Dogs in Art

Vintage Newfoundland Dog Sketch

2011-12-01T14:52:00.001-04:00

"Argus and Ulysses"

...as I neared home I bowed right and left to amicable and smiling neighbors, who waved me good-day from their doors. So did my Newfoundland, who broke his chain and leaped upon my shoulders, flourishing his tail—overjoyed to salute the returning Ulysses.

from
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science
Vol. XV, No. 85 [pg 29]
January, 1875
courtesy of the Gutenberg Project

Big Face Dog T-Shirts

2011-11-26T17:25:00.001-04:00

Here's looking at you, my pet!

The realistic German Shepherd T-shirt Tee is just one of the eye-catching Big Face T-shirts designs from The Mountain.

Artist unknown

Amazon.com Widgets

Here are some of the lifelike dog breeds you'll find pictured in the Big Face Animals series:

Rottweiler
Boxer
German Shepherd
Mastiff
Golden
Black Lab
Bulldog
Doberman
Pitbull

After just one wash you will not know where the print ends and the shirt begins. Our unique printing process actually pulls the dye color out of the shirt and leaves the ink color behind, essentially dyeing the cotton with the ink. The Mountain Classic T-shirt features an over-sized relaxed fit, with reinforced double-stitching on all seams. After dyeing they are washed and dried, so they arrive to you comfortable, pre-shrunk & ready to wear. This heavyweight 100% Cotton tee will last you years and years.

Dog Box Paintings

2011-09-21T14:29:00.000-03:00

"Clearly inspired by Warhol," Hayes Trotter came to the attention of The Food Channel's "Unrapped" series with his series of dog paintings on snack and cereal boxes. Strong lines, vibrant colors, and a sense of whimsy that can't help but feel like something of a commentary on consumerist culture -- though, to be sure, Hayes' range "extends beyond box painting to vibrant and intriguing portraits and images," including works in oil on the more traditional canvas.

These sculpture/paintings are created on recycled cereal and snack boxes, creating unique three dimensional art that incorporates a pop Warhol style.... yet also pays homage to classic style oil painters. The result - refreshing pieces of art from a completely original perspective.

Hayes Trotter studied painting, sculpture and art history in North Carolina, and was granted a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from Davidson College. He studied fine arts in Paris for an additional six months before returning to the United States to create his first "box painting." In 2008, Trotter joined the Studio Arts faculty at Valor Christian High School, Colorado, as teacher/designer. Hayes Trotter has shown his work in galleries in both North Carolina and Colorado, and is represented at Jordan Art Partners:

5000 Years of Dogs in Art

2011-08-28T20:07:00.001-03:00

Moira McLaughlin's video Dogs in Art pays tribute both to the artists and to the (often nameless) dogs whose images they preserved for all time, in the style of Philip Scott Johnson's well-known film, Women in Art.

From the ancient Egyptian dog god Anubis and the Cave Canem of Pompeii, c. 50 AD., through Courbet's elegrant greyhounds to Coolidge's classic Waterloo (dogs playing poker), to Warhol's Ginger and Lichtenstein's Grrrrrrrrrrr!, right through to Dog Dream by Kaz Maslanka -- this stunning video is a whirlwind tour of this history of dogs in art!

See the full listing of dogs and artists, along with all the images at Dog Art Today.

Golden Retriever Quilt Square

2011-08-18T15:12:00.009-03:00

It's funny how many of us dog lovers are also quilters -- or at least we quilt a lot of pillow tops and throw cushions, as we dream of making a full-sized quilt someday. Whatever level of project you're on, here's a doggie dream of a quilt square to inspire you:

This lovely Golden Retriever quilt square is a 10-inch square of 100% cotton, with a 7.5-inch image printed in the center, so you can adapt it to any common size of block, whether you're quilting in 8-inch, 9-inch, or 10-inch squares.

For larger squares, of course, you can simply frame the printed piece in coordinating colors -- maybe pick up the darker blue of the shadowed waves, or the neutral tones in the rocks, the green of the grass beneath the dog's feet, or even one of the rich golden-yellow tones in the retriever's coat.

Golden Retriever 10x10 Quilt Square:
What better way to inspire yourself to make that "someday quilt" a Work In Progress, than to plan your project around a gorgeous Golden Retriever posed against a cobalt-blue backdrop of the sea!

In Dog Years I'm Dead - The Popular T-Shirt is Back!

