Danger Dog Blog: Good News
July 24, 2014
I first met Bishnu KC in 2007, in Darbang, on the very 2nd Nepal Art Dog trip (I have now finished #16!).
Above is Bishnu KC in June, 2007. He was on his way to Saudi Arabia the very next day, but as the town sign painter, he was happy to paint a few last minute signs.
Bishnu did a nice job with Gemma, the Pit Bull and Yoko, the French Bulldog.
Yoko's owner chose Bishnu's portrait. Gemma is available. To see Gemma's portrait up close, go to the Pit Bull page on NepalDog.com.
Gemma's sign is signed "Bishnu KC, Darbang, Myagdi, Dhalighiri".
In 2014 I returned to Darbang, district capital of Myagdi, high in the Himalayas and saw this wonderful traditional sign hand painted on metal. I asked about the artist and was pleased when they brought me to Bishnu.
It turns out that Bishnu KC was a great success in his years in Saudi Arabia. His nest egg went to this electronics store he now runs! He was hired as a sign painter in Saudi Arabia and so kept up his skills. Bishnu showed me tubes of oil paints that he uses to paint on canvas in his spare time.
Bishnu's store has everything from huge speakers to mobile phones. He seems very happy and happy to be back in Nepal. He says he was treated well in Saudi Arabia.
Last December, the Nepal Art Dogs were part of an exhibit that featured works of the artists that I had hired that 'went out' to another country. I am pleased to see that it worked out well for Bishnu KC.
This exhibit consists of artists I have hired that have 'gone out' to other countries to work rather than to stay in Nepal with their families. They can make more money as day laborers, farm workers, department store stockers or, in Bishnu's case, as a painter.
I am happy that it worked out for Binosh KC.
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Want to immortalize your pet and help sign painters in Nepal?
You can order your own portrait of your own pet, hand painted on metal and help to support the sign painters of Nepal whose work is disappearing.
I will be returning later this year in plenty of time to deliver for holiday orders. I expect to be in Nepal in late October, 2014, returning in early December.
Be ahead of the pack and order today!
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1. 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 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. Large format photos work best.
2. Let me know what you would like it to say.
3. Let me know what style of portrait you would prefer: naive, realistic, colorful, etc.
4. Tell me your pet's name and breed.
5. Send your photo to me at: ampage1@gmail.com
That's it !
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!
The cost is $250 plus shipping. Shipping is around $22 per sign (to the US). And 9.75% California sales tax for California residents. For overseas orders, I find the least expensive method of shipping.
Pay after choosing your portrait.
Multiple pets on one sign cost more ($325 for Double, $400 for Triple).
Let's keep these artists painting.
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!