Sunday, January 18, 2009

Theme from Amarcord

The theme from Amarcord by Nino Rota was always my favorite.

Here's a film clip w/the music.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

What am I up to?

Hoop Dream (Detail) by Amy Crehore
Here is just a detail of a small new painting. I have been finishing up my paintings for my "Dreamgirls and Ukes" show. There will be 14 new paintings in the show unless I find time to add another. Not sure if I will put sketches in the show or not. There will also be 13 hand-painted, restored vintage ukuleles in this show. Still working on those. Those are 85% done. Then I will have to photograph and frame, plus all the rest (including practicing music). I will be painting something on the front wall of the gallery as well. Thinkspace Gallery will have a "question and answer" with me on their blog soon. I'll let you know when. There's also an ad in Juxtapoz and an interview in Inked Magazine (February issues). They should be out now. I will be blogging more details and paintings very soon.


Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Oscar Schmidt 1920 Koa Uke for Xmas

Click on image to enlarge
I got this incredible gem for Xmas. Flame koa antique uke with a koa bridge and nice detailing all around. The headstock I wanted, too - it's sort of a paddle-shape at the top. It was made around 1920- give or take. This photo does not do justice to it. The flame wood is iridescent.
The Art of Amy Crehore

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Heinrich Kley 1863-1945(?)


Heinrich Kley was a German painter and editorial cartoonist. Here are a couple of examples of his fine drawings. Walt Disney built an extensive private collection of Heinrich Kley. A number of early Disney productions, notably Fantasia, reveal Kley's inspiration. (Wikipedia)
More drawings here: thescreamonline .

Friday, January 09, 2009

Louis Moe 1857-1945




Yes, he has a strange name, but he was a damn good draftsman and creative whiz. View more works from the Norwegian artist,
P.S. Here are some more links: Troll Moon,

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Moira Hahn Solo Show at Koplin Del Rio Gallery

"Raijin Tiger" painting copyright Moira Hahn
"Tan Don't Burn" painting copyright Moira Hahn

" Next Exit" painting copyright Moira Hahn

Moira Hahn's new watercolor paintings will be on view at Koplin Del Rio Gallery in Culver City CA from January 10th to February 28th. Her opening will be on Saturday, January 10th, from 6-8pm.
Hahn "paints anthropomorphic animals contending with catastrophes brought on by human-kind. In 'Next Exit', for example, the blackened scaffold of a two-story tall, elephant-shaped house full of leaking oil drums disintegrates in a fury of swirling flames and demons, while a pot-bellied cowboy rider flogs it with a whip. Exquisitely garbed primates heed warnings from other species, and ancient Buddhist hell scroll imagery is transcribed, mutated and blended with other historic and contemporary sources to represent trials of the modern age." (from Hahn's statement about her work)

You can view her amazing work here:
KOPLIN DEL RIO


The Art of Amy Crehore

Monday, January 05, 2009

What am I listening to?

I am listening to the free cd that came with my 2009 blues calendar! It's amazingly good! If you haven't purchased a calendar yet, get this one chock full o' race record ads. Just look at this play list on the cd:
Track Listings:January to December artwork(1) Night & Day Blues • Blind Blake(2) Milk Cow Blues • Kokomo Arnold(3) Shake It and Break It • Charley Patton(4) Jesus Is A Mighty Good Leader • Skip James(5) Home Town Skiffle-Pt. 1,2 • Paramount All Stars(6) Jailhouse Fire Blues • Buddy Boy Hawkins(7) Worried Blues • Blind Lemon Jefferson (8) Cherry Ball Blues • Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie(9) Graveyard Dream Blues • Ida Cox(10) Nightmare • Elgar's Creole Orchestra (11) The Death of Blind Lemon • Rev. Emmett Dickerson(12) Death May Be Your Christmas Present • Rev. A. W. NixBonus tracks (artwork doesn't exist for these songs)(13) Sun to Sun • Blind Blake(14) The Laffing Rag • Ben Curry(15) Hot Dog • Ben Curry(16) Home Town Skiffle-Test •Paramount All Stars(17) Alchohol And Jake Blues • Tommy Johnson(18) Ridin' Horse • Tommy Johnson
NOTE: The "Paramount All Stars" includes Papa Charley Jackson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake, Hokum Boys, Will Ezell, & Charley Spand. (Great!)
Get your calendar and free cd here:
This is the kind of roots music that I play with the Hokum Scorchers.