Danger Dog Blog

Live from Kathmandu: The first finals!

Dilip Niroj came through in flying colors with the first final Danger Dogs.

Jenny the Jindo is a happy dog.   Dilip brings out her big smile and golden colors.   The photo was cropped as you see it, with her back end and feet ending where Dilip placed them.

Bebe is a Jack Russell mix with an intense glare and a nice set of pearls!    Dilip did a great job.  

Sorry about the focus.   My camera is not so great indoors.   Any advice about a camera that could handle indoor and night shots well would be appreciated.  But you can still see how cool these are turning out.

Rae is a beautiful black dog and Dilip got her sweet grin.   Rae is sitting on a bed and I like the way he handled the edge of the bed and the covers discreetly.

Oscar the Pug seems mired in oil in Dilip's portrait.   Good thing Oscar is wearing his trusty life jacket!   Love the feet in the puddle, the dramatic orange jacket and the almost mispelling of Danger.   Dilip is dyslexic, I believe, and he started to write Denger Dog.  Dilip has a pug of his own here in Nepal, along with a German Shepherd and a Doberman Pinscher.

Dilip brought out photos of his young daughter, Christina, to show us.   Such a cute daughter.   She is eleven and obviously loves to dress up.   She has a Nepali name, but my guess is she chose her English name from Christina Aguilar, who is very popular among young Nepali girls.

So Christina it is!

Megh Raj Thapa paints Snoopy the Dachshund.  This is a nice work in progress that shows that cute Snoop Dog at his best.

Mr. Itchy Stichy is a pit bull whippet mix with a great sense of style.   Here the masculine Itchy channels his inner pirate in this portrait by Sagar.

Oscar the Pug again in this work in progress by Sagar.    Oscar is at home wading and ready for anything in his life jacket.

Tina the French Bulldog by Sagar is looking like a Matisse in this work in progress.   The colors in this one are amazing.   Sagar has an affinity to French Bulldogs.

Coco Diablo Chanel lives up to her fanciful name and even more exotic headdress in her work in progress portrait by Sagar.   The writing will say "Queen Bean" and there was never a more appropriate sobriquette for this young Jack Russell beauty.  Sagar asked if we could just write 'pretty girl' in Nepali for this painting.   Of course!!!

Obi the Jedi Poodle is off to a good start in her early sketch by Sagar.   This one will be a composite of two photos.   One featuring Obi's lovely smile and the other her beautiful ombre coat. 

French Bulldogs Boris & Ivan by Sagar, Megh Raj and Sufraj (clockwise from top left)

Boris and Ivan were two adorable French Bulldogs from the last Danger Dog trip.  The owners chose Sagar's colorful portrait, while I sold Sufraj' pink confection to another collector.   Megh Raj' portrait is still available through Nomad in Cambridge.   Click on the link for more information.

This is what you can expect when you honor your dog (or cat or bunny) with a Nepal Art Dog portrait.  The time to order is now.   No obligation to buy, but I bet you will not be able to resist!  You will receive your choice of portrait in time for the holidays.   Orders accepted through the end of November.

Only 3 more days to order!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to have your dog (cat, horse, chicken , bunny, etc.) immortalized on metal here in Nepal, now is the perfect time to order.   I am here in November, 2012, to order more Danger Dogs and Cats.

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 accepted for the Fall 2012 trip.

 

HOW TO ORDER

To order, 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 artists 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.

While I am in Nepal, your pet will be featured on the Danger Dog Blog, as I stop into the artists' studios and document the works in progress.

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.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

Micro-finance through art patronage.    Trade not Aid.

 

 

 

 

Live from Kathmandu:

Megh Raj Thapa may be a master painter but his son Anup is continuing the signboard tradition with his computer skills and photoshop.

These flex signboards are the future of advertising here in Kathmandu.    This is one that Megh Raj's son Anup designed.  Megh Raj is on the left and Anup is on the right.

I don't like the new signs personally, but they do need to eat.

While at Megh Raj's studio, another artist from previous trips, Raaz Rai (on the right) stopped by.   He has graduated from art school and is teaching fine arts.   He is going to South Korea next month to make a better living.   I only hope that with his degree, he will get better work than as a fieldhand.  

You can see an example of Raaz' work here.  His dog portraits are well done, with an attention to detail and a sweetness about them.

That's the fate of one of my favorite artists, Shree Lamachhaine.   If talented signboard artists like these can't make a go....

