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The Lurcher ~ “The most abused and abandoned dogs in Ireland”

Stated by The Haven Rescue.

I stumbled across this post by Galway SPCA on Instagram and I found their opening statement to be so true. “Another day another traumatised lurcher” Even just from following rescues on Instagram and other social media platforms nearly every second dog is a lurcher/ sighthound breed.

I then was curious to find is there any statistics around this and I stumbled across an article interviewing members of The Haven Rescue in Tipperary. Jenny Nolan says “Out if all the dogs we rescue it’s predominantly Lurchers”

She also stated that “they would have never been seen as pets”

“When people would see them they’d be like ‘oh it’s just a lurcher’ whereas if it was a golden retriever there’d be an outcry.

People don’t see them and greyhounds as pets”

I find this statement to be so true. Coming from being a lurcher owner myself it is almost like they are seen as vermin, like the lower class of the dog breeds. The “mutts”. I can’t help but feel like it’s related to them being owned by people of lower socioeconomic classes and backgrounds especially their close ties to the travelling community.

Speaking from owning these dogs, they are the most gentle, easygoing and placid of breeds. I can see why they are abused so much as they are so non aggressive and can be so timid.

Most dogs that end up in rescues are lamping and hunting dogs left out in fields for days straying, tied to fences abandoned and starved. Their kind nature is taken advantage of so often as they are exploited for their speed and hunting skills. Then they are discarded like rubbish if they beg injured or slow down etc.

Just ask yourself how many times have you seen a golden retriever or a poodle straying ?

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Artist Research

Whyn Lewis.

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Development of my print idea.

The more I looked into greyhound racing the more I came access doping in the industry. And drugs such as coedine and cocaine are commonly used.

The pictures above show the primary research I did in my sketch pad and mood board and how the idea developed into printing onto the sandwich bag

I’m not 100% satisfied with how it turned out but Fiona assured me that it came out good as plastic is difficult to print on and I probably wouldn’t get any better.

I will definitely fix up the print and add white powder to represent racing dogs being doped with cocaine.

#movement

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Finns movements

This video was taken just as I said Finns favourite word “walk”.

This is just another insight into his complex personality and shows the range of emotions that dogs are capable of feeling and expressing. You can literally see his eyes light up as he smiles and jumps for joy.

These are the emotions and expressions that remind us that dogs are beings too, and these are the emotions that are ignored when it comes to racing greyhounds.

The more and more I delve into this project the more I have looked into a researched greyhound racing. I am disgusted with how much abuse I have discovered and how quiet it is kept from the public. In the 2025 budget the government pumped €19.8 million into the greyhound racing industry. This infuriates me as there is so much deep rooted problems in this country that could use that money such as the mental health system and the housing crisis.

I feel very passionately about the abuse of animals and the waste of money that funds blood sports and I feel my project is going to veer more towards this direction.

#movement

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Screen print day 2

Today I finished off the designs I printed yesterday. And started my second stencil.

I did some research into anti greyhound racing campaigns and organisations and found this quote which I really liked.

I first printed out my stencil which was the greyhound with the racing jacket on. During the process of checking was there any patches on my print by lifting up the screen (which is recommended not to do) my paper underneath must’ve moved. I didn’t notice this until I finished my print and it created this almost shadow. Even tho it was an accident I absolutely loved how it turned out and actually adds movement and dimension to the print.

I then typed, enlarged, cut out then printed the slogan down on top of the prints. I found it very difficult to line up hence the many tries, but I figured it out in the end.

Really satisfied with how these turned out.

#movement

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Screen print day 1

This week I stuck with doing print but decided to do screen print instead with Fiona

She got us to brainstorm ideas and wrote keywords down related to our topic to expand our range.

We then picked and drew out one silhouette to cut out into a stencil. I ended up doing two so I could be prepared for day 2 and also to have a trial run as you can only use the stencils once.

Fiona showed us how to prepare the screens which is the most important step as they are delicate and need to be handled with care. We secured our stencils and placed our chosen card colours underneath the screen. She then showed us the flood and print technique. It’s important to keep pressure on the screen and keep the sqeedgy at a 45* angle while moving the ink up and down vertically. This is how you achieve an even print. It took me a couple of times to get used to the movement but I got the hang of it. I’m really enjoying it as once you understand it becomes a really quick process.

We will move onto phase two tomorrow to create more layers

#movement

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Print week 1

Some prints I did today inspired from drawings from my sketchpad. I did the fashion elective last week and to be honest I really didn’t enjoy it as it is out of my comfort zone but I said I’d give it a try. I felt I had no transferable material from last week to bring into print so the prints are inspired by other work I have done.

The more I create the more I feel I am more drawn to more animation style drawings than focusing on realism and this showed in my work today.

#movement

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Finns movements

This evening I just observed my dogs movements. Today he actually got his dew-claw caught in a branch on a walk and it is hanging off which would be painful to him.

Even though this injury is painful we were made sure not to forget about it. He moped around the house limping and whimpering with his head down low looking at the floors as he parks up beside the couch instantly demanding his rubs and scratches. He was in awful form.

Before I went to bed I called into to him as he lay on my parents bed (also his bed) and I captured the first picture of him and he did not look happy whatsoever. He is slightly dramatic but because of this he is a perfect example of how dogs use body language and expressions to communicate their feelings and needs

#movement

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Thursday 23rd of Jan

Yesterday Sylvia recommended I go down to the photography room and I’m very glad I did.

