Four&Sons

Author Archives: Emma Guthrie

About Emma Guthrie

1. Off the Leash

   May 23, 2013 11:08 am Leave a Comment

   Cartoonist Rupert Fawcett is an old hat in the genre. From his original fan-favourite Fred to his later works (following the birth of his children) on Daddy, his trademark wit and warmth is prevalent across the board. We spoke to Fawcett about how he got into animation, and his latest project Off the Leash.

   Why did you choose cartoon as your medium?
   I went to art school many years ago wanting to become a painter, but I also used to draw a lot of cartoon-type characters as a child as well. As an adult I started drawing cartoons again in my twenties and it is really the perfect medium for me because it gives me the combination of visual and verbal communication. I guess I am a cross between a writer and an artist and somehow one of those mediums on its own would not be enough for me.

   How long does a typical piece take and what is your process?  
   I draw all my cartoons in pencil first, then draw over the lines in ink, then rub out the pencil and draw over the ink lines in ink a second time to give the lines a slightly uneven look. A cartoon can take between two and five hours depending on the complexity of the drawing.

   Can you tell me a little about Fred? Who is he based on?     
   I am not sure who Fred is really. He is a combination of several things, suburban man, an inventor of ridiculous things like the ten-man spade, and a big baby. His life is also a combination of recognisable domesticity and surrealism.

   In an era of the South Park and Family Guy, it’s refreshing to see cartoons which are witty and cheeky but not gross. Is this something you have purposely set out to do or is it simply a reflection of your own sense of humour?
   My cartoons are not necessarily a reflection of the only kind of humour I like. I like dark, morbid ‘gallows humour’ and some very crass, vulgar humour too, but it doesn’t come naturally to me to produce that kind of stuff myself. I have found that a very small minority of my Facebook audience can be easily offended and they are quick to let me know about it, but they are always free to stop looking at my work. I certainly won’t allow anyone to restrict my creative freedom.

   Can you tell me about Off the Leash? Is it based on your own pet?  
   Off the Leash came to me simply because I started having cartoon ideas featuring dogs, then a while later some friends who work in social media told me that I should be putting my work on-line. I am not naturally a social media type of person so I needed encouragement and some help from my wife. I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction to my work and simply kept on going. It has now taken over my life and the first Off The Leash book is being published this September.

   Off the Leash is your first work displayed via a blog. 
   Social media is brilliant for an artist like myself, it is an audience at your fingertips. I can do a drawing and as soon as the ink is dry, scan it and post it on my page where it will be seen by thousands of people within seconds. Also, I really do enjoy the interactions with my audience, I get sent a lot of very sweet, warm messages by lovely people who are passionate about their dogs and they send me very funny pictures of their dogs too.

   What’s next for Rupert Fawcett?
   I have the book coming out in a few weeks and later in the year I hope to be doing high quality signed, framed prints. In the future I think there is a good opportunity for animation, but I don’t feel ready for that yet, and I am incredibly busy.

   —
   All artwork by Rupert Fawcett
   rupertfawcettsdoggyblog.tumblr.com

2. The look of love

   May 15, 2013 6:12 am 1 Comment

   Tobias Lang is a veritable newbie to the photography game. It was only in 2008 that the former IT director quit his job and started a photography apprenticeship leading to a permanent role as a fulltime freelance photographer in 2010.

   His latest project Your Pet and You is a seemingly simple premise whereby pet owners are photographed alongside their pets on a wooden plinth. However the resulting shots, published in “charismatic” black and white hold much more depth, and are all at once sweet and quirky.

   The project began simply enough, as Lang couldn’t help noticing his roommate’s cats would constantly perch on the wooden block in his living room. He began shooting both the cats and their owners and gradually, the idea took on a life of its own and extended to more friends and family, and eventually strangers. Lang says of the project “I love animals; they have so many characteristics and behaviours. I like to work with them, because they are not vain, they just act! Normally I like to photograph people, which is my real passion. In the project both subjects appear so all my favourites appear.”

   As the series has progressed so has the breadth of subjects and Lang is open to all creatures weird and wonderful, like the strikingly beautiful Waldemar, the owl or the hairy tarantula that truly tested his courage. Same goes for Fibi, a cat with no interest in leaving her transport box. Despite her owner receiving minor flesh wounds from the camera-shy feline, and Lang only managing five photos; he still managed to take a great image and all others made it home in one piece.

   Yes some of the shots prove that pets really can look like their owners but there is so much more to the project, and the warmth and personality lying beneath is a joy to behold. Lang puts it best himself. “I like the confidence between the pets and their owners… working out their characters, is the most sparkling thing about the series”.

