› Studio companion
September 12, 2000
Dear Artist;
I know there is a possibility that I will be
accused of certified lunacy, but I need to state
the following: I think animals, particularly dogs
and cats, are a type of angel that has been sent
from heaven to make us better painters. Not only
better painters but better people.
For me, the evidence is pretty conclusive. Let's
face it, the job is a solitary one even in the
best of times. Having some sort of an eminence,
even a little gray one is vital to the
maintenance of sanity. My previous dog was a
Kerry Blue Terrier. She lay behind me on her
chaise lounge as I painted. I will swear on a
stack of early editions of National Geographic
that when my brush made a boring
stroke or redundant movement Kelly would let out
a subtle combination of a sigh and a yawn. It
wasn't an out and out criticism; it was just, you
might say, a recommendation. I can't tell you how
many times I took her advice.
The current companion is an Airedale named Emily.
There never was a better studio assistant. Let me
count the ways: She forces me not to neglect the
cardio-vascular. She barks and wards off
interlopers and announces and greets the
check-bearing post-lady. She thinks I am just
fine the way I am. She asks only that I paint
steadily and leave her the same chaise lounge
that Kelly formerly held--only temporarily
allowing me its comfort when I must myself curl
up and talk to someone else. She is not jealous.
She will go with me to the ends of the earth. She
helps me with my sense of play. She is seldom
verbally critical, and only with good reason.
When she needs to be serious, her brown and
beguiling eyes have in them the goofyness of her
race--which makes me smile.
Best regards,
Robert
PS "Dogs are the
role model for being alive." (Gilda Radner)
"If you need a
friend in Washington, get a dog." (Bill
Clinton)
Esoterica: Dogs are the most successful species.
Over the millennia they have developed a
symbiotic relationship with man. They offer
humans complementary abilities; morphic
knowledge, intuition, sense of smell, character
evaluation. They teach discretion and loyalty.
The following are selected correspondence
relating to the above letter. If you find value
in any of this please feel free to copy to a
friend or fellow artist. We have no other
motivation than to give creative people an
opportunity to share ideas and possibly broaden
their capabilities. Thank you for writing rgenn@saraphina.com
› A pack of evidence
I have a dog and a cat. The dog is in my studio
and is my link to the world, never mind the
radio. She is always in the way as she is under
my table, the cat likes to sleep under the chroma
lights and it is a duel as to who wins-- mostly
them. Just keep the cat off the painting! Animals
are an artist's link to reality. They keep you
focused. I talk to them, and they give me
feedback in one way or another. Maybe that is
dumb, but it works! (Mary Ann Mountain) ….
If you want to see a broken heart then look at me
when my lovely "Spud" died three years
ago. A true uncomplaining friend who loved me
more when I came back from hospital and needed
all the love I could get. I miss him so much.
(Bill Gilhooley)…. Your story reminds me of
the time when I was studying for university
examinations at home in the company of a large
Alsatian. It was an all-night partnership and
yes, my dog also gave out incomprehensible
"comments" when I was struggling to get
my maths equations. At other times when I was
reading fun subjects he would doze peacefully and
make his presence known by "talking" in
his sleep. (Kalwant Ajimal, London)…. We
don't have a dog but a guinea pig and a bird.
They both have their unique characters and each
in his own way brings perspective to our lives.
There's nothing like a bird on your head eating
your hair to make you realize how serious life is
otherwise. The guinea pig eats his way through
5-6 lbs of food a week and doesn't do much but
remind us that he needs to be paid attention to
and loved and spoken to. (Mary Jean,
California)….
It seems to me that
animals provide humour and sanity when I may be
losing mine. As you say, it's the
"goofyness" that pulls the rest of us
through the gloomy or rough patches. When you
said that, I recalled King Lear's need for the
fool to help him "see" clearly. We all
need a fool or two. (Wendy Weaver,
Vermont)….What a story, full of life and
encouragement, from the bottom of your heart!
It's amazing how something so simple can have
such great impact. My dogs paint with me. I have
5 of them. Your story really encouraged me. I'm
actually really looking foreward to getting into
the paint immediately. (Deb Copithorne, Alberta)
› Morphic knowledge
(RG note) As several artists asked what I meant
by morphic knowledge, I’ll try to explain.
Morphic fields are perhaps a plausible
explanation of some of the unique capabilities of
animals. Blind termites seem to have a collective
knowledge of how to rebuild their knocked-down
nests—and do it quickly and efficiently.
British studies have videotaped dogs at home
alone waiting for their masters—along with
simultaneous tapes of masters out and about,
shopping, etc, and then randomly returning home.
At home, the dogs go to the window and begin to
wait when the master starts to think about coming
home. These tests were done under rigid
conditions. Cats have this ability too, but cats
perform less well on the tests because,
apparently, cats don’t care as much. Tests
also indicate that some humans have the
capability too, although it is weak and sporadic
through perhaps lack of use. It’s sort of a
Jungian collective consciousness idea, which is
of interest to artists, very much in the
speculation stage.
› Character evaluation
I take my dog with me when I’m checking out
galleries. Depending on how well he is accepted
and treated helps me in my decision. You can tell
a lot about a person by how he or she reacts to
animals. One time my dog growled at a would-be
dealer, so I steered clear of that one.
Ralph Newcastle,
Florida.
(RG note) For a long
time a dealer in another city owed me some money.
Finally he paid by sending a collection of
frames. These were all odd sizes, with purple
velvet liners, etc—very difficult to do
anything with. I stacked them around the studio
to think about things. My dog, a poodle at the
time named "Hombre" came in and helped
me make up my mind by lifting his leg on them.
› Important possibilities
The cats especially have supersense and
superaction for human soul as receiving it from
the angels that have been sent from heaven. I
know not is it the same in the Canada but the
Russian cats are very emotional persons. They are
singing sometimes soul-incoming songs. These have
spiritual potential with strong action for human
soul. The action of different animals for human
soul is not the same. For example, I personally
have receiving the interesting influence from
large red roosters.
The curative action of horses is well known.
Those are important possibilities to use for
creative persons.
Yaroslaw, Moscow
› Lucky humans
Some aid dogs are companions to those with
epilepsy. The dog can sense when her companion is
about to have a seizure -- something about brain
wave activity. The dog alerts the human and gets
her into a safe position like sitting down on a
bed. We other lucky humans who are capable of
interspecies love are TOTALLY blessed in that we
are reminded of our empathy and comforted by our
intuition. I wonder if this comes more naturally
to those with artistic sensibilities?
Alicia Moss
PS. I have been ill. I
am not in bed today but getting extra sympathy
from my dog. She brought her kong into bed and
bopped me on th head with it. Then she came over
and hugged me at breakfast like she hadn't seen
me in a week.
› Fish and chips
I have fish. While they are not responsive in the
same way as dogs, cats and other furry things,
they do have their place. When I’m upset
about my work, or undecided what to do next, I
come downstairs and sit in my easy chair beside
my aquarium. Something about their movement calms
me and refocuses my energy. They are restful,
simple beings, and I have to say that they have
had something to do with my success.
Simon Javez
› Magnificat
My cat Gabby shared my studio. She was always
willing to let me know what she thought about my
paintings. When I was working on some children's
books I had several illustrations that I was
having trouble with lined up against the wall
while I was trying to decide what else they
needed. I left the studio to give my eyes and
mind a break. When I came back Gabby had knocked
over the illustrations that were not working. She
was right. I miss her. We had her for 16 years,
and I am now ready to see if I can find another
furry angel to share the studio with me.
Cissy, Seattle