Van Gogh soars to new heights at auctions. This time it’s not about the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. We’re talking about Van Gogh, the one-eared rescue dog who made his way into the hearts of internet users last year with his colorful paintings and touching adoption story.
Van Gogh the dog once again lends his talents to Happily Furever After Rescue in Bethel, Connecticut, which helped find him a loving home.
In an online charity painting auction that kicked off on March 3, the birthday of Van Gogh’s dog, pet food company Pedigree paid $10,000 for a dog to perform Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece Starry Night. The auction will last until March 30, when Van Gogh turns 170 years old.
All proceeds from the Van Gogh dog auction will go to Happily Furever After’s rescue efforts. Happily Furever After Rescue is a Connecticut-based animal rescue organization.
The painting auction features some of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works, recreated by the shaggy, one-eared artist: Starry Night, Self-Portrait, Almond Blossoms and Sunflowers. All money from the sale of paintings will go to help homeless animals.
One of the largest pet food manufacturers has already decided to buy Starry Night for $10,000. Thus, the painting becomes one of the most expensive created by dogs.
“Having Van Gogh create some of history’s most famous paintings felt like big shoes to fill,” founder Jaclyn Gartner told Artnet News in an email. She also added that there was a lot more attention to detail this time around to make sure all the colors are included and try to recreate the details as accurately as possible.
Paintings by Van Gogh the dog were a surprise fundraising hit. Helping a one-eared puppy develop his artistic talents was originally a tactic developed by Gartner to help him find a new owner.
In October, she hosted the dog’s first “gallery show” as an adoption event.
After Happily Furever posted a Facebook post decrying the lack of visitors, the story went viral. Commissions for paintings by Van Gogh the dog poured in, and volunteer Jessica Starowitz adopted him.
Since Van Gogh found his new home, he has painted over 150 new works of art.
The process of “drawing” looks intricate.To make each job, a person applies drops of paint onto a canvas placed in a plastic bag. The dog then completes the job by licking off a layer of peanut butter or other treats from the outside of the bag.
Gartner said the most exciting thing about a Van Gogh the dog painting is never knowing what it will look like as it depends on how his tongue slides over a peanut butter-covered bag.
