Creole Dog Names

In the last couple of decades, the pop art culture has blossomed around the world and nowhere is it more prominent than in Louisiana. Contemporary New Orleans artist George Rodrigue's 'Blue Dog' series makes its home in the Big Easy. Art lovers around the world are familiar with the blue-haired, yellow-eyed dog paintings that mesmerize and capture the imagination. 

The famous Blue Dog is not just a phantom but is based on a real pooch. Each painting combines Rodrigue's love of a small dog named Tiffany with a legendary Cajun creature that is somewhat werewolf-like. The ultimate result formed in Rodrigue's imagination and depicted by his talented hand onto canvas is the awe-inspiring Blue Dog. 

The first Blue Dog painting was called Loup-garou (werewolf). The picture occurred when Rodrigue was commissioned to illustrate a book titled Bayou that told about various Louisiana ghost stories. The many pictures in the book all referenced places within the stories. In one tale called, 'Slaughterhouse' the story talks about a dog guarding a house. The loup-garou inspired the story, and the Blue Dog was born. 

In 1992, Absolut Vodka honored Rodrigue as the Absolut Vodka artist, and he officially joined the ranks of Andy Warhol and others. Rodrigue's work was used by Absolute Vodka and Xerox Corporation on their many publicity campaigns. The brands skyrocketed the Blue Dog to fame. 

During an interview in 1998 with the New York Times, Rodrigue says, “The yellow eyes are 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.”

The Blue Dog became a celebrity. Rodrigue painted the Blue Dog walking beside presidents such as President Clinton. He also showed the dog pictured with celebrities like Marilyn Monroe. 

Unfortunately, Rodrigue passed away of cancer in 2013, but many of his Blue Dog paintings remain for viewing in the French Quarter of New Orleans.