George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog – New Orleans
Blue Dog by George Rodrigue
George Rodrigue always had a vision and art in his soul. He dreamed that after art school an agent would find him and then his art would be shown in galleries and he would paint and paint and paint.
Man plans and god laughs.
George Rodrigue did finish art school and start painting but an agent never came along and neither did the galleries to show his work. He sold from a magazine ad and the trunk of his car. But he was an artist through and through and continued to paint.
Finally, in 1989 –  about 20 years after he finished art school, The Rodrigue Gallery of New Orleans was born.  In  2009, George purchased his own gallery where you can still find his art – 730 Royal Street in the French Quarter.
His early work was of dark landscapes, but he is best known for the blue dog. Inspired by the mythological creature the Loup – Garou, the blue dog is a wonderful part of pop culture.
The blue dog has been a part of advertising for Absolut Vodka  and Xerox.
The loup – garou is a type of werewolf. Â George Rodrigue thought the grey fur looked blue in the moonlight which is why the blue dog is blue.
Keep your eyes out and you can see examples all around the city. The Ritz-Carlton has a few examples in the M bistro.
The sculpture garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art has a blue dog, too!
The blue dog really travels around! The Sheridan hotel has a Steinway piano decorated with the blue dog and a blue dog hog!
It’s the blue dog hog in the Sheridan hotel! Not only is it fun art, but it rhymes. You just have to love that.
Art is a wonderful way to appreciate a vacation destination! Talk about what makes this child like drawing with bright colors so popular with everyone. What do you think about the blue dog?
Kids love art! Use the opportunity to share your opinions – you don’t have to like or understand it. Just enjoy!
Happy travels,
Natalie, The Educational Tourist
Lovely story, great artist. I love the bright colors – and that blue dog is iconic 🙂 As an art lover, I would love to see this in person 🙂
It made me smile!! I love the colors, too. 🙂
I’ve never heard of the blue dog! However, as I’m a fan of everything dog-related, I really enjoyed this! Will have to keep an eye out for the blue dog on my next visit 🙂
Isn’t it fun? We have had a poster of the blue dog in our house for years and years. Hubby was a fan before I met him!
This is definitely an interesting read and it goes to show that if you have a dream whether weird or big that they can come true. Glad to hear that 20yrs after his art school that he finally got a chance to display his own work and if you can’t get in a gallery you buy a gallery. In a lovely why he is an inspiration not to give up on your dreams.
Tenacity sure served him well, right? Great inspiration for the rest of us!
That’s awesome that he kept powering through and didn’t let rejection deter him from following his dreams. In a way it’s a really inspiring story.
I love this! Good for him for keeping at it and selling from the trunk of his car. His work is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
No doubt! He was determined. Interested that his style of art changed over the years, too.
An inspirational story for all of us. On a side note, my little one would absolutely love those dog pics and cuts!!
They are fun and colorful!
One more proof New Orleans is a fantastic city! As an immerse dog lover, I would love to visit this gallery and learn more about this inspiring man and his art.
It was so much fun – so bright and colorful!