Danger Dog Blog

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!

 

 

 

Danger: Enlightened Poodles from Nepal

I met a couple of handsome poodles the other day, inspiring me to update my available poodle page.

Alpha and Rudy were hard to miss.   They are just about to take off after a little dog and took the very heavy umbrella with them.

G.G. the black standard poodle by Sabala has a wonderful soft yellow into green glowing background.    With her almost correct Nepali script she is 'Enligtened'. 

Govinda Kalikote has painted G.G. from the same photo.   Govinda put in her pretty pink lei.

Above the lovely Madeline frolicks in the show like the Happy Poodle she is.   This portrait is by Nara.

 
This portrait by Shree Llamchhaine of Pokara has Sophie the white standard poodle in a sea of green and blue.   Her beautiful collar is rendered in some detail and as always, Shree underlines his signature with a paint brush.

Here is a portrait of Collette, a very lucky black standard poodle.   She is black but gets a reddish tone in her hair during certain seasons.    Sabala has accentuated this coloring and added a green/blue tint to her back as well.  

That's G.G. again in the lower left image -- just under the two dachshunds and to the right of the diabolical chihuahua.   This is from Hari Timsina's studio in Kathmandu.   G.G. gets to hang with birds and cats and even a Bat Dog!

These are but a few examples of poodles.   Please contact me at ampage1(at)gmail.com if you would like to see more.   You can request any breed and I'll see if I have one.    All the ones on this post are available at this time.   Or browse NepalDog.com.

You can also commission a custom portrait of YOUR pet from one of these endangered signboard artists from Nepal.  Each sign is approximately 1 square foot, synthetic enamel on (often recycled) metal and can be hung indoors or out.  

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   You send a photo of your pet and I will give it to 3 different Nepali artists, giving you 3 choices and generating work for 3 artists.  

These make the perfect gift and I will be returning to Nepal soon, coming back the first week of December with your 3 choices.   You can choose what you would like the sign to say, what style of art you prefer - be it realist or naive or anything in between.  

Of course these artists will paint horses, cats, ferrets, roosters, lizards - anything you like.

Micro-finance through Art Patronage.

Danger Dogs of the Venice Art Walk

This year you will get the chance to bid on Danger Dog Diptychs at the 31st Venice Art Walk.

 
Punam of Pokhara painted this romantic version of Cheeto and Scooter -- 2 tabbies from Riverside.

 
Another version of the same lovely cats by Jit Gurung of Munal Arts.   These two will be offered at the Venice Art walk as a diptych.  

 
NT Arts of Beni painted this sweet puppy.   Part one of a diptych.

 
Here is the same puppy, by Sagar, with a decidedly different spin.   Part 2 of the diptych.

 
Gabby on a hike by Sanjib Rana, part one of the diptych and...

 
Gabby by Sabala part 2.   Gabby seems happily exhausted after her hike in the Malibu hills.

 
Punam from the resort town of Pokhara painted this Pirate Dog.   Desi is a Havanese puppy.

 
Desi the Havanese puppy by Sagar.   Part 2 of that diptych.

 
Another cat diptych begins with Cruiser by Ram Krishna.  

 
Cruiser part 2 by Karma.  

 

Above is a single poodle.   I could not resist this Spiritual Dog by Sufraj Khadka.   Louis was recently featured in a post by an Indian humorist.   Nepal recently passed a non-discrimination law in favor of gays, lesbians, transgenders.   Even same sex marriage is allowed.   This is unusual in this part of the world and shows how progressive Nepal can be.

 
And who could resist this painting of Bo Obama by Sabala.   I was lucky enough to watch the first layer being painted on a rooftop in Maharajgunj on a hot fall day.   You can watch the process on my YouTube Channel here.

Please bid on these folk art pieces from Nepal.   You will be helping the Venice Family Clinic as well as the Nepali artists!   Join us this Sunday May 23 at the Westminster School and bid!

See the Dogs in Person!

The Ghetto Gloss Gallery on Melrose at June has added the Nepal Art Dogs to their store.

 
Above is a white shepherd by Sabala of Surya Arts, and to the right is Bruce Weber's dog looking decidedly like a rabid pup (by Ramesh of Om Arts).

 
The two dogs on the top left are rescue dogs painted by Yuba Raj Adhikari.   That cute little Boston Terrier is Veera by Sabala and Louis the poodle is a Spiritual Dog, also by Sabala.

 
New Stone Age LA has a number of Danger Dogs, including the little Shitzu above (by Vinosh), a double portrait of King and Princess by Dilip Niroj, and Ollie and Lily the King Charles Spaniels painted by Vinosh. 

 
The Craft and Folk Art Museum has a good selection of Nepal Art Dogs in their store.   They are right across from LACMA on Wilshire.

 
The Santa Monica Museum of Art also has the Nepal Art Dogs on display in their store.

Please support these vendors who support the Nepali artists.   

Micro-finance through art patronage is my motto.   Please help these endangered artists to keep their professions and dignity by supporting this Fair Trade Art project.

These signs are hand-painted on recycled metal and are available at these fine stores and on line through NepalDog.com.

You can see more of what is available on the Nepal Dog Channel on YouTube.

Contact me at ampage1@gmail.com with any questions or comments.   I'd love to hear from you.

Nepal Art Dogs in the Snow!

Over here on the left coast, we can only but commiserate with the blizzard conditions on the Eastern Seaboard.   Maybe these will cheer you up....

 
Emma, the Catahoula Leopard Dog, frolics in the snow.   This painting is by Sabala.   Catahoulas are the 'State Dog of Louisiana' and known as hunters.    It is not unusual for a Catahoula to have at least one blue eye.  

 
Madeline, an extremely happy (and smart) poodle plays in the snow.   As painted by Nara of Asha Arts, Madeline enjoys getting her paws frosted.

 
Williwa, a Canadian Samoyed, in her icy northern climes, happy to run the Dog Bar at Flake Restaurant here in Venice, California.   Williwa is named after Mount Williwa, in the Alaskan Chugach Range, near Ankorage, Alaska. 

 
Schatzi lives in Malibu and is normally to be found rollicking in the sands of Broad Beach.   Here the Labrador Retriever enjoys her time in the show.   By Pulkit of Nepal Arts in Kathmandu.

The hand-painted signboard art of Nepal is quickly disappearing, being replaced by modern mass-production images.   You can support this endangered art form by ordering a Nepal Art Dog of your own, or by buying an already existing signboard.  

These Danger Dogs featured today are still available, ranging in price from $150 to $200 each.   Please contact me at ampage1@gmail.com with any questions or comments.   Also check out my website at NepalDog.com to see what else is available.

This Fair Trade art project is for pet lovers who collect art and want to make a difference in these struggling artists' lives.   Each commission generates work for at least 3 different Nepali artists giving 3 people work, and you 3 portraits of your pet.