What do you think?
Rate this book
David Hockney's Dog Days
"A charming collection an essential book for the dachshund or Hockney lover." ― The Mail on Sunday
"From September 1993, I painted and drew my dogs. This took a certain amount of planning, since dogs are generally not interested in Art (I say generally only because I have now come across a singing dog). Food and love dominate their lives. I make no apologies for the apparent subject matter. These two dear little creatures are my friends. They are intelligent, loving, comical, and often bored. They watch me work; I notice the warm shapes they make together, their sadness and their delights. And, being Hollywood dogs, they somehow seem to know that a picture is being made." ― David Hockney
David Hockney introduces his two dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie, in this delightful collection. The result of both sharp observation and affection, these paintings and drawings are lyrical studies in form and design. A text by the artist gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how to work with models that don't necessarily want to sit still.
84 color illustrations
"From September 1993, I painted and drew my dogs. This took a certain amount of planning, since dogs are generally not interested in Art (I say generally only because I have now come across a singing dog). Food and love dominate their lives. I make no apologies for the apparent subject matter. These two dear little creatures are my friends. They are intelligent, loving, comical, and often bored. They watch me work; I notice the warm shapes they make together, their sadness and their delights. And, being Hollywood dogs, they somehow seem to know that a picture is being made." ― David Hockney
David Hockney introduces his two dachshunds, Stanley and Boodgie, in this delightful collection. The result of both sharp observation and affection, these paintings and drawings are lyrical studies in form and design. A text by the artist gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how to work with models that don't necessarily want to sit still.
84 color illustrations
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 17, 1998
About the author
David Hockney
211 books159 followersDavid Hockney (9 July 1937 - 11 June 2026) was a renowned English painter, draughtsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer.
He loved books and was interested in art from an early age, admiring Picasso, Matisse and Fragonard. His parents encouraged their son’s artistic exploration, and gave him the freedom to doodle and daydream.
Hockney attended the Bradford College of Art from 1953 to 1957. Then, because he was a conscientious objector to military service, he spent two years working in hospitals to fulfill his national service requirement. In 1959, he entered graduate school at the Royal College of Art in London alongside other young artists such as Peter Blake and Allen Jones, and he experimented with different forms, including abstract expressionism. He did well as a student, and his paintings won prizes and were purchased for private collections.
Hockney’s early paintings incorporated his literary leanings, and he used fragments of poems and quotations from Walt Whitman in his work. This practice, and paintings such as We Two Boys Clinging Together, which he created in 1961, were the first nods to his homosexuality in his art.
Because he frequently went to the movies with his father as a child, Hockney once quipped that he was raised in both Bradford and Hollywood. He was drawn to the light and the heat of California, and first visited Los Angeles in 1963. He officially moved there in 1966. The swimming pools of L.A. were one of his favorite subjects, and he became known for large, iconic works such as A Bigger Splash. His expressionistic style evolved, and by the 1970s, he was considered more of a realist.
In addition to pools, Hockney painted the interiors and exteriors of California homes. In 1970, this led to the creation of his first “joiner,” an assemblage of Polaroid photos laid out in a grid. Although this medium would become one his claims to fame, he stumbled upon it by accident. While working on a painting of a Los Angeles living room, he took a series of photos for his own reference, and fixed them together so he could paint from the image. When he finished, however, he recognized the collage as an art form unto itself, and began to create more.
Hockney was an adept photographer, and he began working with photography more extensively. By the mid 1970s, he had all but abandoned painting in favor of projects involving photography, lithographs, and set and costume design for the ballet, opera and theater.
In the late 1980s, Hockney returned to painting, primarily painting seascapes, flowers and portraits of loved ones. He also began incorporating technology in his art, creating his first homemade prints on a photocopier in 1986. The marriage of art and technology became an ongoing fascination—he used laser fax machines and laser printers in 1990, and in 2009 he started using the Brushes app on iPhones and iPads to create paintings. A 2011 exhibit at the Royal Museum of Ontario showcased 100 of these paintings.
In a 2011 poll of more than 1,000 British artists, Hockney was voted the most influential British artist of all time. He continued to paint and exhibit, and advocated for funding for the arts.
source: http://www.biography.com/people/david...
He loved books and was interested in art from an early age, admiring Picasso, Matisse and Fragonard. His parents encouraged their son’s artistic exploration, and gave him the freedom to doodle and daydream.
Hockney attended the Bradford College of Art from 1953 to 1957. Then, because he was a conscientious objector to military service, he spent two years working in hospitals to fulfill his national service requirement. In 1959, he entered graduate school at the Royal College of Art in London alongside other young artists such as Peter Blake and Allen Jones, and he experimented with different forms, including abstract expressionism. He did well as a student, and his paintings won prizes and were purchased for private collections.
Hockney’s early paintings incorporated his literary leanings, and he used fragments of poems and quotations from Walt Whitman in his work. This practice, and paintings such as We Two Boys Clinging Together, which he created in 1961, were the first nods to his homosexuality in his art.
Because he frequently went to the movies with his father as a child, Hockney once quipped that he was raised in both Bradford and Hollywood. He was drawn to the light and the heat of California, and first visited Los Angeles in 1963. He officially moved there in 1966. The swimming pools of L.A. were one of his favorite subjects, and he became known for large, iconic works such as A Bigger Splash. His expressionistic style evolved, and by the 1970s, he was considered more of a realist.
