Pet project

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The dog days of summer have hit the Brandywine River Museum in the form of about 60 oils, watercolors and charcoal drawings all of dogs. Not just any dogs; these canines are portrayed by Jamie Wyeth, most of them pets at one time or another on the family’s farm in Chadds Ford.

Most pieces in this show — appropriately titled "Dog Days of Summer: Works by Jamie Wyeth"– come from private collections, making this possibly the only time visitors will get a chance to see this Wyeth art.

Wyeth’s portraits of people are well-known, including such notables as John F. Kennedy, Andy Warhol, Rudolf Nureyev, and his wife. Equally well-known, however, are some of his animal portraits, namely of the pig. It is common to give familiar animals human traits and we see these pieces often as whimsical, even humorous. That’s a problem for the viewer, not the artist, who is merely depicting animals doing their thing.

Having grown up on a farm, Wyeth has come in contact with animals all his life and says, "… my interest in dogs, using them in paintings, is just that they are easy models. They are around me."

The work of four decades, the pieces in the show illustrate differing techniques. In recent years, Wyeth has put brushes aside and chosen fingers, sticks or pieces of cloth to create art composed of different mediums. According to Wyeth, "the thing I call ‘combined mediums’ is faster. And working with an animal you want to work pretty rapidly." Wyeth also notes no particular technique is more or less suitable for dogs.

The combination of familiarity, access and intensity Wyeth brings to all his work allows him to portray dogs with a great deal of individual personality, so a viewer believes there is a genuine connection between artist and subject.

Wyeth began to work with these animals at an early age when he repeatedly created pictures of family pet Eloise, recording her in all different ways. "I did endless drawings of her — lots of them — from a puppy on up. That was my first real involvement with a dog," he said.

He remained hooked.

Most pet owners can relate — everyone looks for a camera when their pet decides to sleep flat on their back with all four legs sticking straight up. Goldie would never sit on the ground. Instead she would wait for her mother, Amber, to lie down and then she would sit on top of her. Dandy was a black cocker spaniel and one of the great rat dogs of all time. Daisy likes to eat cat food and chase groundhogs. Kelly would take new dogs on long runs and leave them behind, lost in the woods. Pickles, a definite lap dog, was a small, snappy pup favored by older ladies.

Every single dog I’ve ever known loves to ride in a car with the window down and their head in the wind. Once, a quick brake on a curve threw Daisy about 15 feet out of the car. She wagged it off.

Because the exhibition brings together works over a long time period and showcases many techniques, it provides a look at how full-blown paintings come about. The catalogue, which accompanies the show, is therefore exceptionally valuable. The artist provides personal comments on his work and the dogs and the catalogue serves as a how-to on making art. The museum also is holding several workshops for children that are free with admission.

"Dog Days" is an excellent show for families, as some can focus on the art, while others can just enjoy the dogs themselves.

Pets, by the way, are not allowed into the museum.

Dog Days of Summer: Works by Jamie Wyeth
Through Sept. 3
The Brandywine River Museum
U.S. Route 1
Chadds Ford
610-388-2700
www.thebrandywinemuseum.org