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!

 

 

 

Boston Terriers from Boston!

Since I am in Boston for my nephew's wedding, what else could I do but write about Boston Terriers? 

 
Diesel is a true Danger Dog from Abbot Kinney, with a toothy smile.   This painting is by Ram Badahur Lama who stood in for Shahi a couple of trips back.  

 
Diesel by Amar Shrestha.   There is an interesting glow around his whiskers.   Amar's signature is below to the right in red.

 
You can see the glassy eye effect is my fault.   But the shot does convey Diesel's goofy grin.    I find it cool that the artists often spend time on the harnesses and leashes, and I particularly like the delicate paws in Amar's portrait.   Diesel and his portraits would be at home in Dogmandu.

 
This lovely portrait of Ike the Boston Terrier was painted by Sagar.   There is no lettering as Sagar did it on spec, hoping that I would show up and buy it!    I encourage that mindset in my artists and happily bought it.  

Like all the Danger Dogs, these are synthetic enamel painted on metal, about 1 foot square and can be hung indoors or out.  

You can commission your own pet -- or it is a perfect gift for any pet lover who collects art and wants to make a difference.   Each commission will be given to 3 struggling Nepali signboard artists.   You get 3 choices, 3 artists get work, museum stores get folk art!    

I am off again to Nepal soon and am actively taking orders.   Satisfaction is guaranteed as I take no money up front.   If you do not like the artists' portraits, you owe nothing.   The Nepali artists are paid in any case.

Contact me at ampage1@gmail.com with any questions, or go to NepalDog.com to learn more about this fair trade art project.

For Father's Day -- Danger Dogs in ties!

Inspired by a young fan, I will be giving you all an idea for Father's Day!    

 
Here is the fabulous Jack Nelson with his Father's Day tie by Shahi of Pokhara.   

 
Again, we have Jack (Russell) Nelson is his spiffy tie by Santosh Shrestha, also from Pokhara.   Santosh's daughter loved this portrait so much that she bawled as I carried it away.   These two are still available and would make a great alternative gift to a traditional Father's Day tie.

 
Luckily for me, Santosh had forgotten to sign the works, so I got to leave the screaming baby to her mother and she was not there for pick up the next day!  

 
But as you can see here, these Nepali children love the Danger Dogs!   Here a young lad kisses Louis the White Lab on the rooftop of our Pokhara Hotel, the Green Tara.  

 
This is the Jack Nelson that sold to his Anglophile mother.   As painted by Amar, Jack makes a great counterpoint to the Union Jack.   Maybe we should call him Union Jack Nelson!

This blog was inspired by Matt and here is the tie to his blog.   Best of luck to you, Matt.    If you are ever in Southern California, get in touch.   I can find you a great tie!   And an early Happy Father's Day to all of you!

The Danger Dog Fair Trade Art project lives on!   I will be returning to Nepal in a couple of weeks for the 7th Danger Dog Art trip.   Now is the time to send in your portrait of your pet.   I will give each photo to 3 struggling signboard artists, giving 3 people work and you 3 choices.   There is no risk as you pay nothing up front.  If you do not like any of the 3, you pay nothing!   What a deal!   (The artists are always paid fair trade wages no matter what.)   I'll return in August with your portraits.

Please contact me with any comments or questions at ampage1@gmail.com or visit the website NepalDog.com to find out more.

Micro-finance through art patronage! 

 

Palm Springs Desert Dogs!

If you are in Palm Springs for the month of June, please stop by and see the Danger Dogs in person at the Terry Martin Gallery.   Run by the fabulous Terry Martin, this gallery is also known at the Terrence Rogers Fine Arts Gallery.

 
Starting clockwise from top left, Zia the Black Danger Cat is by Shree Shrestha.   Beware of Cock by Sanjib Rana, followed by Chester the Basset Hound by Nara of Asha Arts.   The horse frolicking in the surf is also by Sanjib Rana.

 
Above is Sport (a Good Boy) by Ram Krishna of Kathmandu.   Also featured for the month of June is the artwork of Maria Dudley and Jason Kowalski.   The title of their show is "Palm Springs and Other Exotic Places".   The painting above is of the iconic Zuma Beach Food concession by Maria Dudley. 
Shree Shrestha of Pokhara painted this 'Dangers Dog' of Jasper the Weimaraner on his magic carpet.

 
From the same photo of Jasper as above, we have Arjun Karki's fine version of the Weimaraner.   Looks like Arjun put Jasper on the waves for his portrait.

 
Duke the Weimaraner by Hari Timsina was painted in November 2009.

 
A white Westie by Hari Prasad is at top left, while Chewy the Zen Yorkie is by Nara.   Please go to Terry's website for more information on Maria and Jason's art.

