Dog Art Today

DOGTV for Your Dog (and You)

 

 

Relaxation

Have you heard about DOGTV?  It's the first cable channel designed for stay-at-home dogs.  I don't have it yet. Right now it's only available on San Diego on COX (channel 2635) and Time Warner (channel 148).  But you can subscribe to find out when it's coming to your area. 

I viewed three of their videos and felt better than I've felt in a long time.  Since Darby died, I've missed my fix of all-encompassing-dog-centric moments.  I think DOGTV might have several untapped markets including people like me who are craving dogs, but for whatever reason, don't have one.  And wouldn't it be great for dog artists to have it on in the background while they work?  I would even like to have it on while I blog.  I confess, MSNBC is my default ambient noise.  It's not healthy. 

If you and your dog get DOGTV, I'd love to hear a review. 

 

 

Stimulation

 

Exposure

Exposure is my favorite.   I love the dog's POV and the panting noises.   But there is some controversy that it glorifies dogs riding in the back of pickup trucks.   I agree.   I hate seeing that, even if the dogs looked blissed out.

Watch this video with Dr. Nicholas Dodman to understand the behavioral science and technical research behind the clips.  And see dogs watching DOGTV.  It really looks like they are enjoying it.

Dr. Nicholas Dodman Discusses DOGTV and How to Watch It

DOGTV really is made for dogs.   But I think, just like a real dog, it would be good for humans, too.

Camilla Engman: The Morran Book Project

 

 

The Morran Book Project

Last September, Swedish artist Camilla Engman's friend Adolfo Serra suggested she publish a book with illustrations of her beloved dog Morran created by artists from all over the world.  Then, another friend, Lynn Louise Larson, suggested all the proceeds from the book go to a charity that helps dogs.   Camilla posted about the idea on her blog.  People liked it.  So she put the call out to artists, and soon the Morran images started rolling in.  To help her curate the incredible response, she put together a jury.  Together they selected what images would go where, but Camilla had already decided to include them all. 

At the end of November, Morran passed away.  Camilla was flooded with condolences and more illustrations of her sweet girl.  Somehow, through her grief, Camilla created the book and got it published on Blurb in time for Christmas.  Since then, The Morran Book Project has raised over $1000 for the WSPA, a Sweditsh organization dedicated to the protection of animals.

And it doesn't stop there.  Camilla also started a blog where she posted every Morran image that was sent to her.  And she encourages artists to keep sending them.  So if you missed the book deadline, you can still be a part of this global dog-art tribute to one of the most endearing, and enduring, muses ever to grace the art world.  Anyone who knows Camilla's work, knows how precious Morran was to her.  She was her muse in the studio, a subject of her paintings, her companion on walks in the woods, and sidekick on vacation.  She was the namesake of Camilla's new website Studio Morran.   Camilla never made apologies for being totally gaga for Morran (except when she was compelled to apologize to her husband for leaving him out of a photobooth session).

I was so sad when I read Morran had died.  I didn't know she was sick.  I didn't know her.   But I thought she was still a young pup because she was always on the go, though she was an outstanding nap-taker.  But, as Camilla expressed it on her blog, through The Morran Book Project, she channeled her sadness into "something good."

Picking favorites was impossible.  I highly recommend you visit the book's blog and see them all for yourself.

If you would like to contribute, click here for the specs.  View Morran's flickr page for more inspiration.  If you participate, I'd love to hear about it.

 

 

Constanza Bravo

 

Suana Verelst

 

Leah Brown

 

Mikaela Elf

 

Emmanuelle Eschembrenner

 

Lori Kiessling

 

Ulrika Kestere

 

Geninne Zlatkis

Lilie Melo

 

Giovanni Perrone

See all The Morran Book Project art here. There are over 230 pieces.

John F. Kennedy + Dachshund Puppy

 

John F. Kennedy and Dunker, Den Haag, The Netherlands, 1937

Via The Long and Short of It.  You can buy a matted version of it at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Enjoy your President's Day.

Photographer Lillian Bassman Dies at 94

 

Coiffure for Harper's Bazaar by Lillian Bassman, c. 1954

Art director and self-taught fashion and fine-art photographer Lillian Bassman died on Monday, February 13, 2012.   She was 94.

The New York Times obituary.

Slideshow of her works.

Her photographs have been published in Lillian Bassman (1997) and Lillian Bassman: Women (2009).  A new book, Lillian Bassman: Lingerie, will be published on April 1, 2012.

If you are an artist or photographer, don't destroy your work or negatives.  Bassman did, and later rediscovered interest in the work that survived.  You don't have to like your early work.  But keep it.