Danger Dog Blog

Happy Mother's Day from NepalDog.com

We met this lady and her child while trekking on the road back from Chiso Pani (means 'cold water' in Nepali) high in the Himalayas.   This young mother is obviously proud of her baby.

The artist Shree's lovely wife and daughter.  

This lady ran our beer bar in Darbang.   Her next youngest child is 14!   A later in life surprise.  

Hari Timsina with his beautiful wife and son.  When asked how things are going he replied, 'I am satisfied.'    I'm very glad to hear it.   

This lovely dog who lives on the Stupa in Boudha, had 6 puppies.   They all went to good homes.   The Tibetans like black and white dogs.   One daughter still lives with the mom.   We play with her often.   Stupa dogs have a good life, getting treats from the tourists and locals alike.   

 

Happy Mother's Day from me at NepalDog.com    Hope you all had a good day and love your mothers!

 

Please feel free to contact me with any comments or questions.   Thanks again for supporting Nepali artists.   

RIP Jackie the Shikari Kukur

I just got the sad news yesterday that Jackie, a big, handsome, red Shikari Kukur passed to that big dog house in the sky.

Jackie was a Nepali Shikari Khukur. ('Shikari' means hunter, 'Khukur' means dog.)  If you compare Shikaris to the more common Tibetan Mastiffs, Shikharis have more pointed wolf-like noses, thin waists and big thighs for running in the mountains. (Jackie's tail was monumental.)   These thick tails keep Nepali dogs warm during the cold winter season.   Mastiffs have blunt noses and wide waists and sort of flat tails.   Mastiffs are not nearly as fast as Shikari Khukurs.

As you can see, Jackie shared a lovely traditional Nepalese home and garden with his paramour Batuli.   Jackie was born on the property and never left it.

Batuli will sorely miss him, as will I.  

You can find more photos of Jackie, Batuli and their garden here on an earlier Danger Dog Blog post:

This is a portrait of the fair Jackie painted by Hari Prasad, hand painted on metal using synthetic enamel.  I think Hari P captured Jackie's look well.   This portrait is sold.

Jackie was immortalized and your pet can be too. 

You can order a portrait of your own pet, be it a Pekingese or a Poodle, a Calico or a Siamese through me at ampage1 @ gmail.com.

It is not too early to order for the next trip !!!

Please send in photos for your order for the next trip.   I leave soon for the first trip of 2012.  However, I have many, many portraits already made of many breeds of pet.   Please ask!!!

This may be the perfect gift.   Give someone you love a portrait of someone they love, and in the meantime support this dying art form.

Each commission I receive will be given to 3 different Nepalese signboard artists, giving 3 struggling artists Fair Trade work and you a choice of 3 colorful paintings on metal!  

Your satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front, only if you like one of the portraits do you pay.   The artists are paid fair trade wages whether you buy or not.

How to Order: 

1. Send a photo of your pet to me at ampage1@gmail.com.

2.  Let me know what you would like the signboard to say.

3. Tell me which style of Danger Dog art you prefer, by giving me examples of signs you have liked on the website or just say whether you like realistic, naive, cartoonish or fanciful. 

4. Follow the Danger Dog Blog and see the works in progress, trips to the studios, the life and arts of Nepal.

5.  Decide which painting you prefer of the 3 and send me a check and I will mail you your very own personal Danger Dog (or Cat)!  

Pricing, more information and examples of the Nepal Art Dog project can be found at NepalDog.com.

The Craft and Folk Art Museum also features the Danger Dogs.  cafam.org

Also, at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, stop by the Santa Monica Museum of Art to see some art. 

New Stone Age on West Third in Los Angeles also has a good selection.  

Or you could order your own pet......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funeral rites of Mustang

While walking towards the Upper Mustang town of Tiri, just opposite Keg Beni on the Kali Gandaki River,

we came across this pile of clothing, shoes, and mementoes.

Notice the kite shaped string sculpture which reminds me of the dream catchers of the Native Americans.   The wooden sticks are in Tibetan script.  

The figures above are probably made of sticks and clay and are hand colored.

This would also have been a young person judging by the clothes' style.  

This is a tradition followed by some, though not all, Hindu families in Nepal.   When a person dies all of their personal effects are placed by the side of the road.

I hope that he rests in peace.  

Mustang is a fascinating place -- both Upper and Lower Mustang.   The village of Tiri is just north of Keg Beni, on the other side of the Kali Gandaki River and is technically part of Upper Mustang.   Since the last few years, though, you can go there without the expensive entrance fee to Upper Mustang.

The majestic backdrop for Tiri -- far on the other side of the river.   I highly recommend you visit this wonderful part of the world.

If you'd like to learn more, a few years back I wrote an article about the area for ECS Magazine.

 You can also ask me for travel advice to the area.

Happy Cinco de Mayo from the Danger Dogs

Louis is an Enlightened Dog found on the streets of Tiajuana, Mexico.

Louis the Mexican Street Mutt by Sufraj, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, available

Handsome 'Louis, Louis' caught the heart of a woman who fell under the spell of this homeless 'pariah dog' and rescued him from the mean streets of Tiajuana. 

I'll just bet that Louis is enjoying this Mexican holiday this evening in San Diego.  

I did a tribute to the late beloved Loki, chihuahua to the star Mickey Rourke here.

Mickey Rourke sure did love his Loki.   This is the only portrait left of the lovely Louis.  

