Tag Archives: dog art

Everything is Going to the Dogs!

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“… Late arrivals at the Gala included Herbert Boston, Director of Canine Affairs, and his lovely companion Eva “Chi Chi” Tink. Boston basked in the afterglow of his successful Terrier Empowerment Initiative; but it was Tink who drew the most praise for her immigration and humanitarian work at in southern border states…”

 

“Going to the Dogs” is a bit extreme. And, as Herbert and Chi Chi can tell you, being with the dogs can be a very cool thing. That said, 2018 was a year of personal challenges for me. And, like unwanted house guests,some of those challenges followed me into 2019. But all is not gloom and doom! Some exciting things have happened too! My home base, ShopCraft, moved to a fantastic new location! We are still in the Elmwood Village at 773 Elmwood Avenue. Please come and visit!

Another positive development is that I’m drawing again. I started early in 2018 and then abandoned it. But, October being Inktober, I picked up my pens, brushes and gouache and started creating new images. You will still find my one-of-a-kind sculpted and painted originals at shows and festivals, as well as ShopCraft, but the new images are fresh and fun! They are perfectly suited to the dye sublimation coffee mugs, ornaments and gifts I started making in November 2018. You can find them HERE and at ShopCraft too.

My Instagram feed will give you a behind the scenes look at both lines of work.

So Woof Woof 2019! If you’re not nice to me I’ll bite you 🙂 Here’s wishing everyone a warm, sunny Spring.

 

 

 

 

 

Twas the Night Before Christmas — I changed it a little bit….

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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,
Only Mylo was stirring, he was looking for a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. CLICK

Alison_E_Kurek_Silent_Mylo_Tuxedo_Cat_Mouse_Attack

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar cookies danced in their heads.
And mamma in her kimono and I in my cap,
Had just popped a cork for a little night cap. CLICK

Alison_E_kurek_Red_Wine_Painting

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The full moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. CLICK

ReindeerBuffalocardORprint

With a pack of drivers, so lively and quick,
I thought at once one must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles the reindeer they came,
They whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! CLICK

Alison_E_Kurek_Cat_Ornaments_Silent_Mylo_Tuxedo_Cat_Ornament_Santa_Cat_Ornament_2

“Now Dasher! now Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On Comet! On Cupid!, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the reindeer they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys,  St Nicholas and Elves too. CLICK

Alison_E_kurek_Black_Lab_Christms_Cards

 

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas’s elves came with a bound.

Alison_E_Kurek_Buffalo_NY_Artist_Elves_2

 

They were dressed all in fur, from head to foot,
Their coats were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys each carried in a sack,
They all looked like peddlers about to open a pack.

Their eyes-how they twinkled! their dimples how merry!
Their cheeks were like roses, each nose like a cherry!
Their packages were all wrapped, each topped with a bow,
And they smelled like cats and dogs that had been caught in the snow. CLICK

Alison_E_Kurek_Black_Lab_Art

They’d been drinking red wine, I could tell by their teeth
And it looked like one of them may have wrestled with a wreath.
They headed for the wine I had planned for my belly,
That drank it all down and moved on to the peanut butter and jelly! CLICK

Alison_E_Kurek_Cat_and_Dog_Painting

Each was chubby and plump, each a right jolly elf,
And I laughed when I saw them, in spite of myself!
The closest one winked his eye then twisted his head,
And I soon understood I had nothing to dread.

They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
They laid their paws upon each other’s nose,
Each gave a nod, and up the chimney they rose!

They sprang to their sleigh, to their team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

– original poem written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) — I — um — took a few liberties…….

 

Snowy Night in Buffalo: A Cautionary Tale

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‘Twas a snowy night in Buffalo….

Alison_E_Kurek_Buffalo_Ornament_Blue_Snow_Christmas_Ornament_2

Click HERE for listing

And Mark Poloncarz (the trusty Erie County Executive) warned all citizens to stay off the roads……

 

But the chickens and roosters were running wild….

Alison_E_Kurek_Rooster_Christmas_Ornament_Too_1

Click HERE

 

..the cats and dogs were throwing a party……

Alison_E_Kurek_Paw_Print_Framed_Canvas_Art_1

Click HERE

 

…and the fish had plans of their own……

 

Alison_E_Kurek_Sushi_Gives_You_Worms_Listy

 

Click HERE

 

Poloncarz didn’t know what to do! He was besides himself! HE had warned the citizens, Don Paul (trusty WIVB meteorologist) had warned the citizens, even the National Weather Service had warned the citizens…….but they continued to run amok!

 

As a last resort Poloncarz decided to call upon Retired General Herbert Black Crow (who now sidelined as a bellhop at the the Buffalo Hyatt Regency). If anyone could take charge of the madness surely it was General Crow.

 

Alison_E_Kurek_Mianture_Crow_In_Snow_Painting_1

Click HERE

 

General Crow arrived, sporting his typical Take Charge air (which was impressive considering he was less than 2 feet tall and wearing a bell hop hat). He viewed the situation. He evaluated the situation. And he promptly gathered all of the culprits, offenders and miscreants into a huge pie shell. He diced them, he sliced them, and he covered them with a top crust. Then he baked them till the crust was a golden brown and he ate the entire pie!

Poloncarz was horrified!

WTF!

Really?!?

How could little General Crow eat the entire pie without offering him a slice?!?

But by now the snow outside had slowed, the plow teams and salters were making headway, and sun was about to rise in Buffalo.Alison_E_Kurek_Buffalo_Ornament_Sunrise_2

 

Click HERE

 

A new day had begun. Poloncarz slowly made his way home through the snow covered streets. He yawned as he pulled into his driveway and smiled at a job well done….because that’s the way things go on a dark, snowy night in Buffalo, New York when you openly defy the County Executive.

 

Alison_E_Kurek_Buffalo_Ornament_BalckandWhite_Two_1

 

Click HERE

 

THE END

 

 

Having Some Fun with Art History

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Art History Three: DINE-er Jacket

Like most artists, I like to think that my work is completely original. With the exception of long ago assignments in art class I’ve never set out to create a copy of another artist’s work; but there’s a difference between copying and finding inspiration in the work of another. About a year ago I started a small mixed media piece based on a Van Gogh self portrait. In addition to my rendition of Van Gogh’s painting I also referenced Warhol’s multiple images and Parmigianino’s Madonna with the Long Neck. Next I tackled Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, keeping the Warhol multiple image format. My latest piece, and the largest of the three at 30″(h) x 24″(w), pays homage to Jim Dine’s Pop Art Robe’s of the 80’s and 90’s. Unlike my other sources of inspiration, Jim Dine is still very much alive and creating and exhibiting new work.

While each of these pieces found their inspiration in the works of others, I’ve included enough “Kurek” in them to assure that they could never be viewed as “copies”. They are instead original works that are having a bit of fun with art history.

You can find my originals and prints in my Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilentMyloStudio?ref=si_shop 

Art History One: Van Gogh Meets Warhol Meets Parmigianino Meets Kurek

Art History Two: Moanin' Lisa