Danger Dog Blog

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......

 

 

 

 

Happy Bastille Day from French Danger Dogs

There are many French dogs that have been painted in Nepal by the signboard artists.

G.G. the Black Standard Poodle by Baba 2008 Available

G.G. is a very beautiful example of a Black Standard Poodle and Baba has done her justice with her dramatic green background and golden glow.

Lucy the White Standard Poodle by Hari Timisina  2008   Available

This portrait of Lucy I commissioned for myself.   While working on the film 'What Women Want' (in my former career as an Assistant Film Editor), Lucy was a constant delight in the cutting room.   A big white graceful dog, Lucy was well behaved and beautiful.   Her patience in allowing herself to be dressed up was amazing to me.    With the long hours needed to complete a film, she made the job easier.

Colette the black Standard Poodle by Krishna Ojna 2007 Available

This delightful portrait of Colette is on extremely heavy stock.   The artist, Krishna Ojna , is a co-founder and general secretary of the Nepal Commercial Art Association and also a professor of economics in Kathmandu.   When I was interviewed by a young 20-something Nepali reporter from the Kathmandu Post in November 2007 (prior to the first ever exhibit of Nepali signboard art in Kathmandu) she asked me why a professor would still paint beware of dog signs.   For money, of course!   Money is hard to find in Kathmandu.

George the Briard by Indra Lama 2011 Available

Briards are large French Sheepdogs,  Wikipedia calls them a 'heart wrapped in fur'.   Indra Lama had fun with George's wonderful black coat.   Indra, a fairly new artist for the Danger Dogs, did not understand that English and Nepali meant Nepali script (Devanagari script), hence you have now learned that 'dharma kukur' means Enlightened Dog.

Cash the French Bulldog by Aasha Arts 2007  Available

Aasha is definitely one of the more folk art examples.   The masculine Cash by Aasha reads 'Dog here Be Aware' in the devanagari script below this charming Danger Dog.

Papillion by Vinosh 2007 Available

This portrait of a Papillion was painted by Vinosh, an artist who has since moved to Saudi Arabia in order to make a better living.   I doubt he was hired as a sgnboard artist, and that is a shame. 

Annie and Pitzel by Amar Shrestha 2008 Available

Pitzel the Pomeranian dominates this portrait in the foreground, with Annie the Papillion in the background.   I believe that the red Nepali writing below is Amar's quite dramatic signature.

Chester the Basset Hound by Asha 2008 Available

Who knew that the Basset Hound originated in France.   This lovely portrait of Chester is dogmatique!

Nelson the Jacques Russell Terrier by Dilip Niroj  2011 Available

Nelson was a French Dog through and through.   Recently deceased, Nelson lived the good life in the center of Paris.  'Enlightenen Dog' indeed!

Hope all of my French friends are enjoying their day off!     Enjoy the Feu d'artifice!

You too can immortalize your pet on metal while helping to save a dying art.

These paintings are part of the Nepal Art Dog fair trade art project.   These talented signboard artists are losing work to digital graphic designers and rarely hand-paint signs now.  

HOW TO ORDER

To order your own pet as a Nepal Art Dog, please send me a photo of your pet.   I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 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, be framed or unframed.

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 or find out more at www.NepalDog.com.

Let's keep these artists painting.

ORDERS OPEN FOR NEXT TRIP (OCTOBER, 2011).   I'll be back in early December with your order.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.   Micro-finance through art patronage!

 

Goodbye from Dogmandu!

 

 

 

Super Bull Dogs from Nepal

In honor of Super Bowl Sunday, I hope your favorite team won, or at least didn't disappoint but these dogs are all winners.

Brocco is an English Bull Dog here painted by Megh Raj Thapa of Kathmandu.

Brocco in person surrounded by his portraits.   He chose the Danger Dog to his immediate left (our right) by Sabala.   The other two are available at this time.

Laverne is painted in the grass by Birju's studio.   Laverne's bulldog underbite is by Sagar.

Also by Sagar, this portrait of a bull dog certainly would keep me off the property!

This portrait of Mick Jagger the English Bulldog is by Sabala of Surya Studios in Kathmandu.   My New York readers can see him in person by stopping by the OK Harris Cigar Store in Soho.

Cash is a French Bull Dog, here hiding in the grass, as painted by Nepal Arts in Kathmandu.

 

All paintings featured today are available at this time.  Check out the NepalDog.com website's BullDog page for current availability and pricing.

Stay tuned for more about Folk Art from the Himalayas.   In the meantime, you can always catch the NepalDog Channel on YouTube.    You might like the Nepali Folk Music too.

Danger Dogs from Nepal is a Fair Trade art project which promotes the dying art of signboards in Nepal.

