The Mandolin, painting by Alex Gross
The Tragedy, painting by Alex GrossAlex Gross has an art show opening in NYC on April 5 (through May 3, 2008) called "Mysteries and Manners". He has created some mysterious, surreal and complex new paintings.
Alex Gross derives a lot of inspiration from the Shanghai advertising posters of the 1930's. I have blogged about these kinds of images many times before. His new show has some ambitious large-scale work in it. Here, I have selected a couple of the simpler pieces: a straight portrait of a woman with a mandolin and an absurd, yet wonderful, portrait of a floating woman with a tennis racket and four legs, getting ready to smack her ice cream out of it's cone. He is really using a beautiful selection of colors in these works and his technique is completely honed in. The faces of the people in his paintings are serious, yet there is an underlying humor to each narrative situation. I was lucky enough to see some Alex Gross paintings in person at Earl McGrath in L.A. back in 2004.
My friend Lee Moyer in Portland, OR has a new website. He's a fantastic illustrator who hosts an illustrators' group up there. Lee can draw just about anything. I found this image in his poster section. I really love it! I'll get up there one of these days, Lee. 
The Mandolin, painting by Alex Gross
The Tragedy, painting by Alex Gross
Mini-monkey by Amy Crehore
Moonlight Rider
Butterfly Chariot
Asleep in the Moonlight (click image for larger view)
The Fairy Tree (click image for larger view)
Richard Doyle designed the the famous cover of Punch Magazine that was used between 1849 to 1956. He started working for Punch in 1842 when he was only 19 years old. In 1851, he illustrated Ruskin's The King of the Golden River. Art Magick has a slide show of Doyle's illustrations (mostly fairies) and an explanation of each picture. I think they are beautifully rendered, completely charming and highly imaginative. Follow the link:
Kahn/Selesnick are having a show at Lisa Sette Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona - opening April 3-26th, 2008. I have blogged about their amazing surrealistic photos before. Today, I was thrilled to discover their hand-painted playing cards which show just how truly talented and imaginative they are as draftsman. Link to their show: Lisa Sette Gallery
I am currently working on a painting that happens to have an eight ball in it. What does the eight ball symbolize? I found this: "Eight ball symbolizes risk, the willingness to take a chance and the possibility of good luck or misfortune." Eight Ball is a pocket billiards game, a fortune telling game and even a drug. Would you like your fortune told? Click here and ask a question:
Why is it that I can't get enough of these hand-colored postcards of dancers from the Casino De Paris? Maybe because they inspire me to create. They are so darn imaginative and fun; combining women, art and theater. The colors are gorgeous, too. Hey, girls look good with lampshades on their heads...there is no denying that fact.
