Danger Dog Blog

Happy Losar from the Danger Dogs

Losar is the Tibetan New Year, celebrated for a 15-day period.  The first 3 days are especially festive.   This year Losar starts on February 22, 2012.  

Gubby the Pit Bull by Baba, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, 2008, Available

Gubby the Pit Bull by Baba has lettering in Tibetan (along the right hand side of the painting), in Nepali (along the right hand side) and English (at the bottom!). 

Losar is celebrated by Tibetan Buddhists worldwide as well as in  Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet.

Chuckie the Schnauzer by Shiva Thapa, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, Available

Gambling, drinking and eating are a huge part of the fun.

Millie the Chocolate Lab by Shiva, 15"x15" synthetic enamel on metal, Available

The lettering on this sign is sure to make a Tibetan laugh.   I had asked a learned monk at the Shechen Monastery how to write 'Beware of Dog' (Kidjee poo doo or Dog here is brilliant) in Tibetan and this is what I got.  

What this translates to is:   "Dog here is brilliant, is here, do you have dog?, have none."

Shiva does not speak or write Tibetan (or English for that matter) so he just copied what he saw.

Naive Hound by Khardar Gurung, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal, 2007, Available

Khardar Gurung does, however, know how to write in Tibetan script.   He lives high in the Himalayas in the busy town of Jomsom, gateway to Mustang (altitude 2700 m or 8900 feet).  These are on very lightweight metal, as most metal has to be carried up on mule, donkey or horseback.   Indeed, the signs by Khardar were hand carried back down by yours truly.

Additional Danger Dogs that include Tibetan script can be found on my NepalDog.com website. 

You can order a portrait of your own pet, be it a Pekingese or a Poodle, a Calico or a Siamese at 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 in early 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......

 

It is Leap Year and the Bunnies are jumping.

Today, the Santa Monica Museum of Art has included a Bunny collection from the Nepal Art Dog Project.

Come by and get your Easter Bunnys before the Leap Year.

Coco Bunny by Megh Raj Thapa 12"x12" Synthetic enamel on metal  2011  Available

Any of the bunnies on today's post are available through the Santa Monica Museum of Art  (smmoa.org).

This lovely bunny is named Coco.

Coco Bunny by Sufraj Khadka, 9"x12" Synthetic enamel on metal, 2011  Available

This is a personal favorite of mine.   Coco looks like he is nesting on a Necco wafer.

Munga the Rabbit by Hari Timesina, 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal 2010  Available

Munga is another handsome rabbit, this time painted by the always different Hari T.  

Stop by the Santa Monica Museum of Art at Bergamot Station to buy these paintings.

Their present exhibit in the museum is a good one - Beatrice Wood and her fanciful pottery.   These are the closing weeks, so hurry.

 

Mardi Gras Dogs

While not strictly celebrating Mardi Gras, these Danger Dogs seem to be in the festive spirit.

Zeke the Pointer/Pit Bull mix by Sanjib Rana  15"x12" Acrylic on metal 2010 Available

Zeke is a great example of a dog in the Mardi Gras spirit.   With his dramatic brown spots, he seems to be enjoying himself immensely.   With his blue eyes, the aforementioned spots and big smile, who could say that this Short Haired Pointer and Pitt Bull mix is not irresistable?

Lola the Pit Bull by Vinosh, 12"x12" Synthetic enamel on metal 2009 Available

Lola is a true beauty in this portrait, and she definitely looks like she is ready to put on Mardi Gras garb and have a good time.   Vinosh has relocated to Saudi Arabia where he can make more money as a casual laborer than as a signboard artist in Nepal.   To me that is a true shame.

Such workers as Vinosh 'going out' (the euphamism for leaving the country to make a more profitable income) makes up a full 26% of Nepal's GNP. 

Jake the Pit Bull by Vinosh, 12"x12" Synthetic enamel on metal, 2008 Available

Does is seem like that only Pit Bulls or Pit Mixes like to party?   This portrait of Jake is one of my favorites.   Jake is stuck in the vortex that may or may not be his frame of mind this Mardi Gras weekend.

Daddy the Catahoula Leopard Dog by Chandra, 12"x12" Synthetic enamel on metal Available

Catahoula Leopard Dogs surely understand the whole Mardi Gras experience, as they are the state dog of Louisianna.   Daddy loves to party like the next dog - as long as it is a people only party.   Daddy hates other dogs, unfortunately.

Basset Hound/Spaniel mix by Sanjib Rana  15"x12" acrylic on metal 2010 Available

Stella is a beautiful mix of a Springer Spaniel and a Basset Hound.   Covered with confetti-like spots, she is definitely a party dog in this lovely portrait by Sanjib Rana.   This piece is painted using acrylic paint and is not suitable for outside display.

Happy Fat Tuesday to everyone!  

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.

 

 

 

Malachy the Pekingese wins Top Dog at the Westminster Dog Show.

Of course, there is a Danger Dog version of this lovely breed.

 

Pekingese portrait, 12"x12" Synthetic enamel on metal, by Vinosh 2007 Available

Malachy the award winning Pekingese is certainly a well bred dog.   Seeing him perform on TV this morning, I was impressed by his poise.   And that coat...

This portrait of a Pekingese was painted on my 2nd Danger Dog trip in November 2007.   I had arranged an exhibit of the signboard art at the Baryo Fiesta Mexican Restaurant and this piece was included.

The artist Vinosh left Nepal for Saudi Arabia soon after this portrait was painted.   He can make a better income doing manual labor there than he can as a signboard artist in Nepal.  

That is the perfect example of why the Nepal Art Dog fair trade art project is so important.   Let's keep these guys in Nepal and hand painting their charming art...

If you would like to purchase this portrait of a Pekingese, please go to the NepalDog.com website.   This link will get you to the Pekingese page.

You can order a portrait of your own pet, be it a Pekingese or a Poodle, a Calico or a Siamese at 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 in early 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......

 

 

 

 

 

More Super Bull Dogs from Nepal

It's another year, and Bulldogs are again a perennial favorite of the Danger Dog fair trade art trade. New Super Bull Dogs of the 2011-12 season are:

 

Aubert the French Bulldog by Sagar 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal 2011 Available

 

Aubert is a handsome BullDog only recently available!  

 

Aubert the French Bulldog by Sufraj 12"x12" synthetic enamel on metal 2011 Available

 

This may be the best painting that Suf has ever painted.   Though he has misspelled the Nepali script.   I believe it says nothing!

If you would like to see more Bull Dog art from Nepal and check out pricing, please go to the Bull Dog page on my NepalDog.com website.

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

Please send in photos for your order for the next trip.   I leave in early 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.

If you are lucky enough to be in Los Angeles before the end of December, you can see 60 Nepal Art Dogs at The Loft at Liz's Gallery at 435 S. La Brea LA  90036.   Part of an exhibit titled "Fair Trade", a total of 28 artists are represented in the exhibit so you can get an idea of their varying styles.

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......