Photo of the Day

"Sheiks of Canal Street"

Photo Copyright Raleigh Powell, taken in Richmond, VA 1966

The Art of Amy Crehore

Wandering Mind and Memory

Art by SETH

The Walrus Magazine has a great interview with Seth by Sean Rogers on their comics blog, Four Color Words I can really identify with his ideas about the importance of memory in relation to his art. I have been working this way, too. I don't really draw directly from life or reference materials anymore; I draw using memories of how things I have already seen and experienced felt, thus coming up with my own pictorial symbols. He also talks about nostalgia as it applies to his process. This is only part one of the interview, so stay tuned for part two! Also, in the Sept. issue of The Walrus, there is an an essay by Seth called: "The Quiet Art of Cartooning". He talks about his wandering mind while he sits alone drawing in his basement studio everyday. I can so relate to all of this. Thanks, Seth for putting it into words.

(via Drawn! and boingboing)

Here's a bio of Seth from "Drawn and Quarterly" where you can get Seth's books.

The Beauty of Sadness

Takato Yamamoto's art is beautifully sad and elegant...and disturbing.

Lines as fine as they can be. A masterful draftsman. You can find more images here:

Olga-galo

The Art of Amy Crehore

Banksy is a Poet

Wow. There are some lovely and poetic Banksy artworks in New Orleans.

More cool photos at MAKE and Wooster blogs.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Cat Angel or Cat Demon?

The above images are from an article about winged cats

on the Messy Beast Website

Detail of my painting of a winged cat, called "The Caged Wonder".

Had no idea it was a reality when I painted it. I was

making a few puns here, one being a "catbird".

Boing Boing featured this picture today and the headline:

"Winged cats discovered in western China" ...it goes on to read:
'Winged cats have been known to exist since the 19th century, but only a handful of people have actually seen—let alone owned—one. This woman in Sichuan province watched as her beloved kitty grew angel wings on his back last summer after a bunch of female cats tried to mate with him. "Many female cats in heat came to harass him, and then the wings started to grow," she said.' Link

The Art of Amy Crehore

Fried Egg Spectacles

These are "shooting or sight seeing spectacles from 1860. The clear area of the lens is heavily frosted forcing the user to look through the amber area.This is a rare form of this style spectacle. It was designed to allow more light to reach the eye when compared to similar spectacles that have a solid amber lens."
This pair of glasses is made from brass plated with silver. It has no makers mark and is most likely American made. The double lens frame was invented by Dr. Richardson, a London optician, in 1795. This pair most likely dates to between 1800 and 1810.

How interesting - a website where you can buy vintage eyewear for everyday use.

They have all kinds. It's like a little museum of eyeglasses.

Ed Welch's Antique Eyeglasses

The Art of Amy Crehore

Bizarre and Beautiful

These old engravings of animals (done around 1860) from Fine Rare Prints are cool. The top one looks like a nun crossed with a cat - it's a yellow throated sloth. See the head of one peering out from the back of the tree on the right? The bottom one shows animals and man enjoying each other's company, as if they belong to the same family. I like these drawings a lot.

The Art of Amy Crehore

"Violent Love" is a Favorite Song

It's funny how many bands have done the Willie Dixon song, "Violent Love". I had no idea until I checked it out on YouTUBE and saw videos of Oingo Boingo, The Matches, Asylum Street Spankers, etc, etc. Anyhow, here's the Hokum Scorcher's 1990 version (follow link and scroll down for music player):

Violent Love Performed by The Hokum Scorchers

The Art(and Music) of Amy Crehore

Nate Williams Has Pillows

I couldn't help myself. I just had to order these pillows by Nate Williams. They make me happy. I like his beautiful folk art designs and colors and I especially like Nate's signature patch sewn on the back. Classic baby, classic!

Buy at: Urban Outfitters

The Art of Amy Crehore

Last 3 Days of My NYC Art Show

Click photos to enlarge

It is located near the Morgan subway stop (L train).

Ad Hoc Art,

49 Bogart Street, Buzzer 22, Unit 1G, Brooklyn, NY

The "5 Identities, 5 Destinations" 5-woman show continues through Sunday, August 24, 2008

Hours: 1-8pm Wed-Sunday and by appt. Telephone: 718-366-2466, contact gallery for purchases.
See my paintings: "Snake Tamer's Ditty", "Deja Vu Waltz", "Story of Lolita, Part 2", "Feed the Bear Blues", The Caged Wonder", "French Bubble Gum Encore" and " Black Ball Finale". Some of these very same paintings were featured on: BOINGBOING

The Art of Amy Crehore

Click to enlarge

Hey, I just noticed a cool slide show set of photos from the preview night of this show taken by Hilary Beck on Andrew Michael Ford's flickr: LINK

This gives you a great view of the entire show and some of the people who were there.

