Tag: artist

Melissa Doodle

Pug Love

Artist Melissa Langer is one of the most inspiring people I know. Not only does she create every day, she is constantly pushing the boundaries of her artistic experiences — trying new mediums, experimenting, taking classes. She is a crafty dynamo. Last week she posted some blind doodles on her blog and asked her readers to give it a try. Close your eyes, visualize, and don’t lift your pencil. This week she posted a gallery of them on her blog. They are so charming and wonderful. Stop by and take a look and then try one yourself.

P.S. One of her readers, Sharon Pope, started calling them Melissa Doodles. And I think it’s about time Melissa had a technique named after her, so that’s what I call them now too. Sweet!

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March 5, 2009
Camilla Engman’s Blog

Camilla's dog Morran. Muse and good sport.

Artist, blogger, and dog lover, Camilla Engman's blog is one of the most inspiring sites on the Web. Visiting it is like a mini-trip to Sweden and a peek through eyes that can see only beauty. Highly recommend!

March 3, 2009
Being An Artist

Moira McLaughlin Self-Portrait, 1975. Grade 3, age 9.

This week I am making art. So each day I am going to post images that inspire me. Like all art it will be an experiment. Dogs may or may not appear. Hope you don't mind.

I recently rediscovered this self-portrait from a book I made in the 3rd grade entitled All About Me. It makes me smile.

March 2, 2009
Shepard Fairey’s Obama Inspired Dog Poster

Shepard Fairey,
the artist whose iconic Obama posters branded a movement and help elect
a President, has donated his talent to help rescue dogs with this ADOPT poster.
Shortly after President-elect Obama made the comment that his family
would like to adopt, "a mutt like me," Fairey was contacted by Dr. Pia
Salk, an animal
advocate who works with North America’s largest non-profit pet adoption
website, Adopt-a-Pet.com. Fairey explains:

Pia simply asked if I might be willing to
collaborate on a way to have my art help these animals.

As most of you know, I’m a big believer in speaking up for all who
suffer injustice, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or in
this case, species! And I’m all for adopting from the shelter. My
wife and I share our home with 2 pooches, George and Weezie, who is a
rescue. They are the happy canine siblings to our 2 human daughters.

The image I created for this print reminds me of a dog I had as kid, a mutt named Honey.

The
exciting news for art collectors and animal lovers is that 400 signed,
limited edition prints will be available for sale some time this
January and all proceeds go to Adopt-A-Pet.com. You can sign up for
news alerts at Muttslikeme.com. These prints are highly collectible and will go in a matter of minutes.

But
if you don't get one, the website also has free badges, banners,
posters, and wallpaper you can download and add to your own sites to
raise awareness and show support. There is even a black + white
version for kids in class to color in and discuss. Click here to see all the free artwork available.

Thank
you, Shepard Fairey, for continuing to use your talent for good. Your
work shows us that giving means more than writing a check. An image,
an hour of time, or simply speaking out against injustice can change
the world.

January 8, 2009
Dog Art Holiday Giveaway from Anne Leuck Feldhaus

Stop by the blog of super-talented Chicago artist, Anne Leuck Feldhaus, and enter to win this dog art lovers gift package. A $100 value with a drawing on December 27, so you can keep all the goodies for yourself.

December 20, 2008
Marjorie Weiss: Black Dogs at Chestertown

Joe's Black Dog

Mastering silhouettes is the sign of virtuosity. An artist must confront the challenge of featureless black space and rely solely on composition and color to pull off a successful piece. Marjorie Weiss's black dog paintings are a perfect example, deceivingly simple yet profoundly executed. Like other favorite silhouette artists, Kara Walker and Joseph O. Holmes, I am in awe.

