Lori Ellison at McKenzie Fine Art (Jan 5 - Feb 11, 2012)

James Kalm (a.k.a. Loren Munk) filmed our friend Lori Ellison's art opening in NYC on Thursday night. 
LINK to video. 
Lori's drawings and paintings show a deep appreciation for the importance of design in art. She patiently builds intricate patterns on paper or wood using subtle textures and optical illusions. These meditative works are executed with the precision of Indian miniatures. Like woven textiles or combs created by insects (with their natural irregularities), William Morris' patterns or early examples of Op art, these creative works are mesmerizing and uplifting to behold. I'm sorry I can't see them in person (the great video helps), but if 

you are in NYC, be sure to catch this wonderful show at McKenzie Fine Art (511 West 25th Street).

Bubble Houses by Wallace Neff

Wallace Neff designed Italian-style mansions for Hollywood celebrities, but he also designed some revolutionary bubble houses. Many were built in Falls Chruch, VA and elsewhere. Here is a bubble house that he built in 1946 in Pasadena, CA. Artist Steve Roden and his wife Sari actually live in the last surviving one (a single dome "shell" house that the architect built originally for his brother, before living in it himself). You can read stories here and here. PHOTO gallery. (L.A. Times) 

I'm jealous!

 (thanks, beatgrrrl )

National tricone ukulele 1928

This is a style #1 National brand German silver tricone ukulele that we have at home - most likely from 1928 (based on a National advertisement that I saw). The pear-shaped body is exactly like the mandolins that National offered at the time. It has 3 small resonator cones inside.

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Origins of Modern Art- Maurice Denis 1870-1943

I enjoy looking at the design elements, colors and compositions of these paintings by French artist and writer Maurice Denis

Read about him here and see more of his wonderful paintings here. 

There is a beautiful museum in France that opened in 1980 located in Saint-Germaine-en-Laye called the Maurice Denis Museum. It was once his house. Before that, it was a hospital.

Looks like a great place to visit. It is dedicated to his work and the work of his artist friends of the Nabis movement (inspired by Gauguin at Pont-Aven, it lasted from 1888 to 1903). Read about the Nabis. LINK

2012 Blues Calendar with Free CD- can't beat it.

The free CD that comes with this year's blues calendar is excellent! Tampa Red, Jenny Pope, Lane Hardin, Papa Charlie Jackson to name a few favorites of mine. I blog about this calendar (Blues Images) every single year because it is so fabulous and they never seem to run out of great 1920's artwork or music. They only have a limited supply left, so get yours today.

Check out the complete track listings and buy HERE. 

I am painting away to this music and, boy, does it help my creative juices flow! It's a great way to bring in the new year - with hokum music.

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The Obliteration Room by Yayoi Kusama

Japanese artist and dot-woman Yayoi Kusama doesn't quit. Have a look at her "Obliteration Room" at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. She constructed a large domestic all-white environment and for two weeks had kid-visitors place thousands of multi-colored dot stickers all over it. Before and after photos can be found at This is Colossal. Kusama's Look Now, See Forever Exhibition runs until March 12, 2012. She's cool and one of my favorite artists. A fearless woman.

(Thanks, April!)

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German Cinema Cards

Pretty collection of German Cinema Cards to look at on cigcardpix's flickr:

  LINK 

(Internet Weekly  via MonsterBrains)

Architects and Artisans

Crehore Tickler Uke #2 
Happy 2012! My Tickler Ukulele #2 is featured on a design blog today called "Architects and Artisans" (Thoughtful Design for a Sustainable World) along with a short article/interview/slideshow of work. We are currently working on Tickler Ukulele #3 (a new concert model designed by me). It should be ready to show sometime in 2012.

Here's the LINK to the article.

Thanks, Mike.

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My painted antique ukes

Happy New Year!

Click to enlarge

I thought I'd bring in the new year with a charming design by the artist Olive Fell (1896-1980). A friend sent me this fabulous vintage card for Xmas. (Thanks, Dr. Powell!) 

Don't you just love this little bear character that she created? Not that different from Mark Ryden's bear. Perhaps Olive was the first western "pop surrealist". She developed a  series of popular "Little Bear Cubs" (shown on this card) in the 1930s to sell at National Parks and other western shops. Olive studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in NYC. She returned to Wyoming to live for the rest of her days. She rode horses like a real cowgirl, too.  For more about Olive Fell: LINK , LINK , LINK

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"Sexy" Tiny Tim in Glam Rock Outfit with Ukulele

Not sure where this photo was taken - maybe the Johnny Carson Show or "Laugh In"? I never saw it before. Tiny Tim is rocking out with a silver ukulele and gold boots. I wonder what song he was playing? (Thanks, Joe Schenkman facebook)

Here's an unusual clip from Australia TV 1970 where he sings "Rock Around the Clock" with go go dancers, minus the uke. Apparently he played in Australia quite a bit.

