Saturday, February 04, 2006

Illustration Friday: Chair

Yeah, Blackie the Mutt was more than a little peeved at me for all the coverage the cats got a couple of weeks ago; and nothing more than a mere mention of his doggie door. So a couple of days ago I told him that he would be worked into the next Illustration Friday thing, no matter what the topic was. Silly of me to be promising things to a dog, you think? Especially silly when you realize that he couldn't hear a word I said. He's 12 years old and stone-deaf.
He's been a good pooch all these years. We got him at the SPCA when he was just a few months old. He was a street pup, wandering when they netted him, I guess.

When I read the topic yesterday, I tried to break the news to him... "You're out of luck, unless you can think of an interesting way to include your hairy self in a picture with a chair." He snorted and slumped off to the other room, only to reappear minutes later, bringing my great-grandfather's chair in much the same manner you see here. Well, maybe not exactly... he can't really stand on only one leg... At least not long enough for me to sketch him.

Oh, and the chair... It belonged to my great-grandfather, Claus, who immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in the 1870s, sailing aroung the horn of South America with four brothers. They landed in San Francisco and settled first in Half Moon Bay, where there was a small enclave of German immigrants. They eventually made their way south, to the Salinas Valley and beyond.


I don't think the chair came with Claus from Germany, but it is a cherished possession, nonetheless.

Anyway, I've included photos of the chair, and, of course, of the black and tan dog. Peace to everyone.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Blackie,
You are an awesome pup! What you did with that chair is amazing. I think you have a future as a performer. Would you also consider balancing the chair with a cat upon it?

Your feline friend,
PowderPuff

Ginger*:) said...

Wonderful interpretation, great image, and I think your grandma's chair is spectacular in its own right. Three cheers for Blackie, by the way.

AscenderRisesAbove said...

Wonderful illustration!!

Anonymous said...

Excellent. Blackie can always make it in the circus based on these latent talents. I can't see cats doing this!

Catnapping said...

A talented dog, he could put your children through college! He's a cutie, too.

A wonderful illustration.

milo said...

Oh this is fantastic! well rendered, beautiful linework

TheTart said...

Such a cute furry subject...Blackie! Give him a big head rub for me. Love this illo!

Smooch,
The Tart

Rick Lovell said...

Aside from the fact that you have documented a wonderful performance by what is clearly an extraordinary animal, the drawing ROCKS!

Anonymous said...

Love the image - great act :)

valerie walsh said...

Twisselman, this is so great! Your much loved doggie is a star! The chair is a beaut and the story is wonderful! Your illo is so smart, fun and beautifully made!!!

IamOSI said...

awesome illo, awesome dog!

HARDWAX said...

fine perspective and color-and blackies performance is remarkable,more than anything though, the spotlight coming from somewhere up above-so sharp

kikazinha said...

I liked your post a lot,the illustration has a comics type,lots of movement,great light and it is a great and really different idea.

Besides this I love your Dog,it looks really sweet.I would make him promises as well ;-)
And... that's not a cat at my blog,under the chair there's the devil in the box with rape.Remember?The one who was mean to the poor tinsoldier...

Katili said...

An absolutely great illustration, I love the colours and the lights. And the concentrated positioning.

I really loved the story of you dear dog and I was very touched. I send my warmest hugs to the loveable Blackie, and all the people who take care of stray animals.

Anonymous said...

That perfect. My cats couldn't do that.

StayAtHomeKat said...

Thank you so much for the lovely fun illo and for Blackie....slobber him a kiss from me

Doug said...

that's one talented dog! good job!

andrea said...

I had to show this to my animal-obsessed son. First I showed him the photos, then the illustration. He was delighted.

The Tart said...

hello twissel-sha-snizzle-age...out of respect of your poochy IF chair post, I have woven a story including you in my current post. i invite you to stop by and read about yourself!

please leave a comment and let me know if there is more to my story...wonderful doggy chair!

modroom said...

A dramatic entrance by Blackie, that's a good party trick! Like the colour effects around the lights and the crop/ composition. Interesting stuff and photos too. Did Blackie ever consider a career in the circus?
ChairPeace. ..:::)

Liz Jones said...

Poor puppy. All that work just to get a little face time? He's one talented pooch!

Unknown said...

Absolutely wonderful. Even the chair has 'character'. Too much, I love it.

trowbridge chronicles said...

I like the way you posed the dog, the way you used the light, and how beautifully everything is drawn.

Aravis said...

Oh, you've hit on my soft spot. I just love dogs. Yours is very talented! And handsome, too. :0) Wonderful story about Claus as well.

The Unknown said...

Ha Ha! Great illustration and story! Thanks for the pics too.
love

Rectite23 said...

Wonderful story and as always wonderful illustration! I always look forward to seeing your work!

Unknown said...

Wonderful!!! i love it when people include their pets into the illustrations.

The Tart said...

Twisselman...get away from that Tart...come by and bring your little dog Blackie...the plot thickens!

Paul Tuller said...

great piece! I like it how you showed us pictures of what inspired it, cue dog

Amy Zaleski said...

Another great one! Are you running out of pets to illustrate? :-) Very cool lighting effects here as well.

Regina said...

Great illustration and post!

Jaimie said...

Excellent! you kept your promise to the dawg and drew a very cool picture.
watercolor?

KarenW said...

Wow! Your dog is so talented. Excellent illustration. I love the dramatic lighting.

Twisselman said...

Many thanks from that hairy mongrel Blackie and me (semi-hairy mongrel) to all you folks for the warm feelings and comments. I'd read them to the Mutt, but like I said, he wouldn't be able to hear a word. So I'll just scratch him behind his ear and give him a hug from y'all. Oh... and I'll grab that chair off his nose... He must be really tired by now.

madretz said...

I love your drawings with your pets and the stories that go along with them! I always enjoy all of your illustrations. Your pets have a lot of personality. Mine is just stubborn. Currently insisting on being in my face, mad that I'm paying more attention to a bright monitor rather than her.

Radha a.k.a Ratlion said...

Hello! Nice illo! I can't even imagine my dog (9 month old labrador) pulling that stunt...he'd rather eat/chew the chair than balance it on his nose...*sigh*

Sally said...

So clever and original! I wish I could incorporate my dog into my work but I can't draw dogs/animals very well.

carla said...

Oh, I want to kiss his wet little nose:> What a sweet old pup! I love that you illustrated him doing such a splendid trick, and I love the storty of the chair!

steve said...

Hooray for Blackie! I'm sure he's proud of his equally talented owner.

Larry Lee said...

This is fun. That is one talented dog. Or, perhaps it's the chair that is talented. He better be careful and not drop the chair!
8^)

TXArtcGal said...

You truly are an inspiration to me! I enjoyed your story as well...and glad Blackie got some well-needed attention. LOVE that chair as well!! You truly captured both in your illustration.

bee'nme said...

OK Twisselman, you got me wiping away a tear here. This is a GREAT post - love the dog-adoration and the chair history, and the humor -and oh yeah, the drawing is amazing. You're a fine artist and a gentleman. Thanks for sharing your considerable gifts with us. And give Blackie a pat on the head from me would ya?

Kay Aker said...

Blackie, performer extaordinaire of such amazing mind-boggling feats! Beautiful and cool illustration!

Twisselman said...

Alexa: No problem. No offense taken. And thanks for the nice comments.