Dog Art Today

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend by Susan Orlean

 

The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean is one of my favorites, so I am looking forward to reading her most recent book Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend.

Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times gives it a bumpy review.  But Amazon says:

"At its heart, Rin Tin Tin is a poignant exploration of the enduring bond between humans and animals. But it is also a richly textured history of twentieth-century entertainment and entrepreneurship and the changing role of dogs in the American family and society. Almost ten years in the making, Susan Orlean's first original book since The Orchid Thief is a tour de force of history, human interest, and masterful storytelling—the ultimate must—read for anyone who loves great dogs or great yarns."

Sounds like my kind of book.  Read more about it and order it here.

Hero the Rescued Dog from Iraq

Hat tip to my friend and fellow dog lover Leigh Talbot for sending me this video.

Pen + Ink Dog Portraits by Jo Chambers

Bath, UK artist Jo Chambers likes to tell stories with her work.   And when it comes to her custom dog portraits, with a good photo from the client and a brief description, she tells the story of your pet's "personality" with simple lines and pen and ink.  Her whimsical drawings are so rich they are often mistaken for watercolor paintings.  It's not too late to order a Jo Chambers original of your dog, but act now because Martha Stewart recently featured her in her gift guide (yay Jo! but so bummed I was scooped by Martha).

Visit Jo Chambers's blog Studio Legohead to commission a portrait.  An 8.5 x 11"  pen and ink drawing is $140.   You can tell her what your dog would like to wear; hat, bow tie, tiara, or au naturale.

Jo also sells postcards and greeting cards of her pen and ink drawings at her etsy shop.  These would be great holiday cards or hostess gifts.  And stop by her blog to see what she's up to.  Tell her Moira, not Martha sent you.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

Thanksgiving Angst by Anna Dibble

Click on the image to see it larger and read the words, so funny and charming.

See more at Anna Dibble's website.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Darby!

For Darby's 17th birthday I wanted to make a short film of him peacefully sitting in his favorite spot.  Like Andy Warhol's "Sleep," maybe I could get him napping and make a quiet, soulful tribute to my very old dog.  This is how it turned out..

 

Happy Birthday to the little dog who changed my life. 

Thank you for not always letting me be in charge.  

I love you.

 

If you can't see the video in your email, view it here on YouTube.

 

Credits: Projector sound effects by nemoDaedalus, available for free under the Creative Commons license at Freesound.org.  Camera by Sheila Cameron on her iPhone 4s .   Edited by Moira McLauglin in iMovie.