Blue Dog- George Rodrigue

In 1990 a new art subject burst onto the American art scene. The famous art work is the Blue Dog series by George Rodrigue. Here’s a sample and a slide show that reads like a short story. 

This art lesson is a fun discussion topic AND the visual experience makes most kids feel happy. It is suitable for kids from K-8th Grades. For younger kids, noticing the bold colors, varying backgrounds, and quirky eyes of the dog are such funny things to see. For older grades (5th+), it can be a discussion on how the different subjects surrounding the blue dog can be a reflection of commercialism and modern events. It can also be a way to point out that something as simple as a bright blue dog, can bring joy to an otherwise “boring” image. 

Questions we discussed were:

1. What do you notice that is similar in all the pieces?

2. What do you see that is different?

3. How can you create a piece that represents something for you or about you?

Supplies: 

⁃pencil

⁃white paper

⁃tempera paint in blue (any shades)

⁃black sharpie

⁃markers

⁃coloring pencils, crayons, or markers for the background

Activity: 

The dog is drawn with sharpie and filled in with tempera paint. 

The background is then added afterwards with coloring pencils, crayons, or markers. 

Using paint to fill the background is also an option, but can be challenging when working with a class. Giving every student a different array of paint colors to fill their background could be quite difficult to keep neat.

Steps to create the project:

• Lightly sketching with a pencil, have the kids follow your instructions and draw (step by step) the blue dog… Fun tip: Tilting the angle of the nose (instead of straight down) will make the dog look like he/she is tilting their head. Thanks to Pinterest, someone created this quick instruction sheet. 

• Optional: The kids, if they choose, can add 1-2 accessories to their dog: scarf, tie, crown, cape, clothing, shoes, etc. The possibilities are endless!!

• Trace the pencil sketch with black sharpie. The blue dog should have a black outline completed BEFORE painting. Don’t forget to fill in the rounded iris in middle of the eyes in black.

• Use yellow marker to fill in the yellow of the eyes

• Optional: If the kids have an accessory on the dog, have them color it in with markers

• Paint the body of the blue dog with blue paint. It is ideal to use flat tipped brushes.

• Kids can now complete the piece by filling in the background. They can use their creativity to make some wonderful and unexpected pieces.

• You’re all done!!

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