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Lot Essay
Basil Blackshaw grew up surrounded by dogs and horses and went on to work with these animals both as a trainer and a painter. Jude Stevens who posed as a model for the artist for many years recalled that: 'During working sessions, the dogs would sometimes reach a crescendo outside as one of Basil's many 'dog' or 'horse' associates arrived on some business. To these men he was a 'dog man' first and foremost and it was incidental that he also happened to be a painter of renown' (see B. Ferran (intro.), Basil Blackshaw - Painter, Arts Council of Northern Ireland Exhibition Catalogue, Belfast, 1995, p. 71).
In 1989, the year in which Pink Dog was painted, Down Arts Centre held an exhibition of paintings and sculptures of dogs. The artists represented were John Kindness, Barry Callaghan and Basil Blackshaw. In his review of the exhibition for Circa art magazine, James Odling-Smee wrote: 'Basil Blackshaw's portrayal of dogs is of a different order. The viewer can actually perceive an individuality about each subject. It is as if Blackshaw has a relationship with dogs that goes well beyond seeing them as vehicles for artistic impressions' (see B. Ferran, op. cit., p. 96).
In 1989, the year in which Pink Dog was painted, Down Arts Centre held an exhibition of paintings and sculptures of dogs. The artists represented were John Kindness, Barry Callaghan and Basil Blackshaw. In his review of the exhibition for Circa art magazine, James Odling-Smee wrote: 'Basil Blackshaw's portrayal of dogs is of a different order. The viewer can actually perceive an individuality about each subject. It is as if Blackshaw has a relationship with dogs that goes well beyond seeing them as vehicles for artistic impressions' (see B. Ferran, op. cit., p. 96).