In addition to pools, Hockney painted the interiors and exteriors of California homes. In 1970, this led to the creation of his first “joiner,” an assemblage of Polaroid photos laid out in a grid. Although this medium would become one his claims to fame, he stumbled upon it by accident. While working on a painting of a Los Angeles living room, he took a series of photos for his own reference, and fixed them together so he could paint from the image. When he finished, however, he recognized the collage as an art form unto itself, and began to create more.
Hockney was an adept photographer, and he began working with photography more extensively. By the mid 1970s, he had all but abandoned painting in favor of projects involving photography, lithographs, and set and costume design for the ballet, opera and theater.
In the late 1980s, Hockney returned to painting, primarily painting seascapes, flowers and portraits of loved ones. He also began incorporating technology in his art, creating his first homemade prints on a photocopier in 1986. The marriage of art and technology became an ongoing fascination—he used laser fax machines and laser printers in 1990, and in 2009 he started using the Brushes app on iPhones and iPads to create paintings. A 2011 exhibit at the Royal Museum of Ontario showcased 100 of these paintings.
In a 2011 poll of more than 1,000 British artists, Hockney was voted the most influential British artist of all time. He continued to paint and exhibit, and advocated for funding for the arts.
source: http://www.biography.com/people/david...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 16, 2021
A beautiful book showing a collection of Hockney's paintings, pen and pencil drawings of his two very cute dachshund friends. These images are beautifully observed and full of life and character. Dog lovers will appreciate the lovely poses these two dashy friends strike. Lovely sleeping poses, full tummies and contented expressions!
I really enjoyed the two paragraphs at the start which is used for the book description on Goodreads.
Perfect for art lovers and dog lovers!
I really enjoyed the two paragraphs at the start which is used for the book description on Goodreads.
Perfect for art lovers and dog lovers!
February 11, 2019
i love this book
i have a dachshund his name is gonk and i love drawing or painting him.
i have a dachshund his name is gonk and i love drawing or painting him.
Read
October 10, 2026Best book ever!!!
November 19, 2023
I love David Hockney and I love daschund dogs so ofc i bought and read this book
May 6, 2020
Always been a huge fan of Hockney...
August 13, 2025
perfect. read it in harvard yard
July 7, 2026
it’s like my favourite book now
January 17, 2023
The man just painted his weenie dogs for a year and honestly I can see myself doing the same one day.
Each painting is filled with so much affection for these two dogs and that adoration resonates with me a lot.
Each painting is filled with so much affection for these two dogs and that adoration resonates with me a lot.
September 11, 2024
What a terrific piece of art. Scarcely inhabited by Hockney's words —a short introduction that's nevertheless quite insightful— these are seventy pages full of Art and Life; for anybody who likes drawing, who likes painting, or who loves daschunds will certainly enjoy madly these series of sketches and paintings, printed in such a high quality that one can appreciate each and every stroke Hockney gave to make his dogs go through the gates of eternity. These wonderful pages are an endorsement to the thought that there's no such thing as a little topic, only a little artist, for the beauty that they exude, even if they might be said to be simple —and not exactly aesthetic— dogs, has the very same intensity of the sunflowers of van Gogh, the water lilies of Monet and the birds of Snyders. Do not miss this, for it's a lesson in the domain of Life.
April 19, 2026
Lovely ode to two clearly beloved dogs, by a legendary artist.
I personally prefer the pencil sketches scattered throughout. They are very simply but beautifully demonstrate the artists skill at creating tone and humour with a few simple lines and marks. Page 67 is particularly gorgeous.
Each page shows a lot of character from the two little cuties.
The note at the beginning of the book was great and I personally would have appreciated more stuff like that, to give a bit more substance.
Great book for fans of Hockney or dachshunds (ideally both) and would make a nice gift for these people in your life. However, despite the paintings and drawings being sweet, there wasn’t enough to it to give it over 3*
I personally prefer the pencil sketches scattered throughout. They are very simply but beautifully demonstrate the artists skill at creating tone and humour with a few simple lines and marks. Page 67 is particularly gorgeous.
Each page shows a lot of character from the two little cuties.
The note at the beginning of the book was great and I personally would have appreciated more stuff like that, to give a bit more substance.
Great book for fans of Hockney or dachshunds (ideally both) and would make a nice gift for these people in your life. However, despite the paintings and drawings being sweet, there wasn’t enough to it to give it over 3*
August 30, 2026
he visto una review de iranzu de hockney me meti al perfil y vi esto no sabia q estaba en esta app. me lo compre en londres hace un mes literalmente guardado como oro en paño porq es de lo mas bonito q yo tengo en casa. yo le amo q decir #alvaroguau
June 28, 2023
The man loves color... and his dogs!
August 14, 2023
Love love love love love!
December 28, 2023
read in McNally Jackson’s - so precious!!!
March 27, 2024
This artist really loved his dogs.
July 22, 2024
Me han entrado muchas ganas de dibujar a mi perra, ojalá hacerlo tan bien como Hockney.
January 18, 2025
I love colour, I love dogs, I love love. This book has it all
July 20, 2025
So simple but incredible I could stare at his paintings forever
July 31, 2025
*3 stars*
Simple sketches and paintings of sleeping dachshunds. Very cute.
Simple sketches and paintings of sleeping dachshunds. Very cute.
August 14, 2011
Zu erklären nur über eine Art familiäre Vorbelastung, es sind nicht Hockney's beste Bilder. Für Kunstinteressierte DackelfreundInnen trotzdem ein Must-Have.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews