Same Page as Mark Ryden

Click on image to enlarge.

Communication Arts Illustration Annual 1996

Here I am on the same page as Mark Ryden in 1996 (his painting is at the top of the page). My painting is called, "The Boy from Togo". It's a fairly large oil on linen. I always entered my fine art into the Communication Arts Illustration annuals - in the unpublished category. I also used my fine art on postcard samples to mail out to art directors. This image got me so many jobs!! I think it was the busiest time for me in my entire illustration career and I had to actually turn some jobs away.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Lotte Reiniger (1899 -1981)

This is "The Chimney Sweep" by Lotte Reiniger,1955 (uploaded to YouTube by maydoll where you can see more of Lotte Reiniger's silhouette animations). Read about this remarkable German film artist here and here . You can get a DVD of her historically important animated feature film of 1926 on amazon :the oldest extant animated feature, " The Adventures of Prince Achmed".

The Art of Amy Crehore

Earl Steffa Moran Pin-ups and more

"The Spanish Girl" by Earl Steffa Moran (Marilyn Monroe was the model)

Marilyn Monroe posing for artist
Earl Steffa Moran standing in front of his "Spanish Girl", pastel on illustration board

The Grapefruit Moon Gallery website has a lot of original, vintage illustrative drawings and paintings for sale. They also have a history of the artists and their work, including photos, which is utterly fascinating.

Marilyn Monroe visited artist Earl Steffa Moran in 1949 with dreams of being one of his pin-up calendar girls and he ended up doing a series of her. "This pastel was commissioned calendar Art for Brown & Bigelow and was originally titled CONSENTIDA and marketed to a Latin audience initially."

For original Pin-up, Glamour, Advertising, and Cover Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration (and more) visit:

Grapefruit Moon Gallery

The Art of Amy Crehore

Kokusyoku Sumire, Musical Hokum-Gothic Lolitas

Thanks to Trevor Brown's blog I spent the last hour watching Youtube videos of these fabulous creatures. (This particular video was posted on Youtube by Archpope.) Their website says:

"New classical music spun out by two twin young girl dolls for the first time in Japan! At the center of this charming Kokusyoku Sumire (Black Violet) are Yuka, the genuine soprano songstress with the attraction of a little devil, and Sachi, the exceptional violinist and model who strikes adorable poses. The girls express with extravagant freedom motifs based on internationally known fairy tales such as the “Little Red Riding Hood”, “The Little Match Girl”, or “Hansel and Gretel”, while adopting a diversity of elements from such music genres as chansons or classical music."

Have a look at their website:

Kokusyoku Sumire

The Art of Amy Crehore

Magic Mirror, Magic Pool

A mesmerizing and surreal photo by Félix-Jacques Antoine Moulin, 1851. I blogged another one last year ...you can see it in his wikipedia link. (Thanks, Femme )

The Art of Amy Crehore

Bill Monroe in 1966

Bill Monroe & kids photo copyright Raleigh Powell

My photo of the day is another classic shot taken by Raleigh Powell. This is of Bill Monroe in Roanoke, VA, 1966. Raleigh says, "This is from the 1st year of the Roanoke Bluegrass Festival. A very small crowd (under 100)and a makeshift stage illuminated by 100-watt lightbulbs. Ralph and Carter Stanley played as well; they were the best."

The Art of Amy Crehore

Special offer! New Print Release today by Amy Crehore

"The Creature" by Amy Crehore

It's my birthday and I am releasing a new print today featuring a ukulele. This is a signed, limited edition archival giclee print of 'The Creature' for only $50.(only 50 prints in this edition) plus shipping/handling. Two customers (chosen at random) will receive a small original drawing signed by Amy Crehore (me). All prints come in archival sleeves with two postcards and a certificate of authenticity.

The Creature Print

SOLD OUT!

The Art of Amy Crehore

P.S. This was the painting that Mark Frauenfelder bought from a sketch, "Monkey Love" series -number 9.

P.P.S. Be sure to check out my Artist Uke T-shirts while you are at my website.