Latest Courbet News: The Head Was Cut Off

I guess the big art news today is that someone found a painted head in an antique shop that was cut off of the "The Origin of the World" painting by Gustave Courbet, 1866. Of course, the fellow only paid about 1,200 pounds for this head and it is supposedly worth 35 million pounds.

(LINK photo Philippe Petit)

Read full story in the Telegraph.

See the NSFW masterpiece that most people are familiar with (without the head)
HERE: wikipedia 

Cropping made it so dynamic.

Here's the original sketch by Courbet (link):

 

New Cat Figurine for Monopoly Game

Exciting new cat monopoly game piece! Read story at HUH magazine.

The Hokum Scorchers Perform "Stamps Blues"

This was inspired by the Tony Hollins 1941 version of the song. Lou and I recorded this in 1995. I'm playing the washboard and Lou is playing a vintage National guitar.

Original Paintings by Amy Crehore

Although many of my original paintings have already sold, I still have some wonderful original works available in my inventory for collectors, such as the ones shown below. These were all previously exhibited in gallery shows in Brooklyn and NYC (Ad Hoc Gallery, Last Rites) or Los Angeles (Corey Helford, Thinkspace, Robert Berman Gallery) or The Shore Institute of Contemporary Art (NJ). All of these are oils on stretched linen or linen panels. Here are some choice pieces that represent some of my best work. Various sizes.
All images ©Amy Crehore

The Art of Amy Crehore

 Snake Tamer's Ditty

 Weed Smoker's Dream

 A Moonlit Ride

Deja Vu Waltz

 Song of the Sea

 Hokum Hallelujah

 Song of the Wind

Please Don't Bug Me Blues

 The Art of Amy Crehore 

 Second Fiddle Infatuation

 Feed the Bear Blues

Lolita #2

 The Art of Amy Crehore 
There are 3 sections of fine art paintings on my website currently.
I also have preliminary drawings,
one-of-a-kind painted antique ukes, limited edition prints and t-shirts.
More things to be added and more things to show you...
stay tuned.
Contact: amy@amycrehore.com
All images ©Amy Crehore

Dreamgirls on Ice with Ukes

Of course I have to share this one. It's a great shot from 1923 of "dreamgirls" dancing on ice with ukuleles, including a banjo uke. (Thanks, Mark Heller's facebook.)

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

(Dreamgirls and Ukes)

Disappearing Video



This is exactly what the weather has been like where I live (in the Willamette Valley of Oregon) for the last two weeks. Only it's more of a freezing fog. David Horvitz captures the essence of fog in his beautiful Disappearing Video.

Happy Birthday, Manet!

 The Plum by Manet

Manet died at the young age of 51 from complications of syphilis. 

They had to amputate his foot. 

That's a sad ending for a beautiful genius who gave much to modern art.

350 William Blake Etchings Found

Hundreds of William Blake's commercially designed etchings were hiding in the University of Manchester's  Library. After two years of searching, students (under the guidance of an art historian named Colin Trodd) found 350 of them. Here are a few examples and I love these so much.
William Blake, artist and poet- born 1757-died 1827.
I am newly inspired.
LINK


The Art of Amy Crehore

Happy Birthday, Eartha Kitt

Did you know she had a Spanish album? Here's a sample.
(Eartha Kitt born Jan 17, 1927, died in 2008)
My friend, artist Carlos Lara, pointed out to me that she sings in perfect Spanish.

Photo of the Day: 1920s beach photograph

Beach photograph of a photographer, woman and Felix the Cat puppet, a photo by National Media Museum on Flickr.

Photographer, woman and Felix the Cat puppet

My Painting for Garrison Keillor's article

Nostagia Man painting by Amy Crehore 1996 9 1/2" x 10 1/2"

Over the course of my career, I painted many illustrations for top American magazines. My illustration for Garrison Keillor's 1996 article for the New York Times Magazine called "The Future of Nostalgia" now accompanies a brand new article published today by Matt Novak on Smithsonian Magazine's blog PALEOFUTURE. 

