Four&Sons

Alphabet City

BY Mel Cousipetcos and Campbell Boyer, October 1, 2012

If you ask ‘What is it about dogs?’ to an artist who’s work revolves around them, the last response you might expect is “hated dogs…” followed by the tale of a dog attack at just two years old. It all makes a little more sense to account for Rob Clarke’s current affinity for dogs when he reveals that 10 years ago he “got a little long haired Jack Russell, went to puppy club and fell in love with dogs in general.”

Clarke originally started with birds, doing large groups for walls of show flats which he says “looked great on mass but [then I] migrated to dogs… I do still paint birds but dogs have taken over.”

Taken over is right. After talking with a friend, Clarke thought it would be a great idea to do an A-Z series of dogs – a set of prints of mostly British breeds. He sketches, working from numerous photos or found images (no, dogs won’t stay still for a sitting). “The sketches are very spontaneous, quick and I do many drawings until I get one I love.” His favourite letter? ‘X’ for Xolo, a kind of kooky, hairless breed native to Mexico.

This initial series spawned a New York edition and mono-print series soon to be exhibited at the Rebecca Hossak gallery in London. “The A-Z of New York was the smaller dog collective. As the apartments are smaller, the dogs got smaller, so I was doing French bulldogs, Boston terriers, Chihuahua’s for the wonderful American market… they love their dogs.” “The new show is a mono printed version of some new dogs of the A-Z family with smooth texture, natural colour washes and some bright busy colour. The black and white A-Z I found to be a classic rendition of dog breeds, the colour was to make it more present” he adds.

Aside from these series, Clarke mostly does commissions (specially with acrylics on canvas and pencil), having just done Alan Carr’s two red setters, Bev and Joyce, commissions for Meatloaf and also Fergie’s (of Black Eyed Peas fame) dachshund who died a while back. “Having your dog painted makes people incredibly happy… and I love that” he says.

Does Clarke have a dog of his own, we ask? “Burt and Mabel with my ex-girlfriend. I get to see them when I’m in London…” With Clarke travelling too much to have his own, we are glad to hear the sole custody allows visitation rights.

—
All artwork by Rob Clarke
You can see many of Rob Clarke’s commissions at allgooddogs.posterous.com

—
For more information about Rob Clarke’s upcoming exhibition, click here
The A-Z of Dogs black and white series can be purchased from Growler

Tags A to Z of dogs, Art, Exhibition, Gifts, Illustration, Living, London, New York, Portrait, Product, Rebecca Hossak Gallery, Rob Clarke