2011-06-09T21:43:00.000-03:00

T-Shirt Outlet.com offers this irreverent T-shirt of a dog skeleton cartoon drawing, silk-screened on heavy white cotton. One of the classic designs, this dog cartoon design was discontinued for a time, then brought back by popular demand -- no doubt as the audience for funny T-shirts is getting older and older!

The artist is unnamed.

In Dog Years I'm Dead

Labrador Retrievers on Stamps

2010-02-01T11:48:00.000-04:00

Beautiful black Labrador retriever dogs illustrate a variety of collectible stamps issued by Karakalpakia. These two dog stamps were issued by the struggling republic in 1999.

Karakalpakia has issued a number of equally attractive collectible stamps that feature other dog breeds, from the Samoyed to the Old English Sheepdog. These are available from animalstamps.com.

Karakalpakia, now under the domain of Uzbekistan, is located on the edge of the shrinking Aral Sea —

Women and children are most severely affected from the spread of pesticides and other pollutants as the lake - once the fourth largest in the world - has turned into a desert, its waters siphoned off to irrigate vast cotton fields and rice paddies in Central Asia...

Although the Aral Sea probably has less than 10 years of life left, if nothing is done to salvage what remains of it, the 1.1 million residents of Karakalpakia are under immediate health threats. If nothing is done to improve the health of the people we may be witnessing the end of another entire society as a result of human folly.

Watercolor Painting Lesson - Dog Portrait

2010-01-20T17:39:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wanted to learn to paint a watercolor portrait of your dog? Step-by-step, Cyrille Jubert leads an online tutorial in painting a dog's portrait in watercolors.

Here, the subject of the painting demonstration was a dog of the Deutsch-Drahthaar breed, a versatile hunting dog developed in Germany in the 19th century. Dog lovers familiar with the Griffon may recognize a common ancestor in the pronounced eyebrows of the Drahthaar dog.

Notice that from the first brush stroke, each lock is painted in the sense of the fur. From the beginning to the end, whatever the size of the brush, you should always comb the hair and remember that each brush stroke will be seen by transparency.

As always, the success of a dog's portrait depends on the artist's ability to recreate the texture and line of the fur, as well as a lifelike rendering of the eyes and nose.

Dog Novelty Fabrics

2008-12-27T20:45:00.000-04:00

Suitable for clothing, accessories, or quilting, there's a wide and varied selection of novelty fabrics with a dog theme available online at J & O Fabrics. Prices start at about $5.89 a yard.

Don't think that what you see on-line is where the selection ends, J & O Fabrics Center is the size of a supermarket......we can't post everything! AS one of the largest fabric stores in New Jersey, we have a huge inventory of fabric in our store, so if there is a fabric that you are looking for, just email us with your request. We also order from just about every fabric manufacturer, so if we don't have it, we can get it! Fabrics arrive in our store daily, so keep checking the web site to see what is new.

J & 0 will send a sample for $2.00 if you need to see and feel the fabric before placing an order.

Bold Dog Graphics on Wrapping Paper

2008-11-16T17:18:00.000-04:00

"All of the playfulness, none of the shedding."

These luxurious double-sided sheets of Whimsy Gift Wrap include 4 variations on the theme of dogs:
• Weiner Dog,
• Mutt Wagger,
• Fetching Spaniel,
and
• Golden Giver, shown here.

"Vibrant silhouettes and bits of canine wisdom" to delight the dog lover on your gift list.

Newfoundland Dog - 1875 Sketch

2008-03-02T21:19:00.000-04:00

"Argus and Ulysses"

...as I neared home I bowed right and left to amicable and smiling neighbors, who waved me good-day from their doors. So did my Newfoundland, who broke his chain and leaped upon my shoulders, flourishing his tail—overjoyed to salute the returning Ulysses.

from
Lippincott's Magazine of Popular Literature and Science
Vol. XV, No. 85 [pg 29]
January, 1875
courtesy of the Gutenberg Project

Vintage German Shepherd Postcard Art

2007-11-20T21:53:00.000-04:00

Pop art style, painterly, or in the paw-prints of the Old Masters, Art Paws makes custom dog portraits from photographs.

Their dog breed line includes a growing list of popular dog breeds in various styles, printed on a range of gift items at CafePress.

Our favourite is this charming tile coaster showing a woman of the flapper days with her fine German Shepherd:

Vintage German Shepherd photograph from an antique German postcard. Image has been color enhanced and digitally restored.

