Vintage Ukuleles -My Inspiration!

Uke design copyright 2010 Amy Crehore

I can't stop now! I have a few more vintage instruments to enhance with art - including a "minty" (in more ways than one) green Montgomery Ward duco-finished uke from the 1920's. It was found carefully preserved in the original mail order box. (It matches my "Demon" uke.) Can't wait to paint a design on that one.

Above, is a little sketch I came up with for the headstock of a blond-color vintage banjo-uke that someone kindly gave to me after my art show last year. The tuners were missing and it needed some clean-up. It's a Slingerland style-uke that has now been restored to a nice shine. An authentic set of vintage tuners were found to fit it. Luckily, my luthier loves removing rust from brackets,etc. (This one matches my Slingerland black "Tuxedo" uke.)

In fact, this weekend would be the anniversary of my "Dreamgirls and Ukes" show in L.A. .(A lot of the paintings and ukes from this art show have now found happy homes, but there are still some pieces available -if interested, feel free to contact: amy@amycrehore.com with inquiries.) I am also working on a couple of brand new canvases and a letterpress print right now. Lots to do!
The Art of Amy Crehore

Boys' Choir Meowing

Boy's choir singing classical music in feline vocals

"Be the Jazz King of Your Town"

Banjo-Uke Everyday Life
Originally uploaded by katinthecupboard

This ad from 1926 says the banjo-uke
is "the most popular instrument there is".
Follow link to read more!

thanks, katinthecupboard's flickr and
www.ukulelia.com

Dali, the showman

Here are a couple of cool photos of Salvador Dali (for you, Raliegh) from Crack Two (125 rare photos of famous people). There are some other interesting photos if you follow the link. The only thing I don't like is that Manson's mug is posted underneath his victim. Too creepy for me. Hollywood Babylon is still going strong, I think.

Moise Kisling, painter of women

Painting by Kisling

Kisling 1935 (TopFoto Gallery)
Great photo book about artsts in Paris includes Kisling

Nude by Kisling
Here's a Moise Kisling nude - he did wonderful melancholy portraits of women, including Kiki (famous artist model in Paris that Man Ray photographed). Although I cannot find a website devoted to him, Google images displays a selection of great paintings: Follow this LINK. A great book called "KIKI'S PARIS: Artist and Lovers 1900-1930" (I have it at home) has many photos and stories about Kisling. He was born in Poland on Jan. 22, 1891 and died on Apr. 29, 1953. He moved to Paris in 1913, where his friends included Modigliani, Picasso and Kiki.
Thanks for reminding me about Kisling, eric orchard !

The Art of Amy Crehore

Bolano at Barcelona

A very conservative dress except for the teddy bear heads! From Macleans.Ca: A model presents a creation from the Manuel Bolano collection at the 080 Barcelona fashion show, January 27, 2010. REUTERS/Albert Gea LINK

Skull Theft of Geniuses

What happened to Goya's head? Apparently he wasn't the only one.

Read about it: MACLEANS LINK (Story by Brian Bethune)