A dog bred in Russia...
perhaps developed from the Saluki and long haired Collie-types ...
once known as the Russian Wolfhound... now Borzoi...
Tall... height at their withers is at least 29 inches..
has a silky wavy coat in a multitude of color variations....
Borzoi have elegantly long and powerful jaws...
jaws bred for clutching wolves and game hunting...
long muscular legs...
capable of running at tremendous speed...
the word Borzoi means "swift".
the word Borzoi means "swift".
due to their intelligence... and stubbornness...
one of the hardest of all breeds to train...
much patience needed...
loyal...
loyal...
rarely bark... can be aloof...
...a sight hound... keen eyesight...
They say their temperament requires understanding...
it is not wise to annoy them.
Dogs are still taking my attention..
approx. 5½" x 8½" pen and ink, cross hatch, watercolor washes.
Trivia.... The Borzoi is the symbol of "Alfred A Knopf" publishing house.
I confess I prefer cats, but dogs can be fascinating. This one certainly is.
ReplyDeleteI too prefer cats, but confess a certain feeling of being intrigued by your drawings and the information. The Borzoi breed is fascinating!
ReplyDeleteHa! From that description, I must be part Borzoi!
ReplyDeleteI always wanted a Wolfhound when I was a kid. I don't even know if I knew what one looked like, but who cared... it was a Wolfhound.
I love yours... especially the close-ups. Wonderful pen work around the eye.
Gwen, your line drawings are incredible. Those close ups are great. I'm a sucker for any kind of animal, so your Borzoi description was a treat. But your illustration was FANTASTIC!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Gwen. The best to you in 2012.
xoxo
Wow! That is a beautiful and expressive painting of a Borzoi.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting facts too.
Wow, that must be one impressive hound to be around... is this a friend of yours ? Did he sit still long enough for you draw this, or is from a photo maybe? Sounds like he would be off in a flash to chase any passing squirrel...
ReplyDeleteWonderful I had a friend who bred Borzoi's. I always had a wolfhound, greyhound cross when we were first married, known as kangaroo dogs, they were lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am searching for the right dog to rehome as I lost my last one. Nothing like my dear Jake around at the moment, seem to mostly be staffy cross and I dont want one of those. Maybe will have to go back to a working dog.
Your drawing has captured a great spirit, those doleful, intelligent eyes and watching your every move.
ReplyDeleteSupermodel dogs - quite wonderful.
ReplyDeleteGazing at those beautiful eyes and loving the spots on his muzzle.
ReplyDeleteGuillaume and Carol, I love cats too ... wish I had one living here with us right now.. I really love great mousers...
ReplyDeleteThanks Steven, you just might be.. haha... but that is ok.. means you're a free thinking individual... and we need free-thinkers.
ReplyDeleteI always wanted a crow, a monkey and a donkey... don't know why I wanted the donkey..
Pauline, I think I kind of relate to the Borzoi in the training department (not keen on following rules).. funny how we see qualities in animals that we see in ourselves... guess we are all based on carbon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Priya, the more I read about them the more intriguing they became..
ReplyDeleteOwen, every dog is a friend of mine.. but I haven't found one to sit still long enough yet... or maybe I am just too slow!
Valerie, I love that they notice everything... they always seem to anticipate what we are about to do and are ready before we are.
Rachel you have got that one right.. that is indeed their look!
ReplyDeleteRobyn, don't you wish we could know what they are thinking..
Penny, working dogs really do feel they have a mission.. and are always ready to go.. one of our dogs is a husky cross and she can run like the wind.. she is always so eager to please. sweet dog.
I love the "economy' of the marks in the drawing (sounds rather art-shooly, but it does really describe what I mean) Wonderful, feeling eyes and I can hear a pant or two!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful rendering and description. Although I am presently a feline fancier I grew up with dogs and still love them dearly. I have to admit that the description of their temperament sounds awfully like the last couple of 'bundlers' I've been involved with.
ReplyDeleteValerianna, it is satisfying to explore different methods to try to explain how we see things.. Have you began in your new spot yet?
ReplyDeleteThank you Lord W, oh yes personalities of our animal companions.. varied as the human strain... I love to see each ones true nature.
I've always admired Russian wolfhounds, although you don't see them around much. They are so elegant and graceful looking. I adore a big dog. Heck...I adore all dogs...but prefer the ones big enough to hug.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and elegant drawing and I love the description...can be aloof.
ReplyDeleteVery partial to wolf hounds and love the lurchers too. Big and wiry.
Jacky xox
Beautiful work- he has a lot of character. My parents had a Saluki for a time. They're best suited to enthusiasts, and seem to share some of this guy's personality traits. A brilliant dog.
