Danger Dog Blog

A Final Goodbye to Princess Di

 

This old beauty shop sign must have dated back to before Princess Di died in August 1997.   She could have USED a 'facelife'.   Besides the hair style being dated, the phone number was only 6 digits.   They added a 4 to the front of Boudha phone numbers at least a decade ago.   Alas, one of my favorite beauty shop signs in Boudha is no more.

They have painted over Lady Di !

You can see the vague outline of her nose and lips in the new sign.   I have more shots of the old Princess Di signboard on an earlier post along with Queen Latifah as beauty shop royalty.

It is common for Nepali beauty shops or saloons to use figures from entertainment and news for their signboards.  Everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Gwyneth Paltrow to Angelina Jolie to Nicole Kidman (with black hair) have their own places to get their hair done in Kathmandu.   I guess Lady Di was not coming back !

Find a previous post of movie stars' signboards in Nepal here.

This is one example of why some people say that I should be buying up these signboards before they are all destroyed or cannibalized.   I so enjoy walking the streets of Kathmandu and seeing interesting beauty shop signs and want to preserve them in situ.   However, then I see something like this and I wonder if I shouldn't just buy them and take them home where they will be appreciated.    I suppose I should be happy that they recycled the metal.   And it is a testimony to how long a good piece of metal lasts even under the harshest of conditions.

There is also a great butcher shop sign of a goat's head dripping blood that has disappeared this last trip.  

If anyone is interested, I do have some vintage signboards available, including this one above.   This black dog charmer has delicate claws on his paws.   The Nepali lettering with its nice drop shadow reads "Be Aware of Dog" and the dog is handsomely set in a green field.   The artist is Shree Laimachhaine of Pokhara, Nepal,

Danger Dog Wall at Ghetto Gloss Gallery 2009

Of course, I have many Nepal Art Dogs (and Cats) available and will be happy to try to find an existing one that looks like your pet.   Above is an exhibit at Fiora Boes' Ghetto Gloss Gallery in Hollywood.

The Nepal Art Dog project aims to stem the trend in Nepal to replace these hand-painted signboards with plastic pre-printed signage.  

You can help...

 

Nepal Art Dogs are hand-painted enamel portraits of pets on recycled metal, approximately 1 foot square.   Made in Nepal by 58 different artists’ studios.

 

This is a Fair Trade Art project that promotes the endangered signboard artists of Nepal.

 

For pet lovers who collect art and would like to make a difference.

 

Commissions available starting at $250

 

Send your Pet’s photo – get 3 choices from 3 different artists – pick your favorite

 

Danger Dogs from Nepal: Folk Art from the Himalayas

As part of the continuing series of finals for this 9th Danger Dog trip, we have the lovely tulip-eared Collie, Typhoon.   As you can tell from the vintage black and white photo, this show dog was a winner in the 1970's.   Here Typhoon by Sanjib Rana is finally finished with lettering by Birju Chaudhury. 

Pachiko is a black cat and a late order!   Her first portrait is by Sufraj.   Two more to come!   Danger Cat! Stay tuned.

Went through a different part of town yesterday and discovered that Putalisadak (means butterfly place in Nepali) is a hot bed of Danger Dogs!

This rare double dog caught my eye.  

The artist here used a sticker for the dog image and them added yellow and red paint.   This sign is also unusual in that it is signed by the artist.   While not totally hand painted, this sign definitely stands out for visual interest.

As you can see, German Shepherds are a popular choice for native Nepal Danger Dog signs.   Beware of Dog signs like this were once very common, now most are stencilled signs from various kennel clubs in Nepal.

Not nearly as interesting!

You will have to wait until next trip to order your very own Danger Dog portrait.   I leave in mid-October 2011 and will be back in plenty of time for holiday gifts.

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 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 [email protected] or find out more at www.NepalDog.com.

Let's keep these artists painting.

ORDERS CLOSED FOR THIS TRIP ON JUNE 3, 2011.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

 

Hello from Dogmandu!

 

Live from Kathmandu! Works in progress!

Megh Raj stands outside his studio with his backgrounds finished for Coco the Cat.  

Here is Coco even farther along.   Can't wait to see the final product!

This trip seems to be devoted to Rhodesian Ridgebacks or, as I like to call them, Zimbabwe Zipperbacks.   Above is the lovely Esme by Megh Raj.  It's hard to call this Folk Art.  

Zeke, a Short-hair Pointer/Pit mix smiles with his big blue eyes.   Also by Megh Raj.

This is actually the second take on this Labradoodle named Aussie.   You can see the original that his owner bought proudly displayed on the NepalDog.com website.   He is a handsome dog here painted by Megh Raj.

ShuShu the Hussy and her German Shepherd pal get the finishing touches by Amar Shrestha.   Amar is back to his old tricks with his amazing color palette and brushstrokes.   You can tell he really likes animals.

Here Sid and Rocky the 3-legged cat relax and wait for their finishing lettering. 

Corky is a serene Chocolate Lab painted by Megh Raj.  

This is an exciting work in progress that I can't wait to see unfold.   Look closely and you will see a Great Dane and his partner.   Also by Megh Raj.

Here is Bert, an adorable Australian Blue Heeler puppy as a work in progress by Megh Raj.

Again, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, this one named Neo.   He is a true beauty and I look forward to the end result.

Thanks to the website NotVentures.org for the link!   This is an interesting travel site that features sites such as the Danger Dog Blog.   Check it out!

Now is the time to order:    Each commission I receive will be given to 3 different Nepalese signboard artists, giving 3 struggling artists Fair Trade work and you a choice of 3 colorful paintings on metal!  

