Dog Art Today

Shaggy Muses Released Today

 

Shaggy Muses: The Dogs Who Inspired Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Edith Wharton and Emily Bronte by Maureen Adams looks at the "profound and often unexplored influence a handful of canine companions had on five of the greatest voices in women's literature."* Adams, an author and psychologist, was drawn to her subjects after her own Golden Retriever, Cody, coaxed her through a depression. I have my own shaggy muse, Darby, and I know many of the artists I feature on Dog Art Today have built their businesses and their art around theirs. This book sounds like a fascinating exploration into the intense bond we've all been lucky to experience. Post a review if you read it. * Read Phil Davis's entire review here.

Sarah Regan Snavely: Great Greyhound Sculptures

Run Out 2004

Sarah Regan Snavely's Greyhound sculptures are quite brilliant. Somehow they look both contemporary and ancient – like treasures found at an Etruscan dig site. I absolutely love them and had trouble picking my favorites. Here are a few from this highly collected, award-winning North Dakota artist who sees dogs as " nifty little alien-like creatures [who] have infiltrated our world." Cosmic!

Bunny Hunter 2003

Couplet 2005

Learn more about Snavely and her art at SarahReganSnavely.com. Read about Greyhounds, art, and art making in North Dakota at her blog Grey Matters.

Anti-Michael Vick T-shirts

I've avoided posting about the indictment of Michael Vick for operating a gruesome dog-fighting ring. I'm sickened by the story, and what image would I possibly include? Then, I remembered the creative t-shirt designers at CafePress. They have more than a few choice words and images (i.e. lots of T-shirts) to share with this barbaric thug who had the nerve to invoke his poor mother at his hearing today where he pled not guilty. Obscene.

The Anti-Michael Vick No. 7 T-shirt (above) and the Sack Vick one (below) are two of tamest of the the bunch.

My cousin, Ellen Clair "Answer Girl" Lamb, has some choice words to say about Vick at her blog too.

7.27.07 Update: Reebok drops Michael Vick jerseys. Stating, "While we respect the legal process we find the allegations against Mr. Vick
too disturbing to ignore."

7.27.07 Update: The NFLShop.com has pulled all Michael Vick apparel and merchandise from its stores and website. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy explained, "We have suspended sales of Vick-related merchandise on our official league e-commerce site, NFLShop.com. This includes Vick jerseys and collectible items such as autographed balls and other memorabilia." McCarthy said the decision was made because it was "not appropriate under the circumstances." The suspension will take place for the immediate future.

8.14.2009 Update: More anti-Michael Vick T-shirts since the news of the Eagles signing him...

Vick's An Eagle Hide Your Beagle

Piss on Vick

Real Men Don't Fight Dogz

Michael Vick is a Poopyhead

World's Minimum Dog by Ten Do Ten

Although my sidebars are getting a little busy these days, my tastes run more towards minimalism. But Japanese designer Ten Do Ten's World's Minimum Dog might be taking it a bit too far. Quite clever, though. Just pixels.

Read about Ten's work, and the essence and endangered art of "poster-ness" at Design Observer where Alice Twemlow asks "When Did Posters Become Such Wallflowers?"

Falling Back in Love with George Rodrigue's Blue Dog

I was enthralled when I first saw George Rodrigue's Blue Dog back in the 90s . Simple, bold, obviously impassioned, I "got "what excited dog and art lovers about his work. Over the years, truth be told, I'd become a little bored with the image. I felt like, ok, what's new?

Yesterday I watched the short film Rodrigue: A Man & His Dog by David DuBos (narrated by Whoopi Goldberg), and I fell in love all over with Blue Dog.

I won't say too much except take a few minutes and watch it. Discover Rodrigue's elegiac efforts to depict his beloved Tiffany (Blue Dog's real name) traveling across time and throughout the universe searching for Rodrigue and their life together. Clearly the artist is doing the same through his paintings. It's beautiful, heart wrenching and profoundly moving. Enjoy.

Rodrigue has also just released two new silkscreens in signed limited editions of 100.

Wash My Blues Away 2007

Take Me Home 2007

Both are available at GeorgeRodrigue.com.