there’s nothing holier than a ‘good boy’
I’ve always been confused by the general dismissal of nature as anything more than a commodity… by major religion’s confidence that animals are below us or that they lack our high level of consciousness, purpose, and soul.
That’s not how I see the world.
I believe dogs are more saintly than we could ever hope to be. That they’re born innocent and good, regardless of how their skulls are shaped or how muscular their bodies may be. (To hell with BSL!) And that when it comes to godliness and sainthood, they’ve got us beat.
Don’t believe it?
Research shows that children with autism experience fewer meltdowns in the presence of a pet dog and that their parents’ stress levels are significantly lowered.
Seizure alert dogs can detect epileptic seizures up to 45 minutes before they occur, so that their owners can take medication to prevent or reduce the severity of the seizure or move to a safer space where they’re less likely to be injured.
Emotional support dogs can help children and adults calm down in the midst of a panic attack.
Search and rescue dogs can track people lost in the wilderness, find people buried by an avalanche, and even help locate Alzheimer’s patients who have wandered off.
And everyone who’s ever loved a pooch or watched the Netflix series, Dogs, can attest to the fact that dogs are brilliant at making a bad day seem, well, just a lil bit better.
Truth is, we don’t deserve dogs. And they don’t deserve to be treated as anything other than furry, 4-legged gods who choose to walk amongst us sinners.
And so I make art that entertains this notion and challenges the belief that any of us has a better heart than the average dog.
I’m not really trying to make any grandiose statement. I’m not creating art to blaspheme. I’m simply chasing the curiosity and fascination inside me and sharing a glimpse into the world as I see it.
Glabella, my first born. My familiar. The E.T. to my Elliot.
My very special little guy, Dobby. I’ve given him ALL the socks, but he still doesn’t know he’s a free elf.
materials & models
While I am always looking for new pups to feature, you may notice a few models making repeat appearances in my work. My Mexican rescue pup, Glabella, is one of my favorite models to use (she’s my major inspiration and muse), and my Ohioan rescue pup, Dobby (the Derek Zoolander of the family), also makes regular appearances.
Who else will you see in my work? Shelter pups, family friends, and even a celeb pup or two (like Leroy, the good boy of Phantogram fame).
As far as materials go, I enjoy working with wood, metal, vintage plates, and found objects. All of my pieces require multiple steps, processes, and materials to take form, and no two pieces are identical.
If you have a saintly pup in your life (or a lil devil!) that you’d like to unofficially canonize, just let me know. I love meeting new furry faces and creating custom pieces, and I’d be happy to work on something for you.