ReplyDeleteThank you Deborah, Jacky and Shayla, we have a little dog about the size of a Wolfhounds head and he jumped out the car window to bark at a wolfhound... the big dog could have eaten our pip-squeak for breakfast... but he held his cool or maybe it was just because the owner was holding him on a leash.
ReplyDeleteHi Gwen Thanks for the fantastic post. The hounds remind me of the film, Jane Eyre with Orson Wells.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy, I just checked and I see that version of Jane Eyre is on Netflix... I'll watch it when I'm working in the studio.
ReplyDeleteYou drew that dog's spirit and personality; I feel like I met him. I'm sorry you lost your dog- I am so attached to my three!
ReplyDeleteThank you Carmen, they really are members of the family, aren't they? it is never the same without a single one.
ReplyDeleteHey Gwen, I love your drawing....those eyes......hard to tell what it's thinking, what sort of mood it's in.
ReplyDeleteInteresting reading about the breed, I shall file that info away to use another time.
We had a Maremma (livestock guardian ) he also was very stubborn as he had a job to do.... but a beautiful dog.
Claire :}
Hi Claire, yes dogs that need to use their independent thinking to perform their jobs have those bred in the bone characteristics. The Maremma are gorgeous.. I once had a Tibetan Mastiff.. big dog, long black wavy coat, stubborn but for the same reason.. they were bred to do and think for themselves.. they were also very lovable.. but very protective..
ReplyDeleteNot much knowledge of dogs Gwen, not because i was bitten by them twice, had a couple of cats, who did not know how to obey. They just stayed by my side ignoring my commands. One chap was very fond of watching me.
ReplyDeletei am so impressed with your sketches Gwen, wish i had your talent. its too late to learn at the end of my life.
Hope you are doing fine.
Hi my dear Rauf,
ReplyDeleteYou are much too kind and it is never too late.. it is only too late when we are gone. I admire much your talent!
I was bitten by a dog when I was 7 when i was bending down, saying what a nice dog he was, and right then, he bite me.. right on the mouth.. had to run all the way home with blood running down my clothes.. I remember I was carrying a loaf of bread in a brown paper bag and it was all soggy when I got home, freaked out my mother...lucky it didn't make much of a scar. Scared me to death, I can still remember how hard and fast my heart beat.
yes cats are a very independent lot.. mostly do what they want, when they want.. a totally different mindset than dogs.. I do love both species but I don't like cleaning litter-boxes...
I hope things are going ok with you too.. Miss you. Take care.
Gwen, I would love to intently browse through your sketch book. I think you have captured the wiry elegance of this creature brilliantly. I don't often draw dogs even though I dearly love them.
ReplyDeleteI have met only a handful of these most elegant and regal dogs over here Gwen....and each one has had me totally smitten.....as does your amazing line drawing. Happy week~end to you and your loved ones :~)
ReplyDeleteTo use that colourful New Brunswick expression, "boys oh borzoi!" You sure did capture a lot of character in that portrait.
ReplyDelete(Actually, the expression is "boys oh boys, eh"...Thought I should tell you, just in case it's a turn of phrase that didn't make it across to your side of the bay.)
These pen and ink drawings are magnificent, Gwen. Stunningly beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen, Happy Sunday to you.. is it nice enough to ride your motorbike today?.. you'd need snow tires on it if you were here.. and a snowsuit and mitts and..... well maybe it would be better by the fire...
ReplyDeleteLouciao.. you are funny.. boys oh boys!! haha.. my dad used to say that.. ..he never swore.... it was multi use... he could use it as "boys oh boys, Look at that sunset!" or... "Boys oh Boys, You're gonna get it now"... either way it brought forth an emotional response.. pretty useful simple phrase huh?!!
Thank you George, You are altogether too kind... Drawing is always a surprise.. never know what will appear once the pen hits the paper..
Thank you Jeri, you amazing artist you... I would love to spend time with your sketchbooks too.. You capture every one of your characters and the detailed backgrounds with such charm, skill and imagination... It is sheer pleasure to see.
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing sketch! beautifully done...love the style. You could do a lovely little book of your wonderful sketches.... I also like your calligraphy further down...
ReplyDeleteoh Simply Blue, you are very encouraging!! Thank you..
ReplyDeleteRiveting sketch, was searching for LGD's, this popped up and just had to see more. Just from the glimpses of thumbnails teasers, I know I will happily wander around your site. I choose art like I choose hardbacked books. Would I still find this fresh in twenty years. YES!!! You convey personality so well. Thanks for sharing your gifts.
ReplyDeleteThank you SF, so nice to have you visit here.
ReplyDeleteYou say you were looking up info on LGD's.. twenty years ago, I had a Tibetan Mastiff... beautiful big black full coated dog. Her name was Charcoal. Miss her.
Good Borzoi Gwen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, David, I love when I have time to draw.
ReplyDelete