Danger Dog Blog

Oh Baby, Baby - Custom Child Portraiture from the Himalayas

This latest trip found an unusual order.   A friend with a lovely child asked to have 3 artists paint her young daughter at 3 different ages.

Megh Raj Thapa's portrait

This photo was taken when the baby girl was 5 minutes old.   This was a bit of a last minute order, so this painting was still literally 'wet behind the ears' when the above photo was taken.   Also it is skewed to the side.   She should be lying on her left cheek.

Sagar Bitsa's final of the sleeping baby

Here the baby is a little older but still stunning on her red blanket.   This reminds me of that famous nekkid portrait of Marilyn Monroe splayed on a red velvet background.

Young girl at approximately 2 1/2 years.

The third and final portrait is of the same young girl by Sanjib Rana.   The original photo had her feet not in the frame, so he improvised with a second photo of her charming shoes.

The Nepali sign painters can paint anything you would like.   Prices are negotiable for special orders, but the limit is your imagination.

To see more of unusual orders over the past 8 years, please go to NepalDog.com and check out what else has been accomplished over the years.   

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Orders are now closed for a 2014 Danger Dog order.   However, I have over 72 different breeds on my website, NepalDog.com, so see if I have a readymade portrait that looks like your pet!  

I am officially taking orders for the Spring 2015 trip.

Be ahead of the pack and order today!

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

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!

Anatomy of a Danger Dog: Matilda the Chihuahua

It is always fun to see a Danger Dog go from line drawing to a completed portrait.

Matilda in an early line drawing by Sagar

Matilda is well on her way.

Matilda the Chihuahua

Some coloring and detail is added by Sagar.

Background color is added

Getting closer to finishing...

 

Details added again to Matilda's portrait

At this stage we are just waiting for the lettering to be added.

Chalk indicates where the lettering will go

Sagar instructed Paras as to where to place the lettering.

Matilda's final portrait by Sagar Bitsa

Sagar and Paras changed the placement of the lettering when they finished the lettering.

The Nepali script reads 'Katernak Kukur' literally Danger Dog.   

The final 3 choices of Matilda

Matilda's final three by Sanjib Rana, Sagar Bitsa and Megh Raj Thapa (clockwise from top left).   

Which would you choose?   I don't yet know which Matilda's caretaker will choose, but I know it is a hard choice.

You can see more of this series called Anatomy of a Danger Dog by clicking on the link.

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

Orders are now closed for a 2014 Danger Dog order.   However, I have over 72 different breeds on my website, NepalDog.com, so see if I have a portrait that looks like your pet!  

I am officially taking orders for the 2015 trip.

Be ahead of the pack and order today!

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

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!

Live from Kathmandu: Boudha Stupa Dogs

I came across this beautiful native Beware of Dog sign yesterday and it reminded me of the complicated relationship that people have with dogs here in Boudha.

Traditional Beware of Dog sign

This sign I came across not far from Boudha is typical of the Beware of Dog signs that inspired the Nepal Art Dog fair trade art project.

Monks and Dogs crowd the Boudha Stupa

People throng the World Heritage Site Boudha Stupa, but it is home to dozens of dogs that have their territories and hierarchy.

This dog wants it all for himself

Someone had left a rather large box/bag of bones and breads and momos and this guy wanted it all to himself.   The lady with the stick managed to get him to share with the other dogs.

Finally every dog has his food!

There is a whole cadre of people who feed the street dogs of Boudha on a regular basis.   One little old Tibetan lady runs around the Stupa merrily with a pack of dogs lovingly following her as she drops treats for them.

Another inspiration

This is the traditional Danger Dog sign that I love.   I have seen a lot of signs by this same painter near Jorpati, a nearby district to Boudha.

The best 'ring bell' sign I have yet to see.

More tomorrow.   Stay tuned.

You can see more about how the project works by clicking my recent series called Anatomy of a Danger Dog.

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

Orders are now closed for a 2014 Danger Dog order.   However, I have over 72 different breeds on my website, NepalDog.com, so see if I have a portrait that looks like your pet!  

I am officially taking orders for the 2015 trip.

Be ahead of the pack and order today!

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

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!

Live from Kathmandu: Finals from Megh Raj

Megh Raj finished with a bang yesterday...

Sweet Bella by Megh Raj

Sweet Bella's final portrait by Megh Raj is a stunner.   It is the perfect shade of green to highlight her tawny coat and bright bouquet.

Norman the Mastiff by Megh Raj

Megh Raj thoughtfully gave Norman a chair!   Can't beat that!

Higgins the Labradoodle by Megh Raj

Higgins looks like a pup here in his Danger Dog portrait.   Megh Raj often age degresses pets and makes them look young.

Valentino and Muse by Megh Raj

Valentino is a Korat Cat from Thailand and has a lovely grey fur.   Muse lounges like a tigress on her lovely textiles.   Megh Raj added a nice touch with his romanticizing the 'O' in Valentino with a heart.

Evie by Megh Raj Thapa

Evie has lead an interesting and difficult life - she has been shot in the head and had other mishaps.  But now she has a happy home and the pretty smile to show her appreciation.

Jonah and Hank by Megh Raj

Jonah and Hank are a handsome pair, as Jonah peeks out from the shrubbery, as he likes to do.   This was a composite from two photos.

Matilda the Dachshund by Megh Raj

Matilda's portrait by Megh Raj comes complete with Tibetan script.

Dixie the Tibetan Terrier by Megh Raj

Dixie's Nepali script translates to 'Tibetan Dog'.   Again, Megh Raj makes his dogs look like young dogs.   Never a bad thing.   Perhaps I should give him MY photo!

Smokey the Black Lab by Megh Raj

Bless his heart, Smokey is still a handsome dog at the age of 13.   Megh Raj really captured his sleek fur.

More tomorrow.   Stay tuned.

You can see more about how the project works by clicking my recent series called Anatomy of a Danger Dog.

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

Orders are now closed for a 2014 Danger Dog order.   However, I have over 72 different breeds on my website, NepalDog.com, so see if I have a portrait that looks like your pet!  

I am officially taking orders for the 2015 trip.

Be ahead of the pack and order today!

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

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!