Dog Art Today

Category: Dog Art Photography

  • Bev Hollis: Purpose Driven Photography

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    Have you ever heard the saying that style is the art of being yourself on purpose?  I think it’s true, but then you look at Oprah on the cover of Vogue, or Jamie Lee Curtis without her Spanx, you realize that style, especially when it comes to photography, is also the art of putting together a team of experts that includes a great photographer, a make up artist, a hair stylist, a trainer, and a wardrobe consultant.  Now, if you’re interested in the dog equivalent of the perfect photo, you’re in luck, there is a person who can pull it off by herself, Leesburg, Virginia-based pet photographer, Bev Hollis. 

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    To understand how Hollis manages to make your dogs be themselves on purpose, first explore her process.  She knows that so much is serendipity when it comes to dogs and photography that she makes a concerted effort to be prepared well before the first shot is taken.  Meeting your pet prior to the session allows her to understand her subject and conceptualize the final presentation for you.   Then, she works either on location to make your dogs comfortable or in her studio to help contain the variables.  Either way she creates gorgeous photographs that not only capture the silly charm of your pet, but also give them the status they deserve as honored members of the family – or to put it in magazine terms, the cover shot.

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    Visit Bev Hollis Photography to see more beautiful dogs and arrange a session for your pup.

  • Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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    In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I’m featuring the Irish Wolfhound on Dog Art Today.  Of course the breed has standards and descriptions from The AKC, but I think this passage from "The Icelandic Saga of Nial" sums up these amazing dogs best…

    "I will give thee a dog which I got in Ireland.  He is huge of limb, and for a follower equal to an able man.  Moreover, he hath a man’s wit and will bark at thine enemies but never at thy friends.  And he will see by each man’s face whether he be ill or well disposed to thee.  And he will lay down his life for thee.”  —- Beautiful!

    Quote and photo (above) courtesy of Rohan Irish Wolfhounds.

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    Postcard published by W.E. Mack, London (courtesy of IrishWolfhounds.org)

    Hilary Jupp of Sussex, England runs what may be the most comprehensive Irish Wolfhound site on the Web.  A former breeder, owner, and publisher of Irish Wolfhound Quarterly, Jupp now devotes her time to preserving the breed’s history, which was slowly disappearing, in digital format.  Her website,  IrishWolfhounds.org is a true labor of love and a treasure trove of stories, photos, art, legend and practical knowledge about this majestic animal.  Here are some my favorite images courtesy of Hilary Jupp.

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    Comrades by Herbert Dicksee, late 19th century.  An Irish Wolfhound sleeps with a Westie.

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    The Empty Chair by O.B. MacCammon, 1912.

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    Portrait by Malcolm Nicholson, circa 1932

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    Time For A Guinness by John Baker

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    End Of The Hunt, artist unknown

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    Photo by Heather Beckettt, contemporary

    Irish Wolfhound lovers and dog lovers in general owe a debt of gratitude to Hilary Jupp for her passionate devotion to the breed.  Thank you Hilary for all your hard work and for bringing us a smile from your beloved Wolfhounds on this St. Patrick’s Day!

  • Happy Birthday Dog Art Today! Leave a Comment & Win a Free T-shirt!

     

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    Via Catherine Johnson, Author, Dogs published by Phaidon

     

    I started this blog as an experiment, a vague challenge to myself to see if I could do it.  And 307 posts, dozens of new friends, hundreds of artworks and dogs later, I'm proud to announce Dog Art Today tuns one today and is still going strong.  Actually, stronger than ever! 

    Thank you, all my readers, especially the ones who leave a comment and make my day.  In appreciation, I'm giving away one short sleeved T-shirt from my DreamDogsArt Store.

    To enter, simply leave a comment below.  If you're not a dog person, may I recommend one of my mid-century modern non-dog matchbox label t-shirts.

    Good luck and thanks again for stopping by : )

    xo,

    Moira & Darby

    P.S. contest runs until Friday, March 14, noon PST.