Danger Dogs are handpainted signs painted on (often recycled) metal in Nepal.   Each piece is approximately one foot square (though some artists insist on different sizes) using synthetic enamel.   They can be hung indoors or out.

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, three people get work, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

I am now accepting custom orders for the next Danger Dog trip to Nepal sometime in spring 2011.     You tell me what you would like it to say!

Your satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   All artists get paid in any case.   You pay only if you like one  (or more) of the portraits of your pet.

Please contact me if you need a special present, as after making over 1700 of these art pieces I have just about every breed imaginable.   Please write me at ampage1@gmail.com with any requests or questions. 

Micro-finance through art patronage.  

Give someone you love a portrait of someone they love - and support art from the Himalayas -- Dogmandu.

 Visit the NepalDog.com website.

 

 

Bulldogs from Nepal Art Dogs

Bulldogs are always a favorite subject in the Danger Dog oeuvre.

  

Who could resist Brocco's lovely English Bulldog mug?   by Amar Shrestha.

 
Here's Brocco again, this time by Megh Raj.   Love that tongue and that Megh Raj placed Brocco in the yard.

 
Aasha of Aasha Art brings you a French Bulldog named Jack.   This one is lovely but on the primitive side.   

 
A new version of the handsome Mick Jagger, this time by Sabala from Surya Studios.   Mick Jagger is a perennial favorite.   The detail that Sabala give to his mouth and muzzle has to be seen to be fully appreciated.   This portrait of Mick is no longer available.

 
Nabin brings a stylized version of Mick Jagger.   It's hard to believe that these are painted from the same photo.

 
Again we have Jack, this time painted by Pulkit of Nepal Arts in Kathmandu.  The artists of Nepal are not shy about showing Jack's maleness.

 
Laverne is a Bulldog from Ojai, California.   As painted by Sagar in his thuggish mode.   

If you would like to visit the NepalDog.com Bull Dog page to see pricing, please click here.

 

The Nepal Art Dog project promotes the endangered art of Nepali signboards.   Signboards are painted on recycled metal, using synthetic enamel and are meant to hang outdoors, but look just as good framed.   Over 1400 portraits have been commissioned to date, giving these artists real work.   I have worked with over 58 artists and actively look for more each trip.

 

On my last trip to Nepal, the Danger Dog commissions were the only art these artists were still hand painting -- all their other work was digital or printed on flex.   These artists can and will paint anything.  I decided to concentrate on pets as there was a tradition in Nepal already of 'beware of dog' placards and I knew that people would like them.

 

Each commission will be given to at least 3 signboard artists - giving 3 people work, the pet owner a choice and museum shops Nepali folk art.   No money is accepted up front.   If you don't like any of the 3 choices, you pay nothing.   The artists are paid Fair Trade wages regardless.

 

Please contact me at ampage1@gmail.com with any questions.

 

This project is for pet lovers who collect art and would like to make a difference in these artists' lives.

 

More information is available at NepalDog.com.

 

Beautiful Bulldogs!

Brocco the English Bulldog by Megh Raj.  

 

Brocco the English Bulldog by Amar.

 

Brocco admires his portraits. 

 

I met this Bulldog at a garage sale and took his picture.   He was a sweetheart.

 

A Bulldog by Nabin.   I believe that Nabin painted this one while remembering Mick Jagger (the famous Bulldog - not the musician).

 

The delicate feet on this French Bulldog make this portrait by Mahesh stand out.

 

This thuggish Bulldog is signed by Birju, but I believe that Sagar painted it.

 

Aasha Art painted this delicate portrait of Cash the Bulldog.

 

Hari Timsina painted this French Bulldog.   It is sold!

 

This English Bulldog (Mick Jagger) is by Nabin.

 

Cash the Bulldog again.   This time he is painted in the grass by Nepal Arts.

Another Bulldog in the grass.   With a lovely underbite to boot!   From Surya Studios.

 

Mick Jagger again.   English Bulldog by Sabala.

Most of these lovely bulldogs are available.   Please visit the NepalDog.com website to see all Bulldog pricing and availability.

We are now getting ready for our 6th Danger Dog trip.   You can send me a photo of your pet, and I will give the photo to at least 3 Nepali artists and you get to choose which you prefer.   Only then do you pay.   No bad karma here!  

Help keep Nepali signboard art alive.   These paintings are being replaced by generic, stenciled 'beware of dog' signboards throughout Nepal.   These artists need the work. 

These hand-painted signboards are on (often recycled) metal and are painted with synthetic enamel.   They are meant to be hung outdoors to warn people of a pet on the premises.   But they look nice indoors framed, too.

Order yours today!   Or buy one of these fine Bulldogs!