   —
   For see the complete series, click here
   tobias-lang.com

3. LIGHTEN UP

   May 2, 2013 7:33 am Leave a Comment

   Abigail Ahern knows your home needen’t be staid. Combining her love of dogs and decor, these little beauties have it all. Seriously, if household accessories had personalities, they would look like this.

4. The Running of the Dogs

   March 19, 2013 8:23 am Leave a Comment

   Michael Crouser’s Dog Run was never intended to be what it became. The series of provocative black and white photographs of mutts interacting in urban playgrounds (or ‘dog runs’), was initially supposed to be figure studies of Great Danes in motion, bringing to life Crouser’s elegant visions of  “musculature, movement, shapes and glistening coats.” Residing on the sidelines however, Crouser became a voyeur to a far more complex situation—dogs playing wildly with no regard to being watched. Fascinated by their interaction, the photographer shot over several years what would become Dog Run, “some very intense, very goofy images of eyes and tongues and legs and tails flying around.”

   Though he has never had a dog himself, he couldn’t help but be drawn on his runs around the Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis to the relatively new phenomenon of the urban dog park; and the sea of dogs that inhabited them. In fact, he often found it rather therapeutic remaining motionless for hours on end whilst the animals around him went wild.

   Crouser’s strong aesthetic is far from the saccharine soaked displays we so often see of perfectly groomed golden pups playing with balls in ribbon-threaded baskets. These dogs were shot as they really are, raw in monochrome. Yes, the images are intense, however they are not entirely dark, and are often tinged with humour.

   Crouser explains, “I’ve been asked more than once ‘What’s with the darkness? What’s with the intensity?’ I can only say that if photography is a personal expression, then I must be tapping into a darker, more intense, more emotional side with photography than I’m able to otherwise. I don’t think people see me as “dark” in mood or in character, but there is a lot of intensity and heaviness, and even violence in my photography, but also quiet humor. I believe that the most successful of my photographs, and the larger collection of works put together are really a pretty true reflection of myself. I sometimes feel that my more personal work has more in common with painting or rough pottery or certain types of music than it does with much that is out there in the photography world. I don’t expect everyone to see that, it’s just how it feels.”

   Crouser continues to hone his “magical” craft, and admits he is constantly learning and improving, publishing his works for others to see and consider, but ultimately embarking on a very personal journey. With his camera now pointed on his next project Mountain Ranch (a series depicting the disappearing world of cattle ranches in the Colorado hills), it’s a certainty his intelligent aesthetic will be thriving for years to come.

   —
   All images courtesy of Michael Crouser
   michaelcrouser.com
   dogrunbook.com

5. Ware it well

   February 27, 2013 5:40 am Leave a Comment

   Tom Scott and Jackie Rosenthal know a thing or two about fashion. Jackie worked for many years as Sales Director and merchandiser for several fashion houses in both New York and Paris, and Tom spent seven years at Ralph Lauren before starting his own line of atypical knitwear in 2001. The two met through a mutual friend one New Year’s Eve in New York and the two became fast friends.

   It was only a matter of time then that Tom’s skills in textile and fashion design would merge with Jackie’s background in business and sales and enthusiasm for modern design. Enter Ware of the Dog. Says Rosenthal “We were walking the dogs one summer afternoon in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and started talking about how fun it would be to design a line of pet accessories. We walked by a “Beware of the Dog” sign on a fence and the name was born.”

   From here Rosenthal’s Coton De Tulear Hugo and Scott’s 12 year old Beagle Linus became modern muses for their stylish line of gear for the modern mutt, with Hugo playing inspiration for the hairy sweater and Linus modelling for their sleek website’s sketches (when he wasn’t angling for snacks that is).

   While they are inspired by art, film and modern design, each piece is made with a whole lot more.“Tom and I work a lot from a feeling, an emotion more so than a concrete reference. We hope to offer innovative, beautifully made products for dogs. The company was started on the basis of creation, so we are constantly trying to make things in a way that is different from what you currently find in the pet accessory market,” says Rosenthal.

   All the great creatives put a little love into their products, and these two are no exception, with everything from product execution to site photography to marketing strategies reflecting their “sense of humor, love of design and craftsmanship.”

   While Ware of the Dog currently focuses on jumpers, leashes and collars, there are many exciting new challenges in the pipeline too, including a series of artist collaborations, international expansion and all new items for Fall 2013.  There’s exciting times ahead and these two are doing it in style.

   wareofthedog.com

6. Do-good dogs

   January 15, 2013 11:24 am Leave a Comment

   Karolina Arija Ax is one of those unsung heroes who quietly goes about her business whilst changing the world around her bit by bit, day by day. Her way? T-shirts.

