Dog Art Today

Category: Dog Art Books

  • Blue Dogs Named After Blue Dog

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    Prints of George Rodrigue’s new silkscreens, Are You Lonesome Tonight?, 2009

    Speaking of health care, did you know the Blue Dog Democrats were named after George Rodrigue’s iconic Blue Dog?  I didn’t.

    Here’s the story:

    The term “Blue Dog” is reputably a reference to paintings of Cajun
    artist George Rodrigue, which feature a blue dog. So of those paintings
    hung in the offices of two Louisiana representatives who were among the
    original founders of the coalition. Members explain that “A blue dog is
    our mascot because when dogs are not let into the house, they stay
    outside in the cold and turn blue,” meaning that moderate and
    conservative Democrats felt left out of the Party which they believe
    had shifted to the political left. They also claim that they were
    “choked by the Democratic party until they turned blue.”

    Read full article by Richard Mays via The Sun-Times.

    Also, George Rodrigue is now on a book tour for his new children’s book Are You Blue Dog’s Friend?
      Click here to see if and when he is coming to your city.

    Blue_dog_childrens_book

    And finally, I just discovered his wife Wendy’s terrific new blog, Musings of an Artist’s Wife.  I especially like this post on seeing art as opposed to just looking at it.  Stop by and say hi.

  • Alexander McCall Smith’s New Dog Novel


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    Alexander McCall Smith by Iain McIntosh

    The Dog Who Came in from the Cold, Alexander McCall Smith’s sequel to Corduroy Mansions, will begin it’s serialization, a chapter each week, starting Monday, September 21 at Telegraph.co.uk.  The Telegraph’s Toby Clements interviewed McCall Smith and discovered the author prefers to think of these works as soap operas, not serials, that he aims at 80 chapters but only starts with 40 fleshed out, reader input is appreciated, and what I found most interesting, he is inspired by the late 19th century painters Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard, both artists who are known for featuring dogs in their art.   It appears that Freddie de la Hay, the titular dog in McCall Smith’s new novel, descends from a long tradition of great dog art.  How cool is that?

    Click here to read the full article.

    Here are some of my favorite works from the Bonnard and Vuillard:

    Bonnard_1

    The Bathroom by Pierre Bonnard, 1932

    Nude-in-bath-and-small-dog-pierre-bonnard

    Nude in the Bath and Small Dog by Pierre Bonnard, 1941-1946
     

    Bonnard_4

    Dressing Table and Mirror by Pierre Bonnard, 1913

     

    Villiard_1 Aux Pavillons à Cricqueboeuf. Devant la Maison by Edouard Vuillard, 1913

     

    Vuillard_2
    The Terrace at Vasouy, the Lunch by Edouard Vuillard, 1901

     

    Vuillard_3

    Interior at Saint-Jacut by Edouard Vuillard, 1909

  • Film: Jon Katz’s “A Dog Year” Tonight on HBO

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    Jeff Bridges and Ryder, photo by James Bridges/HBO

    I was just going to write a quick post that Jeff Bridges stars in the movie adaptation of Jon Katz's bestselling book A Dog Year tonight at 8pm on HBO.  I plan to watch it even though the NYT gives it a tepid review because a.) I refuse to watch America's got Talent which seems to be the only thing on right now  b.) I think Jeff Bridges, while not the greatest actor of our time, is thoroughly watchable (I think it is his voice, his dreamy hair, and his refusal to be typecast)  and c.) I always hear about these dog-themed-Jon-Katz books but have no intention of ever reading them.  Dog books to me are like listening to someone else's dream.  I know it is the most exciting, cosmic, love-soaked experience in a person's life to have a dog, but it's just not that interesting to me.  I have my own exciting, cosmic, love-soaked thing going on.  And I don't want to read about your dog dying (John Grogan).

    Anyway, what was intended to be a short post began to grow when I dug a little deeper into Katz's bio.  Turns out he was steeped in the frantic media elite world before moving to a farm in upstate NY where he lives with dogs, donkeys, sheep, cows, cats, and chickens.  After my recent giddy infatuation with my foster goats (who, I don't think I've mentioned, now board at a fenced-in pasture across the street, since Girl Goat escaped my pen and gave me too much anxiety, and, yes, I am disappointed that I don't have the pioneer spirit to fix the pen and keep the goats, but the truth is they were not mine and I was getting too attached to creatures whose lives I had no say in), I became intrigued with Katz's new life (being a former member of the frantic media elite turned aspiring rural maven myself) and his ability to approach it with a farmer's practicality and not an urbanite's idealization.  Read his post Why I Shot My Lamb and Why I Want to Shoot My Neighbor's Lamb, Too and you will see what I mean.

    Which brings me to another aspect of Katz I want to share.  He has a cool website called Bedlam Farm with lots of photos, a blog, an archive of his Slate articles, and more.  Warning, the blog was a bit cumbersome to navigate.  Jon, if you're reading this, I couldn't click through your photo album and I really wanted to see and share your images.  Here is the shot from his homepage that I like very much:

    Picture 1 

    Bedlam Farm


    Then there are the Katz controversies: the Afghanistan-nerd-Slashdot incident and the Border Collie community's outrage.   Whoa.

    I could go on.  I have spent hours digging around in Katz's world today.  And now, I really want to see the movie tonight and see more.  I had this idea that he was some corny writer who thinks he is the first person to fall in love with a dog.  But the truth is he is more complicated, edgy, and perhaps disturbed than some second career Dr. Dolittle.  Maybe he likes putting down animals.  Anyway, I am intrigued.  And I look forward to tonight.

