What does a normal or ideal working day look like for you? Do you have regular working hours or do they vary from day to day?
Annoyingly, I am woken up far too early every morning by my flatmates’ alarm clock. I usually pretend not to hear it but can’t keep it up for long. After getting up, I assist the two with their morning yoga, which is fun (for me). Then breakfast, followed by brushing teeth (them) and a long walk (the three of us). Another walk in the afternoon and the last one in the evening around 10pm. In between, I guard the door, announce visitors, ensure regular mealtimes and make sure I get my 19 to 20 hours of sleep, although I am always in standby mode, of course.

 

How many hours per day do you work on average (writing, painting, practicing, composing, sniffing)?  What is the best case result (two pages, one sketch, twenty bars)?
Oh boy, hard to say. The best work results in one day are: meetings and in-depth exchanges with all my colleagues in the neighbourhood, either in person or remotely (remotely meaning via pee-mail, for example); successful guard duty throughout the day (e.g. scaring away 1 or 2 delivery people, announcement of a visitor at the door), one extensive session in the garden involving a ball, effectively distracting the flatmates from ‘work’ (whatever they mean by it), successfully begging for food used by the Swiss in the preparation of dinner.

 

How many hours do you add on average for ‘background work’ and everything else (research, office stuff, acquisition, website, social media)? How do you find the balance between all the tasks you have to keep track of as a free artist?
As a true guard dog, my watch mode is always ON. I am doing the background work even as I sleep. (Although I have to admit that certain things, such as my social media account, are handled by my assistant, the German.) Other stuff – office work in terms of distributing shoes, shredding boxes, etc. – I find that no trouble, I sort of dabble that in. As for finding the balance, well, it’s not as if I have a choice, you see?

 

Are there weekends for you? What does free time mean?
What is a weekend?

 

What is the biggest threat to your artistic work, what do you get distracted by?
Don’t forget: I am a shepherd dog. I can concentrate and focus better than any poodle, hamster or human. That’s my thing and that is what I was designed for. If anything can distract me at all, it is certain smells, either from the kitchen or from girls. (In fact, girls who smell too good are able to destroy my whole working routine. I even forget to eat during such periods.) (Yes, Amy, I am talking about you!) Oh, and rain. Rain is also something which can seriously jeopardise my creative routine. I just hate it.
Having said that, I also consider it my job – and it is one of my greatest creative challenges in fact – to distract others (i.e. the humans). So I try to come up with new ideas every day. Looking at them as if I am starving for example, or pretending to get sick, or basically any kind of false alarm, these are tricks which work very well!

 

Do you have strategies to protect yourself from distractions?
No. My flatmates think they have ‘strategies’ when I go through phases of romantic distraction (see above) by taking me for walks elsewhere or telling me all is well and I’m a good boy but quite honestly, they don’t have a clue.

 

What is your working environment like, what is essential for you? For example, do you need absolute silence – and if so, where and how do you find it?
I have two main areas of work, and each of them requires certain conditions. Inside the house: silence, preferably with a slight murmur in the background. I like it most when the humans work, talk or speak on the phone, and let me be close. Outside the house: I like input, mostly in form of encounters and odours. It’s also essential for me being off-leash and not being rushed. I need to do all my research in peace and quiet.

 

When and where does the most important part of your work happen, where do you find the greatest inspiration?
Clearly outside. Trees, bushes, corners of houses, flowers, lampposts. Snow! I love snow. Exchanges with friends and colleagues. My friend Amy for example is always a great inspiration, or Sweeney or Baltique. Humans on the other hand: not so much. (They are good for other things but not inspiration.)
Last but not least: sticks. Sticks are extremely inspiring, and one of my greatest creative challenges and ongoing projects is to try and bring home a beautiful stick without the flatmates noticing.

 

How often or easily do you get into a creative ‘flow’, and what helps you most to reach this state?
If the conditions are good (see above), I get into the flow easily. Pas de problème.

 

What do you do when nothing works out – when ideas or success fail to materialise, or when you don’t succeed in what you set out to do?
I pout and blame the humans.

 

What helps you when your self-confidence is down (e.g. because of bad reviews, financial downturn, bad mood, personal worries)?
I don’t usually have any troubles with my self-confidence. But if I do feel a bit down, it always helps to think about France. The French generously attest to my beauty, intelligence and wisdom, more or less in passing and without being asked, something which I find extremely empowering.

 

Do you reward yourself when you have achieved something, reached a certain goal?
Of course! Always!

 

Do you rely on the advice of others or on advice literature? Are there any books that have helped you to find courage on your artistic path?
Well, I know that my assistant, the German, tried reading a few advice books on dogs. However, she always got annoyed quickly and decided they were not worth their money. I could have told her that right away. Trust your instinct / guts / nose – you don’t need advice literature for that.

 

How much does the recognition of your art by others mean to you? What is the best form of recognition?
Recognition is essential. I cannot hear ‘You are a good boy’ and ‘You are the best boy’ often enough. The best form of recognition however are non-vegetarian treats, combined with unconditional love.

 

What are you afraid of?
CATS. The lack of treats, the lack of unconditional love, or sleep, or sticks. Strong wind. Things in the dark which look like unknown animals. FIREWORKS. Male dogs bigger than me (although I usually don’t admit this). Disruption of my work-life balance. Castration. The vet. Brushes, claw scissors, anything to do with hygiene procedures forced upon me. Being left behind at a charging station. Losing control.

 

@nanook_the_nicebear