Thursday, October 26, 2006

Hungarian Nudes



Paintings by Molnar C., Pal
"Began his studies on the art teacher training faculty of the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in 1915, later travelling to Geneva, where he trained himself autodidactically. He lived in Paris between 1921 and 1922. He participated on the exhibitions of KUT regularly from 1924 on. He switched to illustrating works of literature and in parallel to the techniques of wood engraving in 1930. Though next to illustration work he also designed posters through the thirties, his work as a painter came in to the foreground. He became a scholarship holder of the Collegium Hungaricum in Rome as early as 1928, later to become an individual creative voice of the Rome School. He received a number of significant commissions from the Church between 1933 and 1970. He summed up his technical knowledge in specialised textbooks, while his autobiography was published in 1994. His flat has now become a memorial museum." Text from the Kieselbach Gallery website
(Thanks to Internet Weekly for turning me on to this great Hungarian painter!)

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

The Art Spirit

This book is a bible for painters like me: "The Art Spirit" by Robert Henri, written in 1923. I have read it at least ten times and I am reading it again. Robert Henri was a great teacher and a great painter. The more I read it, the more I can relate to it and the more I get out of it.
I am recommending it to any painter who has not read it!

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Mark Lowrie: Photomontage


Photomontage of Abandoned House Copyright 2006 Mark Lowrie (LA AMISH)
Want to see something cool?
Check out my friend Mark Lowrie's
These are amazing hand-crafted sculpture-photos. I like the one of Burning Man especially.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Gibson Mando-Bass

Blues Gal#5 sketch w/ Mandobass copyright 2006 Amy Crehore

We have one of these at home. You can play the Gibson Mando-bass upright or sitting... like this woman in the picture. It's a beautiful piece of furniture. I might have to work on my drawing of the bear - not quite there yet.


Sunday, October 22, 2006

Music and stuff

Robert Armstrong with his creations (Frets.com)

Here's a picture of Big Bill Broonzy with the Gibson guitar that I mentioned in my previous post - on an album cover from Yazoo Records. Yazoo always had a great selection of hokum music with wonderfully illustrated album covers by R. Crumb and Robert Armstrong (two of my favorite underground comic artists who also had a great band called Cheap Suit Serenaders).

Check out talented Robert Armstrong's

page at Frets.com to see close ups of his painted instruments!!

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Blues Gal # 4


Blues Gal #4 Sketch Copyright 2006 Amy Crehore
Here's another new Blues Gal drawing. This one has a Gibson Style O Guitar from 1920 in it. We don't have one of these guitars at home, but we have others in the Gibson guitar family such as the teardrop-shaped Mando Bass and the cubist-looking Harp Guitar. All are classic beauties just like this girl who is feeding an acorn to her pet squirrel. I'm listening to The Essential Nino Rota Film Music Collection as I draw.
Check out Elderly Music

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Drawn!

Mini-Monkey # 3 copyright 2006 Amy Crehore courtesy of Blab Show website

Drawn! The Illustration and Cartooning Blog is such a great blog. It is well-read across the world. That's because they continually post about wonderful artists day-after-day-after-day.
Anyone who enjoys the history of the graphic arts, comics, contemporary illustration, painting, and drawing will love this blog. Thanks to Johnny for posting about the Blab! Show today:
Blab! Art Show - 4 days left
"You have four days to catch the Blab! Art Show at Copro Nason Gallery in Santa Monica, CA. The show features 18 fantastic artists and illustrators including Drawn! favourites Amy Crehore (shown here), Gary Baseman, Ryan Heshka, and Tim Biskup. The show closes this Saturday, October 21. " (Johnny, Drawn!)