Categotry Archives: Paws & Crafts

Dog and Art Lovers! Anna Werner of CBS news poses the question, “Can Your Pets Be Art?” Her segment features an exhibition at the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas in Austin devoted solely to canines and felines. Portraiture, symbolism, history, psychology, and even the modern cat-video phenomenon are all included. Is it art? Watch the video and decide for yourself!

Artist Pick:

I can’t wag any harder for Brazilian artist, Rafael Mantesso. Drawing inspiration from his best friend, Bull Terrier, Jimmy Choo, Mantesso creates whimsical cartoons on bare white walls, then poses Jimmy next to them.

Mantesso’s work is the perfect homage to Dogs, Inspiration, and Life…

I love them all, but my favorite piece is the one with Jimmy Choo at the microphone. What’s yours?

For e-mail readers: To see the youtube montage of Mantesso’s sketches, click into the blog!

Youtube video posted by Crazy About Cool.

We artist dogs usually don’t have stacks of materials available to us for making art. This great bumper sticker reminds me glass makes a perfect canvas for a creating canine, whether a car window or the big front window at home. The beauty of nose art is you don’t need paint or a brush to make a composition of nose prints; just make sure your nose is hydrated for best results.

When creating, it’s important to let yourself explore without judgment. Like a mandala, most dog art is of a transitory nature. And nose art is no exception. So along with enjoying your composition, you also have the opportunity to practice the art of letting go when your human comes along with the glass cleaner. Think of it this way, pooches: Voila! With a quick wipe, you now have a new canvas prepared for your next piece!

It can be difficult for dogs with a love of art to have a chance to see a curated exhibit. For some reason, we are not allowed into museums or galleries. So I was ecstatic when I came across a series of sidewalk art pieces right beneath my paws! This artist obviously desired to please a canine audience, placing her pieces on an accessible canvas where they could be easily viewed and sniffed. I was able to circle around the work, enjoying it from multiple vantage points.

The work is a masterful example of the incorporation of environmental items such as leaves and sidewalk cracks into the overall composition. I give this unknown, budding artist four paws up and a wag for her bold use of color and symmetry, and her dog-friendly installation. Bravo!

Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite artists and today is her birthday. Born in Mexico on July 6, 1907, Frida is among the most celebrated female artists in history. Frida was not only the subject of many of her own paintings, she herself was a walking piece of art paying homage to her heritage. Her iconic hairstyle and unibrow defined what can only be described as a strong, self-assured, unapologetic and authentic beauty rarely seen in the world of fashion. Frida’s look has inspired one of my favorite styles…a row of multicolored bow ties amongst the curls along the crown of my head. And, dogs, you know we rock the unibrow. Feliz Cumpleanos, Frida.

This conceptual art installation, currently hanging at Friends of the Family Dog Training, knocks my socks off. Its non-traditional subject matter, combined with simplicity, chunkiness, and a deep message, create a strong visual impression.

Beyond the visual, the profound nature of the piece juxtaposed against the shabby chic fence, electrical wiring, and vines run-amok, mimic the free-spirited and wild nature of a D-O-G. I love the way the composition mirrors the way we dogs naturally adapt to any environment. Just as the ivy cannot be contained by a fence, neither should we.

The word play is also intriguing. The vine crossing the last letter creates ambivalence — is it DOG or DOO, or DOG DOO? Mysterious.

The artist is brilliant. I give this installation four paws up and a wag.

Found art is gaining momentum in the art world, and using found objects is a perfect medium for us dogs. Here at Small Poodle at Large, we are proud to feature Calla’s collage portrait, “Say Cheese,”  made from a Ben and Jerry’s lid which she pulled out of the garbage.

We love the upcycling nature of this project…from trash to treasure. Calla’s sophisticated composition, aligning the cow with the face of her human, followed by her own, is something to pawnder. And because our families don’t tend to furnish us dogs with art supplies, it’s great to have easy access to materials, such as those in the trash bin or items we can easily pick up on walks.

So go ahead dogs…express yourselves. Now you can dig in the trash and make something other than a mess!