Your satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front, only if you like one of the portraits do you pay.   The artists are paid fair trade wages whether you buy or not.

How to Order: 

1. Send a photo of your pet to me at [email protected].

2.  Let me know what you would like the signboard to say.

3. Tell me which style of Danger Dog art you prefer, by giving me examples of signs you have liked on the website or just say whether you like realistic, naive, cartoonish or fanciful. 

4. Follow the Danger Dog Blog and see the works in progress, trips to the studios, the life and arts of Nepal.

5.  Decide which painting you prefer of the 3 and send me a check and I will mail you your very own personal Danger Dog (or Cat)!  

More information and examples of the Nepal Art Dog project can be found at NepalDog.com.

 

 

Hot Dogs!

Seeing as it is 103 degrees up in our attic bedroom and  78 here on the ground floor, I thought a post about my favorite Hot Danger Dogs might be appropriate.    Los Angeles broke a heat record today.   111 degrees downtown!

Bailey the dachshund by Sagar.   The needle like tail pointing up to Bailey's right is dramatic.   Nice detail around Bailey's collar as well. Bailey looks older and more cynical in this portrait by Sagar.   Like Humphrey Bogart played by a Dachshund.

Again, Bailey the Dachshund, this time by Sufraj Khadka, proudly sporting his red collar.   A younger,  softer version of Bailey.  And that tail is missing.

Jasper the Dachshund is on a mission, here painted by Manoj Art.   

Kitty is a young Dachshund, here painted by Hari Prasad.   With her collar flying, she looks a bit like a Danger Dachshund caught in the headlights.

Again Kitty the Dachshund.   This time she is chewing her favorite toy.   By Hari Timsina of Kathmandu.

Darby is the loving Dachshund partner of Moira who writes the fabulous blog:   Dog Art Today.   Here Darby, a long-haired Dachshund, is painted by Jit Gurung of Munal Arts.

Here is Darby by the painter Sabala.   Quite different interpretations from the same photo.

All of the above Dachshund portraits are currently available by writing me at [email protected].

Since it is 67 degrees down the basement, I'm going to find a project down there to beat this record-breaking temperature here in Los Angeles!   Up here it is as hot as Dogmandu!

Nepal Art Dogs is a Fair Trade Art project that promotes the endangered signboard artists of Nepal.   With over 1500 pieces commissioned in 3 years, the Danger Dogs have made a difference in the lives of many artists.   I decided to concentrate on pets as there was a  tradition Nepal already of 'Beware of Dog' signs and I knew that people would like them.   These are truly fine artists whose livelihood is disappearing at an alarming rate.

On my most recent trips to Nepal, the Danger Dog commissions were the only art these artists were still hand painting -- all their other work was done from a mass-produced image, often printed on plastic flex.  

You can help by ordering a custom portrait of your pet.   Each signboard is approximately one  square foot, synthetic enamel on metal.   Each commission will be given to at least 3 signboard artists -- giving 3 people work, you a choice of 3 signs and museum shops Nepali folk art.  

No money accepted up front.   If you don't like any of your paintings, you pay nothing.   All artists are paid fair trade wages.

For pet lovers who collect art and would like to make a difference.

Micro-finance through art patronage.  

For cats, horses, ferrets, birds, hamsters, etc, please go to NepalDog.com for more examples.

Or write me personally with any questions or comments at [email protected].

Why I Love Nepal -- Dogs on Gates

This sign warns people in a restaurant off the Boudha Stupa to Beware of Dog.   This is a very typical sign as a Nepali signboard often features the tongue and teeth prominently.

This is one of my favorite signs of all time, and I was saddened to see that someone has smeared black paint on this portrait's face.   Many people in the art world have argued that I should buy these signs and take them to the states to 'save' them.   Part of the Danger Dog philosophy is to promote the art of signboards and that could only be done if the Nepalese people appreciate what they have.   It has been suggested that I just make a similar sign and offer to trade them an old sign for a new.   Obviously, this one has not had the care it should have had.  

This Double Boxer signboard has also had some additions.   The tongues have had blood added.

If I couldn't read the Nepali script, I'd bet that this sign said 'Beware of Weasel'!

 

I'm not sure how this happened, but these are ghost dogs!   Remember that some Tibetans believe that dogs are reincarnated lamas, and these dogs get to sleep around the Stupa all day and circumnavigate all night.   You can see how friendly they all are.    Does anyone know how the dogs in this photo became transparent?

More tomorrow.

I am leaving soon for my 8th Danger Dog trip.   Order your custom 'be ware of dog' signboard today.

Nepal Art Dogs is a Fair Trade Art project that promotes the endangered signboard artists of Nepal.   With over 1500 pieces commissioned in 3 years, the Danger Dogs have made a difference in the lives of many artists.   I decided to concentrate on pets as there was a  tradition in Nepal already of 'Beware of Dog' signs and I knew that people would like them.   These are truly fine artists whose livelihood is disappearing at an alarming rate.

On my most recent trips to Nepal, the Danger Dog commissions were the only art these artists were still hand painting -- all their other work was done from a mass-produced image and often printed on plastic flex.  

You can help by ordering a custom portrait of your pet.   Each signboard is approximately one  square foot, synthetic enamel on metal.   Each commission will be given to at least 3 signboard artists -- giving 3 people work, you a choice of 3 signs and museum shops Nepali folk art.  

No money accepted up front.   If you don't like any of your paintings, you pay nothing.   All artists are paid fair trade wages.

For pet lovers who collect art and would like to make a difference.

Micro-finance through art patronage.   

For cats, horses, ferrets, birds, hamsters, etc, please go to NepalDog.com for more examples.

If you would like to see a particular breed, please contact me at [email protected].