Artistic Hounds

Calling All DOGS & Artistic Hounds from A to Z: Party in NYC!

You & your Dogs are invited to a party for Artistic Hounds in New York!

Robert Clarke Dog. Image: Rebecca Hossack

So grab your Dog’s best collar & leash and head over to the Rebecca Hossack Gallery this Wednesday (Novemeber 16^th) for the Pet-friendly celebration of:

The A- Z of DOGS…

A-Z of Dogs. Image: Rebecca Hossack

You’ll discover Dog paintings & prints ranging from Airedales to Zuchons created by the celebrated British Artist Robert Clarke.

Dogs Portrait. Image: Rebecca Hossack

The Artistic Hound is known for his series of Dog portraits, but this collection has a New York accent!

Yorkie Portrait. Image: Rebecca Hossack

Rob Clarke hasn’t always been a Dog-lover.

In fact, the artist used to be somewhat of a scaredy cat.

Pug Portrait. Image: Rebecca Hossack

At the impressionable age of 2 years old, Clarke had a run-in with a German Shepherd.

After the terrifying experience, Rob chose to avoid Dogs all together, no matter the breed.

Norwich Terrier. Image: Rebecca Hossack

It wasn’t until Clarke’s girlfriend persuaded him to get a Jack Russell Puppy in 2003 that his view of Dogs changed forever.

Jack Russell. Image: Rebecca Hossack

While attending Puppy training with his new Jack Russell, Clarke encountered lots of Dogs.

He met stocky Mastiffs and low-slung Bassets. There were plenty of pedigreed Pups and many Mutts.

Owners were encouraged to pass the Pups around for socialization…

Italian Greyhound. Image: Rebecca Hossack

The classes & the Jack Russell were life changing events for Rob Clarke and his artwork.

“You take the Dog to the park and you meet all sorts of fabulous people you wouldn’t come across every day…I was hooked…I started to draw and paint. It’s been a voyage of Canine discovery ever since.” Rob Clarke

Westie. Image: Rebecca Hossack

Clarke celebrates every Dog’s individuality & personality in his work.

Through a few strokes of his brush, Clarke manages to capture the characteristics & behavior of an amazing variety of Dogs.

You can even spot a Napoleon complex or two in his alphabet of Dogs…

Chihuahua Oil on Canvas. Image: Rebecca Hossack

While I’d never reveal the Dogs suffering from the complex, I’m sure you can guess.

The A-Z of Dogs New York Edition is sure to be a treat!

Here’s a personal invite for you & your four-legged friends:

Later, I’ve got to let the Dog out,

This isn’t the first time the Rebecca Hossack Gallery has gone to the Dogs.

Laurie Carroll, the Dog-loving director of the New York art gallery was my guest on Decorating Tails. You can find the Pet Life radio podcast here.

Want more? Check out what we dug up...

London’s Top Dog Is In New York: HOT DOG! Decorating Tails Radio Podcast

Decorating Tails Pet Friendly Radio Podcast: London's Top Artistic Hound is In New York with a Kennel of Dog Artists.

Laughing DOG Gallery: Living In Style With Big DOGS & Artistic Hounds Decorating Tails Podcast

Living In Style With Big DOGS: The Laughing Dog Gallery

PETER CLARK’S DOGS: Artistic Collage

Dogs are paper trained in Peter Clark's Dog Art Collages.

How Designers Decorate with Their Own Dog’s Portraits: Scott Lifshutz

Designers & Dogs Love Scott Lifshutz Modern Dog Paintings for Home Decorating.

Artistic Hound: JAMES CORBETT’S DOGS

Dog Sculptures created by a real Junkyard Dog: James Corbett. Auto parts are the artist's element of choice for his chrome canines.

London’s Top Dog Is In New York: HOT

Laughing DOG Gallery: Living In Style With Big

PETER CLARK’S DOGS: Artistic Collage

How Designers Decorate with Their Own Dog’s Portraits:

Artistic Hound: JAMES CORBETT’S DOGS

Yappy Hour Dog Designs: Decorating with Bar Hounds & Canine Cocktail Accessories

Recently I’ve been working on a wet bar design, so I’ve been spending lots of time thinking about the art of the cocktail.