    If you watch or have other opinions on Katz, let me know.  I am going to try the new and hopefully improved commenting system since I saw it in use on my new favorite blog, The Amateur Gourmet.

    Hat tip to my mom for sending me the NYT link about the movie and the one to The Amateur Gourmet.  Doesn't she have excellent taste?

    P.S. Can't figure out the new commenting system. Will try harder later.  Got to go water my tomatoes.

    P.P.S. I activated the new commenting system.  Let me know what you think and if you have any problems.  Feel free to email me at moira@dreamdogsart.  Thank you.

  • PAWS For Charity Art Book

    Paws_for_charity

    L.A. Photographer Sabrina Helas dropped me a note to let me know a very cool dog art book that she contributed to is now available.  She was one of 37 dog artists who submitted their work to make the PAWS for Charity Art Book.  The project was spearheaded by Sara Harley and proceeds go to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. 

    Visit the PAWS for Charity blog for more.

    Sabrina also has links to all the artists at her website.  Awesome!

    Cover photo by Michelle Ciarlo-Hayes.

  • Dog Art Today’s 12 Days of Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule or Kwanzaa Gift Ideas

    Ripley_christmas_dog

    For the next 12 days I will be featuring creative, crafty, pragmatic or luxurious gifts for the dog lover in your life.  I know there is a massive credit crunch squeezing the global economy.  But, thoughtful, original gifts don’t need to be expensive.   Finding them just takes a little time.  Hopefully, that’s where I can help this season.  I have been scouting interesting finds this whole year to share with you to make your shopping, shipping and enjoyment of the holidays a little easier.

    Feel free to email me and let me know what you are looking for or what you would like to see more of. 

    BTW, did you know the Twelve Days of Christmas might not just be a rousing Christmas carol but rather, “a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th
    century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic
    teachings of the Faith…a mnemonic device
    to teach the catechism to youngsters.”  For example, “Two turtle doves” represents the Old and New Testament.  ( Read more here.)

    Photo credit: Ripley by CastingShadows from his flickr photostream.  This wonderful photo is also part of the book Merry Christmas from . . .150 Christmas Cards You Wish You’d Received.  It looks cool, perhaps a great gift for someone on your list.

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  • Dogs Rule Fat Book Auction This Saturday!

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    Photo by Jamie Pflughoeft

    Mark your calendars to bid on this Dogs Rule Fat Book this Saturday, November 15th.  The project was a collaboration of 13 dog artists (myself included) who each contributed an original work of art.  Fabulous photographer and artist, Jill Beninato, who spearheaded the project, then bound the works together to create this one of a kind dog art book.  All proceeds benefit a Place to Bark Animal Rescue.

    The link to the auction will be posted here on Novemeber 15.  Good luck!

    Click here to see an excellent video presentation of the book and an interview with Jill Beninato by Rebecca Collins.

    And visit Jamie Pfughoeft's website for more beautiful images of each page.

  • Disney’s Dogs

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    Illustration from 101 Dalmations

    To promote their new film, Bolt, Disney Book Group has just released the new book, Disney’s Dogs, a comprehensive book of all the Disney dog stars from the early years of studio shorts to, well, Bolt.

     Jim Hill has a review and lots of images.

  • InDognito by Karen Ngo

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    With Halloween almost two weeks away, I thought everyone might need a little inspiration.  I am very pro-dog costume, and clearly so is photographer Karen Ngo.  Look how she makes the kitschy sublime in her new book, InDognito: A Book of Canines in Costume
    .  Simply gorgeous!

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    Karen_ngo_indognito_3

    Karen_ngo_indognito_4

    Karen_ngo_indognito_5

    Visit Karen Ngo’s website to see more of her work.  Click here
    to order InDognito today.

  • Chicken Soup for the Soul: Contest Winners!

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    Angel Dane by Rachel Tyler

    I am pleased to announce the winners of of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dogs We Love are:

    Linda Belthius for this response…

    "My dog is Chicken Soup for the Soul because I have been blessed beyond my understanding with having her to help me through a loss of my dear sister-in-law. I was under so much stress I literally lost my hair, and without my Winnie to be there when I came home I think I would have sunk into a depression so deep it would have affected my whole life. Having to care for her and having her undivided love helped me to stay strong for myself and my family! She is an angel with fur!"

    …and artist Rachel Tyler chosen at random.

    I was so moved by everyone's responses.  It was almost impossible to decide.  But Linda's last line "She is an angel with fur!" really got to me.  Inspired by her quote, I set up a new Dog Art Today photo album.  I would love for you all to submit photos of your dogs so I can meet all your angels with fur.

    Click here to submit your photo.  Everyone's dogs are welcome.   You don't have to have participated in the contest.  

    P.S. see more of Rachel Tyler's whimsical dog art at her website Pawsitive Art.

    P.P.S. see all the great responses here (scroll down to bottom of post).

  • Paul Newman Dies at 83

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    Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward + unidentified family pet, 1958

    Paul Newman, great actor, humanitarian, and animal lover, passed away yesterday after long battle with cancer.

    He showed the world that a man could be cool and good. Talented and kind. Famous and private. Hearts are heavy that you're gone.

    Image: Corbis photo from the book Men & Dogs: A Personal History from Bogart to Bowie by Judith Watt and Peter Dyer.

    P.S.

    Fellow blogger  and LA photographer Sabrina Helas left this note in the comments section.  I had to share:

    "so sad! one of legends! a quote of
    his that I really liked was “The trick of living is to slip on and off
    the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I’m not running for
    sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little
    like the farmer, who puts back into the soil what he takes out.”
    and i think he managed to do that!"

    I think he did too Sabrina.