Read the article here: Garrison Keillor's 1996 Predictions for the Future of Media.

Shown above, the surreal oil painting I did in 1996 for the original article in the New York Times Magazine. It certainly was fun illustrating something that Garrison Keillor wrote.

I'm calling it "Nostalgia Man".

The Art of Amy Crehore

P.S. The many magazine (and book) illustrations that I did over the years are not currently on my website. I am still organizing them and I hope to add them in a special section sometime in the future. You will, however, find many other paintings on my site, such as the fine art works in my previous blog post. (Follow link above)

2012 Paintings by Amy Crehore

 Blue Mirror, oil on linen, 16" x 16" by Amy Crehore © 2012

 Rose Quarry, oil on linen, 12" x 14" by Amy Crehore © 2012

 Basker's Cove, oil on linen, 18" x 24" by Amy Crehore © 2012

Girl With A Fig Leaf Parasol, 16" x 20", oil on linen by Amy Crehore © 2012

The Art of Amy Crehore

Stu Mead and Dorothea Tanning exhibits

Ape-Girl-Artist painting by Stu Mead 2012

 Birthday drawing by Dorothea Tanning 1976

 There are a couple of events happening in California tomorrow (Sat. Jan 12th, 2013) that I would not mind going to. The first is a Stu Mead exhibit at Hyaena Gallery (1928 West Olive, Burbank, CA). The opening party is from 8 pm til midnight. What fun! I can't go because I live up in Oregon, but I would if I could. Stu Mead lives and works in Berlin, Germany. His solo show will be up until January 31st, 2013.  I just ordered his new book Fentasia.
The second event is a scholarly one called A Dorothea Tanning Round Table Discussion from 2pm - 3:30 pm at Gallery Wendi Norris (161 Jessie Street San Francisco, CA). The gallery is currently having a Dorothea Tanning exhibit: Unknown, But Knowable States (Jan 10- March 12th). Dorothea Tanning, surrealist painter, lived to be 101 years old. She passed away about a year ago. I like this drawing she did called "Birthday" (same title as one of her books).

The Art of Amy Crehore

What Am I Reading?

I received these two books in the mail from Amazon yesterday.

GOYA by Robert Hughes and Los Caprichos, Goya's etchings (a Dover book). 

The actual Robert Hughes book was cheaper than the kindle version. 

A beautiful book it is, with illustrations throughout.

 This will be a good excuse to shut off the television and the computer at night. 

I miss Robert Hughes and I know these two books about Goya will inspire me. 

The Art of Amy Crehore

P.S. As you can see, Little Hokum Rag looks totally different now! My list of blog links disappeared and I will try and get them back. I also lost my feedburner counter which showed that I had almost 13,000 readers. I do think that you will find this blog easier to read and to navigate. The archives are still intact, so all is well....I hope you will continue to follow my future posts and read the old ones as well. Thanks! Amy

New look for Little Hokum Rag ...

Little Hokum Rag is way overdue for a face lift. This morning, I could not upload any photos to this blog from internet explorer (due to a problem that blogger is having) and then I noticed that the flickr badge was not displaying properly when using firefox. It was covering up my profile information.

So, I have decided to finally update my template and get a brand new look for this blog. Hopefully, when it is done, everything will work properly with all browsers.

Please stay tuned...I am not going anywhere....and what you are seeing now is NOT the final version.

Love, Amy

http://amycrehore.com

 

 

Lucky 13

 

Bring it on! Happy 2013!

(Headstock of one of my painted ukes from my L.A. show 2009)

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Malbuchgeschichten Bild 13

Malbuchgeschichten Bild 13, a photo by micky the pixel on Flickr.

Beautiful set on flickr of German "Coloring Book" 1949 with a surreal tapestry-like style of illustration by Heinz Kiessling. Here is just one page. Follow link. Thanks to micky the pixel.

Funny Little Nudes

The Crowd Pleaser and the VIP make perfect conceptual art pieces.

