Works in progress by Shahi Arts
April 17, 2022
Zora in the study by Shahi. She is a Border Collie mix and enlightened to boot. She is still missing the Nepali script. Shahi uses acrylic paint instead of the more common enamel.
Breakfast is a black dog with a mission. The ball is missing in this portrait, but will be added later, along with Nepali script.
Shahi's daughter, born in 2008, was minding the store and studying, and said: "You must be an old customer." I was glad to hear her clear English and business-like attitude. She was very helpful. Shahi had not written the Nepali lettering and had neglected to sign his art. Unfortunately, he had a family emergency outside of town and was unable to correct these things. But it can be fixed, except for the signature.
Shahi works in the Lakeside District of Pokhara, Nepal's 2nd largest city. I first met him in 2008, when signboards were still popular and his specialities seemed to be fish, yetis and various plates of food. Since the decline of hand painted advertising he has turned to landscapes of Nepal for the tourist trade.
A dog owner himself, Shahi welcomed a chance to regain his dog portraiture acumen.
I am glad that Shahi and other artists were able to hold on in Covid times. Every time I see him, he has 3 easels in progress.
Life seems almost back to normal here in Nepal. Most schoolchildren are masked and there is rampant inflation here as in much of the world. The government as raised petrol prices 3 times since the beginning of 2022. Still, few complain and life goes on.
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Please stay tuned for more works in progress and finals to come! If you would like to have your dog (cat, horse, chicken, bunny, bearded dragon, etc.) immortalized on metal here in Nepal, it is not too late.
DEADLINE for orders: April 22, 2022.
I will be back in the US in early May, in time for Mother's Day and Father's Day gifts.
You choose the style, the color, what you would like the sign to say... You can also check out NepalDog.com, as I have over 72 breeds of dog (and counting) and many 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!
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.
Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog You will be happy you did!
Micro-finance through art patronage. Trade not Aid.