    Photo courtesy of the fabulous book Dogs by Catherin Johnson published by Phaidon.

    UPDATE:  Congratulations, Suzzie ! You've won!   Thank you to everyone who left such wonderful comments.  It was a great birthday : )

  • Ann Hamilton’s Vantage Point

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    Reading David Denby’s New Yorker review of the movie "Vantage Point"  made me think about Ann Hamilton’s Photography .  Denby calls the thriller, told "Rashomon"-style, from different points of view, "something remarkable" for its capacity to capture the "sheer flux of life."  The same, I thought could be said about Hamilton’s work with dogs.  It is remarkable!

    I was going to feature several of her brilliant photographs of different dogs here.  But after losing my mind trying to pick favorites from a pack of perfection, I, too, decided to go "Rashomon" today and chose to show you Tiny from all of Hamilton’s vantage points.

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    When Darby my Dachshund was diagnosed with cancer last fall, the vet told me that a successful surgery to remove his kidney would give him at least another year.  After that, all I heard was white noise.  Only another year with my dog! 

    When he recovered (he’s doing great now), I started taking dozens of photographs of him.  I followed him around with my camera snapping shots of every cute expression and pose.  But I always seemed to miss just the right moment.  I felt the impossibility of capturing the essence of my beloved dog.  I felt what Denby describes as "the longing to perceive the secret and idiosyncratic pattern within chaos, the singular currents running through the tumultuous sea."  I resigned myself to using my memory instead, living in the moment of being with my dog.

    Upon seeing Hamilton’s work, I’m inspired again.  Looking at the different faces of Tiny, I see that it is possible for someone with great talent and a keen eye to perceive the "idiosyncratic chaos" that is a dog and capture it on film. 

    Usually, when I meet people who’ve just adopted a new puppy, I tell them to take lots of pictures.  Now, I think I will just say, call Ann Hamilton.

  • Happy Presidents’ Day!

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    Hyannis Port Weekend. President Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy. Dogs: Clipper, a German Shepherd (standing), Charlie, a Welsh Terrier (with Caroline), Wolf, an Irish Wolfhound (reclining), Shannon an Irish Cocker Spaniel (with John Jr.), two of Pushinka’s puppies, Welsh Terriers (with Mrs. Kennedy). August 14, 1963.

    Source: The History Place: John F. Kennedy Photo History.

    For a list of all the presidents’ dogs along with some great presidential dog trivia click here.

  • Westminster Dog Show and Dog Art Auctions Round-Up

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    Uno and the “ah-roo! heard ’round the ring.”
    AP Photo

    Uno, the perfect 10 Beagle, won the Super Bowl of dog shows this week with his precociousness and precision. The crowd went wild, chanting his name as he made his final lap before the judges. And when judge J. Donald Jones stood before the contestants and asked for the Beagle, Madison Square Garden erupted with cheers and gave Uno the show’s first standing ovation. If the Longhaired Dachshund, who came in second in the hound group (I was devastated), had to lose, I’m glad it was to “the people’s dog” who went all the way. Congratulations, Uno, you are just perfect!

    The New York Times has a great behind-the-scenes fashion slide show. Here are some of my favorite shots.

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    Megan Fracrik, a handler, with her brushed-out Tibetan terrier.
    Photo: Timothy A. Clary/Agence France-Presse – Getty Images

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    Mariah, an Old English sheepdog, with Jeff Yutzy.
    Photo: Michael Falco for The New York Times

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    Geri Kelly with Buddy, her miniature schnauzer.
    Photo: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

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    Vincent, an American cocker spaniel, is ready to be shown.
    Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

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    Mary MacQuiddy caged with Louie, an otterhound.
    Photo: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

    In dog art news, Katya Kazakina of Bloomberg.com reports on mixed results. The John Emms 1889 Foxhounds and Hunt Terriers on a Bench, which also featued some perfect Beagles, was the top lot at the Bonhams’s Dog Art Sale going for $66,000, just over its low estimate of $60,000. But 33% of the lots failed to sell.