Duchamp would be proud. I've always been a sucker for tiny things and these were nudes hanging around the house untouched, in the old packaging, so I took some photos. These are "the little people that add a lot".
(H O scale figurines)

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Winter Images by Oliver Herford

 Jack Frost - Ladies Home Journal 1926

The Snowman's Christmas - Ladies Home Journal 1924 LINK

(Click image to enlarge)

 

Who was Oliver Herford (1863-1935)? They say he was "the American Oscar Wilde". I love these two illustrations which clearly show his sense of humor and his wicked talent for drawing and painting. He was also a poet and writer.

Here are some of his works online.

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

A Henri Cartier-Bresson View

Click to enlarge

Henri Cartier-Bresson photo via mardecortesbaja.com

Thanks, Lloyd 

Somehow this photo says "looking ahead" to me.

It is a group of school children and a young couple soaking in the view of the Seine river (1953) from the top of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

And a Lucky '13 to you!

Happy Holidays to all of my blog readers, fans, friends, acquaintances, collectors and wonderful people around the world who browse the internet and visit Little Hokum Rag!

May the year 2013 be a "Lucky '13" for you. 

Little Hokum Rag will continue to celebrate the little things in life that make it special.

Love,

Amy

amycrehore.com

Big Maybelle by Ruth Farrall

5 1/2" x 7" glitter and acrylics
Big Maybelle by Ruth Farrall

This portrait of Big Maybelle was done by a dear friend of mine who recently passed away on Thanksgiving from cancer. I received this little painting in the mail today from her sister. (Thanks, Linda.)

Ruth was a highly talented artist and an unforgettable friend.
I blogged her "cat with crown" drawing earlier: LINK 
Ruth loved all of the best stuff in life- blues music, cats, nature and all forms of art.
She was smart, funny and beautiful. She was also a teacher who inspired her students and she inspired her friends. I think about her every day.

Ruth Farrall 

 

Hokum Scorchers Playing National Brand Instruments

More information about this 1930s song and the vintage National instruments that Lou and I play can be found here !

This song was featured on boingboing's GWEEK .

The Art of Amy Crehore

The Sick Kitten 1903



Crehore Art Ukes

Here are some of my art ukes.

Follow this link for more details.

Click this image to enlarge.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Holiday Idea: Artist Signed, Limited Edition Prints by Amy Crehore

 Song of the Sea

 Weed Smoker's Dream

 NEW one! Dragonfly Vanity Waltz

 Homage to the King of Cats

 The Waiting Pool

Deja Vu Waltz

 

There's still time to get a print by Xmas, if you order soon.

You may have seen some of my artwork featured on boingboing (link to see all)
including my newest prints.

LINK to prints

These are all signed by me, numbered and only available in small limited editions, printed by a pro.
Each comes with a special certificate of authenticity, also signed by me.
Ask about buying originals. amy@amycrehore.com

The Art of Amy Crehore 

artofamycrehore.blogspot.com

 I also have a really nice signed, numbered 3-color letterpress print on sale
with girls, monkeys and ukulele. LINK

 

Bye Bye Bazooka Joe

Bazooka Gum is getting a makeover and there will be no more Bazooka Joe comics inside of each bubble gum package.

Now, that is sad. LINK

Teenar and the Green Cheerleader

I'm taking some photos around the house with the new ipad. Top photo shows Teenar, Girl Guitar and bottom photo shows one of those green Cheerleader ukes from late 20s or early 30s. 

The Art of Amy Crehore

Photo of the Day-Girls as Appliances

Can you get any more hokum than this? 1936 L.A. Electrical Exposition-

 Retronaut 

Thanks for the tip, Internet Weekly

The First Circus 1921

Thanks, Decaying Hollywood Mansions on FB
This is a great early animation from 1921, don't you think?
I remember taking film and animation classes back in art school.
Some of my favorite times- staying up all night painting animation cells.

Hey- they call this Cyber Monday, so
be sure to check out my new print editions for the holidays, if
you haven't already!
LINK 
The Art of Amy Crehore