Petra: during the 1960s we lived in Norfolk. Our neighbours kept a Jack-Russell on a chain close to the bus garage with galvanised steel doors where I painted bums and mad dogs, using a white paste made from fertilizer.
Petra was living reference for the concept of a mad dog. He savagely guarded his territory, rushing at intruders, brought up short by his chain which tinkled off the concrete as he charged.
He’d come to an abrupt halt, straining on his back legs. Wild with fury, jaws clamped in a grimace of white fangs, pink/black gums and frothing saliva.
Petra’s owner was local garage proprietor Jack High. Jack’s nick-name was ‘Decca’, supposedly because he was decorated after surviving an enemy attack during the second World War. Jack was on a motor torpedo boat when the vessel was blown-up. He was saved by air-sea-rescue after floating for some time in the North Sea wearing a life-jacket.
This affected his outlook. ‘Decca’ was always a bit leary. His favourite trick with Petra was to take him to ‘the pits’ (ponds) at the bottom of our fields – formed through clay being dug from the ground to make bricks for Aylmer Hall. They were quite deep, with submerged vehicles in them.
Decca would juggle Petra in his arms, then lob him at the ponds. I can recall the dog’s bewildered look, as he fell with a splosh into the cold, stagnant water.
There’d be a brief pause, bubbles appearing on the surface, then Petra would emerge, spluttering and coughing as he righted himself, swimming doggy-paddle (literally) back to shore, encouraged by Decca.
The tough little hound would scuttle through the reed beds, shaking himself dry at our feet. Decca would praise Petra for his achievement.
This painting in mixed media on galvanised steel, is a recollection of Petra and my childhood perception of a mad dog. Petra would sometimes hunt rats; I can picture his bloody mouth as he bit them in half. Not so ‘designer’ as dogs are these days.
In this case the process is about taking my mature self back to childhood (1967), questioning how I would paint and draw if once again, I was stood in front of the bus garage doors.
The gavlanised steel tank I used, had been mouldering in an outbuilding. Kit helped cut it up; together we visualised how the object might be developed, agreeing the rivets were an important feature, (the bus garage doors were held together with rivets). Chris Dee also helped, contributing his thoughts about an assemblage made with other parts of the tank and a 40mm shell.
My painting is based on photo-reference, a realist style depicts some of the dog’s features. To create a red mouth as if it is moving and bloody, I applied paint with my fingers. Leaving things undefined adds to the intensity of an image.
Deciphering childhood behaviour (painting large images of bums and mad dogs on bus garage doors), translates simply: ‘fierce dogs guard arses’.
Petra (remembered) is in mixed media on galvanised steel, 45 x 59 x 1cm.
If you are interested in purchasing this work please leave a message on the contact form below. Your details will not be publicly visible.
The painting is now on show at studio1.1, Shoreditch in London during January and February 2025 as part of ‘This Year’s Model ’25’.
With thanks to – Alex & Vicky, Kit, Dave, Ben & Debs, Chris Dee
Leave a Reply