Terry Gilliam-The Christmas Card

Happy Holidays to you!

I will be spending Christmas/NewYear week working in the studio. 

It's actually my favorite time of year to paint, so I'm hoping to finish these paintings up and start another. I just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful holiday and to thank you all for reading my blog. I won't be going anywhere, so stay tuned. I'll be making a big list for 2012 of all the things that I told myself I would do in 2011, but didn't get around to. 
A special thanks to all of the kind people who have supported my artwork over the years. 
It means so much to me and keeps me going.
Love, Amy

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Remedios Varo at Frey Norris Gallery

San Francisco is in for a treat. Frey Norris Gallery (161 Jessie Street, S.F., CA) will be having a show featuring the artwork of the late, great Remedios Varo. The show, called "Indelible Fables", will run from January 7, 2012 until February 26, 2012. This show marks the first gallery exhibition of Varo's work in 50 years. That's pretty exciting. Remedios Varo died in 1963 at the young age of 55 in Mexico City. Her art is splendidly strange and imaginative. Read more about her here. There will also be an LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) show called "In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States" from Jan 29-May 6, 2012. LINK

More examples of the paintings of Remedios Varo can be found here: Classic Art Paintings   

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For those who like the "old" internet better....

For "vintage" internet ads like this old facebook ad - here's a link:

 retronaut (ads by moma). There is a ton of cool stuff on this website, by the way.

Amazing light show on front of building

Comfort and Joy at the Local Drugstore

Whistling Mitch played a trombone kazoo in the local drugstore yesterday. I took a grainy video with my ipod. I blogged about him last year and took a ton of photos.LINK  (He told me he doesn't use the internet. He's old-fashioned to the max.) He also played a green (vintage) stenciled Harmony ukulele.

My "Peekaboo" is a SammoS Banjo Ukulele, 1919

SammoS banjo ukulele

SammO soprano ukulele

When I painted my "Peekaboo" design on an antique banjo ukulele (shown above) for my solo art show in Los Angeles a couple of years ago ("Dreamgirls and Ukes"), the brand of ukulele was a mystery to me. I loved the unique construction (walnut and maple marquetry), but I had no idea who manufactured these or exactly how old they were. Thanks to Google Books, I found some information in the "Music Trades" publication of 1919. I now know that these particular banjo ukuleles are at least 92 years old, making them older than I thought. An old advertisement (top image) shows one like it and tells us that the The Samuel C. Osborn Manufacturing Company, located in a Masonic Temple in Chicago, made these instruments. Osborn claimed to be the largest manufacturer of stringed instruments at the time. A little more digging and I found out that this company was around since 1897, but went bankrupt in 1921 (after moving to a new building). Mr. Osborn died in 1922 at the age of 50. They also made a soprano ukulele called the SammO, a really nice koa uke (shown above, the one I have at home). It's design seems to have been based on the older Hawaiian ukuleles. Osborn also made mandolins, guitars, taro patch fiddles and something called the Pianoette. 

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P.S. All we can really do is guess at some of these when the label is missing or the brand is not indicated on the headstock.

Two Charming Nudes Together

 Lucas Cranach, "Venus and Cupid" 1537

"Nude Girl on a Fur" by Otto Dix 1932

Click image to enlarge

In the summer of 2010, The National Gallery of Scotland hung these two paintings in a mini face-off show called "Confrontation". The Dix is possibly my favorite painting he's ever done. It's so weird and beautiful all at the same time. I love the tones of yellow and the textures in this painting. The girl's crooked, curled toe completes a great composition. Her eyes and expression (of longing?) are uniquely Dix. The Cranach is one of many (see link) that he did using the exact same theme, but it's a charming one. I love that the "drape" the girl is wearing is so transparent as to be almost invisible (she is holding it up with her hand). 

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Picture of the Day

"Chalk Cliffs on Rugen", 1818, by Caspar David Freidrich, 

painted as a celebration of his marriage to his wife. LINK 

I found this painting recently online and it reminds me a little bit of the art that I am currently doing, so I must get back to work. 

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Salesman 1968

Mark at boingboing posted this trailer to a documentary about 4 salesmen selling bibles.
More info about the movie  LINK

"The Starfish" 1928 Film by Man Ray

 If you have 15 minutes, here's a wonderful, mysterious little B&W film by Man Ray starring Kiki and a starfish.

"Loan Me Your Heart", a Papa Charlie Jackson Song

Papa Charlie Jackson portrait by Amy Crehore

I love Papa Charlie Jackson's music from the 1920s. He played a 6-string Gibson guitar- banjo. Check out the huge head on this banjo (above). I painted this portrait of him in the 1990s. Our little band, The Hokum Scorchers, did a few of his numbers. One such song is "Loan Me Your Heart". I love this song. 

