IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPRING HERE AT SLEEPING DOG.  THE LADY BANKS ROSE IS GOING CRAZY - IN FACT ALL THE ROSES ARE LOOKING GREAT AS WELL AS THE GARLIC, PEPPERS, POTATOES AND TOMATOES.   CONSTRUCTION IS FULL TILT BOOGIE NOW, LEADING UP TO OUR BIG "FUN RAISER" ON JUNE 7.  PLAN ON JOINING US FOR LIVE MUSIC, GREAT FOOD, CROSS COUNTRY CROQUET, SALSA TASTING AND SALSA DANCING, AND A CD RELEASE PARTY FOR BILLY RAY'S NEW RECORDING.

THE ART CENTER DREAM IS BECOMING A REALITY.   PLEASE CHECK OUR "EYE OF THE DOG" PAGE FOR CLASS LISTINGS AND PHOTOS OF BUILDING PROGRESS AND CLASSES.  WE WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN MANY SHOWS THIS COMING YEAR BUT RATHER, PUTTING OUR ENERGY INTO ESTABLISHING THE ART CENTER.  YOUR SUPPORT IS ENCOURAGED, WE NEED BUILDING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT.  BUY AN "EYE OF THE DOG" BALL CAP AND YOUR $30 DONATION GOES TOWARD THE SCHOOL AND MAKES YOU A MEMBER OF THE "EXPLORER'S CLUB" WITH MEETINGS, MERIT BADGES, AND LAMINATED MEMBERSHIP CARDS ALL COMING YOUR WAY.  IF YOU'RE ALREADY A MEMBER, SEND US A PHOTO OF YOU IN FRONT OF THE TAJ MAHAL, THE LOUVRE, OR EVEN YOUR BACK YARD, AND WE'LL POST IT HERE AT THE WEB SITE.

WITH THE HELP OF OUR FRIEND, GEORGE, BEVERLY AND I COMPLETED A 16 X 28 STORAGE SHED THAT IS NEARLY FULL OF GREAT MATERIALS ALREADY.   OUR FRIENDS ARE DONATING LOTS OF MATERIALS FOR THE NEW BUILDINGS.  DAVID MORGAN  GAVE US TWO TRUCK LOADS OF FLOORING, SUSAN WHITE GAVE US THREE BEAUTIFUL 8' x 8' DOORS FROM MEXICO AND SOME FINE SHELVING,  LINDA HARTMAN GAVE US SEVERAL LIGHT FIXTURES, TABLES, AND ASSORTED OTHER HARDWARE, ROGER BUCK GAVE US SOME BIG WINDOWS, AND KEVIN HUFFAKER IS DONATING SOME SIDING FOR THE STORAGE SHED. MARIBETH AND CLYDE POWERS DONATED A BRAND SPANKING NEW TOILET AND BOB AND MARY FULTON DONATED ANOTHER AS WELL AS SOME FINE WINDOWS AND DOORS.  WE RECEIVED SOME FANTASTIC "DOG KNOBS" FROM SUSAN AND JOHN BELL.   LYNNE AND GINA COBB INSTALLED OUR ELECTRICAL DROP AND GAVE US SOME LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AND BEVERLY AND REBECCA ROBERTS DONATED A KILN WITH FURNITURE AND SEVERAL CONSTRUCTION RELATED ITEMS.   PHYLIS BLAIR'S EXTENDED LOAN OF THE BIG FORD TRACTOR CONTINUES TO BE A BIG HELP.. THANKS TO YOU ALL, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME FINE STRUCTURES COME FROM ALL THIS.  A HUGE THANK YOU TO JOHN AND DARLENE WILLIAMS OF TRINITY CERAMICS, CATHERINE LEE, TY JOHNSON, THE FOUNDERS OF TEXAS CLAY FESTIVAL IN GRUENE,  AND  MARGARET ADIE FOR THEIR WONDERFUL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD OUR SUCCESS. THANKS ALSO TO RON PARKER, HE CAME OVER AND DUG 800 FEET OF TRENCHES FOR ELECTRICAL AND WATER LINES.  HE'S A GREAT PROBLEM SOLVER AND A MAN WITH EXTREME KNOWLEDGE OF TOOLS AND BUILDING IN GENERAL.

