George Rodrigue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Rodrigue
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| Born | March 13, 1944 New Iberia, Louisiana, United States
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| Died | December 14, 2013 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Art Center College of Design |
| Known for | Painter |
George Rodrigue (born March 13, 1944 – died December 14, 2013) was an American artist. He was famous for his paintings of Louisiana landscapes and family scenes.
Later, he became known worldwide for his "Blue Dog" paintings. These paintings were inspired by a Cajun legend about a loup-garou, which is like a werewolf.
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About George Rodrigue
George Rodrigue was born in New Iberia, Louisiana, on March 13, 1944. He went to Catholic High School in New Iberia. He studied art at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Art Center College of Design in California.
After his studies, he returned to Louisiana. He became well-known for painting scenes from Cajun life and the beautiful landscapes of his home state. His early paintings often showed moss-covered oak trees. These trees are very common in Acadiana, a part of French Louisiana.
Some of his famous early works include The Aioli Dinner. This painting is shown in two different museums. Another famous work is The Class of Marie Courrege. This painting won an award in Paris, France, in 1975.
Rodrigue also created a series of fifteen paintings called the Saga of the Acadians. These paintings tell the story of the Acadian people. They show their journey from France to Nova Scotia and then to Louisiana.
| "The yellow eyes are really the soul of the dog. He has this piercing stare. People say the dog keeps talking to them with the eyes, always saying something different. People who have seen a Blue Dog painting always remember it. They are really about life, about mankind searching for answers. The dog never changes position. He just stares at you. And you’re looking at him, looking for some answers, ‘Why are we here?,’ and he’s just looking back at you, wondering the same. The dog doesn’t know. You can see this longing in his eyes, this longing for love, answers." |
| — Rodrigue on the Blue Dog |
The Blue Dog Paintings
George Rodrigue is most famous for his "Blue Dog" paintings. These paintings feature a blue dog with yellow eyes. The dog's shape was based on his own dog, Tiffany, who had passed away.
The idea for the Blue Dog came from the loup-garou legend. This is a Cajun ghost story. The first painting in this series was called Watch Dog.
The Blue Dog became very popular in 1992. It was used in national ad campaigns by companies like Absolut Vodka and Xerox. The blue dog often has a white nose and bright yellow eyes. Rodrigue said the yellow eyes show the dog's soul and its search for answers about life.
Later Life and Awards
Rodrigue had art galleries in Carmel, California, and in Louisiana. His art was shown in many exhibitions. He received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2009.
In 2011, the Boy Scouts of America honored him with a special award. He also received the Opus Award from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in 2013.
His Passing
In October 2013, George Rodrigue shared that he had lung cancer. He passed away on December 14, 2013, at the age of 69. His funeral was held at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.
George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts
In 2009, George Rodrigue started a non-profit group called the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA). This foundation helps show how important art is for kids. It supports art education programs.
The foundation has programs like an annual Scholarship Art Contest. It also has "George's Art Closet," which gives art supplies to schools. Another program, Louisiana A+ Schools, helps teachers use art in all their lessons. This helps students learn in new and creative ways.
Books Featuring His Art
George Rodrigue's art has been featured in several books:
- The Loup-Garou of Côte Gelée by Morris Raphael (1990); Rodrigue was the illustrator.
- Claire by Moonlight by Lynne Kositsky (2005); his painting Traiteur was on the cover.
- Dog: 5000 years of the Dog in Art by Tamsin Pickeral (2010); one of Rodrigue's paintings was included.
- Rascal: A Dog and His Boy by Ken Wells (2010); a Rodrigue painting was on the cover.
