By Danny Gregory

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Fleedom's just another word for nothing left to delouse

October 20, 2006

While we were away, so were our hounds, Joe and Tim. They went to stay with the Globuses (their breeders) and various relatives in Fire Island.The highlight of their vacation was when Joe, a natural hunter, escaped from the compound and went over to the neighbors where he found a dead (and non-rabid) raccoon. Tim (Robin to Joe's Batman) followed. Their various cousins stayed safely at home.
We were hound-less for quite a while upon our return as it took forever for Captain Ron Globus to make it back to the city with his boarders. We consoled ourselves by sleeping in and missing morning walks.

Joe and Tim brought some friends back to the City — a pack of fleas. They were both scratching and nipping until Jack and I took them for a scrub. Normally, we wash them in the kitchen sink but this itchuation called for professional help. We scooted them right over to the Village dog wash and soaked them in some special flea bath until they were squeaky clean and calm again.

Though I try to control the temptation to use blue shadows in my paintings, I love the way these worked against Joe's ginger fur. In fact, let's be honest, I rarely avoid the temptation to use blue shadows. I'm sure if I was lady, I'd wear blue eye-shadow and coral lipstick like my mother-in-law Phyl used to.

Comments

Ah, you paint your dogs with such love. I bet you did miss them! great drawings. I'm smiling at the thought of you in blue eyeshadow.

Posted by: Jane LaFazio | October 20, 2006 07:51 PM

I've been silently tuning into your site for years, reading and admiring your books... and I finally got up the courage to write. These drawings are so lovely. I wish I could capture my furry family members like this. I'm in awe.

Posted by: Robin Shotola | October 20, 2006 08:01 PM

Did someone on high say not to use blue shadows? I quite like them. Continue.

Posted by: Jane Humphrey | October 20, 2006 09:11 PM

hey Danny.
what beautiful dogs you have! they look awesome.
-mel.

Posted by: Melanie | October 20, 2006 11:08 PM

I wish I could draw like you. The dogs look great. And I love blue shadowing or underpainting in watercolor. Another great job!

Posted by: terri | October 20, 2006 11:20 PM

What's wrong with blue shadow? Is there a reason you avoid it, and more important, a reason you succumb to it? Is it an evil temptation? As a new illustrated journaller, is there some illicit thrill I should know about? Yet anoter vice to explore and enjoy in some heathen den of deplorable deeds?

What next? No blue ice? No blue mirrors? What's the world coming to????? :)

Posted by: Mary Ann | October 20, 2006 11:50 PM

I love the way you've done the tones of the dogs' fur, esp. the black one. The watercolours and the loose lines of the sketch work so well together. Imagine, having a Village dog wash to go to!

Posted by: Nancy | October 21, 2006 01:20 AM

Wonderful drawings of the hounds of Baskerville!

Posted by: ParisBreakfasts | October 21, 2006 05:03 AM

Danny, with your facial colouring (remembering your box-office-hit: 'Blue in the face') you might want to go with Tom Kane to one of his drag-queen-events.
Regarding your mole-colouring: you developed such a wonderful style - esp. your yellowish-colours are great.

Posted by: Thorsten | October 21, 2006 06:22 AM

My question exactly. Is every shadow really blue/purple? Isn't it just the darker color of the object it's on? But, it does usually work. So many art questions...so little time. Love your Chase spots Danny. There's another sketchcrawl in San Diego next weekend...you're always welcome
Andy

Posted by: Andy | October 21, 2006 01:53 PM

Danny, I love your painting of the pups! (The blue shadows do look lovely with Joe's ginger fur.) Glad the dead raccoon wasn't rabid but sorry his little friends changed alliegences. Hounds will be hounds. You have to love them! and your paintings show you do.
Roz

Posted by: roz | October 21, 2006 05:04 PM