Saturday, August 13, 2011

Shaggy Dog Story

"Gingham Dog & Calico Cat" - Digital Collage
Does anyone remember "The Duel" by Eugene Field? It's always been one of my childhood favorites and I've always wanted to illustrate it. 

The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
T'was half past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat
(I wasn't there; I simply state
What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)
The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "Mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
(Now mind: I'm only telling you
What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)
The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
Employing every tooth and claw
In the awfulest way you ever saw--
And oh! How the gingham and calico flew!
(Don't fancy I exaggerate--I got my news from the Chinese plate!)
Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
But the truth about that cat and pup
Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
(The old Dutch clock it told me so,
And that is how I came to know.)

This shaggy dog lives in one of my sketch books. You can see the date 10/15, but you can't see the year in this image, It was 2008, but I remember sketching it like it was yesterday. I've always wanted a shaggy dog; much like Lisa Daria's Brie (note Brie's photo on Lisa's blog)  but my husband has always been a Lab man so there you have it. If Lisa ever discovers that Brie has been "dognapped," alas, I have to admit that I'll be the foremost suspect.
"Shaggy Dog" - Digital Collage

Yesterday, I published a digital collage of a dragonfly with a tulip, explaining that it was supposed to be a dog. Once again, Shaggy Dog... This is what I was going for; don't ask me what happened.

Anyway, it's all good. A bad day in the studio is better than a good day in any office environment I can think of! :D

No comments: