Charming Baker’s Dogs

 

Charming_baker_dignity_rides_a_tricky_pony

 

Dignity Rides a Tricky Pony

London artist Charming Baker is influenced by “cheap books, heroes, girls, Zulus, odd-looking women, suburbia, da riddum, family, stories, horses, dogs, packaging, summer holidays, the smell of make-up and cheap perfume, powertools, tea, tomatoes, Britain in colour.”

He’s been painting pretty much unnoticed for over 20 years.  Then in 2009, he signed with music manager Pat Magnarella and became an overnight sensation at age 47.  Read about Baker’s path outside the traditional gallery system here.  I found his work at Viennese artist Petra Hartl’s truly awesome dog art blog Hundkunst.  Translation here.  

 

Charming_baker_the_establisment_looks_on_in_wonder

 

The Establishment Looks on in Wonder

Charming_baker_that_which_drives_us_is_beyond_our_control

 

That Wish Drives Us (Is Beyond Our Control)

Charming_baker_the_god_given_pleasure_of_another_mans_nightmare

 

The God Given Pleasure of Another Man’s Nightmare

Charming_baker_what_a_strang_and_beautiful_thing

 

What a Strange & Beautiful Thing (Grey)

Charming Baker’s website.

Seriously, visit Petra’s dog art blog.   I think you will love it.

Petra Hartl’s website, too.

Comments

3 responses to “Charming Baker’s Dogs”

  1. nancy@gooddogart.com Avatar

    Wow, I really don’t like these. They are so dark, and cryptic, like only the artist and a few friends have any idea what they are about. That always annoys me. I find them a bit creepy, and I don’t like the wallpaper backgrounds either- to me that’s an easy out for dealing with the space around a subject. I notice that you have no comments yet, which is probably what happens when it’s hard to find something good to say.

  2. Robb Avatar
    Robb

    I’ll go Nancy..
    Wonderfully disturbing.Baker shows a genius for driving the kids out of the room.
    No dogs were harmed during the making of this art..I hope!!

  3. Moira McLaughlin Avatar

    Im with you, Robb. I think they are genius. I get what he is saying about animals/man, power/sex, aging/death/youth. But I also spent a lot of time reading about him and looking at all his work. And listening to him — where hes from — there is a video on his website. As an artist I am drawn to his use of contrast and composition. His color palette and wit are all British, but I think his work speaks universal themes and that makes it great. I love a good art debate. Thanks for chiming in, Nancy and Robb.
    Moira

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