Queen of Cats

Cat Detail from "Homage to the King of Cats" by Amy Crehore

I am creating a slide show (set) on flickr of the different cat characters that I have painted over the years. I'm not done yet, but thought I'd let you know. It's interesting just how many cats I have painted. These represent years and years and years of painting and struggling to get them right. By "right" I don't mean "perfect"...I mean giving them personality and making them look somewhat like cats.
The Art of Amy Crehore

Cats Pool Slide Show

Cat photo by Yugoroyd

If you don't have anything to do and if you love those pesky little cats,

watch this Cat Pool Slide Show on flickr.

Georgeanne Deen's Music

"The Love That Has No Opposite" by Georgeanne Deen 2008

I remember Georgeanne Deen's art - from covers of underground comics; early Juxtapoz; a book cover, album cover, or magazine page; and gallery shows all over the place. A few weeks ago, I happened to see a few paintings of hers at a gallery in NYC called Smith-Stewart. This led me to have another look at her wacky and cool website, Western Witch. I clicked around and finally landed on her music page and had a listen to a few of the songs that she wrote. I like them very much. They are spooky, a little sad and surreal like her art, and they are funny and charming. She plays keyboards and sings with Mackie Osborne (bass) and Amanda Ferguson (accordion). Deen is a wonderfully creative artist from L.A. and she's got this western witch thang going on. Have a listen to her soulful music:
Songs -Western Witch

The Art of Amy Crehore

Sunday Night Scorcher's Song

"Mama's Donut" was the original song by Spark Plug Smith in 1933 and we adapted the song and changed the lyrics to "Yanna's Donut". This version has Lou Reimuller playing the National guitar w/vocals (falsetto)& kazoo. I am on the washboard w/vocals. I am using a drumstick to play some enameled camp cups which are attached to my washboard and I have metal thimbles on the fingers of my other hand. Follow the link and scroll down to hear the song on my website music player (we recorded this in 1995):

The Art of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday nite (or so) and it will be different by the time you read this post.

Illustrated Boxing Cards from 1910

I love the style of these sexy boxing card illustrations from 1910.

"From the 1880's forward to about 1895, many classic sets of boxing cards and mixed subjects including boxing cards were issued by the cigarette companies." It died out for about 15 years, but started up again in 1909....until WWI... and then...

Read more about boxing card history and see a virtual museum of cards here:

America's Great Boxing Cards

The Art of Amy Crehore

NYC Art Show Reminder

Amy Crehore
Lizz Lopez
Molly Crabapple
Ewelina Ferruso
Jenn Porreca

I just want to remind everyone in the NYC area to try and get out to Ad Hoc Art gallery this weekend or next weekend to see the "5 Identities, 5 Destinations" show. You won't be disappointed. It's a great show and I am proud to be showing with these four talented women. The gallery is open until 8 pm Wednesday through Sunday. It is located near the Morgan subway stop (L train).
This 5-woman show is at: Ad Hoc Art, 49 Bogart Street, Buzzer 22, Unit 1G, Brooklyn, NY
The show continues through August 24, 2008
Hours: 1-8pm Wed-Sunday and by appt.
Telephone: 718-366-2466, contact gallery for purchases.

I am showing 7 of my best new oils on linen: "Snake Tamer's Ditty", "Deja Vu Waltz", "Story of Lolita, Part 2", "Feed the Bear Blues", The Caged Wonder", "French Bubble Gum Encore" and " Black Ball Finale".
The Art of Amy Crehore
P.S. Go to flickr to see my paintings hanging on the wall of the gallery.
Watch Videos: (#1) YouTube or (#2) You Tube.

Heat Wave

Detail from a magazine illustration by Amy Crehore

Yes, we are having another heat wave in Oregon this week. It's only going to get hotter tomorrow they tell me. I have been swamped all week with a rush magazine assignment. I have to do 5 paintings in about 8 days or something like that. I never paint this fast when I'm doing my fine art. Anyhow, I have not had a chance to blog or do anything else until this job is done. The last one will be shipped out on Saturday and then I will have more time to update this blog. These paintings are circus-related, so I am sort of having fun. I did not finish telling you about my trip to NYC! Oh well...duty calls.
The Art of Amy Crehore

Hokum Scorchers Play a Tampa Red Song

Tampa Red

From the Hokum Scorchers' "Feed the Kitty" album comes a wonderful song- originally done by Hudson Woodbridge (a.k.a. Tampa Red 1936)- called "When You Were a Girl of Seven". This version was recorded in 1992. Lou Reimuller plays the National guitar, sings and plays kazoo. Amy Crehore is on a vintage tenor banjo. Scroll down for the music player on this link:
Hokum Scorchers

This song changes every Sunday night, so it will be different by the time you read this post.

