Friday, March 16, 2012

My Drawings for "Rose Quarry" and "Basker's Cove"

 7 1/2" x 10" pencil sketch for "Basker's Cove"(on 8 1/2" x 11" paper) by Amy Crehore
 Finished oil painting on linen of "Basker's Cove" 18" x 24" by Amy Crehore 2012
You can see how this painting started as a very, very rough sketch. It evolved as I painted it. There were many changes underneath and it took a lot of paint and months of work to reach this final effect. (Click images to enlarge)
 10" x 11 3/4" pencil drawing for "Rose Quarry" (on 11" x 14" paper) by Amy Crehore
Finished oil painting on linen of "Rose Quarry" oil on linen 12" x 14" by Amy Crehore 2012.
The "Rose Quarry" painting turned out pretty close to my original drawing. My preliminary rendering of the figures was more fully realized than "Basker's Cove", so this  painting seemed to progress more easily. I painted an undercoat of red and that seemed to help it along as well. And, it's a much smaller painting.
Click on images to enlarge
(see also here)

See more of my artwork here:
(contact: amy@amycrehore.com for information about my original art)

Goya Glows in "Lights and Darks" Exhibit

Here are some examples (click to enlarge) from the new Francisco Goya (b.1746-d.1828) exhibit lent by the Prado to CaixaForum Barcelona . Read more: Art Daily . The Prado has a nice album of the show on facebook. These were painted in the late 1700s. Goya is simply amazing!


The Art of Amy Crehore
Art of Amy Crehore

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Greyhounds!


Jared Joslin's Circus Self Portrait featuring a greyhound.

The top illustrations are from a medieval book called "The Book of the Hunt" (15th century). One painting even shows veterinarians tending to dogs. I'm fascinated by greyhounds at the moment. I saw someone walking a miniature Italian greyhound not long ago in an argyle sweater (yes, the dog was wearing it). I hear they can move very fast, but they also have fragile bones. Greyhounds were popular in the 1920s (shown: Margaret Gorman and Dog 1925). LINK and LINK 
Here's an antique bronze sculpture and a vintage crate label for Greyhound Brand lemons. And last, but not least, is Jared Joslin's amazing Circus Self Portrait from 2007. Here is the link to his website.
They all inspire me and I'm a cat person!
UPDATE: The first "Book of the Hunt" was actually written in 1387 by Gaston Phebus.
The Art of Amy Crehore (website)
Art of Amy Crehore (blog featuring my new work)

Monday, March 12, 2012

Demonio!

Strikingly beautiful "Demonio" image from the Hours of Catherine of Cleves, Dutch Illuminated manuscript (1435-1460)
LINK (The Morgan Library)

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".