My belief is that a person is an artist from birth. At age four I received an omen of what was to come when my first piece of art was published in “Highlights” magazine. With this simple doodle of a spotted, pointy-eared dog bathing in a metal tub, a major theme in my art was born.

There is nothing more honest than a dog. They are simply unable to hide their true feelings and intentions. Dogs are depicted in my art to evoke emotions in the viewer because they possess an incommunicable wisdom that humans can not grasp through intellect alone. My dogs act as cool, silent observers creating a commentary within the viewer. In my art I wish to reflect the honesty of the dog onto the viewer.

The depiction of dogs in art is something that I believe in not only because it is what I know and feel, but also because the masters have been using dogs as a tool for years (Velasquez, Warhol, Wyeth, Giacometti, Bacon, Matisse and more). The art of New York artist Joan Brown is often referenced in my work. She uses dogs as observers as well. While in her art, the dogs observe situations in her own life, I frequently use dogs to observe the world outside of the painting. This is possible because dogs are a common thread joining all humans. Honesty is the key in my work, and I believe dogs can inspire honest, pure emotions in any human no matter what that emotion may be.

Honesty is also crucial to my techniques and materials. Tools and methods are used that the viewer can relate to. My paintings are a meshing of line drawing, acrylics, textiles, quilting, and embroidering. Many techniques are used in one work in order to give it the depth necessary to pull the viewer in, and cause the reflection I wish to achieve. My methods are not disguised because they pay homage to what inspires me about dogs and dogs in art, this being, deep roots in tradition. The subtle quilting, as well as the influence of bookmaking, and focus on simple line shows the combination of my love of not only the Fine Arts but also a bit of the rich tradition of folk-craft.

Allison NeCamp, 2005