About a year ago I was looking around on MySpace, probably doing some research for a music post on SFist, when I came across a mesmerizing photo of a chihuahua wearing a wig. I didn't know the person who I stole the photo from, but I immediately downloaded it, resized it and created a userpic out of it. I used this as my photo on instant messenger and a few other places. "Dogwig", as I came to call him, got a fair bit of exposure and several compliments whenever I posted to LiveJournal news. I really came to love the little stranger.
Fast forward to last weekend, when I was hitting a few record stores in honor of National Record Store Day. I was browsing around End of an Ear when the tiny painting caught my eye. Here's how tiny it is:
Next to the group of paintings on the wall there was an index card with the artist's name and number on it, so I called Kesey and asked him how much he wanted for it. "Oh, those have been up there for a few months, I kind of forgot they were there. I remember that painting though - my friend I play soccer with, that's his dog. I've never actually sold anything, um, I guess just leave twenty bucks at the counter?"
Done and done!
I thanked Kesey profusely, left thirty bucks for him, and walked out of the store with a couple of records and the second most thrilling piece of art I have ever purchased.
The most thrilling piece of art I've ever purchased? The artwork I specially commissioned last fall for the banner of this blog, by one of my favorite artists, Marc Johns. This scan doesn't do it justice, but I'm including it for those of you viewing this post from your feed reader:
- Buy some art from Marc Johns.