2.11.2011

"On the internet, nobody knows you're a dog." -- Peter Steiner

 
Well we've successfully rotated our way around 
to Friday once again . . .



 I'm almost afraid to look at the calendar these days . . .


hard as it may be to believe.  The dieting part of me thought Friday would NEVER come (my cheat day) but the deadline part of me wishes it were still Monday afternoon.

It occurred to me a few weeks ago that I didn't have any dog pieces left for my booth in Baltimore (that's because everybody loves dog pieces) so at the risk of creating something less than REAL art I decided  I'd better do something about it (that's because everybody loves dogs). 


To his dog, every man is Napoleon; 
hence the constant popularity of dogs.

-- Aldous Huxley


Luckily, I have a large backlog of doggy drawings and ideas, not to mention 85 pounds of constant inspiration wagging furiously around the studio, knocking-askew and shedding-all-over and covering with well-meaning-drool everything in his path.




I've also been wanting to add another piece to my Vocabulary Lessons series, so I was delighted when I was able to mesh the two objectives in one piece:



Vocabulary Lesson No. 847, 7.5 x 8.5", Susan M. Hinckley, 2011


And I'm done in time to take it to my photographer tomorrow!  This means all the sewing for Baltimore is finished, and we now move into the furious painting, framing, and swearing phases of preparation (we've already started the insomnia phase -- about six days ago). 


One only needs to hang around the dog park  for a few minutes to realize that dogs are by nature the very definition of idiosyncrasy, each unique and bursting with enthusiasm and eccentric personality.






This particular dog  also appears to be uncharacteristically concerned with his looks.  As James Gorman said, "A dog's idea of personal grooming is to roll on a dead fish."  Truer words were never spoken.  That's why I thought a well-dressed dog was the perfect illustration for this particular vocabulary word.

Although for some reason in this quick (read: poorly lit)  photo he appears to have eyelashes, I assure you that he is not a cross-dressing dog (which might offend my more sensitive readers) -- he's not quite THAT idiosyncratic.

I traded my ubiquitous black-and-white dog for a chocolate lab in my dear Cooper's honor, although why he deserves any honor today is beyond me.  Just this morning I chased him across the yard and through a thigh-high snowbank in my nice pants and SHOES because he saw something interesting in the park across the street and decided it was probably time for a little exploratory walk.

Grrrrr.

I of course yelled at him, emptied the snow out of my shoes and then immediately gave him a nice cookie and a pat on the head.

Will he never learn? 

But that's part of the beauty of dogs --
they're so EASY to make happy, you can't really resist doing it.


Now let's hope there's a 
chocolate lab AND art lover out there 
who's looking to adopt. 


(Despite his mischievous grin, I assure you #847 is VERY well-behaved 
and SMART -- he has, after all, a large vocabulary for a dog.)



Happy Weekend!



   

7 comments:

krex said...

Vanity is usually the cats purview but I believe your dog pulls it off stunningly .

language has always fascinated me and I often "cheated" on vocabulary words in school by trying to break them down into their latin base which can reveal some interesting results .

Just mentioning it because idiocencratic would seem to imply that there is some link between the word
"idiot" and "unique and eccentric" . Unless "cencratic" means "the opposite of" ? Off to Wikki to find out .


(off on a tangent much)....uhhm, hope the show goes well .(I'm working on my social skills :)

krex said...

Ok, because I didn't want to add to your insomnia, the base of the word appears to be not Latin but Greek , "idiom=ones own", but idiot ....
Idiot as a word derived from the Greek ἰδιώτης, idiōtēs ("person lacking professional skill," "a private citizen," "individual"), from ἴδιος, idios ("private," "one's own")

There, I just saved you a trip to Wikki where you would have lost hours getting caught in the Wiiki vortex .

As an "aspie" known for being self-centric, I take offense at the modern bastardization of a term idiot and am happy you see you showing this fine example of the characteristic in this noble doggy .

Uhhhm, Class is dismissed

Leenie said...

Thanks, thanks for taking a moment to post another fun one for us blog addicts out here.

Hehe on the dog stories. Dogs guarantee their love with all that love. They care not what you look like-clothed or unclothed--as long as you can find a cookie for them. Love the doggie smile in your latest creation. Should sell quickly. Best of wishes on the framing and painting.

Karen S said...

So true -- a dog is the best deal out there.

I love the grin on your dog. And the grammar lesson from your friend -- but then I laughed out loud when I read "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves"!

Allie said...

FRIDAY??? IT"S FRIDAY??? Egads, I have to do a give-away today! You'd think having a calendar on my wall would help....

Well Susan, I love this piece more than I can say. His expression fits perfectly. Get some good pics cuz someone is going to snap him up and take him home right away!

My favorite dog [and book] quote:

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." Grouch Marx

susan m hinckley said...

Thanks for the smiles, one and all! Just the thing on this busy day. I so appreciate it when you take time to leave me a comment. Makes it all worthwhile, know what I mean?

Best wishes all around.

Chelsea said...

i love this. especially the line about you giving coop a cookie. and i love idiosyncrasy dog! the photo hardly does him justice!

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