   In 2011 Arija founded Peludos (‘hairy’ in Spanish), the Madrid-based t-shirt brand. Together with partners Álvaro Ortiz and Maria Serret de Ena, Peludos has enlisted the help of numerous talented creatives to design apparel which benefit not only the wearer, but countless others as well. Arija explains “The market needs more socially committed brands. If you sell something, sell something with real values, something people can relate to, something that fills important gaps or helps society in some way. If you’re going to consume, whatever it is, the best feeling is knowing that you made a good choice and you contributed to a better living for whom it may concern (and not only the CEO).”

   Each t-shirt is 100% cotton, screen printed locally in Madrid with all factory employees operating under appropriate working conditions. Each edition is printed in limited numbers and once the t-shirts are sold, all proceeds are donated to an animal shelter. The first run raised $700 and benefited the Madrid-based ANAA shelter.

   Says Arija of her chosen beneficiaries, “I noticed that a lot of pet lovers knew nothing about animal shelters nor about adoption, and that they were willing to help but didn’t know how. I really admire the work animal shelters do; rescuing, caring for, housing and giving infinite love to these poor animals that have had such bad luck. As far as I know, all animal shelters are financed by private donors and the people who work there are volunteers who give their lives for the cause. It’s incredible.”

   Each time a collection is produced, the Peludos team looks for new ways to improve the quality and essence of the product, such as switching to non-toxic ink, and screen-printing all garments by hand. The designs are modern and fresh, in a rainbow of colours and are as varied as the artists who have made their mark on them. As well as the designers, all those responsible for the brand, graphics and visuals are conscious of making a positive change, and many have an adopted dog of their own. “I love culture and think it’s necessary for our existence, so I started the brand motivated by offering great products designed by people that were culturally involved.”

   Arija has her hands full with several other dog and community-skewed projects, including a workshop for kids who sang for a dog that had been in a shelter for a year to appease his loneliness (he was adopted two weeks later!), and a festival for dogs in Malmö, Sweden, giving dog owners a reward for their endless love replete with concerts, art and workshops.

   —
   All images courtesy of Peludos
   Photography by Jonay PMatos
   Illustrations by Manu Griñon, David García, Eva Solano and Abel Cuevas
   To learn more about Peludos click here
   To support Peludos and buy t-shirts, go to shop.aaapeludos.com

7. A Dog Odyssey

   December 19, 2012 9:30 pm Leave a Comment

   At Four&Sons we meet a lot of pretty cool dogs. Kubrick, the beloved four-legged friend of photographer Sean Ellis, may just be the coolest. Just like his namesake, Hungarian Vizsla Kubrick lived an artistic existence, and before his death of cancer in 2009 shared a highly creative life with his master.

   Ellis, a self-taught photographer, began taking photos at age 11 in his hometown of Brighton, England — a world away from the fast paced lifestyle he exists in today. “I got into photography because of my father. He was a keen amateur and showed me how to set an exposure on our family camera. I was hooked from then” he recalls.

   When he moved to London in 1994, Ellis began his swift ascent up the fashion photography ladder, gradually building a client list which reads better than an Academy or CFDA Awards guest list and a portfolio which includes the likes of acclaimed fashion bibles i-D, The Face and various international Vogue’s and BAZAAR’s. He has also delved into the world of filmmaking including the Oscar-nominated short Cashback, and created ad campaigns for everyone from H&M to Jean Paul Gaultier.

   Along the way Kubrick remained by Ellis’ side, accompanying the photographer at every turn to become a part of the action himself. Says Ellis, “throughout his life Kubrick accompanied me on most of my shoots. I just got into the habit of taking a portrait of him with whoever I was working with.”

   Such is the impressive caliber of these shoots they have now been compiled into a book, Kubrick the Dog, which includes the best images of Kubrick throughout his life. The coffee table tome consists of 12 years of pictures — some from photoshoots, others documenting his battle with cancer. With a forward text by old friend and fashion icon Stella McCartney, the book showcases a dog who was a little bit naughty and a little bit human. A dog who was just as much at home on set as he was making a beeline for diners picnic baskets at the park.

   Compiling the images was “cathartic” says Ellis, and he is thrilled so many people will get to enjoy Kubrick’s life just as he did over the years.  A beautiful book with a whole lot of heart, we think Kubrick would be proud.

   —
   All images courtesy of Sean Ellis
   To see more of Sean Ellis’s work click here
   Kubrick the dog is available at Amazon

    

8. Flying high

   November 1, 2012 6:19 am Leave a Comment

   Each of Julia Christe’s stellar photographs is tinged with a lot of happiness and a little bit of magic. While her portraits of people and stunning landscape shots are each a sight to behold; it is her work with animals that has truly set her apart, with each collection carefully considered and unlike anything else you will see in the artscape.