 
From left to right: a rescue dog by Yuba Raj Adhikari, Pinky the Enlightened Jack Russell Terrier by Jit Gurung of Munal Arts in Pokhara, Mick Jagger the English Bulldog by Sabala with his big grin.

 
Willow the Enlightened Golden Retreiver by Sagar of Surya Studios.   Sagar's signature is in Japanese.   

 
Also by Sagar, this portrait of Layla the white shepherd shows his marvelous sense of humor.   If you look closely, you will see what I mean.

 
Yoko the French Bulldog with her lovely jewelry and compelling eyes is also by Sagar.

 
Arrow is a Zen Black Lab who wears rhinestone necklaces.   This portrait is by Nara of Kathmandu.

 
This saintly White Labrador DangerDog is by Ram Krishna.   This was not a commissioned piece, but something Ram painted from the Everest Kennel Club calendar.   I could not help but buy it!

 
Out enjoying the open air is Brocco the Bulldog by Megh Raj.  

 
Hari Timsina painted this portrait of Grace the Pit Bull in November, 2009.   Hari is the first of my artists to date his pieces.

 
Jasper the Dashshund as painted by Manoj.   Manoj is my only Christian artist.  

 
This pug was painted by Jit Gurung of Munal Arts.   Jit's art reminds me of R. Crumb's style of art.

 
This little Boston Terrier is by Amar Shrestha.

All pieces are approximately 12" by 12" and are synthetic enamel on (sometimes recycled) metal.  They can be hung indoors or out. 

All art featured on today's blog is available through June, 2010,  at the Terry Martin Gallery at 664 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.   His phone is (760) 332-8732.   Call for hours or to make an appointment.  

I am heading off to Nepal for the 7th Danger Dog trip very soon, so custom orders should be placed soon.   Each commission generates 3 portraits of your pet by 3 struggling Nepali signboard artists.   You get 3 choices, 3 people get work.  Please remember that I take no deposit up front.   You pay only after choosing which portrait of your pet you prefer.  

For additional information, please contact me at ampage1@gmail.com, go to the NepalDog.com website, or see the Nepal Dog Channel on YouTube to buy an existing artwork.

Hello from Cape Town!

After a long but comfortable flight from LAX via London, we arrived in South Africa.    After we quickly settled in to our 'Backpacker's' guest house in the area known as Seapoint, we put on our walking shoes and took a scenic hour's walk towards Camp's Bay.    The wild coast of Cape Town is a wonderland of spectacular vistas.  

 
Above is a view of Clifton Beach, an area of magnificent homes overlooking sandy beaches.

 
There are many imaginative and beautiful ways used here to keep out unwanted intruders, including this lovely metal landscape.

  

Absailing over the sandy beaches of Camp's Bay - a chic and sunny beach with sidewalk cafes and beautiful people.  

 
Camp's Bay is also home to a large and active cricket pitch.   South Africans in general seem to bask in their balmy summer weather.

 
Milnerton Dunes Beach with it's view of Table Mountain and surfers in the foreground.   The waves were high today.    Kite surfing is also available here.

 
It turns out that this Sunday Cape Town will host largest bicycle race ever.   Lance Armstrong is among the 35,000 cyclists from all over the world who have come here to compete.   I have learned that the question to ask is their start time, as that will show their rank.   We rode in from the airport with a Brit who had promised himself to participate in this famed race 10 years ago at age 50.   His start time is 6:47 am, so he must be a fast and fit 60-year-old.    Needless to say, the hotels and cafes and streets are full of people with lycra cycling suits.

 
This delicious breakfast of eggs over a dark rye with sweet cherry tomatoes set me back 20Rand (at 7.5 to the dollar that comes to less than $3).

 
At lunch, we ate at a restaurant with a 'gangster' theme, as evidenced by this wallpaper in the ladies room.   The waitrons wore black fedoras.   Waitrons is a quaint South African term for servers.  

 
We went to the Milnerton Flea Market and met this pair of rescue pups.   Originally from Bloomfontein, these dogs charmed their owner - who had never had dogs before.   They are quiet and friendly, and were happy to be petted.   The owner says they are a Maltese and Jack Russell Terrier cross.

 
This Border Collie fetches sea weed tossed from the balcony above by his lifeguard buddies.  

 
This Chow Chow enjoys the sea breezes.

 
There are a few interesting signboards here in Capstad.   Of course, Africa is famous for their barbershop signboards, but so far this is the only one I have seen in practice, but it is a doosy!   That large gaping mouth on the right is part of an adult bookstore.

 
There are also some stenciled dog signs, but if I see any hand painted ones, I'll keep you posted.

 
This hand painted couple grace a curio shop on Long Street in downtown Cape Town.  

More later.   Please check the follow button at the top of this post to see more of our adventures in Cape Town and beyond.