Monday, March 12, 2012

People that live underground

Click on image to enlarge
There is something about children who live underground and play with big ants and other bugs that appeals to me. Illustrations by Sibylle Von Olfers for this 1906 book can be found on 50 Watts. Read the Story of the Root Children at the Digital Children's Library.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Another New Painting: "Basker's Cove" (by Amy Crehore)

"Basker's Cove" painting by Amy Crehore copyright 2012, oil on linen, 18" x 24"
Click on image to enlarge
(see it large here, too)

Detail of "Basker's Cove"
Another Detail of "Basker's Cove"
Thanks for blogging this painting, BoingBoing.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Year- Birthday Of Balthus


I always envied people born on Feb. 29th. Balthus, the painter, was one of those special people. He was born on Feb. 29, 1908. I am celebrating Balthus and everyone else who has a birthday today. Here he is as the "King of Cats".

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Very unique instrument: Gibson Mando-bass

I used this antique Gibson Mando-bass from 1917 that we have at home as an inspiration for my dream-like "Feed the Bear Blues" painting (shown above, Amy Crehore 2007, oil on linen, approx. 9"x 9"). The gorgeous pod-shape of the mando-bass reflects the wonderful art nouveau sensibility of Gibson at the time. The mando-bass can be played standing up or sitting down (horizontally). I exhibited this painting in my Brooklyn show at Ad Hoc Gallery in 2008. (By the way, the painting is still available.) You may have seen the band Smashing Pumpkins play one of these in a music video. The mando-bass was generally used in mandolin orchestras of the time.
 The Art of Amy Crehore

Monday, February 27, 2012

Looking at Klimt's Landscapes

Auctioned off two years ago at Sotheby's in London, this painting "Church in Cassone" (1913) by Gustav Klimt was saved from the Nazis, but it was also lost for a good while. (It sold for about 26 million pounds.) Read the story here. (Guardian)
I have been looking at Klimt's amazing landscapes recently in a gorgeous book about them.
I like them better than his figurative works. To view more, click on buildings or landscapes in this link.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012