Went to a party celebrating Thanksgiving here in Kathmandu on Saturday.   This lovely gate to the compound was painted by the artists Sanjib Rana.   Sanjib is famous around this town for the lovely birds and naturalistic paintings that are his speciality.

I met Sanjib through the gate's owner.

This adorable dog is part Lhasa Apso and part Shitzu.   What a good looking dog!  She certainly was enjoying the Thanksgiving festivities.

A little later, they were up to even more fun.

Aesop the Jack Russell by Baba, Sagar and Sufraj Khadka (clockwise from top left)

Aesop's owner chose the portrait by Sagar for her Danger Dog.   Aesop was a very hard choice.   All three captured his good looks.

This is what you can expect when you honor your dog (or cat or bunny) with a Nepal Art Dog portrait.  The time to order is now.   No obligation to buy, but I bet you will not be able to resist!  You will receive your choice of portrait in time for the holidays.   Orders accepted through the end of November.

Only 5 more days to order!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to have your dog (cat, horse, chicken , bunny, etc.) immortalized on metal here in Nepal, now is the perfect time to order.   I am here in November, 2012, to order more Danger Dogs and Cats.

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 accepted for the Fall 2012 trip.

 

HOW TO ORDER

To order, 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 artists 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.

While I am in Nepal, your pet will be featured on the Danger Dog Blog, as I stop into the artists' studios and document the works in progress.

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.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

Micro-finance through art patronage.    Trade not Aid.

 

 

 

Live from Kathmandu: More works in Progress

A quick visit to Megh Raj Thapa yesterday showed his very early work in progress of the lovely Jack Russell mix, Bebe.

Bebe's mom is a talented jewelry designer, so Bebe is putting on the dog with a great set of pearls.  You can see the outline.  The artists' wives have been giving Bebe some jealous looks!

Back at Sagar's studio for an early work in progress of Bentley, a handsome dog if I ever saw one.

Oscar the Pug stands out in his rather ornate harness.   I asked Sagar to only make the lifejacket orange, but he misunderstood obviously.   Sagar has a particular fondness for jewelry and collars on dogs.

Roy is a dog that was rescued from a hoarder's house.  He is now living the life of Riley and is even being honored with his own Danger Dog sign, though of course his sign will say Enlightened.  

It is amazing the resiliency of some dogs.   Roy has had a difficult early life, and indeed has a huge split in his upper lip, but he is happy as can be with his new family.   His nickname is Split.   I have told Sagar to include the split lip as Roy is not shy about it!

Jenny the Jindo appears on the right hand side of this photo.   Sagar has captured her sweet smile.   I love these works in progress as they explain to me the artists' techniques.   They all have very different styles and methods.

Sagar is painting this Nepali landscape in oil to send to his sister in London.

Like all artists, Sagar has an inspiration board which includes a newspaper clipping that I commissioned years ago.   It is the black and white photo of the dancer with a dog's head.   Also, one of my former Danger Dogs made it to the board.

Brady the Pointer by Nara, Megh Raj Thapa and Sagar (clockwise from top left)

Brady the liver-colored Pointer's friend chose the dramatic portrait by Sagar.   The fur on the painting is really quite accomplished.   Brady the Odalisque!   If an Odalisque can be a boy dog.

This is what you can expect when you honor your dog (or cat or bunny) with a Nepal Art Dog portrait.  The time to order is now.   No obligation to buy, but I bet you will not be able to resist!  You will receive your choice of portrait in time for the holidays.   Orders accepted through the end of November.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to have your dog (cat, horse, chicken , bunny, etc.) immortalized on metal here in Nepal, now is the perfect time to order.   I am here in November, 2012, to order more Danger Dogs and Cats.

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 accepted for the Fall 2012 trip.

 

HOW TO ORDER

To order, 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 artists 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.

While I am in Nepal, your pet will be featured on the Danger Dog Blog, as I stop into the artists' studios and document the works in progress.

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.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

Micro-finance through art patronage.    Trade not Aid.

 

 

 

 

Live from Kathmandu: Works in Progress

The long festival season has ended and the artists have started their work in earnest.

Smudge the Cat is roughly drafted by Sagar here, but you can tell it is going to be a good one.  Smudge is a beautiful tabby cat.

G. Gee the English Staffordshire Terrier is center with her gigantic grin.   Sagar has a new studio, and they all looked great with their first coat drying in the sun.
Tina the French Bulldog is on Sagar's easel.

Borris the Dalmation as an early work in progress shows a lot of promise.

Justin and his cat Cosmo look very dramatic in this first draft.   I'm going to like this one very much, I can tell.

Three Dalmations in a Porshe Convertible will be a fun one to see completed.

Buster Fearless is a Kamakazi Comic Dog.   A 'Jack Russell Terrorist' - Buster's caretaker's description, not mine - this portrait is going to be bright and fun.

 

Coco Diablo Chanel is another Jack Russell Terrorist.   Coco sports a fantastic headpiece as she looks askance at the camera.   Can't wait to see the finals.

 

I was more than pleased when I noticed a non-commisioned Danger Dog sign.   This handsome Harlequin Great Dane is going into my private collection!   It is also not finished, though Ilove it just as it is.

And Sagar was happy with his new reading glasses donated to him by the Reading Glass Project.   At 41, Sagar only needed a 1.00 strength.

 

Uschi the Doberman Pinscher by Megh Raj, Sagar and Nara (clockwise from top left)

As you can see, Sagar's portraits get a lot more complex as he comes to completion.

This is what you can expect when you honor your dog (or cat or bunny) with a Nepal Art Dog portrait.  The time to order is now.   No obligation to buy, but I bet you will not be able to resist!  You will receive your choice of portrait in time for the holidays.   Orders accepted through the end of November.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to have your dog (cat, horse, chicken , bunny, etc.) immortalized on metal here in Nepal, now is the perfect time to order.   I am here in November, 2012, to order more Danger Dogs and Cats.

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 accepted for the Fall 2012 trip.

 

HOW TO ORDER

To order, 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 artists 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.

While I am in Nepal, your pet will be featured on the Danger Dog Blog, as I stop into the artists' studios and document the works in progress.

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.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

Micro-finance through art patronage.    Trade not Aid.

 

 

 

Live from Kathmandu: Chhath Festivities

It seems like this is the time of year for festivity after festivity.  After last week's Tihar, Chhath comes a few days after with its own fascinating rites and rituals.   This time the focus is on dawn and dusk on the riverbanks of Nepal.   

During Chhath, a Hindu ceremony, everyone gathers by the side of the river - and sometimes in the river - to worship the sun, aka Surya in the Nepali language.   Originally only practiced in the Terai, or the southern low-lying rice basket of Nepal, in the last 6 years the practice of Chhath has spread to the Kathmandu Valley.

Fireworks were part of the spectacle.   Even though outlawed, firecrackers were common.

The ceremony is believed to bring prosperity, well-being and progress as well as curing skin conditions including leprosy.

Nepal's current President, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, turned out for the ceremonies, though he and his party were in a separate tent from the locals.

The Nepali police wasted no time in moving us so that the President could drive through.  They gently waved their batons. 

As the sun sets, the ladies gather with their offerings of flowers and food.   The women also fast and eat no meat during this four-day holiday.   Some towns in Nepal have become completely vegetarian for the holiday and butcher shops take the days off.

People wait patiently to get across the river to the main temple area of Pushupathinath.

The president's private tent was on the other side of the river from main festivities.   The name Chhath is from the number 6 in the Hindu language.   Chhath is also celebrated in India by both Hindus and Jains.

This morning around the Boudha stupa, a black dog enjoys his drink from a small cup while another pup curls up in the sun.

Buster the Labrador Retriever by Baba, Megh Raj Thapa and Sagar (clockwise from top left)

Buster is a water dog that loves his Caribbean beaches.   He would be at home in the river with the Chhath celebrants.   His owner could not choose and bought all three of the above portraits.   Theya re all quite different and great in their own way.   Love the deep shadow on the beach on all three.

This is what you can expect when you honor your dog (or cat or bunny) with a Nepal Art Dog portrait.  The time to order is now.   No obligation to buy, but I bet you will not be able to resist!  You will receive your choice of portrait in time for the holidays.   Orders accepted through the end of November.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you would like to have your dog (cat, horse, chicken , bunny, etc.) immortalized on metal here in Nepal, now is the perfect time to order.   I am here in November, 2012, to order more Danger Dogs and Cats.

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 accepted for the Fall 2012 trip.

 

HOW TO ORDER

To order, 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 artists 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.

While I am in Nepal, your pet will be featured on the Danger Dog Blog, as I stop into the artists' studios and document the works in progress.

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.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

Micro-finance through art patronage.    Trade not Aid.