Evidently I’m not alone.

Have you noticed how many Bar Hounds are running around lately?

Bar Hounds Print. Image: Constance Coleman

It’s true.

Crack open your Pottery Barn Holiday Catalog and you’ll find a few Dogs ready for yappy hour.

Bulldog Cocktail Shaker. Image Pottery Barn

You’ll find a Bulldog cocktail shaker in “antique-silver,” complete with an ID tag dangling from its Dog collar ready for engraving.

At $39, the Puppy is going to blow out the door.

Bulldog Cocktail Shaker. Image Pottery Barn

No bar would be fully stocked without a few Canine cocktail accessories in the mix, so why not top off a few of your bottles with this Bulldog:

Bulldog Bottle Pourer. Image: PB

A bottle pourer is so much more chic than unscrewing a cap, don’t you think?

I’m going to pick up a pack of the Bulldog bottle pourers for before my next cocktail party.

The Bulldog pourer would sure look nifty on this bottle designed with a spiked collar around its neck:

Dog Collar Bottle. Image: Bulldog Gin

Those Bulldogs must be real Bar Hounds.

But Bulldogs are not the only breed inspiring cocktail accessories.

You’ll find Dog inspired designs on everything you need for your next cocktail party right down to the napkins…

Dog Cocktail Party. Image: Mariposa

Mixed drinks need the right glasses. Any party animal would appreciate sipping a Salty Dog out of paw print etched barware.

Caspari’s colorful cocktail napkins can add another Canine touch to any yappy hour illustrated with these Dogs:

Images: Mariposa, Caspari, A Pet’s World

You’ll find there are plenty of vintage Dogs for the bar, too.

Vintage cocktail shakers & accessories, once a symbol of glamour & sophistication, are very collectible.

I’ve collected vintage cocktail shakers for years and there is never a shortage of Scottie Dogs.

Scotch on the rocks, anyone?

Vintage Scottie Dogs. Image: Sheryl’s Art Deco

The French Newspaper Cartoon created by Pol Rab (Paul Abraham 1898-1933) in the 1920’s featured Terriers named Ric & Rac. The Dogs inspired a merchandising frenzy in the 1920’s & 1930’s.

Here Ric & Rac are illustrated sitting in a Paris nightclub on the pages of La Baïonnette Magazine in 1926.

Pol Rab’s Dogs, Ric et Rac, 1926. Image: HPrints

The tango watching Dogs inspired several versions of Ric & Rac cocktail sets.

Made by Sudre in the 1930’s, the Dogs flank cocktail picks adorned with red bakelite ends.

After all, what would a cocktail party be without any hors dourves?

Ric & Rac Vintage Cocktail Picks

Today the vintage Dogs’ cocktail sets fetch almost $500 a piece!

Here is another Best In Show for Art Deco Dog cocktail accoutrements:

A sleek Greyhound Cocktail Pick set. Isn’t it fabulous?

Art Deco Greyhounds Cocktail Set

The Bar Hound print at the beginning of this post was created by artist Constance Coleman in the 1950’s.

Her artwork graced the walls of many nightclubs, country clubs, bars and game rooms in the fifties in the form of wallpaper.

Vintage Dog Wallpaper. Image: C. Coleman

Sold in four panels and covering over 9 feet of wall, here’s the original advertising copy for the Bar Hounds wallpaper:

“A novelty scenic with endless decorating possibilities. Build your Bar or Game Room around it. Create an outstanding conversational piece. Observe the apparent humor! Little Mr. Timid with his first cocktail, Roving Eyes as the powder room is about to be occupied, etc.”

1950’s Bar Hounds Postcard. Image: CardCow

The vintage advertising postcard doesn’t mention the maker, only the bargain price of $39!

Today, the retro Bar Hounds are once again available as both wallpaper and art prints from Dog & Horse Fine Art in a grey, tan & yellow colorway. (Like the first image of this post.)

So get shakin’ and create your own Dog Bar…

1930’s Scottie Bridge Tally. Image:Vintage Paper