Saturday, May 05, 2007

What is Hoodoo?




It's not Voodoo. Hoodoo is African American Magic.
Read up about it here: Lucky Mojo
(Article by Catherine Yronwode)
That's a High John the Conqueror Root in the bottom picture. It smells really, really pretty and it's a lucky root, but it comes in funny shapes and sizes resembling doodoo.
(This post is dedicated to Datura Morris)

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Freaky-cool Snake Woman

This is an image from an old postcard that I found on the blog, Femme, Femme Femme.
You might want to check out this blog. They have taken their cue from my blog and have searched for and found more odalisques from artists such as Corot and Renoir, plus many other brilliant nudes by obscure painters such as Leonid Frechkop, Mark Gertler, Francesco Menzio, Frederick Carl Frieseke, etc. Very interesting!

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Evelyn De Morgan 1855-1919

Cadmus and Harmonia by Evelyn De Morgan
The Sea Maidens by Evelyn De Morgan
Evelyn De Morgan was an English Pre-Raphaelite painter. I like these two paintings. The top one is yet another "snake-woman" image. There are so many throughout history! Cadmus was Harmonia's husband in Greek Mythology. Read how Cadmus became a serpent. The "Sea Maidens" reminds me of my own work because the figures are all connected by their hands. It's a nice design and there is also some mysterious action going on that gives the painting it's soul.
More paintings by De Morgan here:
Illusions Gallery
The Art of Amy Crehore

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Wonderful Thing

"Snake Tamer's Ditty" copyright 2007 Amy Crehore (Click on image to ENLARGE)
Boing boing!!!
Check out the above link. They just posted my new painting with extra links to all of the previous boingboing items about my art and other fun things like Teenar, the girl guitar.
'Amy Crehore recently completed a fantastic new painting, full of mystery and subtle whimsy, entitled "Snake Tamer's Ditty." ' - quote from Mark Frauenfelder, writer/artist
Thank you very much, Mark.

Snake Tamers and Serpent Charmers

Rattlesnake charmer lady, Oregon, 1909
Image of Mami Wata (mother water) found in African Culture
"Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden" 1916 by John H. Coates (Smithsonian)
The top photograph is from Historic Photo Archive - taken by a travelling circus photographer in Oregon in 1909. The Mami Wata image is from a favorite postcard of mine. She represents power and wealth and her image is found throughout West and Central Africa. In some areas, she is a religious cult. The third image is from another postcard. A pen and ink by folk artist John H. Coates.
I love all of these images!
Also, you can read about the Minoan Snake Goddess if you like.
(Thanks to Chris Keeley of Daily Dreamtime for the link to the top photo.)

Saturday, April 28, 2007

"Snake Tamer's Ditty"-NEW PAINTING by Amy Crehore

Click on image to enlarge and see a cinematic view.
"Snake Tamer's Ditty" copyright 2007 Amy Crehore
(detail of face here, detail of three characters on left side)

Friday, April 27, 2007

Details, Details


Here are two more pieces of the puzzle to tease you with. Some feet and a waterfall. Both images are from "Snake Tamer's Ditty", my newest Monkey Love painting. (copyright 2007 Amy Crehore)