News
Move Over Picasso
December 08, 2007, 8:53PM MT
By Michele King
Netop the Painting Pooch!
Netop the Painting Pooch!
Move Over Picasso
By Shari Strader, Best Friends Network
When Wilmington, North Carolina based artist Jacqueline Karch and her dog Ruby heard about a litter of puppies that were relinquished to the New Hanover County Animal Control, and then placed into a foster home with the New Hanover County Humane Society, they knew they had to take a look.
Ruby, who was minutes away from being euthanized in the Lumberton shelter when Jacqueline adopted her, was a very shy and reserved dog. After doing some research, Jacqueline decided that the best way to help Ruby come out of her shell would be to get another dog – a little brother for her. But this couldn’t be just any dog. It would need to be a special dog, and Ruby would have the final say.
After spending some time with the litter of puppies, Ruby made up her mind. She picked a cute little brown puppy with one ear perpetually sticking up. The puppy and Ruby became fast friends and Jacqueline named their new addition Netop, the Narragansett Indian word for friend.
It wasn’t long before Jacqueline realized that Netop was no ordinary dog – he was special, very special. Not only was he remarkably smart, he also had boundless energy. She decided to enroll him in school where he excelled, and his trainer said he was in the top 20 of all dogs.
Netop has since mastered the treadmill, taken up skateboarding, and modeled for Avanti Greeting Cards. Still needing to find activities to satisfy Netop's curiosity and limitless energy, Jacqueline decided to let Netop try his paw at painting. He was a natural. “You only have to show him something once and he catches on, and he doesn’t forget,” said Jacqueline. After doing his first painting on March 5, 2006, with brush in mouth, Netop began his career as an artist.
His work can best be described as abstract. He focuses on color and form rather than actual subject matter and his strokes are definite. “His technique is so uninhibited,” said Jacqueline. “Many people don’t know his paintings were done by a dog.” Once, while hanging some of Netop’s work in a gallery, a local art critic admiring his work asked to meet the artist. Needless to say he was quite surprised when the artist appeared on all fours.
A portion of all proceeds from Netops’ artwork is donated to shelters and rescue groups. He has held exhibits benefiting the New Hanover and Pender County Humane Societies and the Triad SPCA.
On November 10th, a fundraiser was held at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington and one of his paintings, “Smoke Jumpers”, was raffled. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this painting are being used to purchase pet-oxygen masks for his areas’ fire department and EMS trucks. Enough money was raised to purchase 53 pet-oxygen mask sets and they will be presented to area Fire Departments on December 12th.
What’s next for Netop? It’s hard to say, but most likely the sky is the limit for this 4 and 1/2 year old, 17-pound miracle pooch. For now, he spends his time working in the corner of his mom’s studio, with his own little easel, churning out masterpiece after masterpiece and raising money for rescued and homeless animals.
To learn more about Netop, view his paintings, or purchase a Netop original, visit his website at: http://netopthedog.com/
See a video of Netop at work! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhMspL3vYAM
Photographs of Netop by Dick Parrott Photography.