With the help of Paul and a small and simple drawing I just cut out of my sketchpad, I was able to create these brilliant images

We put the drawing onto clear string and moved neon lights in the shapes we wanted to create in the background. To achieve this look you have to change the shutter speed of the camera so we set it to (shutter speed of 2 seconds) and also a small aperture (f11).

I’m extremely happy with how they turned out. They look like a greyhound running on the track which is exactly what I was going for. This photography style is a great way of portraying movement.

The third picture and just some simple gesture drawings I done with charcoal inspired by the photos taken earlier in the morning. I really love how they almost look animated

#movement

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Secondary/Artist research

Pages from my Secondary research sketchpad from the last week.

The artists Barry Flanagan and Eadweard Muybridge were recommended by Sylvia to look at. So I went and got their books from the library and picked images that stood out to me

I also created a mood board to help inspire me when creating more work

#movement

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Movement

Primary research

For movement I have decided to look into how sighthounds run, especially greyhounds as they have the peak athleticism out of all sighthound breeds.

Although I really liked the idea of doing my project on drag it was recommended to me to do it on a physical movement and to not over complicate it as we only have the 7 weeks to complete it the whole project.

Sighthounds are a group of dogs that hunt over long distances primarily relying on sight and speed unlike scent hounds which would rely on scent. Some examples of sighthounds include Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis and Borzois.

This project has a personal element to me as I have grown up with whippets and lurchers in my home all my life and the breed has always fascinated me with their athletic ability and placid nature.

The pictures above show the research I have completed in my Primary research sketch pad.

#movement #firstyear

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Life painting with Sylvia

Today we did a Life painting workshop. This wasn’t a new experience for me as I did it before last year during my PLC but with charcoal so the painting aspect was.

I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and I feel like I learned so much. I do find painting people and figures extremely hard as proportions are so hard to balance. This requires you to be really critical and break down the person you see in front of you into sections and colours.

Sylvia gave us many helpful measuring and mapping techniques to achieve this. We used big flat end bristle brushes which I was really uncomfortable with at the start but I got used to it and gained more control as the class went along. I was surprised by what I achieved by only using one large brush.

We focused on lighting and tones by only using three tones of paint we made out of primary colours. It was fascinating to see how different every persons painting turned out even though we were all given the same tools. It was so cool to see everyone’s personal techniques and styles shine through in their work

#firstyear #movement #painting

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My Final Display Wall

These are all the pieces I was satisfied with and thought portrayed my topic of “Assemble” best.

The second image shows the bottom left hand corner. I added pieces that I have not shown on tumblr before.

The first one being a heart that I sewn in the fashion workshop I attended. After I made it I thought it wouldn’t have any use but I’m glad I kept it now as it fits in nicely when displayed. It gives variety as it’s 3 dimensional.

The second piece is a water colour I did of the eyes of “The Fallen Angel” by Alexandre Cabanel. This is one of my favourite paintings as I love how he captured such intense emotions in lucifers eyes. I wasn’t quite satisfied with the eyes alone and I decided to add the text over it. It’s a quote from “American Horror Story” when a character is warning another about a boy and I think it narrates the painting perfectly as they are both referencing lucifer.

The cardboard hearts at the top came from the process of making my clay heart and I honestly thought they were more interesting than my final heart so I wanted to include them.

I also wish to add my ceramic heart to my display that I am still waiting on.

#assemble #firstyear #LSAD

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Acrylic painting I did inspired by Oswaldo Guayasamín one of my research artists. I thoroughly enjoy using acrylics they are my favourite medium I’m very happy with how this turned out.

Me and my friends jokes and called the painting “Misunderstood Michael” as I had to name the painting to make it less scary as I slept with it in my room at night. I actually really like the concept as it appears terrifying and sinister but in reality the figure in the painting is sad and fearful. I love how the very smooth and blended hands and face directly contrast with the rough and texture background I think it almost looks like coagulated blood. I used thickening paste and palette knife to create this effect.

I also think that stop motion is a very effective way to document the process of this painting.

Song- Vampire Empire by Big Thief

#assemble #firstyear #lsad

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Amaan Jahangir (artist research)

Amaan is a UK bases contemporary and digital artist. He graduated with a BA in Art from Reading University and has been creating for the last 10 years.

Amaans latest collection is what intrigued me to research him as an artist. The series is called “Mixed Messages”. It’s a series of paintings composed of personal text messages from his ex partner. He then paints compositions over these painting that directly describe the feelings he feels after reading them. I love how literal and direct it is. It is almost sarcastic in a way. For example “can I save you from yourself” is finished with two firemen signifying saving a person from whatever trouble or danger they may be in. His paintings are vividly colourful with rough and rugged brushstrokes which also appeals to me.

I love how raw and personal this collection is. You truly can’t get any realer than using your own breakup as a primary source.

#assemble #amaanjahangir

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Today I painted on some linen as I felt I needed to change up my materials. I added this satirical text which I thought was just very simple and effective in what I wanted to achieve.

#assemble

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A heart I created from the clay workshop I attended last Monday. I’m really happy how it turned out after being fired. I hope to glaze it and add string to the section with the hole.

#assemble