Russell the Chihuahua by Sagar, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, available

Russell is a sweet Chihuahua, but you would never know it from his snarl.   Of the three portraits of this energetic pup, all featured his blurry tail.   Russell's bark is worse than his bite.   All three portraits of Russell made his teeth look fake. 

Russell the Chihuahua by Dilip Niroj, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, available

This one by Dilip is a great example of exaggerated teeth.   Up close, they really look fake.

Ruby & Otterpop by Dilip, 12"x12"  synthetic enamel on metal, available

Dilip captures Ruby and Otterpop's intensity even as they sit on a pink chair.  'Danger Gog' indeed.

Ruby & Otterpop by Baba, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, available.

Baba caught the intellegence of this pair of little black dogs.   They even have their own blog dedicated to this cute pair and their cousin, Gustavo, another Chihuahua extraordinaire.

Gustavo the Chihuahua by Baba, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, available

When you think that these are the portraits not chosen by their owners, you can only imagine the quality of the chosen pieces.  In reality, the sole criterion for choosing one of three is which looks most like the dog in the painting.  

You can purchase these paintings at the NepalDog.com website.   More Chihuahua Folk Art here.

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This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now being accepted for the Spring 2012 trip. 

Please send me a photo of your pet.  I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three people will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out.

Let me know what you would like it to say.

Let me know what style of portrait you would prefer:   naive, realistic, colorful, etc.

That's it !   Click here for pricing.

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

Send your photo to ampage1@gmail.com

Go to www.NepalDog.com for more information and current pricing.

Let's keep these artists painting.

 

 

Spider Art from Nepal

Kathmandu artists are no strangers to spiders in their hometown, but they jumped at the chance to paint an animal of a different color.

This four-eyed spider is lovingly recreated by Sanjib Rana.   This painting is acrylic on metal and perfectly captures the hairy fascination of this spider.   This portrait is 12" by 15".

I will try to get an id of the type of spider and will update you when I learn.

Megh Raj Thapa took some liberties with the color background of this dramatic spider.   This is synthetic enamel on recycled metal and is 12" x 12".

Last but never least, we have Baba's portrait of a spider on a golden flower.   Also 12" by 12", using synthetic enamel on recycled metal.

The original photos were taken by Miriam Schulman.

For pricing and more information on these charming folk art portraits of spiders from Nepal, please visit NepalDog.com on the Spider page.

If you look closely, in center frame, there is a rather large spider ensconced in his web. This photo was taken in the small town of Darbang, in the province of Myagdi.   I recommend getting off the beaten path to this traditional village.   After completing the Annapurna Circuit, stay a while in Galeshwor, then trek up the hill to Darbang.   We stayed in town 4 days and went exploring in each direction each day.   More on Darbang can be found in a previous Danger Dog Blog.  

Hope everyone enjoyed Earth Day.  

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I am planning to return to Nepal soon, so if you would like to order your own Danger Dog (or Danger Spider) now is the time.

This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now being accepted for the Spring 2012 trip. 

Please send me a photo of your pet.  I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three people will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out.

Let me know what you would like it to say.

Let me know what style of portrait you would prefer:   naive, realistic, colorful, etc.

That's it !   Click here for pricing.

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

Send your photo to ampage1@gmail.com

Go to www.NepalDog.com for more information and current pricing.

Let's keep these artists painting.

 

 

Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase is on Saturday

Mar Vista is celebrating Earth Day a day early this Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 10am to 4pm.   Their 4th Annual Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase is bigger and better than ever. 

Showcase Central is at 3635 Grand View Blvd.   Name a vegetable and you will find it here.   From artichoke to zucchini.

This sustainable garden features dozens of fruit trees.

Apples, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Blueberries, Figs, Grapefriuits, Grapes, Guavas, Lemons, Loquat, Oranges, Passionfruit, Peaches, Persimmons, Pomegranite, Plums, Strawberries, Raspberries and Tangerines.

More than one of most types of fruit and I am sure I forgot a couple.   A veritable paradise in her backyard.

 

Set amidst one part of the orchard is a chicken coop.   The 2 girls (Rhode Island Reds named Chuck and Betsey) forage in a large fenced in area covered in wood chips made from deadwood from this large garden.    Good sustainable ideas abound in this garden.  Water catchment techniques are something we all can use in our dry climate.   What garden doesn't need art?   What burgler would dare to tresspass? Learn more about the Nepal Art Dogs, here at www.NepalDog.com. HoneyLove.org will be joining us in Susan's garden, giving us a chance to learn more about the exciting new world that could open to us.   Santa Monica recently passed a law allowing beekeeping.   Los Angeles could soon follow.   Sweet! Solar installers will be present here as well as many of the garden's on the tour. Sounds like a great opportunity to find out about sustainable urban gardens and what is possible in our blessed microclimate on the Westside. Learn more and get maps at the MarVistaGreenGardenShowcase.com.   See you tomorrow at the Garden Showcase.   This is a great chance to See the Dogs in Person.   I've just updated my website featuring these lovely 'Be ware of Dog' signs and separated the White Labs from the Golden Labs from the Chocolate Labs...  The link is here.   Enjoy. This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal! Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now being accepted for the Spring 2012 trip.  Please send me a photo of your pet.  I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three people will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out. Let me know what you would like it to say. Let me know what style of portrait you would prefer:   naive, realistic, colorful, etc. That's it ! Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it! Send your photo to ampage1@gmail.com Go to www.NepalDog.com for more information and current pricing. Let's keep these artists painting.