Mike Shine Paints

Art by Mike Shine

Sometimes I get good stuff in my emails. Too bad I don't live in San Francisco. Tonight is the opening of "8 Tracks and Wallbangers", the Art of Mike Shine (6-9pm) at Fecal Face Dot Gallery
on 66 Gough St. @Market - Thurs & Fri (4-8pm) Sat & Sun (12-6pm). Show runs from Aug 8 - 31, 2008. From the Fecal Face Dot Gallery newsletter:
"The gallery is covered in Mike Shine's harmoniously colored drift wood paintings which are hung on his site specific wall murals. Mike is a painter who mixes driftwood, reclaimed house paint, Nordic mythology, insomnia, 1970's pop culture, absinthe, Teutonic philosophy, his wife, and woodworking skills leftover from a previous life- to make art that is one part uplifting and two parts disturbing. His coastal art/surf shack was recently featured in Fecal Face's Art Mondays (view it ), and intrigued us to bring his work into the Fecal gallery for a closer look. "

Fecal Face Dot Gallery

Be sure to check out Mike Shine's website- it's strange and cool:

Shine Lounge

The Art of Amy Crehore

Catalina Pottery Show at SF Airport

Playing the flower pots on Catalina Island

angelsouza has a set on flickr of the great Catalina Pottery Show at the SF Airport -

which I was lucky enough to see on my way to NYC and on the way back, too. I love the island of Catalina (off the coast of CA)- it reminds me so much of Italy. I only went there once and I did not even realize that from 1927-1937 Catalina had a thriving pottery business. So, I was surprised to see this massive show full of colorful art deco pieces at the airport.

Here's another link from the Catalina Collectors Blog of the entire pottery show at the airport.

And here is a link to some cool old postcards of Catalina Island, CA. I'd love to go back to Catalina Island in the future.

The Art of Amy Crehore

"Last Kind Words Blues"

Geeshie or Geechie Wiley was a great female blues singer. Her beautiful song "Last Kind Words Blues" (1930) was used in the film "Crumb" (1994) by Terry Zwigoff in the scene where Robert Crumb puts a record on and sits down to listen. Here's the film clip with the music and a slideshow of some of his drawings (from YouTube.)

The Art of Amy Crehore

Join My Email List

July 25, 2008- Photo of me at the Ad Hoc Art exhibition

Hi. I just added a page to my website with a form that makes it easier to join my email list. I do send out little email newsletters every now and again (not too often, so don't worry about spam) with details about art shows that I'm in or announcing new prints, products (ukes, for instance) or paintings. If you would like me to add you to my list, please go here and fill out the form:

Join my Mailing List

Thanks! And you can always subscribe for free to this blog. Use the links on the right-hand side column (near the bottom). There is a link for email subscriptions if you prefer to have Little Hokum Rag delivered by email. Click the one that says: "Subscribe to Little Hokum Rag by email".

The Art of Amy Crehore

Sunday Switcheroo-"Tricks Ain't Walkin No More" (encore) by Hokum Scorchers

Curley Weaver -East Coast Piedmont Blues player
This number, "Tricks Ain't Walkin' No More", was first done by Curley Weaver in 1935. Memphis Minnie also did a version of this song. The Hokum Scorchers recorded this in 1990 for their first cassette. I'm playing the washboard and cups and Lou Reimuller is playing the National Guitar. We are both singing on this one - it's pretty funky and fast-paced. To hear the song, follow the link and scroll down for music player:
The Art of Amy Crehore - Music

This song is an encore - I previously blogged it in April. :)

Also, this song will change on Sunday night, so it will probably be different by the time you read this post.

James Kalm Filmed My 5-Woman Show at Ad Hoc Art, Brooklyn, NY

James Kalm has done many videos of art shows. He's very good at what he does. His narration is full of humor and he also knows his art history. You can find his little productions on Youtube or BlipTV and subscribe to them. Here is one that he filmed the night of my opening on July 25, 2008 at Ad Hoc Art. He interviewed me, Jenn Porreca and Ewelina Ferruso about our work. "James Kalm takes a summer Friday and zips to the eastern edge of Williamsburg to bring viewers a glimpse of “5 Identities, 5 Destinations”. Andrew Ford has curated a selection of work by five female artists that presents a cross section of what might be called Pop Surrealism, Chick Art or Low Brow. While each artist displays their unique vision, there are commonalities that unify these artists within an enclave of contemporary painting. Featuring interviews with Amy Crehore, Jenn Porreca and Ewelina Ferruso and works by Lizz Lopez and Molly Crabapple. " Thanks, James...and it was nice to meet you!!

James Kalm Report on BlipTV

or on YouTube: 5 Identities, 5 Destinations at AD HOC ART

This show continues until August 24th, 2008. Don't miss it if you are near NYC! It's fun! Check out my flickr photos for close ups of my 7 paintings in this show.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Photos of the NYC Show

Here are some photos of the gallery space at Ad Hoc Art taken on the night of the official opening of the "5 Identities, 5 Destinations" show. I am standing with my aunt, cousin and brother in a couple of the pictures. The space is very elegant and large and each of the artists had their own wall. You can see only a portion of my paintings on the wall to the left. (I have 7 paintings in all). This show continues through August 24th (open from 1-8pm, Wed-Sun, 718-366-2466, 49 Bogart St, Brooklyn). I will blog more about my trip to NYC soon.

There is now a little video up at ArtNYC of my paintings in the show.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Paper Moon Portraits

Steve Chasmer has a fascinating set of vintage portraits on flickr

'including a number of "Man in the Moon" portraits from the US circa 1890-1950'. I love these.

Follow link for more.

The Art of Amy Crehore