Harry the Muse

Baby Harry Young Harry Old Harry

My little Harry dog is now 15 and a half years old. He has been part of the family from the time he came to live with us at 5 weeks old.

His hearing and eyesight are not what they once were, I suppose that can be said of all of us. However, he is still quite sprightly for an old dog. A miniature Fox Terrier with all the qualities possessed by a much larger dog.



He has become quite a well known character within the local community with a standing invitation for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday at our neighbours front yard.

Harry and friends at breakfast

Harry likes playing with his squeaky toys, eating, taking naps (especially in the sun), shredding paper, his blanket, going for long walks in the park, car rides, being patted, nibbling my honeysuckle vine and being with me.

Harry dislikes cats, water, sailing, cats, thunder (though now that he is a little deaf he doesn't seem to notice this as much), being picked up, cats and he doesn't like foxes either.


Most of my drawings of him are done while he is asleep, it has been difficult to capture him awake as he is rarely still. This drawing was transferred to a light sensitive polymer plate, etched onto the plate using UV light and processed in water. Once the plate is cured and dried it is inked and printed as you would with any other etched plate using a printing press.

An earlier small lino cut print of Harry has been reworked an into a larger image as a woodcut print with an addition of a red pillow.

The image was carved onto three woodblocks, a separate woodblock was carved for each colour. Traditional Japanese woodcut technique was used for registration and carving, the blocks were rolled with water-based letterpress inks and the image was hand printed onto Japanese paper using a ball-bearing baren.


Here's Harry concentrating while at work posing for the little lino cut and the larger woodcut. He certainly does work hard!

I have been commissioned by a local sculptor to make an image to be featured on the invitation card for his upcoming 'One Man and a Dog' Exhibition. Last Winter, Harry regularly posed for this sculptor during a number of studio sessions. After removing his little red coat, his only requirement was that the heater be turned up high.

Here is the preliminary artwork in preparation for carving a woodblock to print. It's based on a photograph taken of shadows cast in early morning sunlight.

Harry featured on the right.

It must be hard work being a muse in such high demand, guess that must be why he takes so many siesta breaks.

You know what they say about sleeping dogs. . .


All images Copyright © 2004 - 2010 Rosanna Jurisevic