Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Never-Before-Seen Picasso Artworks Revealed


These examples are from a newly discovered trunk full of 271 early Picassos (1900-1932) that were supposedly given as gifts to an electrician, Pierre Le Guennec, who worked for the artist and his wife. The man brought them to the Picasso estate to be authenticated and now they are suing him. Darn it. Here's the LINK to more photos: Washington Post Blog
I would love to see everything in that trunk! I adore early works by Picasso (before his art got all weird and crazy). Maybe he really did give them away in his old age. Picasso did what he wanted to do. He played tricks on people including his heirs. Did you know that Arianna Huffington wrote a book about Picasso? It's a really good read. LINK

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Les Petits Pierrots

Val, my friend in Barcelona, sent me this image today. She has a knack for finding the most beautiful vintage specimens like this old sheet music for piano with art nouveau design called "Les Petits Pierrots"! Listed are five dances: 1. Arlequin, 2. Coquette, 3. Columbine, 4. Chiriana, 5. Replique . CLICK TO ENLARGE.
Val has a lot of great new finds on her flickr (Valeshel):

(Thanks Val. All my best wishes and blessings to you.)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Artist Toshio Saeki Goes Wild on Paper



All of the above images are by "The Godfather of Japanese Erotica", Toshio Saeki.
Here's a LINK to many more images from a recent solo show at Minna Gallery in San Francisco.
Last Gasp has books.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tickler Ukulele #3 Coming....

Here is the top and side assembly of my Tickler # 3 ukulele, a concert model being built by the luthier (Lou Reimuller) from my own design. I can't wait to paint this one. But, alas, I will have to wait because it still has a ways to go. It is coming along nicely and I'm really excited about it. There will be some extra special features on this one.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Father and Son Photographers

Nancy by Emmet Gowin (Danville, VA)
Maggie and Orbs by Elijah Gowin
Globe by Elijah Gowin
The bottom two photos were taken by Elijah Gowin, son of photographer Emmet Gowin (who created the top photo of "Nancy"). These wonderful images were made in rural Virginia. They are part of Elijah's "Hymnal of Dreams" portfolio: LINK
These B & W photos remind me of the years that I spent in Virginia and my college days at VCU. That is when I first heard of his father, Emmet, who became my favorite photographer and inspiration at the time. (Here's a link to some of Emmet's photos at the George Eastman House.) Before I was so interested in painting, I spent my days taking photographs. That was how I learned to compose things- in the view finder of a camera. What a pleasant surprise it is to find these amazingly artistic photos by Emmet's son taken in the Virginia countryside.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Paris Gallery is Aflame with Art by Burns

Art copyright by Charles Burns
Art copyright by Charles Burns
Galerie Martel in Paris has a new show that opened Nov. 17 of comic art by Charles Burns.
Here's the Link to art. He has a print portfolio available, too (revealing a definite homage to Herge). This show runs until Feb 5, 2011. Also, video interview of Charles Burns and reviews of his new book via boingboing: LINK . And follow this link: The Beat for the cover of Burn's "X'ed Out" compared with Herge's "The Shooting Star" (Tintin).

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Alec Baldwin as Mark Twain

I saw this funny sketch by Alec Baldwin the other night. It was
part of the tribute to Tina Fey on PBS.
Here is a link to Tina's acceptance speech for the Mark Twain award.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

More Studio Pictures (Crehore)


Working on two paintings simultaneously for a couple of group shows in NYC in early 2011. In the top photo, you can sort of see the process: transferred drawing and raw sienna undercoat. Going in a new direction with these two.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

My Studio (Crehore)

My easel and a few paintings (minus frames) on wall. (Click to enlarge.)
The act of painting is magic.
More photos of studio in next post.

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Film of Animated Messerschmidt Heads by Rose and Reynolds

At Neue Galerie New York.
This video art, created by Edward Rose and Nick Reynolds, is part of the installation of the current Franz Xaver Messerschmidt exhibition which is on view through January, 2011. Nice article here. (quintessence blog)
This Bavarian born artist is known for his sculptures of heads depicting different emotions. He died at the age of 47 in 1783.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

"nude"


A new show called "nude" opens tonight.
Shown above: gorgeous cast wax sculptures with multi-colored skin at Gladstone Gallery by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone (Nov 6-Dec 23) 530 W. 21st St., NYC.

Friday, November 05, 2010

Temporary Carpets - It's Art

Brick Carpet -photo by Boudewijn Bollmann www.twistedstreets.nl
Plastic Fork Carpet
Pasta Carpet
Designers Stijn van der Vleuten & Marcia Nolte & visual artist Bob Waardenburg make these temporary carpets without a sketch or plan. They take materials like pasta, plastic forks and bricks (all shown above) and just build them on the spot, layering the materials until a carpet appears.
I have to say, they are quite beautiful! Scroll through their blog to see more.

Monday, November 01, 2010

It always looks like Halloween

It always looks like Halloween

When the lights dim in the Liceu Opera House in Barcelona.

Like smiling pumpkins

Thanks, Val.