In 2001, George Rodrigue created a series of blue dog paintings on paper. These works have an expressive energy similar to his mixed media work, but contain no printed elements. In Untitled #601, Rodrigue has meticulously painted the bust of a blue dog at the center of the work. The artist used varying shades of blue to give the dog depth and outlined the creature in a shade of yellow that complements the dog’s eyes. The painting’s background features flourishes of purple and red, with visible brushstrokes that bear the mark of the artist’s hand. The work is a wonderfully balanced example of artistic control and free expression.