Dog Art Today

Happy Birthday, Darby!

2009-11-20T09:16:11-08:00

Hollywood Darby

Two years ago Darby, was diagnosed with cancer and had his kidney removed. The doctors said the surgery might give him another year. When I came to pick him up after a week of post-op, he scampered out to greet me with Frankenstein staples and a plastic cone, tail wagging and eyes bright. I desperately hoped I would have more than a year with my little Doughboy. Today, he turns fifteen. I am so grateful I was able to give him that operation and he is still going strong. He has been totally game about uprooting our lives and helping me create a new home in Grass Valley. Thank you, Darby for being my dog, my co-pilot, and the best thing that ever happened to me. Love - Moira.

P.S. Darby's friend Chewy is coming over for a birthday party. I got him a gluten-free organic apple pie from the local bakery and a cardboard roll from a used package of Saran Wrap. He's thrilled.

Andy Warhol's Little Red Hen Book

2009-11-19T00:34:00-08:00

I knew Andy Warhol began his career illustrating advertisements of women's shoes . But I had no idea he also dabbled in children's books. A copy of his illustrated version of The Little Red Hen created for the Best in Children’s Books issued by the Doubleday Book Club between 1957 and 1961 will be auctioned at Bloomsbury Auction House in NY on December 9. Estimated at $500 - $600, it sounds like a steal to me.

Visit Bloomsbury Auctions for more information. Via BBC News.

P.S. In case you don't remember this classic fable, "it extols the virtues of hard work by showing the hen toiling in a field while a lazy cat, dog, and mouse look on," a lesson Andy embodied throughout his prolific career.

Dachshunds Greet Soldier Returning Home

2009-11-18T08:53:13-08:00

My StatCounter indicates people are searching for this video that shows two Doxies in all their joyful glory welcoming their daddy home after eight months in Kuwait. I found the clip at Carson's blog The Long and the Short of It, which celebrates Dachshunds throughout history, art, and pop culture. He also recently featured an excellent Dachshund Christmas card round up here. Thanks, Carson (and Maggie and Joey, his two Doxie muses).

Dog Collage Artist Sam Price

2009-11-17T08:28:09-08:00

Blues

Collage is my favorite medium. But dog-centric collage artists are rare. From my own experience I know how many hours it takes to find the right images for a collage that can then appear deceivingly simple, so I am not surprised that collage artists usually price themselves out of the pet portrait business. But not Sam Price. After ten years of experimentation, he's figured it out. Yes, it still takes hours. And yes, he does it all by hand. But, using a grid system, similar to the technique of Chuck Close, Sam has created a unique style that allows him to work with the recycled materials he loves on the subjects he adores. Turning paper waste into dog art -- brilliant!

Sam is offering Dog Art Today readers a 20% discount if you order a portrait before the end of the year. Gift certificates are available here. Visit his website for more information.

English Bulldog

Pug Lee

Portland

Redwood Beagle

Saluki

Sam Price's work will be on display at Wag Hotel in Sacramento until the end of the year.

Portie (Christmas) Postcards

2009-11-16T10:20:53-08:00

Fun, new Portuguese Water Dog graphic from Portuguese Artist, Belinha Fernandes, is not technically a Christmas card image. But, the colors, derived from the Portuguese flag, she uses in this postcard have a Christmas-y feel. I think they would be great to send or give to the Portie lover in your life this season.

Note the Portie's coat is made out of the letters H2O:

close up

Visit Belinha's store to see the image on more products including mugs, T-shirts, bags, magnets, and more.

It's All About Homer

2009-11-13T11:48:19-08:00

New favorite blog: Photos of People Taking Photos of my Dog.

Happy Friday.

Veterans Day

2009-11-11T11:11:10-08:00

"Recovered" by M. Henochsberg, 1869

I hate saying "Happy" Veterans Day because I think war is a sickening waste. Nothing happy about it, except perhaps when the soldiers come home. I hope our active soldiers can soon move into the ranks of the veterans and stay there.

I couldn't find out much about the above lithograph. The Library of Congress simply states, "Wounded soldier lying on ground with two soldiers kneeling and dog sitting alongside him."

It was created in 1869 and depicts Civil War soldiers. I wonder what its purpose was. Drop me a note if you have any idea.

My local radio station KVMR is playing songs for veterans, many of them are anti-war. Click here to listen to a live stream of it -- the best local radio station in the land (really).

The Puppies of Pillow Land by Vanda Lavar

2009-11-10T10:04:46-08:00

*sponsored feature*

Sir Beauregarde Simms, Portuguese Water Dog

Enjoy heartwarming illustrations from The Puppies of Pillow Land. This bed time story, which is due to be released next Christmas, invites the hearts and minds of both children and adults to consider our companions as spiritual creatures.

The Puppies of Pillow Land gently guides your child through the lands of fable and lore to produce a comforting story which is accompanied by its own snugly breed-related pillow. The author and illustrator, Vanda Lavar, weaves a tale of wonder, love, and unfailing nighttime protection as The Puppies of Pillow Land guard the night for sleeping children.

The pillows are available now for $15, with the book soon to follow, along with other specialty gifts based on these lovable characters. To order the pillows visit PillowLandPuppies.com.

There will be new breeds available as images are added weekly. Additionally, each pillow has a slot located in the back panel in which to store “jammies.”

You may remember Vanda’s fabulous illustrations from Tucker's Tale , a book which recently made Laura Bush’s reading list. Tucker's Tale is the story of a rescued Cocker Spaniel and was written by noted Maine author, Christopher Walsh. Ms. Lavar and Mr. Walsh donated all of their profits from this book to rescue causes.

Miss Hillary Dee, Dachshund

Angel Chi Chi, Chihuahua

Angel Molly, Maltese

Angel Timber, Malamute

Miss Tillary Jane

Ms. Lavar’s works are recognized throughout the world. Recently her works were featured on puzzles found in Target Stores across the United States. Last year, Ms. Lavar was an invited artist to the 133rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held at Madison Square Gardens. Her works are available on a variety of product matter from mouse pads to garden flags. She is currently accepting commissions from both the public and corporate sector. Her personal website is DogArtist.me. Contact Vanda for more information via her email. or phone: 530-919-3964.