Dog & Pony Show, original upcycled vintage painting

At Hogwarts, a herd of thestrals live in the Forbidden Forest, under the care of the gameskeeper, Hagrid. His cowardly boar hound at his side, Hagrid would daily feed the deathly looking creatures meat. Now I knew that Hagrid could see the thestrals, because he had witnessed death of loved ones in his life… but I wondered, could Fang see the thestrals? 

With this alteration, I wanted to capture a moment when Fang was within scent of the magical beasts… they can see him, but it’s unclear whether he can see them. The thestral closest is relaxed, wings at her side. But the larger thestral is protective, wings up asserting himself over this new creature that has wandered so close. 

Original vintage art : This print is of the original horses and dog painting by master artist George Stubbs (1724 - 1806), who you'll discover if you do a quick search liked to paint horses... a lot! I collected this vintage print in Australia while on a holiday! It travelled all the way back home to Canada, so has made quite a journey already. The print and frame were produced c1980, and over the years it has slowly lost its vibrant colour due to sun and environmental damage. I decided to keep the original faded colours as it worked well with the ethereal feel of the thestrals. I cleaned and touched up parts where I felt it was necessary, but left left some scuffs and marks on the print as part of the vintage look. 

Frame : The original vintage frame is sturdy. Made of wood with some detailing on the inside trim. The frame was in very good condition, with only a minor crack and chips which I repaired and touched up.  It has been rewired and is ready to display on the wall. It is not heavy.

Altered Muggle Art : With this collection, I’m capturing magical moments from my non-magical “muggle” point of view. By taking vintage artworks and altering them to depict magical places and creatures, I am creating a historical fiction around the  idea that the world of wizards was real. With this particular piece of artwork I aim to celebrate and memorialize the character of Fang.

"Dog & Pony Show"

painting by Heather Castles
49.5 x 67 cm (19.5 x 26.5 inch) board
55 x 75 cm (21.5 x 29.5 inch) frame