variety of blank greeting and note cards she has created from paintings and photos of her cats.
Ordering Information
All cards come with matching envelopes.
Single cards: shipped as soon as possible after buy by first-class mail
Sets: pre-designed set of 12 or custom-made set by request
Wholesale for animal Professionals: all cards are available for wholesale prices and quantities to animal professionals.
Customization: custom-imprinted with logo or individualized sentiment inside with quantity purchase.
Click here for a lot more information about the cards, and to order.
FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Portraits of Animals, which indicates that I was paid to feature these products. regardless of payment received, you will never see products or services featured on this site that I don’t either use or would use myself.
All photos ©Bernadette Kazmarski, used with permission.
Ingrid King
You might also like:
Giveaway: garden Flag from Portraits of animals
Review: The animals Lead® method of animal Reiki meditation Journal
Giveaway: Heartspeak Whiskerwisdom Collection greeting cards
« Review: hand-crafted cat Wand toys from design 4 Paws
The conscious cat awarded three Certificates of excellence »
10 comments on animal Sympathy Cards from Portraits of Animals
Maxwell, Faraday & Allie says:
September 19, 2013 at 6:34 pm
Aren’t they beautiful? and so touching and sensitive as well. We have her art hanging in our home and love them. She’s so talented. We especially love the fact that sweet Lakota is remembered in this way.
Reply
Ingrid says:
September 20, 2013 at 8:57 am
I agree. Bernadette has a way of capturing the essence of an animal in both her art and her photography that’s very special.
Reply
Margaret says:
September 19, 2013 at 11:55 am
What a charming idea, I wish you all success with them.
When any of my own cats have died in he past I’ve made my own sort of stationery per photocopies of them which have helped ME tremendously.
Yours are so much a lot more sophisticated and really beautiful. Our local vets do similar (not so good) and put their own words in about the particular animal which is also nice.
Reply
Ingrid says:
September 20, 2013 at 8:56 am
What a terrific idea to make your own stationery. I have made collages after my cats died, and I, too, found it very healing.
Reply
Sue Brandes says:
September 19, 2013 at 9:05 am
Beautiful cards. I have only seen general pet loss cards and they are hard to find sometimes.
Reply
Ingrid says:
September 20, 2013 at 8:55 am
Pet loss cards do seem to be hard to find in stores, Sue. I think it’s worth waiting the extra day or two it takes to get these cards.
Reply
Caren Gittleman says:
September 19, 2013 at 9:01 am
just beautiful. It is hard to find animal sympathy cards and these are just wonderful.
Reply
Ingrid says:
Septemnull