WE HAVE BEEN GETTING OUR CHOPS UP ON VARIOUS TOOLS AND PROCEDURES.  BEVERLY AND I JUST ADDED AN 8 X 12 ROOM TO HER FRONT STUDIO.  ACTUALLY, THE ROOM WAS ALREADY THERE, WE JUST CUT A HOLE THROUGH THE WALL.  IT IS GOOD TO GET IN BUILDING MODE - IT GROUNDED ME AND HELPED ME WITH THE DESIGNS I'VE BEEN WORKING AND RE-WORKING FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS.  WE'RE ALL ITCHING TO GET GOING AND IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING WILL BE IN PLACE FOR A MAJOR PUSH FORWARD IN EARLY APRIL.   IT'S A WONDERFUL JOURNEY, I FEEL PRIVILEGED TO ONCE AGAIN BE IN A POSITION TO BUILD STRUCTURES THAT HUMANS WILL INHABIT - BIG SCULPTURES!  DESIGNING AND BUILDING A HOUSE AND NEW STUDIO IS MUCH LIKE MAKING A TEAPOT.  FORM AND FUNCTION COMBINE AND THE RESULT EITHER WORKS OR IT DOESN'T.  WHAT A GREAT CHALLENGE.  AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, DRAWINGS, WALKING AROUND, AND PLANNING, THE HOUSE BEVERLY AND I DESIGNED WAS ALMOST EXACTLY THE HOUSE WE ALREADY LIVE IN!  WHAT A HOOT!  WE'LL TURN OUR PRESENT  HOUSE INTO A COMMUNAL AREA - KITCHEN, DINING, LIVING AREAS - ALONG WITH A FEW GUEST QUARTERS.  IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR BEING, WE SURE HAVE HAD SOME MIGHTY FINE DINNERS, PARTIES, AND ASSORTED GATHERINGS HERE IN THE LAST 18 YEARS.  AS WE FURTHER DEFINE THE "ART CENTER", THE WORD "COMMUNITY" KEEPS POPPING UP.  THE FOOD, MUSIC, LAUGHTER, AND FLOW OF CREATIVITY THAT HAS MADE UP SLEEPING DOG ALL THESE YEARS WILL CONTINUE IN LARGER QUARTERS.  WE'RE EXPANDING OUR PHYSICAL LAYOUT TO ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF A JUDGMENT FREE, SUPPORTIVE, AND FUN PLACE TO PRACTICE THE WONDER AND BEAUTY OF MAKING THINGS.

SLEEPING DOG STUDIO IS BILLY RAY AND BEVERLY MANGHAM.  AT THE PRESENT TIME WE HAVE FOUR DOGS (THAT'S "BOOGER" WINKING AT YOU) ONE CAT, A CANARY NAMED "HAMBONE", AND 10 CHICKENS.  BILLY RAY WORKS IN CLAY USING THE RAKU PROCESS AND BEVERLY WORKS WITH FOUND OBJECTS TO CREATE MIXED MEDIA SCULPTURES.  WE SELL OUR WORK PRIMARILY AT JURIED ART FAIRS ACROSS THE NATION, MOSTLY IN TEXAS, TENNESSEE, AND LOUISIANA, AND AT A FEW GALLERIES HERE AND THERE, MOST NOTABLY IOTA  IN DALLAS. 

MANY THANKS TO JOHN GREEN FOR HIS HELP ON THIS SITE.  HE'S A RIGHTEOUS DUDE!

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR A GREAT BAR B QUE SONG.  I WROTE THIS AND RECORDED IT WITH THE HELP OF MY FRIEND STEVE JAMES (OF KING SLIM) AND WE PRODUCED IT WITH THE HELP OF TRINITY CERAMICS AND ANGELA GALLIA.

 "Blessing of the Pork " .  THIS PAGE HAS BEEN REQUESTED TIMES.

SLEEPING DOG HOLIDAY SHOW - 2007

  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL WHO ATTENDED AND HELPED MAKE IT A SUCCESS

HERE ARE A FEW RANDOM SHOTS FROM THE CELEBRATION.