After a career as a photorealist painter, in 1997 Weiss created this painting based on an old advertising postcard:

Black Dog in Chestertown

Artistically something obviously clicked for her and she has gone on to paint dozens of images in her Chestertown dog series. Look closely and you can appreciate her ability to use acrylics to achieve bold hues and delicate, almost watercolor-like softness. Many of my artist readers will know achieving watercolor-like softness even with watercolors is a feat. Weiss's deftness with color and brushstroke is inspired

Lady with Spaniel

Chestertown Shore

Day In, Day Out

Show Day in Chestertown

Wally Wins Again

Visit Weiss's website to see more of her work, buy and original painting, digital print, or greeting card. She has many dog breeds including Pointers, Dachshunds, Labs, French Bulldogs, Westies, Jack Russells, Scotties, and more.

November 19, 2008
Dolan Geiman’s Holiday Etsy Sale

Great Dane Rescued Wood Construction

Thanks, Dolan Geiman, for letting me know about your excellent Holiday Etsy Sale. My readers will be happy to hear that:

* All works marked down
* Brand new originals and reproductions
* Introduction of DG MINIs – a new line of affordable art gifts
* Holiday-only features like gift wrap and grab bags
* All orders over $100 include a surprise gift!
* Etsy order pick-up days for local buyers
* Order by December 17 for guaranteed receipt by December 24

Also, love the dogs art, of course!

Norway Cabin Wolf Sketchbook Collage

Retriever Rescued Wood Construction

Dog Show Limited Edition Box Print

Visit Dolan's Etsy shop to see all his wonderfully crafty and creative works and visit his website to learn more about him and his contemporary art with a southern accent,

November 14, 2008
Dog Portrait with Self by David Corcoran

Man's Best Friend, 2004

Just like Su-yeon Kwak uses dogs to comment on crass consumerism and the de-animalization of dogs in today's society, David Corcoran looks to dogs to comment on his own animal nature.

When I first saw his painting in my inbox, I was immediately drawn to it for its ferocity, and not just because the dog looks angry. The artist, by choosing this subject and juxtaposing his self-portrait with the dog's snarl, is angry too. Or perhaps not angry, but primal. And I think every true artist knows this feeling, and knows the conflict: tamp it down (for commercial reasons) or express it and the market be damned.

I look at a lot of happy, beautiful dogs, but I love seeing art that resonates with their shadow side too, especially on this grand scale (60"x68"). Strangely, David reports that most people react with laughter to this piece. I am not sure that's encouraging, because laughter in the face of rage only causes more rage.

And I think it says something about our society that we don't believe dogs can be ferocious, or we want to look the other way when they are. Only when we see them as dogs (not mini-humans with fur), capable of unbridled violence if that is what they are subjected to, then can we give them the respect and protection they deserve.

See more of David's work at his website.

P.S. The image also makes me think of the Wall St. warriors watching the markets tumble. Scary times make us all feel primal. Or as one stockbroker put it, "Yesterday was Darwinian."

September 16, 2008
Jeff Koons Opens at Versailles

Jeff Koons’s Let Them See Kitsch exhibition opens today at Versailles. The installation of his works in the historic palace created controversy when it was announced this summer, and continues to offend.

Magenta (via Kathleen Anderson’s flickr site) in the…

…Salon d’Hercule. Looks like…

…this.

I am divided about the show. I like the idea of contemporary art juxtaposed with “sacred symbols of heritage and identity,” but given that much of the $3 million project was funded by French billionaire, Francois Pinault, who owns more than a dozen of Koons’s works, I wonder if this is not just a way to juice the artist’s asking price.

And, quite frankly, I think if Koons doesn’t rein it in, his work will become the Golden Arches of the art world. But I guess for an artist that is a high class problem.

(Magenta in the Salon d’Hercule photo via AFP. See more photos of the exhibition here.)

September 10, 2008
Darby Portrait by Heather LaHaise

Heather LaHaise, whom I featured on Dog Art Today back in August, just sent me an email of this exquisite portrait she did of Darby my Dachshund. What a wonderful surprise!

Heather, thank you so much for this kind gesture. I absolutely love it. You totally captured his sweet, earnest expression and his soft velvety, gorgeous brown coat. Wonderful!

Visit Heather's website to order your own LaHaise original.

September 4, 2008