Artist Deborah Blum Unleashes The Hotel Hound

A call is made to the Front Desk at the Beverly Hills Hotel. “My dachshund is loose somewhere in the Hotel,” cries the frantic guest, “Who will find my dog?”

Set against the luxurious backdrop of California’s most famous hotel, artist Deborah Blum has created the unforgettable character of the Hotel Hound, an intrepid dog who gleefully explores his surroundings while causing an uproar at the iconic hotel.

Through a series of drawings Blum tells a story that is a delight for both children and adults, alike. Her visual scenario follows the escapades of a mischievous dachshund, during his stay at the pet friendly hotel. Everything is perfect until his owner readies herself to go out, telling him to be “A good boy,” and that she’ll be right back. But the pull of adventure is too strong to resist. During a visit from housekeeping, the Hound manages to escape the confines of the hotel room. He roams the halls, visits the Spa, relaxes by the pool, and ultimately finds his way to the Polo Lounge.

In a series of illustrations, a classic has been born. Blum’s drawings do for the landmark Beverly Hills Hotel what Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline books did for Paris of the 1940s.

For the last two decades Deborah Blum has worked as a documentary writer-director, making shows for Discovery and the History Channel. Her first love, however, has always been painting, and she has managed to bring the skills that she learned behind the camera and in the editing room, into her art. Filmmaking has sharpened her eye for detail, and enabled her to focus on the emotions that characterize time and place. Lately she’s experimented in a new medium: Ipad drawings.

“An Ipad is exciting because it’s the most direct route from what I’m feeling to the blank canvas. The movement of the stylus across the screen is magical; it’s as though I’m just a conduit and the images are flowing through me.”

Blum’s digital files can be reproduced as giclee prints on fine art paper. They have been released in limited editions, all signed by the artist. Images are also available in a series of twelve, displayed in a Calendar. 

Blum’s style is impressionistic, and her drawings capture the buoyant spirit of a dog who just wants to have fun. To view the Hound on his antic exploration of the Beverly Hills Hotel, visit Blumgallery.com.