Dogs of War
Dogs take their jobs seriously: All members of the Postal Service rightly deserve to be barked at, no squirrel may enter the yard unchased, and
DROOL: When do you feel you first found success in the world of art, and how have you grown since then?
Evan: I’ve always been making art for fun, but it first felt like it really took off when I started making miniature books and eventually had one of them selected to be part of a show at Rio de Janeiro’s Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil. I love working in fine detail, so since then, I have really grown to enjoy the medium of miniature illustrations and paintings (usually under one inch tall). My intention with the miniature art is to get as detailed and accurate as I can by eye without the use of any magnifying instruments. As a result, the miniature format is consistently exciting because there’s always room for more refinement.
DROOL: What about dogs attracts you to them as subjects for your artwork?
Evan: I am consistently amazed by the incredible diversity of dogs and the fact that the range of dogs we see today is a result of our remarkable symbiotic history together as two species. Dogs have shaped us as much as we have shaped them over the centuries. Trying to capture the subtle nuances of each dog I draw is not only an exciting and consistent challenge but also feels like a completely ridiculous joy because I get to stare at pictures of dogs all day.
Evan: I’ve always been making art for fun, but it first felt like it really took off when I started making miniature books and eventually had one of them selected to be part of a show at Rio de Janeiro’s Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil. I love working in fine detail, so since then, I have really grown to enjoy the medium of miniature illustrations and paintings (usually under one inch tall). My intention with the miniature art is to get as detailed and accurate as I can by eye without the use of any magnifying instruments. As a result, the miniature format is consistently exciting because there’s always room for more refinement.
DROOL: What about dogs attracts you to them as subjects for your artwork?
Evan: I am consistently amazed by the incredible diversity of dogs and the fact that the range of dogs we see today is a result of our remarkable symbiotic history together as two species. Dogs have shaped us as much as we have shaped them over the centuries. Trying to capture the subtle nuances of each dog I draw is not only an exciting and consistent challenge but also feels like a completely ridiculous joy because I get to stare at pictures of dogs all day.
DROOL: What do you find most inspirational about dogs?
Evan: It goes without saying that dogs themselves are absolutely incredible, but they also draw out such an amazing and lovely quality in people. I really enjoy making portraits of people’s dogs because it feels like a continuation of this magnetic cloud of love that dogs produce. To me, these miniature drawings feel like little shrines to amazing dogs I’ll never meet, but that have such hugely positive impacts on their owners and friends’ lives. Dogs are inspirational because they seem to consistently elevate the experience of those around them in such beneficial, unexpected, and hilarious ways.
Evan: It goes without saying that dogs themselves are absolutely incredible, but they also draw out such an amazing and lovely quality in people. I really enjoy making portraits of people’s dogs because it feels like a continuation of this magnetic cloud of love that dogs produce. To me, these miniature drawings feel like little shrines to amazing dogs I’ll never meet, but that have such hugely positive impacts on their owners and friends’ lives. Dogs are inspirational because they seem to consistently elevate the experience of those around them in such beneficial, unexpected, and hilarious ways.
DROOL: Did dogs help you discover your voice in art? If so, how?
Evan: I don’t necessarily feel like drawing dogs has helped me discover my voice in art, however, it has greatly helped me to continuously refine a skillset in a very gratifying way. Drawing dog portraits is fun for me because I just generally love dogs and enjoy the process, but I also get to make a living from doing so. I enjoying working in a lot of different mediums but feel very grateful that so many people want me to draw their dogs!
"Trying to capture the subtle nuances of each dog I draw is not only an exciting and consistent challenge but also feels like a completely ridiculous joy because I get to stare at pictures of dogs all day."
DROOL: Do you like dogs more than people, and why or why not?
Evan: Sometimes I feel like I do enjoy the company of dogs more than of people, but then I eat a really delicious baked good and remember that humans have some pretty beneficial qualities as well- not to mention opposable thumbs. Not that thumbs are the defining quality of likeability, but they are pretty helpful. Maybe if dogs had opposable thumbs and could sweep up their own hair it would be a different answer, but right now I would have to say that my love of dogs and love of people remains on a teeter-totter that is usually balanced.
DROOL:If you had to choose one dog breed to characterize who you are, what breed would it be and why?
Evan: Even though I haven’t interacted with many in real life, I would like to imagine myself as a Borzoi. Borzois seem so mystical and regal- like a wizard trapped in a dog’s body. I’m also really lanky, so it seems like a pretty accurate representation.
DROOL: Anything else you want to share with the dog-loving humans of Earth?
Evan: The only thing I can think to share is to give a shout-out to the ever-inspirational Iggy, our lovely Basset/Border-Collie mix at home! And a huge thank you to all of my incredible supporters and their dogs!
Evan: Sometimes I feel like I do enjoy the company of dogs more than of people, but then I eat a really delicious baked good and remember that humans have some pretty beneficial qualities as well- not to mention opposable thumbs. Not that thumbs are the defining quality of likeability, but they are pretty helpful. Maybe if dogs had opposable thumbs and could sweep up their own hair it would be a different answer, but right now I would have to say that my love of dogs and love of people remains on a teeter-totter that is usually balanced.
DROOL:If you had to choose one dog breed to characterize who you are, what breed would it be and why?
Evan: Even though I haven’t interacted with many in real life, I would like to imagine myself as a Borzoi. Borzois seem so mystical and regal- like a wizard trapped in a dog’s body. I’m also really lanky, so it seems like a pretty accurate representation.
DROOL: Anything else you want to share with the dog-loving humans of Earth?
Evan: The only thing I can think to share is to give a shout-out to the ever-inspirational Iggy, our lovely Basset/Border-Collie mix at home! And a huge thank you to all of my incredible supporters and their dogs!
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