Danger Dog Blog

In Honor of the Oscars -- Movie Star Signboards from Nepal

Nepali signboard artists often use photos of movie stars from magazines for their beauty shop signage.

 
Nicole Kidman gets her hair done here.   Whilst in Nepal, she has black hair.   And probably a henna tattoo.

 
Penelope Cruz frequents the Sherpa Beauty Parlor while she is in Pokhara.   If you look closely, you can see that she was wearing a racy top that the local censors decided would be better painted over.   This happens to be by one of the Nepal Art Dog artists - Santosh Shrestha.

 
Also by Santosh, is his version of a young pre-Governator Arnold Schwartzenegger for the Fewa Gym.   Nice veins Arnold!

 
Angelina Jolie, by Jit Gurung, is what made me hire Jit in the first place.  This is right outside of his shop near Mahendrapul in Pokhara.  

 
Other famous ladies include this portrait of Kate Moss that I commissioned as part of an experiment to see if I could expand the Nepal Art market.   I think this looks more like Tatum O'Neal than Kate Moss.   And Sufraj gave Kate a snaggle tooth!    This photo was taken from a Versace magazine ad. 

 
This is the wave of the future for Nepal signage.   I'm sure that Jennifer Aniston would look just as good hand-painted, original sign.    And I'm sure Jennifer would prefer to be paid for her image.   

 
Princess Di is featured on this old beauty shop sign in Boudha.   I wish she DID have a facelife!

My former editor and a co-worker on the Spider-man trilogy are nominated this year for their editing of 'The Hurt Locker'.   Best of luck to Bob Murawski and Chris Innes.   I can't wait to hear your acceptance speech.

The Nepal Art Dog project aims to stem the trend in Nepal to replace these hand-painted signboards with plastic pre-printed signage.  

You can help...

 

Nepal Art Dogs are hand-painted enamel portraits of pets on recycled metal, approximately 1 foot square.   Made in Nepal by 58 different artists’ studios.

 

 

This is a Fair Trade Art project that promotes the endangered signboard artists of Nepal.

 

For pet lovers who collect art and would like to make a difference.

 

 

 

Commissions available starting at $250

 

Send your Pet’s photo – get 3 choices from 3 different artists – pick your favorite

 

An American Hippie in Israel

Tonight is the world premiere re-release of the long-lost classic "An American Hippie in Israel".

 
The poster for the re-release was painted by Santosh Shrestha of Pokhara.   He made a poster-sized painting on canvas from 11 stills of the movie.   You can find out more about the screening and the film at the Flavorpill website.     The screening is at the Steve Allen Theater in Los Feliz and will include live music from the Nashville band 'The Ettes'.

 
Jack Nelson by Santosh Shrestha.   A Jack Russell Terrier dressed for the winter.

 
Frankie by Santosh Shrestha.

Remember these guys can paint anything.   Please contact me at ampage1@gmail.com with any questions or comments.    

Hope you can make it tonight.   It is not supposed to rain much until tomorrow.   Stay dry.

Exciting Days in Kathmandu

Yesterday was one in a million.   The good news is that I was able to watch Sabala paint the first layer of two paintings.  

Here Sabala starts on his portrait of Bo Obama, the First Dog. 

 
It was fascinating to see how he mixed the colors.

 
Here he finishes what is the first of 3 layers.   Once this is dry, he adds more touches, and will do a third finishing layer.

 
Sabala begins by doing a rough sketch with light brushstrokes defining the general outline. 

 
Here, working on the portrait of the lovely Jasper, he adds color highlights.

 
It was fun to watch Jasper begin to emerge on the hot rooftop where Sabala was painting.   It was also good to be warm.   Kathmandu is 5 degrees centigrade at night, but it warms up nicely in the daytime.

 
Sabala always dresses in orange from head to toe.   Originally from Kerala in India, he is one of my premiere artists.

 
The first layer is finished!

 
When I showed Sabala this photo, he said 'Black and White'.   I would have said short and tall! 

 
Meanwhile, back in Boudha, Amar and his paintings of Emma, the Catahoula Leopard dog in the snow, Ruthie and Lucy are underway.

 
Shelby, Sophie and Stargell, and Compass here as works in progress by Amar Shrestha.

 
Amar begins his drawing of Jojo and Maggie again on a rooftop.

 
On a funny note, here is Surya Prasai, owner of Surya Art, in his latest role as a victim of lung disease in a Kollywood production.   Kathmandu's film industry is still in its infancy, but Surya plays many roles - in this film he dies, in another he showed me, he plays a big brother to a young bride.   He says he makes little money in these roles, but enjoys them immensely.

 
I walked miles yesterday, looking for some native Danger Dog signs, but came up mostly empty handed.   This little Danger Corgi is an exception.   A different take of the ubiquitous stenciled signs, it is a welcome change.  

 
Took the bus to the end of the line yesterday and ended up in Gokarna, an old community surrounded by a forest that is growing quickly.   The little girl with wet hair spoke great English and wondered what I could possibly be doing so far away from the tourist areas.   Children here are not afraid to talk to strangers, that's for sure.

 
Check out the eyes on this signboard!

 
Here we are at the 'Headache Beauty Salon'.   What could possibly have caused them to choose such an unhappy picture?

 

Last night, around the Boudha stupa, there was a massive demonstration protesting an upcoming mass animal sacrifice at Bara.   Brought out the orbs.

 
A monk swings his scensor.   The Gadhimai Mela in Bara takes place every 5 years and is a mass slaughter of animals to appease the goddess Gadhimai.   Many Buddhists and animal activists are up in arms. 

 
The stupa was festooned with lights under a lovely crescent moon.

 
This last photo is for Daniel.   Shorty is alive and well and hanging out with his friend.   Shorty is the red and white dog, who lives near us in Boudha.   He hates being called Shorty!

Cut off time for your order is approaching!   Contact me at ampage1@gmail.com for more information or go to my website at NepalDog.com.

Tippi Hedren, the Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve

The Danger Dogs met the wonderful Alfred Hitchcock protege and charming raconteur, Tippi Hedren,  yesterday at the Woman's Club of Hollywood.   

The Woman's Club of Hollywood is a 106-year-old institution just north of Hollywood Blvd. on N. La Brea, situated in an ex-girl's school that counts Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard among it's alumnae.   They graciously permitted me to exhibit the Danger Dogs during a luncheon featuring Tippi Hedren and her worthy cause -- The Roar Foundation and the Shambala Preserve.   

After lunch,Tippi told stories from her acting career.   And she didn't leave out all the juicy bits!   Such an exciting life.   Hitch must have been something.  Harrowing...   Her story of how, in "The Birds," the birds were actually tied to her body with rubber bands, where they could only flail against her yet not escape.   She had been told that mechanical birds would be used, and only found out they were using real birds after the Assistant Director couldn't look her in the eye.   Turns out there never were any mechanical birds.   And Hitchcock shot that scene for 5 days straight!   

I can see why she doesn't have a peacock preserve!

If you ever get a chance to hear her speak...go.   She is riveting.  

But the best part was when she talked about her love of animals -- especially the big cats.   She had a slide show of magnificent photos of her ranch and the Shambala Foundation with over 70 big cats.   She's very sensible, too.   Her management and skill of handling these cats comes from years of thought and experience.    She believes that these animals should be free.  Her ideal scenario being that her foundation become unnecessary because the cats are in the wild where they belong.  Legislation to stop breeding and sales of these American-bred cats is her current focus and next fight.   

Mother to Melanie Griffith (and Joel Griffith -- a friend of mine), mother-in-law to Antonio Banderas, her joie de vivre and passion are fun to listen to as she shows slides from her long, satisfying life. 

By the way, she really did look great.   Elegant and lithe, she still exudes the 'class with warmth' that made many compare her to a young Grace Kelly.   

"The Birds" was her first movie -- after being discovered by Hitchcock on a Collier's magazine cover -- and she won a Golden Globe for her efforts.    Sorry for the out of focus picture.  Didn't want to get too close.    I'm shy about being a papparazzi!   Though she did look like she loved the attention!  

All the Danger Dogs (and Cats) in this post are available!   Please contact me at ampage1@gmail.com.   And thanks, as always, for supporting the Nepali artist and their Danger Dogs.   Find out more at www.NepalDog.com.

Go to www.Shambala.org for more info and to help these lovely cats.

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