    Over at Doyle New York’s 10th Annual Dogs in Art Auction, one of Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s famed “dogs
    playing poker” paintings entitled Only A Pair of Deuces sold for $193,000 well above its high estimate of $80,000.

    Another surprise was the bargain Lynn Florian found at Bonhams, where she picked up the five pug collars previously owned by the Duke of Windsor for $1,680 below the presale low estimate of $2,000. No word as to whether she will frame them for display or let her two English Cocker Spaniels wear them. Lynn, please send me a photo of your pups in the royal collars if you do.

  • Westminster Dog Show Photo Shoot

    Twelve dogs from the Hudson Valley who are set to compete in the 132nd Westminster Dog Show visited the Times Herald-Record for their annual photo shoot. Photographer Michele Haskell assisted by reporter Sandy Tomcho worked for nine hours to get the shots. With all the employees stopping by to play, you’ll see why it took all day. Especially with a puppy in the house. Irresistible!

    Visit the Times Herald-Record’s Westminster Dog Show Section for lots more behind-the-scenes coverage of the big show.

  • Is Anna Kuperberg Really a Dog?

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    Bula, a Puggle, one of today’s most popular hybrid dogs.

    Some of my favorite photographers are hybrids. Actor Jeff Bridges uses his camera to document making movies for his book Pictures. Guitarist Andy Summers, formerly of the Police, takes you on their early 80s concert tour through his photographs in his book I’ll Be Watching You. Both artists take brilliant photographs, but it is their perspective, the context the viewer brings to the photo, that adds to that brilliance and gives their work a certain ineffable depth.

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    Slidell and Venus, Kuperberg’s dogs and muses.

    So, I’m trying to figure out how San Francisco photographer Anna Kuperberg takes us inside the world of dogs. OK, I don’t really think she’s a dog. Her focus is too sharp to be fixing F-stops with paws.

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    Duncan the Basset Hound.

    But upon considering her new book, a chronicle of hybrid crossbreed dogs called Designer Dogs written by dog geneticist and behaviorist Catherine Coile, the thought occurred to me, perhaps Anna is a hybrid too.

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    Billy The Poogle (Poodle + Beagle mix)

    Perhaps she is somehow part dog. How else to explain her unique perspective…

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    Slidell with a drop of slobber glistening in the sun.

    the intimacy she captures with her subjects…

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    Johnnie the English Bull Terrier.

    …the way she incorporates humans, but doesn’t allow them dominate her compositions…

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    Nikita, a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix.

    Somehow she has a dog’s eye view of the world and it adds that same behind-the-scenes quality to her work that Bridges and Summers bring to theirs. Needless to say, I absolutely love her photographs. And I highly recommend adding her SlobberSpace Blog to your Google Reader. It’s the gorgeous, dog-centric big brother to Cute Overload.

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    Black Dog Red Hill

    Also, Designer Dogs gets rave reviews on Amazon, not only for the magnificent shots, but for the thoughtful trait analysis of popular new breeds. This would be a great gift for hybrid dog lovers or those considering bringing one home.

  • Dachshund’s First Christmas

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    My parents gave me this beautiful hand carved nativity scene for my First Communion. I think it’s from Mexico. Years later they sent me the Dachshund ornament that I noticed fit right in with it!

    Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season!

    xo, Moira and Darby

  • Jesse’s First Snow

    My friend, photographer Erin Heffernan, lives in the idyllic seaside town of Scituate, MA. In the summer it looks like this…

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    In the winter it gets hammered.

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    Clearly Erin’s new dog, Jesse, doesn’t mind a little snow. In fact he looks downright thrilled by it.

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    Jesse races through the snow.

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    He dives head first into it.

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    Pose for the camera.

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    Snow angels with Brendan.

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    Light is fading and he still wants to play.

    I think he might be ready for the Iditerod. Stay warm, guys!