Light-Hearted Dogs in Papier-Mache: Sculptures by Steve Wirtz

2007-10-17T12:24:00.000-03:00

End of a Sunday Afternoon Nap 2
approx. 16" tall
papier mache, 2006

Steve Wirtz, the Wisconsin paper mache sculpture artist whose Papier-Mache Dog Sculpture tutorial was featured on HGTV, has a sense of humour to his work that can't be mistaken.

Steve Wirtz creates his whimsical papier-mache works to represent a wide range of animals, but it seems clear that he has a special affinity for dogs — in fact, his ability to capture both the grace and the goofyness of the greyhound leads one to suspect the artist of being a greyhound owner, himself.

Here, the cat shows his true feelings about the goofy greyhound who's napping on the couch in that charcteristic "cockroach" pose.

People often ask me which is my favorite sculpture that I've done. I usually answer "the next one." The best thing about being an artist is the constant evolution of your creativity and skill.

"Immortalize your dog," Wirtz says, by way of inviting pet portrait commissions. He has been creating pet sculptures by special order for more than twenty years.

"My work tends to lean toward the silly side of life," he advises. "If you're looking for a totally realistic rendition of your pet, you're in the wrong place." We very much like that lighthearted place that Wirtz and his dogs are in!

Basset Hound in Oil on Canvas

2007-10-12T21:16:00.000-03:00

UK dog portrait painter Justine Osborne will work from a photograph of your dog to create an oil painting on stretched canvas, ready to frame or in the "chunky" style of the modern gallery.

Fascinated with the dogs' different personalities, artist and painter Justine Osborne BA specialises in oil paintings of dogs. She successfully conveys the spirit and depth of expression that is unique to each dog, creating eye-catching and contemporary canine images.

Her own Basset Hound, Minnie, is a convenient model who may have sparked the artist's passion for painting dog portraits... but the artist's Gallery is rich with stylish portraits of breeds from "Erasmo" (10" x 14" portrait of a Great Dane) to "Joey" (12" x 16" portrait of a tiny white Bichon Frise), and many more.

Jonathan Adler's White Ceramic Greyhounds

2007-10-02T13:22:00.000-03:00

Jonathan Adler's distinctive Happy Chic style gives us the elegant form of the Greyhound in a pair of sleek white ceramic statues, one facing to the left and one facing right.

Crafted from high-fired stoneware with a matte white glaze, each Greyhound sits 19 inches tall.

The designer's "manifesto" shows an irreverent sense humor that might have been borrowed from his beloved Terrier named Liberace!

We believe that your home should make you happy.
...
We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing.
...
We believe our designs are award winning even though
they've never actually won any.
...
We believe dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants.

This pair of Greyhound statues would be welcome anywhere, no doubt — but they would show to best advantage if sitting guard beside an entry door or fireplace.

Wegman Weimeraner Holiday Cards

2007-09-20T12:07:00.000-03:00

Cane Notecards by William Wegman, the artist best known and loved by dog fans for whimsical photographic works featuring his "Weimeraner muses" — one of those lovely liver-brown dogs shown here with a seasonal candy cane and a beguiling expression...

Set of twelve 7" x 5" holiday cards includes envelopes. The inside of the card reads: Wishing you a Joyous Holiday Season and a Peaceful New Year

Whimsical Dog Art by Huneck

2007-08-24T16:58:00.000-03:00

Vermont's well-known author, artist and sculptor Stephen Huneck started out as an antique furniture picker. Luckily he was discovered after doing his very first woodcarving, an angel. Huneck then began his life as an artist, soon branching out into a variety of expressive media.

After a near-death experience, the versatile artist was moved to create the celebrated Dog Chapel, which he described to Vermont Living Magazine as "a place where people can go and celebrate the spiritual bond they have with their dogs."

The building is entirely decorated with dog-themed artwork — from the sculptured wooden dogs who flank the pews and benches, to the seven stained-glass windows celebrating the canine virtues of love, faith, peace, joy, friendship, playfulness, and trust.

I built that chapel on Dog Mountain, our mountain-top farm in St. Johnsbury ... and styled it in the manner of a small village church built in Vermont around 1820. It is important to me that the chapel looks like it belongs with its setting of rolling mountains and pasture. The white steeple points up to the heavens, and on the top is a Lab with wings that turns in the wind and proclaims this place has a special affinity with dogs.

Known for his whimsical hand-carved furniture, sculpture, and woodcut prints, Huneck is also the author of numerous books for children, including My Dog's Brain and the Sally Goes To... series of books, which is based on the adventures of the artist's own Labrador Retriever.

