Dan's Papers Article: June 1, 2020
Artist Yvonne Dagger Reflects on Her and DogVinci’s Art Under Quarantine
Long Island artist Yvonne Dagger is known around the world not only for painting stunning works that have been featured on The Ellen Show and the cover of Dan’s Papers, but also for mentoring the beloved four-legged painter Dagger DogVinci. She reflects on her and Dagger’s time creating art under quarantine.
How have the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing changed your art-creation process?
This has been a very challenging time for everyone. As an artist, I’ve used my creative ability by connecting with many people through social media. I find that technology has helped me be creative during this virtual time. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have not abandoned my ability to use my paintbrush and various media whenever I can and feel the urge to. It’s just that I feel the great need right now to do both.
RELATED: East End Artists Roundtable: Home Studios & Adjusting to Quarantine Life
What makes my day-to-day unique is that I live with another artist, and, surprisingly, this is a non-human, canine artist. His name is Dagger DogVinci. Dagger is so famous that collectors of his artworks live all over the world. He has even shown his artworks in places as far away as Paris, France! He has won the prestigious Best of Long Island Painter/Artist three years in a row now. Dagger and I, as a team, go to libraries and schools all over the island giving DogVinci Workshops teaching about art and painting and demonstrating Dagger’s painting skills with the message of education and community service.
Of course, since the “Stay Home and Stop the Spread to Save Lives” guidelines were put into place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, life as we knew it has changed so much for Dagger DogVinci and I as artists. As a result, we have opted to work full-time in our home studio. We bring Dagger to his fans and followers through social media now. In many ways, we are tremendously blessed to have the ability to stay working and connected to our creative community....
How have the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing changed your art-creation process?
This has been a very challenging time for everyone. As an artist, I’ve used my creative ability by connecting with many people through social media. I find that technology has helped me be creative during this virtual time. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have not abandoned my ability to use my paintbrush and various media whenever I can and feel the urge to. It’s just that I feel the great need right now to do both.
RELATED: East End Artists Roundtable: Home Studios & Adjusting to Quarantine Life
What makes my day-to-day unique is that I live with another artist, and, surprisingly, this is a non-human, canine artist. His name is Dagger DogVinci. Dagger is so famous that collectors of his artworks live all over the world. He has even shown his artworks in places as far away as Paris, France! He has won the prestigious Best of Long Island Painter/Artist three years in a row now. Dagger and I, as a team, go to libraries and schools all over the island giving DogVinci Workshops teaching about art and painting and demonstrating Dagger’s painting skills with the message of education and community service.
Of course, since the “Stay Home and Stop the Spread to Save Lives” guidelines were put into place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, life as we knew it has changed so much for Dagger DogVinci and I as artists. As a result, we have opted to work full-time in our home studio. We bring Dagger to his fans and followers through social media now. In many ways, we are tremendously blessed to have the ability to stay working and connected to our creative community....
Seen on inside edition's show "the breakdown"
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SEEN ON ABC HIDDEN HEROES
Stay tuned for the PBS Episode
of "Shelter Me ~ The Art of Kindness" Premiering February 2021 Produced by Steven Latham Productions
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In the World News!!
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DogVinci the documentary |
SEEN ON Channel 11 news |
read the NEWSDAY story - Dagger, Long Island’s painting dog, to put on solo gallery show
The show Saturday at an Oyster Bay gallery will benefit the Babylon Animal Shelter,
says the owner of Dagger II — aka DogVinci.
By Patricia Kitchen
Updated June 20, 2018 2:27 PM
There’s nothing else to call it but a one-dog show.
Long Island’s celebrated four-legged artist and philanthropist, Dagger II — aka DogVinci — is set for a solo gallery show Saturday in Oyster Bay featuring 40 of his original paintings. Sales are to benefit the Babylon Animal Shelter, said his owner, muse and chief tummy-rubber, Yvonne Dagger of Massapequa.
Cameras will also be rolling that night, as Dagger is to be featured in an upcoming episode of “Shelter Me,” a series on ShelterMe.tv telling uplifting stories on shelter animals and the people — in this case, canines — who help them. The episode is planned to air in the fall on local PBS channels 13 and 21, Yvonne Dagger said.
And, yes, on Saturday the dog of the hour, sporting a white bow tie and his signature red beret, can be expected to leap from a stretch limo onto a red carpet leading into the gallery as a violinist plays.
That’s just a bit of fun, his mom said, as the main initiative is serious — bringing attention to animals who are not so fortunate.
The hope is for a clean sweep of sold paintings, with framed Dagger originals ranging in price from $225 to $350. All proceeds will benefit the shelter in West Babylon, which will display its own images in the gallery, photos of 40 dogs of varying ages in need of forever homes with good families, Yvonne Dagger said. Volunteers will also be on hand to discuss adoption opportunities.
The gallery show, “Gimme Shelter,” is free and runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Long Island Picture Frame & Art Gallery in Oyster Bay. Art and animal lovers can also bid before 8 p.m. Friday on one Dagger original featured on the ShelterMe.tv website.
says the owner of Dagger II — aka DogVinci.
By Patricia Kitchen
Updated June 20, 2018 2:27 PM
There’s nothing else to call it but a one-dog show.
Long Island’s celebrated four-legged artist and philanthropist, Dagger II — aka DogVinci — is set for a solo gallery show Saturday in Oyster Bay featuring 40 of his original paintings. Sales are to benefit the Babylon Animal Shelter, said his owner, muse and chief tummy-rubber, Yvonne Dagger of Massapequa.
Cameras will also be rolling that night, as Dagger is to be featured in an upcoming episode of “Shelter Me,” a series on ShelterMe.tv telling uplifting stories on shelter animals and the people — in this case, canines — who help them. The episode is planned to air in the fall on local PBS channels 13 and 21, Yvonne Dagger said.
And, yes, on Saturday the dog of the hour, sporting a white bow tie and his signature red beret, can be expected to leap from a stretch limo onto a red carpet leading into the gallery as a violinist plays.
That’s just a bit of fun, his mom said, as the main initiative is serious — bringing attention to animals who are not so fortunate.
The hope is for a clean sweep of sold paintings, with framed Dagger originals ranging in price from $225 to $350. All proceeds will benefit the shelter in West Babylon, which will display its own images in the gallery, photos of 40 dogs of varying ages in need of forever homes with good families, Yvonne Dagger said. Volunteers will also be on hand to discuss adoption opportunities.
The gallery show, “Gimme Shelter,” is free and runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Long Island Picture Frame & Art Gallery in Oyster Bay. Art and animal lovers can also bid before 8 p.m. Friday on one Dagger original featured on the ShelterMe.tv website.
SEEN ON ANIMAL PLANET |
SEEN ON CHASING NEWS |
SEEN ON INSIDE EDITION |
SEEN ON NEWSDAY |