You can listen to our version (recorded in the 1990s) HERE. 
(I play washboard/cups and Lou Reimuller plays guitar and sings).

P.S. Another song by Papa Charlie Jackson is "Papa Do Do Do". Our version of that song can be found here: LINK 

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A Few Unicorns

for Xeni

Robinet Testard, 1470 from the "Book of Simple Medicines"

 Raphael, 1520, Lady with Unicorn

 Leonardo, 1470s, Maiden with Unicorn

Unicorn Tapestry 1495-1505

Rembrandt's New Old Man

Experts have reclassified this painting, "Bearded Old Man", as one done by Rembrandt when he was 24 in the year 1630. X-rays show that there is a self-portrait of Rembrandt as a young man sketched underneath. This is only 6" x 8". Small works can be quite masterful. This one has wonderful lighting and great depth of feeling. LINK 

I previously blogged about a current show at The Clark Art Institute, showing a couple of examples of Rembrandt's self-portraits as a young man.

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Watch her face

A great gift for the monkey in your life!

Brand NEW Boing Boing Monkey T-shirt designed by Amy Crehore

My favorite blog, Boing Boing, has partnered with another favorite, Neatorama, to produce this wonderful t-shirt with my artwork and hand-lettering. A friend of mine sent me the photos above. She's delighted with her purchase, which arrived yesterday. She says they look "great"! I want to thank Pop Drawer, for featuring it on their Holiday Shopping Guide, and Kozmicdogz for giving this shirt a big shout out, too. 

You can pick out your size and color and buy this shirt HERE .

The Art of Amy Crehore

Original Paintings and Prints by Amy Crehore

My art has been shown in many galleries over the years: Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, Palm Springs, New York City, Brooklyn, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Art Basel Miami and more. The Portland Art Museum (OR), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the American Museum of Illustration (NYC) have all exhibited my paintings. Visit my website for available work and a selection of signed prints.
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Creating as I go...

A work in progress by Amy Crehore (11/29/11)
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

This is how my painting looks today. I have no idea when it will be finished or how many changes it will go through before I'm done. I'm having fun with it. No pressure. Experimentation. 

(Here's my initial drawing, step 1, step 2, step 3) 

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Tinted Siblings

J. O. Dvořák, Praha - Tinted Siblings, a photo by josefnovak33 on Flickr.

I'm in love with beautiful cabinet cards of children...
(Thanks, josefnovak33)

Mr. Peanut Speaks

After 95 years of silence, they have given Mr. Peanut a voice. It's the voice of Robert Downy, Jr. Here's an article about it with a photo of the new animated Mr. Peanut.

I don't really care if Mr. Peanut can talk, I just wish he still looked the same as the old vintage sign that I have at home (shown above). What a beautiful silk-screened face he has. I'm not sure how old my sign is, but I'm partial to this particular "look". Of course, I realize that Mr. Peanut has gone through many changes over the years. If you google him, you can find them. 

 According to wikipedia, Planters Peanuts was founded in 1906. In 1916, a contest was held to design a logo for the company. A 14 year old school boy won the contest by drawing a peanut man. Later, a graphic artist added spats, top hat, monocle and cane. 

The Art of Amy Crehore

NEW! Boing Boing Monkey T-shirt Designed by Amy Crehore

I'm so excited about this brand new Boing Boing t-shirt that I designed. It is available now in the Boing Boing Shop in Ash Grey, White and Natural. Mens and Womens sizes S, M, L, XL, and 2XL. 
  LINK TO BUY


Originally, I painted this particular monkey (wearing a plaid jacket & tiny derby, smoking a pipe) on a vintage banjo-uke and called it the "Squirm". It was part of my solo art show, "Dreamgirls and Ukes", which took place in Los Angeles in 2009. The monkey was perched on a lump of grass, floating in a cloudy sky. I also drew him in ink (sitting on a cloud) for the very first Cloudy Collection print set.
For this brand new Boing Boing Monkey t-shirt design, I created a special typeface and hand-lettered the words "Boing Boing". You may have seen my "monkey love" paintings featured on Boing Boing in the past. I want to thank everyone at Boing Boing for making this t-shirt happen! 
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Progress and Process in Painting (Amy Crehore)

 Blocking in some shapes.

Adding color to background.

Here, you can see my progress with the new painting. This is just the beginning. Some interesting things are happening as I go along. It's fun to document the steps. I have no idea how this will end up. I am "creating" as I go and enjoying the process. Each painting is really an experiment. I do not have a specific chronological order of doing things. The design elements are leading me around the painting. Around and around I go. Adding layers of paint. I'm loving the contrasting colors shown here. But, it will change a thousand times before I am done. I based this composition on a drawing that I made in pencil first. (See my previous posts here and here.)

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The beginning of a new painting....

I'm using a red undercoat for this new painting. The beginning is always fun. 

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(See my previous post for pencil drawing of this image)