   The Freestyle series shows Christe’s whimsical side, and depicts a collection of excited, jumping dogs snapped seemingly mid flight, feet splayed, ears and fur at attention. Her Ups and Downs series takes the idea a step further, showing groups of dogs popping like popcorn and interacting on their journeys through the air. And on the Endlich Frühling (Finally Spring) series, we see a shaggy dog in all its glory, slowly being sheared like a sheep, first its head, then torso appearing, until we are left with an entirely different, hairless mutt.

   All breeds of dogs are privy to Christe’s lens as well as a selection of forest-dwelling mammals, and her portraiture and breed-specific pieces are just as gorgeous. Bison stand proud, wolves melt into snowy backdrops, and beagles have a bloody good time.

   —
   Photography by Julie Christe
   See more of these amazing images at juliachriste.de

9. Easy Peasy Japanesey

   October 3, 2012 9:32 pm Leave a Comment

   Residents of Tokyo have long been known for their ability to start trends, go wild, and never do things by halves — and their pets are by no means an exception. Such is the concept behind Free Stitch. The dog accessory label started by a group of Tokyo-based graphic designers hungry for simple and high quality apparel for their dogs has since morphed into an extensive range of beautiful goods.

   Says Director Tomofumi Komori, “Japanese suppliers, retailers and consumers are looking towards the future of pet care in Japan, and are encouraging a balanced lifestyle between owners and their dogs. To others, it may seem like Japanese people are too crazy about their pets but for us it is just another way of enjoying our lives with our pets.”

   Free Stitch’s parent company, Full Size Image Corp, is known for brand identities and design for fashion and interiors and everything in between; and the expertise carries through to the dog line. The understated products stand out precisely as a result of their high-quality design and sophistication; and range from dog collars and jackets to tote bags and bedding (with most materials sourced locally.)

   The campaigns, which are nothing short of gorgeous, are shot by in-house photographers renowned for their portraiture skills. The pups featured are in themselves an interesting bunch found in all manner of places. Some, like cute Chihuahua Papiko, were scouted at a charity photoshoot (she ended up with second place after killing it in the clothes), others are selected from applications submitted through their website. As part of their ongoing animal support, Free Stitch also ensure at least one dog included in the catalogue comes from a shelter “to encourage people to change their lives with their pets for the better through the brand message.”

   The company’s approach is to never take themselves too seriously, and still manage to create a quality result. Says Komori, “I think it’s important to have a sense of humor when working with animals because a lot of things go wrong or sometimes the dogs don’t do what we want to them do, however I also think that running this company needs a sense of balance. It is important to be serious about the challenges we face and our commitment to quality, but also to enjoy the working environment and the joys of working with pets”.

   With such fine products and a brand made with heart, Free Stitch is on the right track.

   —
   Images courtesy of Free Stitch
   Check Free Stitch gallery of images and products on their website
   freestitch.jp

10. Modern menagerie

    September 12, 2012 9:03 pm Leave a Comment

    The Darwinian evolutionary theory is a well-known historical premise, which suggests that all living species are descendants of common ancestors – be they apes, plants, genetic mutations or the like.

    The work of writer and artist Charlotte Cory explores this theory and takes it one step further with her series You Animal, You!, where artworks referencing the classic carte de visite style of photographic portraiture is given modern, surrealist twist with the inclusion of animal heads. From pigs and apes, to birds and of course dogs, this technicolour animal farm is striking when contrasted alongside the vintage wares of yesteryear.

    With art in her blood (broth her grandfathers were artists and she inherited their paintboxes), Cory was always destined for a creative life, but the road wasn’t an easy one. Her parents weren’t at all keen on her attending art school so she instead enrolled in English and Medieval literature at University. In her final year however, fate intervened when she caught a paralysing virus in Seville which set her back three months. To make money and pay for her studies she sold her illustrations to publishers for book covers made on an old printing press, including about 50 woodcuts for Faber book titles and several pub signs.

    Her work can’t be classified simply as photography as she almost ‘paints’ with the photos, manipulating everything into the pictures as well as applying collage techniques to give them a 3D effect. A typical piece takes shape over a vast period of time. Usually Cory owns the original picture, takes her own and after some time will merge them together, ensuring the right images are paired together.

    When asked about the concept itself she says, “I am very interested in that first generation of people who lived with photography – and also lived with Darwin’s ideas. They lost their sense of being immortal and godlike – they were only animals. At the same time they acquired immortality by leaving perfect images of themselves behind them when they died. They were exciting, terrifying times – hence the transmogriphy in the artist/photographers’ studios. This is what we really look like…”

    A woman on the move there is always a new project up Charlotte Cory’s sleeve, and she’s currently working on some fabulous furniture designs, as she continues to “seek world domination or at the very least, a whole alternative universe”. Watch this space.

    —
    All images courtesy of Charlotte Cory
    You Animal, You! is published by Blackdog books
    To see more of Charlotte Cory’s fascinating work, visit her site