Doggie Art On The Mantelpiece
Man's best friend has become a common centerpiece, moulded so into works of art and down to the personalized mug. One duo, a flight attendant and her mother, from Memphis, Tennessee, told us how they sought a famous pastel artist to render a masterpiece on canvas of their four dogs. The flight attendant said that they've lost two of them; it's just like pictures of the family to still have around. They would consider it a sin not to be able to differentiate one dog from another.
Last year she and her mother had their two current dogs, Kelly Rae, a cockapoo puppy, and Miss Manners, a Lhasa apso, portrayed together. Outgoing is Kelly, while snobbish is Miss Manners. That ends our brief overview. Doggie art has even found its way into the hands of serious art collectors.
Ten years ago a good quality animal portrait sold for $2,500, and today the same portrait goes for $10,000, according to a Manhattan gallery owner and expert in 19th century animal art. This foremost animalier in 19th century art has an all time high of $577,000 for a single painting, which was of a Newfoundland named Neptune. Two hundred fifty thousand is the going rate for a single profile painting done by a French animalier, now living in Long Island.
According to the gallery owner, the revival of Victorian decor caused this trend. Any animals, from pets to farm animals, could be the subject of an English painting, serving for both personal pleasure and advertising opportunities. She testified as to the power of an animal painting to change the atmosphere in a room.
Her experience with thousand dollar animal art has not tainted her taste for locally commissioned pet portraits. Pet owners across the nation have jumped onto this trend, which she still considers serious art. For many owners, only a special commission will satisfy their needs, because descendants in some breeds no longer look like their ancestors. To get the painting just right for picky patrons, the artist must work with photos that they may have to take themselves and take into account the wishes of the client. Landscapes are the specialty of one water colorist from Germantown, Tennessee, who had the unfortunate experience of having to redo a painting of two shaggy dogs after her dissatisfied client asked her to adjust for the gleam in his dogs' eyes. She has also had easy to please clients, one of which was delighted with a five pose portrait of his deceased dachshund.
The past 13 years have been fruitful for another water colorist from Eads Tennessee, who does houses and pets. Though her experience includes cats, fish, and a frog, she more frequently paints dogs and horses. She says she knows when she's got it right by looking at the owner's face, when she views the portrait especially if the animal is dead. There are owners who end up crying.
Last year she and her mother had their two current dogs, Kelly Rae, a cockapoo puppy, and Miss Manners, a Lhasa apso, portrayed together. Outgoing is Kelly, while snobbish is Miss Manners. That ends our brief overview. Doggie art has even found its way into the hands of serious art collectors.
Ten years ago a good quality animal portrait sold for $2,500, and today the same portrait goes for $10,000, according to a Manhattan gallery owner and expert in 19th century animal art. This foremost animalier in 19th century art has an all time high of $577,000 for a single painting, which was of a Newfoundland named Neptune. Two hundred fifty thousand is the going rate for a single profile painting done by a French animalier, now living in Long Island.
According to the gallery owner, the revival of Victorian decor caused this trend. Any animals, from pets to farm animals, could be the subject of an English painting, serving for both personal pleasure and advertising opportunities. She testified as to the power of an animal painting to change the atmosphere in a room.
Her experience with thousand dollar animal art has not tainted her taste for locally commissioned pet portraits. Pet owners across the nation have jumped onto this trend, which she still considers serious art. For many owners, only a special commission will satisfy their needs, because descendants in some breeds no longer look like their ancestors. To get the painting just right for picky patrons, the artist must work with photos that they may have to take themselves and take into account the wishes of the client. Landscapes are the specialty of one water colorist from Germantown, Tennessee, who had the unfortunate experience of having to redo a painting of two shaggy dogs after her dissatisfied client asked her to adjust for the gleam in his dogs' eyes. She has also had easy to please clients, one of which was delighted with a five pose portrait of his deceased dachshund.
The past 13 years have been fruitful for another water colorist from Eads Tennessee, who does houses and pets. Though her experience includes cats, fish, and a frog, she more frequently paints dogs and horses. She says she knows when she's got it right by looking at the owner's face, when she views the portrait especially if the animal is dead. There are owners who end up crying.
