Civilization marches boldly forward....
 

Two of the original "Dogs Playing Poker" paintings by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge sold at auction this week for $590,400.

I'm proud to have lived to see it!

Fondly--TE

I saw that news story today, too, Tom. Clearly I'm focusing on the wrong genre!

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire somehow came to mind.

Has Elvis on black velvet been auctioned yet?
;)
Mary

Inspired?
 

I always thought this an inspired work done as a tribute to Sargent's "Birthday Party"-sorry I don't have an image.

I like it.

Please don't hit me. ;)

Forum Portrait
 

You know, I think it's time we planned a group portrait, since we spend so much time together every day! ;) :oops:

Garth

Rrrrrrufffff!

:D

That is funny. I think I could paint from this. ;) I'm so tall there - it reminds me of 5th grade. By the way - you all didn't know this, but I was hiding cards in my hat.

HEY! Where am I!?

Chris, I TOLD you not to drink anything Tim mixed, now get out from under that table. ;)

Sorry 'bout that Chris!
 

Okay, you're back in the picture. You must have just stepped out for the moment. My apologies.

Garth

Ya'll are just gearing up for the dinner in DC.

You know it, Cynthia!

Garth

It's OK Garth... just because I am older than you. :(

Dear Beth,

Don't you know how you light up our lives?

Garth

I have to post something to see if Garth can fit me in here. Or is my head too big? ;)

Forum Dogs-Eleven!
 

Well Linda,

I had to shrink your head three times before you fit. You are big here at the Forum.

Garth

How did I miss this thread? I think the turps have gone to someone's head! :D

A humbling thought
 

After years of sniffing paint and arguing over the merits of PVA vs. rabbit skin glue and the other fascinating minutiae of what I think goes into making a great painting, this is JUST what I may be remembered for.

rabbitskin um...
 

yummy rabbitskin...

I personally suspect Dakini will be figuring prominently in our collective memories for some time to come. Much more so than hide glue.:sunnysmil

Garth

Just when I thought this thread had gone to the dogs, it's the rabbits' turn.

I should mention here that now that the painting has sold, my rec room is now forlorn. Perhaps this portrait might add back that whimsy to my faux wood paneling.

Are there certain gentlemen among you whose oblique references to rabbit skin are an euphemism for another kind of skin, say "bunny" in reference to my saintly depiction of the female nude?

Gosh Sharon! I'm slow to catch on. No that's not what I was referring to. Your Dakini is so much of a saint, that Bunny never crossed my mind 'till you mentioned it.

I meant sincerely you have that as one of you're many powerful, memorable paintings, that you WILL be remembered by.

My apologies for this contextual miscommunication.

Garth

Only when I am hanging out next to you! HA! ;)

Hmmm...Dakini?...bunny?....July edition, 1975....

Now that you mention it... :o

(- :))

A bona fido masterpiece
 

Garth,

Please!

I was just having a huge verbal giggle or guffaw. I am so pleased that you think enough of the painting to remember her.

Actually I DID try to paint someone quite fetching. I remember my first life drawing class at the Boston Museum School. I was 17, straight out of a very strict Connecticut girls school, the model must have been an elderly gentleman recruited from one of Bostons finer alleys. His naked loveliness (as contemplated in only in the most extreme religious sense) was almost enough to send me on a path toward convent life.

When I was a bit older I went to a Whitney Biennial. In it was a huge painting, done by Larry Rivers of a very unpleasant overweight nude called "Birdie", I think. I though if this is "Fine Art". I did not want to have anything to do with it.

Back to the doggies.Considering the rather odd and confusing trajectory of art in the last hundred years or so let us give this work its due. Compositionally it works, the viewer is drawn willingly or unwillingly into the scene. The dog fur is highly textural and varied depending on the breed. The smoky mood is effectively conveyed by the restricted and warm palette increasing the conviviality of the scene. Each dog seems to have his own quiet story, generating mystery, that sine qua non of the bona fido masterpiece.

You should be writing for American Art Review, if you can make even this thing sound elegant!

Morals
 

Well, "Deenie" Goodyear respectfully preserved a strong sense of moral dignity in her life. To her determined sensibilities, it was beneath a dog to enter into an uncultivated activity such as a poker game, let alone to expose one's fair breasts, immodestly sitting tall before the master's table! God rest her noble soul. She was an inspired and devout client, who quietly and piously lived out her years down-east along the blueberry coast of Maine.

Garth

Ah, that all our clients were like that.

Guy and a dog go into a bar. Bartender says "Get out...we don't allow dogs!" Guy says, "But you don't understand. This is Travis, the Amazing Talking Dog." Bartender says, "Show me." Guy asks dog, "OK, Travis, what's on top of a house?" Dog answers, "RUUF!" Guy asks, "What's sandpaper feel like?" Dog answers, "RUUF!" Guy asks, "Who was the greatest baseball player ever?" Dog answers, "RUUF!" Bartender snorts, "Okay, that's enough of you two!" and pitches them both into the street.

Guy demands, "What happened??? How could you let me down this way???" Dog looks up and says, "Maybe I should have said Joe DiMaggio."

Tom It was a Boston Bar they don't like Ruth (or Ruuth) don't want to bring back the curse you know.