HANK AND BIRDY.  HANK IS THE LUCKY DOG THAT LIVES WITH KEVIN AND DANISE.  BIRDY BABY-SITS WHENEVER SHE CAN, BIG LOVE AFFAIR HERE!

TY AND CATHY OUR WONDERFUL, NEW NEIGHBORS.

MARK RUBIN AND THE RIDGE TOP SYNCOPATERS 

LEFT TO RIGHT:  SHAWN, , MARK, RICHARD, AND ANDREW

THESE CATS ROCKED THE JOINT AT THE FRIDAY NIGHT OPENING - GREAT MUSIC BY FINE MUSICIANS!

DAVE, TY, AND ERIC.  THIS YEAR'S SHOW WAS VERY COLD AND WET - THE WORST WEATHER WE'VE HAD IN 17 YEARS.  DESPITE THE COLD, WE ALL HAD FAIRLY GOOD SALES AND A GREAT TIME.  ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE TROOPERS AND THANKS TO ALL OUR PATRONS WHO VENTURED OUT IN BAD WEATHER!

"DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE" WELDED STEEL SCULPTURE BY KEVIN HUFFAKER.  (NOW IN THE "EYE OF THE DOG ART CENTER COLLECTION)

BEVERLY WITH   CATHY AND HANK.

BAMBOO HAND RAIL LEADING UP TO BILLY'S OFFICE.  

KEVIN AND OUR GREAT BARTENDER OF MANY YEARS, JOE DePOO.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT JOE, HE'S BEEN COMING DOWN FROM MESQUITE EVERY YEAR FOR MORE THAN TEN!  HE KEEPS EVERYONE SATISFIED AND TICKLED TOO AT FRIDAY'S OPENING.

I DID A SERIES OF VERY FUN CONE 9 WORK JUST BEFORE THE SHOW USING UNDER GLAZE PENCILS AND FIRED DECALS.  

CALLING ALL PATRONS

I'VE BEEN WORKING IN CLAY FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS NOW AND IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.  IN THE FUTURE I NEED TO MAKE FEWER PIECES, DO FEWER SHOWS AND CONCENTRATE ON THE WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THIS LIFETIME.  I WANT TO MAKE LARGE OUTDOOR SCULPTURES.  IN ADDITION I WANT TO PUT MORE TIME INTO MY MUSIC AND DESIGN SOME WORK FOR SALE ON THE INTERNET - T SHIRTS AND SUCH.

TO THAT END I'M SEEKING FOLKS WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN OUTDOOR SCULPTURE OF, SAY, AN EIGHT FOOT CLOWN CARRYING A DUCK, OR A FOUR FOOT CHIHUAHUA WITH A DERBY AND WHO ARE WILLING TO PAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $5000 AND $20,000 FOR SUCH AN OBJECT.  IF YOU ARE THAT PERSON OR KNOW OF ONE SUCH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.  HOW ABOUT A SIX FOOT TALL GERMAN SHEPPARD WEARING A THREE PIECE SUIT AND CARRYING A BRIEFCASE?  THE TWO PIECES SHOWN TO THE RIGHT HERE WERE COMPLETED IN PANEVEZYS, LITHUANIA IN JULY 2006 AND ARE THE PROPERTY OF THE CIVIC ART GALLERY IN THAT CITY.

"ARTIST AS CLOWN"  Cone 15 clay - Made in Lithuania July 2006  Height 5' 10"

"END OF CHILDHOOD" Cone 15 Clay - Made in Lithuania July 2006  Height 5' 4"

FOUR OF A SERIES OF 7 BUSTS I COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 2007.  HEADS AND BODIES ARE WHEEL THROWN.  THE PIECES ARE ABOUT 24"-30" IN HEIGHT AND ARE RAKU FIRED.  $950 EACH.

MIKE AND ALICE

BILLY'S BRUSHES

ALEJANDRA AND JIM BOB W/BIRD

CARL BLOCK AND JIM DALE W/COFFEE

POTTER'S BREAKFAST

DAVID HENDLEY'S FINE SHIRT

TWO DOGS

SMALL POCKET MAMMAL

MIKE AND RANDY