Little Hokum Rag

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

People and Their Houses

Lovedaylemon has the most beautiful vintage set on flickr of people standing in front of their houses (such as the gothic victorian house above).
Us Outside Our House

(flickr)

Monday, March 22, 2010

A Grandfather's Trip Around the World, 1926

click on image to enlarge (detail of larger photo, copyright Mark Lowrie)

Hawaii, 1927. One of the girls is playing a pineapple uke. This photo looks as fresh as if it were taken yesterday. And, in a way, it is that fresh. My good friend, photographer Mark Lowrie from L.A., recently found a treasure box of negatives of his grandfather's trip around the world. His grandfather's name was Robert Henry Lowrie and they called him "Bulldog". He was an engineering teacher in Honolulu. When he got divorced in 1926, he decided to take a trip around the world. Mark had read his grandfather's journal many times, but he didn't realize there were photos, too. The contents of the box were so amazing, that Mark decided to put together a book:

"This book is a combination of his day to day journal entries and recently discovered photographs of the journey. Following the trade routes by ship around the globe, there are period photos of Japan, China, the Philippines, Ceylon, the Mid East, Europe, and a road trip across the United States. He flies across the English Channel, (the year before Lindy crosses the Atlantic), meets the President at the White House and the Pope at the Vatican (refusing to kiss his ring)."

How cool is that? Here's the link to Mark's book:

"The Voyage of 'Bulldog' Lowrie"

The Art of Amy Crehore

Gus Cannon,100 years old, playing banjo

thanks, suprovalco — A mini-documentary with a short clip of Gus Cannon playing ragtime banjo- "Walk Right In"- at age 100! He had a jug band called Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers in the 20's and 30's. Read more about his career and life: LINK

Friday, March 19, 2010

New Crehore Artwork

Above is a quick (distorted) scan of a recently painted headstock. I tried to scan the painted banjo head, but it didn't work. This banjo-uke is finished except for the varnish, tuners, etc. When done, I will take complete photos. I am drawing up designs for more ukes, plus working on some complicated canvases at the moment. More often than not, art takes longer than you would imagine. I experience many ups and downs during the process, especially when I'm charting new territory for myself. It can be frustrating and exhilarating...from one day to the next. Just like the weather.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Very First "Wizard of Oz" Book 1900

The cowardly lion had glasses and a bow in his hair and was featured on the cover of the very first edition of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. This was the year 1900. W. W. Denslow was the illustrator. Dig those flying monkeys. They don't seem scary at all.

"W. W. Denslow's original artwork consists of black-and-white line drawings, but the illustrations were printed in color. Some appear in full color and others in only one. Each locale of the story has its own color scheme: Kansas is gray; East, blue; West, yellow; South, red; the Emerald City, green; and, the areas between sections, brown. Because their publisher was concerned about the expense of producing the book, Baum and Denslow paid the cost of including the full-color plates." Read more about the author and illustrator at the Library of Congress exhibit website. Looks like they may have had a little falling out later on.

LINK

Here's more about The Cowardly Lion character (wikipedia).

I painted a few lions myself for my solo show in Los Angeles last year.

I have to say, they are fun to paint and, in our imaginations, they make wonderful, complex characters. Maybe it was the Wizard of Oz which made me think lions might be fun to lounge on and hang out with. (?!)
The Art of Amy Crehore