A one-eared dog called Van Gogh is putting his past life in a dog fighting ring behind him to try his paw at painting masterpieces.
Masterpieces might still be a bit of practice away but the seven-year-old pitbull mix has built up an impressive portfolio of 60 paintings and has even sold a few of them.
Van Gogh was rescued from the streets in North Carolina after he was found injured in a drainpipe with an ear so damaged it needed to be surgically removed, reports Today.
After getting taken to a shelter Jaclyn Gartner, founder and president of the nonprofit Happily Furever After Rescue in Bethel, Connecticut, saw a picture of him online and decided she wanted to find him a forever home.
When he was found in the street, rescuers were told he had been a stray before he was snatched to be used as bait in a dogfighting ring.
Jacylin thinks he was just dumped back outdoors when they were done with him.
“When he came off, he was wagging his tail and rubbing up against everybody,” she says. “He was so friendly right at the start.”
She said that despite everything he still loves people.
It was also Jaclyn who discovered his artistic abilities.
Wanting to get him adopted, she thought up a way Van Gogh could live up to his namesake.
She wanted to re-create Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” as a gift for looking to adopt the pup. Except getting a dog to take up fine art is an up hill battle.
Firstly dolloped paint onto a small canvas which she then sealed into a large plastic bag.
Then she smeared peanut butter on top of the plastic which got Van Gogh's attention.
Licking the treat spread the paint underneath into impressionist art and an artist was born.
Although a first gallery event didn't take off, after posting on Facebook word spread and people started buying Van Gogh's work and even commissioning pieces.
So far he has created 60 paintings raising over $3,000 for Happily Furever After Rescue with the money all going back in to help dogs get adopted.
Van Gogh himself found his forever home with a volunteer who works with Jaclyn.
Jessica Starowitz had already offered to foster Van Gogh before he became famous but after meeting him fell in love.
The 44-year-old said: “I didn’t adopt him to paint and make money off him.
“I adopted him because I fell in love with him.”
Motivated in part by peanut butter, the dog continues to churn out art.
On Black Friday alone he received 10 commissions.
Starowitz said: “We’ll let him keep painting until he says he’s done with it — probably if we run out of peanut butter or liverwurst or snacks."
