Pathways for Children, is a North Shore organization providing more than 400 children and families with early education and child care programs. Later this year they will be holding their third fundraising event called "Pathways Unleashed". In 2004 and 2006, Pathways for Children held events called "Lobster Landings" and "Adirondack chairs" which were decorated into unique objects of art by many different artists, displayed throughout Gloucester and ultimately sold at a high profile auction in September. I participated in each event and now in this year's event.
If you ever want to see the lobster, stop in at the landmark restaurant, Woodman's of Essex, Massachusetts, home of the original fried clams, where it is on display.
I made the trip the other day to pick up my life sized dog to work on and to return it finished in May. I was given an English Bulldog and had some ideas right away. All I could think of was when I was in the Marines, the bulldog was a "mascot." and thought it was appropriate that I ended up with it.
The bulldog is made of fiberglass and looks real but I will "dress it up" in the weeks to come. I placed it by the stove in the gallery and I will show the progress as I go along. I plan on incorperating at least three subjects relating to the U.S. Marines, Patriotism & Gloucester and bringing it all together somehow.
A few weeks ago I started to sketch in a few charcoal lines on the bulldog keeping in mind the elements of patriotism, the Marines and Gloucester to be represented in a dignified yet whimsical presentation. The first part for me was to then identify the dog right away so I did the face but gradually refined it as I went along. In a way this became real "company" in a sense to me as I painted.
I added the the little drool but wondered if a Marine would get away with it at attention, but then thought ......this isn't real. I did place it on the kitchen floor one night after doing the face and it startled my wife when she came in the door.
I then figured out the stripes and dress blue coat with the banners on either side. It was tricky for the stripes to line up correctly but with a few adjustments it worked out. I looked in several photos, the details of dress blues from stripes to buttons and badges. It worked out that there was room for one stripe, private first class, and so it became known as "The Private" to me.
"The Private" from Gloucester is ready to join the many other painted dogs of "Pathways Unleashed" that will be displayed around Gloucester this summer. This side shows the Iwo Jima statue and the other is the Fisherman's Monument in Gloucester, Massachusetts. I encourage you to visit there and see both sides of the dog. The gala auction will be September 12th and to learn more information, please visit http://www.pathwaysforchildren.org/.
