Rachael has long considered animals to be one of her favorite topics
of photo interest.
In earlier years Rachael's cat and pot bellied pig photos appeared in breed
fancier journals regularly, one dog and pig shot even making a glossy cover
in the mid-90s.
Rachael was born to a family of one dog and three cats as
well as to human parents. By age 8, she adopted her own kitten,
who was allowed to have babies. With her father she constructed
habitats for every living creature from grasshopper boxes to horse stalls.
As a woman in her twenties, Rachael invited every type of animal
into her own home. She had tanks of fish, reptiles, amphibians,
guinea pig herds, tortises and large lizards… and the
ever present cats and dogs and acres of orchids and other exotic plants…
In 1992 she added her first pot-bellied pig, named Pucky.
The photograph "Phyllisie Loves Pucky" was on the cover of the
glossy breed fancier "Journal Of Pot-bellied Pigs".
Rachael was a regular contributor of poetry, photography and
articles for this magazine all through the 90s.
Her photo-illustrated children's story "A Piglet For David"
appeared in the journal as well and is available for sale on the
Order Page.
The photographs in it are compositions of
child-sized dolls and real animals. Some of them can also be seen in the
Dolls and Bears section of this website.
Her cat photography and poetry also graced the pages of
The Devon Rex Newsletter through the 90s. In 1991 she was invited to
Philadelphia, PA. to a large CFA cat fancier show to give a poetry reading
and to display a photo exhibit on cats. She was given an award for
excellence in art depicting cats as subject matter by the Devon Rex Congress.
More recently,this past year, she has began some extensive photography of horses,
donkeys, cattle, and other animals such as sheep and pigs through area stables,
breeders, farms and rescues. She also includes in her pieces, professionals
who care for these animals, as some of her subject matter: ie. "The Horse Dentist"
and "The Farrier".
A copy of her LE portrait of "The Sheep Shearer" (still available!)
was also donated to the Syracuse area- YWCA fund-raising breakfast
to help women and children in need in October 2007...
The shot was taken at a friend's Earlville farm the day the
two women shearers came to shear the wool of 47 sheep.
Some of you may have seen these works in the Aug-Sept '07 exhibit "One Year;
A Life in Pictures" which appeared 6 weeks in the
Morrisville Public Library, Morrisville N.Y.
One of Rachael's most consistent themes in poetry and fiction
has to do with poignant stories of animals and the people who care for them.
Please be on the look-out for specialty items ie. sympathy at the loss of a
pet or celebration of the new pet greeting cards and wall-art
which combine animal shots and poetry about them.
Her work also captures wildlife-- some, the very small, from butterflies and
beetles, to the slightly larger anoles and other reptiles.
Rachael won first prize in the 1995 DeRyder ParkButterfly Garden Photo Contest
in Syracuse (Dewitt) N.Y. "Skipper on Fleabane".
"Crab Spider on Daisy"
juried into the 2005 National Penwomen competition in Syracuse, N.Y. and
hung in May Memorial Church, E. Genesee St., Syracuse for a month with other acceptances.
"Scoop" by Rachael Z. Ikins @ Syracuse.Com Archived Poetry.
Rachael is the honorary staff photographer and board member for
Forgotten Friends Pet Rescue in Sharon Springs NY.
Her portrait of "Gideon"
and the poem about him "Working Horse" is
currently entered in many online competitions and
appeared in Sushi Blues Restaurant in Hamilton N.Y., at the December benefit event
"The Bentley Memorial Benefit Auction" honoring Bentley the dog-proceeds for the
Forgotten Friends Equine Rescue of Sharon Springs, N.Y. and
the Chenango County SPCA, Norwich, N.Y. "Working Horse" can be purchased
with or without the poem. Please see photo listings for examples and go to the
Order Page if you'd like to purchase one.
Also available through Forgotten Friends. Go to My Favorite Places
Rachael's prize-winning cat poem
"Girlie" appears not only in the
Syracuse.com Post Standard online archives, but was posted for the month of July 2004
on the website of her friend Karen Lyons at www.kjlyons.com. Karen is a world-renowned sculptor
and 3-D portrait artist of both cats and teddy bears.
