For Uni I need a top class living dog artist and I would like to link this to my interest in dogs.  I was thinking of Mick Cawson as his work has style and a genuine artistic flair life and atmosphere, but sadly he died a couple of years back at a very young age. So with him gone I'm not sure who the greatest artist is in the dog world... as in respected as artistic rather than simple consumer art such as the tight copied  photos, simplistic head portraits and  not Digital Artists - Graphic Designers or Illustrators.... or anything twee which are to be excluded.  They need to be decently respected in the art world and reasonably well exhibited.

Ideally artists specialising in capturing the working active dogs,  and the dogs do not need to be a prime specialist as long as the artist has some superb examples within their work that I can pick out to use.

so so far I am struggling to find any artist who fits.

If anyone can think of some artists it would be really helpful as it would make a nice change from resoting to someone like Damien Hurst etc.

Thanks.

Hi

Nigel Hermming well known in the dog world regarding working dogs.

Paul Doyle & John Trickett

boy there  are loads, John silver is one that springs to mind for his water pitures with the labs.

http://www.chelmerfineart.com/categoryDetail.asp?cno=4

http://www.collect-art.com/expandstyle.asp?cno=4

Thanks for those who sent me names. It is helpful.

Yes Blue  there are loads of dog artists but they can't all be the top artists so I am not looking for a random name but who people actually believe whebn they view the work themselves to be the very best artist out there.   And  nor do many actually fit the criteria I stated.

The thinking is: how many dog artist do you see exhibiting in your local art galleries? And talking to gallery curators unless it was a dead dog in formaldehyde no gallery would be interested and even that you would have to make it more obscene to be appreciated  by the art world.

Quality and skill and Dog art is very ill respected, very lowest of the low. The more realistic the work the lower it is held in respect. 

Therefore at art college  I am interested in challenging this and to do this I need work with some of the elements a gallery for example  would be looking for. Life, vitality and a communication between the artist that says much more than 'this is a dog' .

The dog artists out there will know what I am talking about and I have lifted as much information from the web that can be found. so if anyone has added  insight into this or information I would appreciate it.

Edited By Member

Maybe you should try an ART Forum then :)

I'm trying lots of sources for gaining opinions for my study and as part of this  I am interested in the tastes and opinions of dog enthusiasts.  

A huge amount of dog enthusiasts are artists themselves in some form or have an interest in art. Frequently the two go together. To appreciate the beauty in a dog, in the expressions and the movements is a form of art.

Yes Blue  there are loads of dog artists but they can't all be the top artists so I am not looking for a random name but who people actually believe whebn they view the work themselves to be the very best artist out there.   . 

Unless they have some acolade for the top dog artist this position is a matter of opinion, hence various artists names thrown at you :-)

The other thing I have found with most dog people ( I mean this complementary)  they don't care or follow others opinions so what is ones favorite that captures their breed well will be vastly different to others.
They need to be decently respected in the art world and reasonably well exhibited.   Not sure how many are well up on the art world but if you want the opinion really of the art world the the art fourms may be the best place. We may love artists ourselfs but the " art world"  may not. :-D

And  nor do many actually fit the criteria I stated   Completely confused here not sure if this is a telling off or not ;-) :-D  again this is down to opinion.  I personally would rather take the information I want from posts rather than say what people have replied/suggested is no good ;-) :-) after all posters have taken the time to reply :-D  Even admin did. 

I have no doubt You have and see passion in  your cause , I may be wrong but I dont personally think most of us really have quite the same passion or care about what is represented in our local gallery if we can find what we want easily in other places. Ie the internet. I guess it would be nice.

My favorite artist of my own breed is Debbie Gillingham but it may not be what you need or want or fit your cirteria but it does all of mine :-))) Very light in colour and never over stated.  . I have found one of the limited editions locally and one much more sought after in my breed online. Both quite easily found at the time.

Sorry nothing was supposed to be a telling off just an explanation about the relationship or trials of the relationship between the dog artists and the art world in case people didn't understand what I am looking for and why.

I have spent hours and hours over the year wading through endless web site looking at dog artists and very few are all that good .. and very many are superb.. maybe at least a good 10% + of dog artists are what should fit the bill for recognition in art galleries if the trend were not dictated by the need of work to be off beat .  It is these type of works which do include all the artists people have mentioned who are all top artists and I have thanked you all for these names and  I have not said they are no good   )  This is why it is really helpful to gain other insights into who dog lovers love too as artists. I wanted to explain in greater depth that I'm not just asking for names because I am being too lazy to look myself but that extra input is really helpful.. so I am not at all meaning to be telling anyone off. I really appreciate the help and any individual input people can give is valuable for my study. 

Basically I doubt even the likes of Renoir would have their work accepted in galleries right now but that's not to say a Student wouldn't have a valid argument to base a study on to claim his work has a justifiably valid contribution to make to the art world.

I may be wrong but I dont personally think most of us really have quite the same passion or care about what is represented in our local gallery if we can find what we want easily in other places.
ah we may not be drawn to galleries now because the work may well be of no interest to us  but if the works of our favourate dog artists were exhibited in our city art galleries many of us would go to look.

So your comments on Debbie Gillingham are exactly what I am looking for. Perfect! If people can actually comment on the work like you have it is very useful to me because then I can add what is special  the artists work.   I decided as well as identifying one artist I will do a supplementary study where I can draw in several artists and their specialisms.

oooh boy is my art tutor is realy going to hate this! I get into enough trouble already for my dog related art work especially the ones that other people love. But it's what I love and is why I draw.

Mick Cawson is the artist who is best in my eyes because his work speaks to me, I love his vibrancy and the powerful use of light and  colour... but that is my taste. And I am interested in what other people love and why if people have the time to think about it as you have done it would be great.   Okay and yes cos he paints border Collies too!  ;)

what about the kennel club, they have works of art by old and current artists? 

Anne Zoutsos did the most beautiful painting of my Cavalier Henry. :-)

There is a, list of Artists here http://www.corsini.co.uk/fineart/artists.shtml , don't know how many/if any are respected in wider Art circles.

If you want cutting edge art with a dog theme check out Puppies are Biodegradable. It's a collection of work by general artists to bring attention to the cruelty of puppy farming. The work is sometimes hideous, always emotive. It might bring some new perspective into your research.

Oh wow fantastic! I can't thank you enough for that link... it is absolutely just what galleries are looking for. Fantastic. Great work there too. Thanks so much!

Steven Nesbitt, is one of the best around , he does all breeds he does have a website but i don't have the address.
He wrote to me asking if he could photograph my dogs ( Newfies ) at midland counties last year.
We had them done and the oil painting is out of this world.
He does do paintings for the KC and lots of the London gallaries, and most of his paintings are turned into prints and cards.
Top notch dog artist.

Peanuts

Thanks. His website was really easy to find.

lol.. looking at his paintings he obviously loves Newfoundlands. I love the painting of the three  swimming in the water.