Several of Huneck's charming glicee prints, based on his original woodcuts, are reproduced as free e-cards available on his website, along with a screensaver of the quaint Dog Chapel itself.

E-Cards and Pet Portraits in Pastels

2007-06-16T10:43:00.000-03:00

Every so often, an hour spent surfing the Internet turns up a nice little treasure! Here's one: beautiful realistic dogs executed in oil pastels, available as free e-cards from artist Sarah Theophilus. The artist offers a line of prints and greeting cards in addition to accepting commissions for pet portraits. Not only dogs, but cats and horses come to life in her chosen medium of oil pastels.

I have always had a special fascination and love for animals, and been most inspired by the magnificent detail and sensitivity in the wildlife paintings of artists such as Carl Brenders & Steven Townsend. After painting all manner of subjects, turning to our faithful companions in the end was a natural choice for me. I delight in trying to bring out their spirit through the eyes, and create the texture of soft fur on a flat canvas.

Born in the United Kingdom, Sarah Theophilus moved to Canada as a child and has lived on the West Coast almost ever since, "a beautiful part of the world where the very landscape inspires an affinity with nature."

Custom Dog Drawings by Julie Louis

2007-04-05T17:04:00.000-03:00

Drawings and etchings by artist Julie Louis cover the widest range of dog breeds we've seen in some time — from the Beagle to the Boerboel, from the Great Pyrenees to the Presa Canario — and includes drawings of mixed-breed dogs as well as some cats and horses.

Louis offers a limited variety of products in addition to her custom artwork, focussing on prints of her drawings and a glossy photographic 2006 dog calendar, all through the RareMolosser Domain Store on CafePress.com.

Silver Charm Maltese

2007-03-14T13:24:00.000-03:00

Charmed and Dangerous is listing an adorable silver Maltese dog charm to combine with other objects of jewelry or wear alone on one of their sterling silver chains. A lovely gift for the Maltese momma!

PhotoShop Dogs by Christella

2007-03-10T18:50:00.000-04:00

We're not always excited by Photoshop art, but here's an exception — is it an astronaut dog? Is it a little angel? Look closely — at one moment the face seems like that of a puppy, and the next it's filled with the weary wisdom of ages.

The work takes on some of the personal meaning that's brought to it by the viewer, in that strange collaborative process between artist and audience that's one of the marks of "real art," however else you may define that...

The artist is here Christella and her lively little Photoshop dog picture is one of a variety (some of them entirely different in breed and mood, quite wolf-like and disturbing) from the website C-it as-Art.

The technique is a mix of drawing a simple figure in Photoshop, in this example a dog, fill the figure with the colours you like, at last create with the different filters your favourite piece of art.

"You can put all your creativity in it and it is real fun to do," Christella says.

Dog of the Day

2007-02-06T15:46:00.000-04:00

Seattle artist, Ken Bailey, combines his love of dogs with vintage advertising to create art that makes you smile.

Bailey's fine art print of the retro Black Dog Licorice (Ballard Designs) is 28" high by 34" wide, applied to canvas and hand-finished with a crackle glaze.

Enjoy fine art prints of other dog breeds, from Boxer to Schnauzer and more, at Bailey's Dog of the Day page.

Tall Dog in Cast Iron

2006-12-20T10:52:00.000-04:00

A sad-faced tall hound, but endearing!

Butch the Dog sits calmly against your door or gate, ready for a leisurely afternoon nap. Made of cast iron with a hand-applied verdigris finish, Butch is equally at home indoors or out. Weighs approximately 11 lbs.

This unusual cast-iron dog statue is designed for use as a door stop or to prop open a garden gate, but is charming enough to simply serve as garden art. Measures approximately 12" x 6" x 3 1/2". Available at the Brass Gallery.

Silver Bloodhound

2006-12-14T16:35:00.000-04:00

Hamilton and Inches, Scotland's leading jeweller, holds a Royal Warrants, as Silversmiths to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The company's international reputation for hand crafted silverware, made in the company's workshop, is beautifully borne out in the silver sculpture called Bloddhound — an elegantly comic-sad representation of one of the world's best-loved hunting dog breeds.

Limoges Porcelain Box - Patriotic Boston Terrier

2006-11-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

Boston Terrier: USA is an alert and endearing dog sitting upright on the top of authentic hand-painted Limoges porcelain trinket box decorated in a patriotic theme with the American stars-and-stripes and adorned with a decorative clasp.

One of a series of charming collectible dog figurines from the Limoges Boutique. This Limoges Box is signed by Artoria.