Robert Lange & Porter

Who is in the photo at right?

I'm Robert Lange, painter and owner of Robert Lange Studios, a gallery in downtown Charleston, and this is Porter, a nine-year-old Cairn Terrier.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I'm painting for my show and Porter and coffee are my two companions.

In true artist form, there is never a "reason" to drink coffee, coffee fuels an artist's veins.

What's brewing?

I really like Whole Foods' Pleasant Morning Buzz straight-up with a little agave nectar in a giant mug that reads "the man, the myth, the legend."

Any treats for you or Porter on this occasion?

We stocked up at A Furry Affair (SPCA's Event) on Puppy Crack, which he is in love with.

How were you and Porter united?

My wife and I bought Porter in college; we cleared our bank accounts to buy what we thought was an Ewok at the time.

He was pretty much the cutest puppy ever.

How did he get his name?

Porter Ripley Lange. The movie Payback had just come out in which both Mel Gibson and his dog were named Porter, and Ripley is Sigourney Weaver's character in Aliens, basically both bad-asses.

Is Porter active in life around your studio?

He used to come to the gallery pretty much everyday but when we moved to a new house, with a huge backyard, he really preferred to stay and keep an eye on his domain.

He does chill in the our home studio at my feet while I paint.

Does Porter have a favorite outdoor destination in Charleston?

He's a big fan of Sullivan's.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Vader is the name of all squirrels; Porter thinks it's just one squirrel that shows up wherever he goes.

We go to the park, there's Vader, we go up to Maine and there's Vader. They have had an ongoing feud for the last decade.

What's Porter's best quality?

He's completely malleable and social, probably because we had him in college and we would take him to art openings in a backpack or he'd meet tons of people at a party.

Now you can pick him up and hug him, pat him on his back, and he loves everyone.

If Porter could change one thing about you, what would it be?

He's not a big fan of clothes, in fact, he spends all day running around in the buff.

What's your dog's proudest moment so far? His most embarrassing?

When we got him a little girl dog to hang-out with (she was not for us) and she had her first squirrel chase, he was beaming with pride.

Most embarrassing: let's see, there was one time we went into Lowes while he waited in the car, I had left my palette in the backseat. When we came back there were prussian blue and bright yellow foot prints all over the car. Oil paint isn't an easy clean.

Visit the Robert Lange Studios website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue