Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Andrew Warhola said....


Andy Warhol, famous artist, said some really choice things. He was such a comedian. I never tire of reading Warhola quotes (even if I do get tired of looking at his art):
"I've decided something: Commercial things really do stink. As soon as it becomes commercial for a mass market it really stinks."
"If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, and there I am. There's nothing behind it.
"Since people are going to be living longer and getting older, they'll just have to learn how to be babies longer."
"Fantasy love is much better than reality love. Never doing it is very exciting. The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet."
More:
Maybe this is why Andy is so lovable. It's his personality.

Monday, November 23, 2009

I'm a New Gigi Fan



(All images above by Josh Gosfield)
Who is Gigi Gaston? A mysterious French pop star from the 60's who disappeared without a trace. She is also the subject of a gallery show in NYC which closes in a couple of days. I just got wind of Gigi yesterday. Her creator is none other than the wonderful artist Josh Gosfield who somehow managed to invent and "nail" this female character from the 60's by producing a collection of bogus, yet authentically-vintage-looking, tabloid newspaper clippings, magazine covers, paper dolls, rock posters, album covers, music video and even a film trailer. There is a review of the show by Ben Davis ("Lost in Time") on ArtNet .
GIGI, THE BLACK FLOWER, an exhibit by Josh Gosfield at Steven Kasher Gallery, October 22 to November 25, 2009. 521 W. 23rd St., New York, NY 10011.
Je Suis Perdue :watch the music video with Gigi's hit song ("I Am Lost")
Gigi Trailer is the key to understanding the life of Gigi Gaston (it brings to mind that clever and crafty Woody Allen film, "Zelig")
Gigi Exhibit images at Steven Kasher Gallery, NYC
I may be a new Gigi fan, but I have been a long-time fan of Josh Gosfield's art. What could be more fun or more hokum than this gallery show? I'm just sorry that I can't see it in person. But, at least we have the internet.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The Dark Side



I am currently painting a dark painting for a show, so I thought I would return to my blog archives and re-blog one of my most popular posts (June 2007): Demons Like You Have Never Seen Before. Above, are a couple of images of monsters from Cornell University Library 's collection of fantastic images.
The Art of Amy Crehore

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Burton's Vincent

To celebrate Tim Burton's new show at MOMA, here is an early animation called "Vincent" (not Van Gogh, but Price.) Splendid.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Clever Money Art

Origami money hats via MAKE and Boingboing
I like these better than the Warhol money painting, "200 One Dollar Bills" (actually a silk screen), that recently sold for 43.8 million. These should be worth a fortune.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

What am I up to?

Cropped detail of pencil sketch for new letterpress design by Amy Crehore 2009
I've been working hard on the preliminary sketch for a multi-colored letterpress design. Shown here, is a cropped detail of my pencil drawing. I still have to ink it and figure out the colors. There have been numerous tracings and eracings to get it to this stage. This is fairly large design and I have only shown you a portion of it: girls, monkeys and a ukulele (everything is drawn from my head). I am also working on a "dark" painting for a show in NYC in Jan. and, of course, Tickler Ukulele #3 which is evolving bit by bit in collaboration with the luthier.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Paul Jacoulet Prints








Wow. The prints shown here are all by artist Paul Jacoulet. They were made between 1934 and 1960 (the year of his death). "Following in the collaborative tradition of ukiyo-e printmaking, Jacoulet recruited talented carvers and printers who could duplicate the delicate lines of his drawings and watercolors." His designs and colors are astoundingly beautiful. Jacoulet was born in Paris in 1896, but was raised in Tokyo. He self-published most of his 160 woodblock prints. Hanga Gallery website has five reference pages of images with about 40 images per page. Have a look:
HANGA GALLERY- Paul Jacoulet

The Art of Amy Crehore