Wanda Gag

Wanda Hazel Gág was born on March 11, 1893 in New Ulm, Minnesota. I wish I had known Wanda Gag. She wrote and illustrated "Millions of Cats" in 1928. It's one of my favorite children's books. Here is a photo of the French version. "Millions of Cats" was named a Newbery Honor Book the year it came out. Gág is credited with being the first artist to utilize the double-page spread and to revive hand lettered text. Her pen and ink drawings have this incredible sense of rhythm. They flow up and down and all around...from page to page. Wanda also exhibited her fine art in NYC galleries and she was a friend of Georgia O'Keefe. I never knew that. It seems she was a very clever artist indeed. She is even sporting a Louise Brooks hairdo in this attractive photo.

You can read more and see a list of books by

Wanda Gag

The Art of Amy Crehore

Lolita Fashions

"Classical Lolita"

"Lolita fashion is part of the fashion style and subculture Gothic & Lolita, which originated in Japan, largely inspired by Victorian children's clothing and the elaborate costumes of the Rococo period. Other influences include the western gothic and punk fashions."

Read about Lolita Fashions

The Art of Amy Crehore

Erling Wold Blog

Erling Wold, the composer in San Francisco who owns a set of my little pierrot prints, and whom I have blogged about before, has written about my "Tickler" ukulele on his blog. Check out what he has to say... and, while you are there, take a look at a beautifully painted harpsichord by Adrian Card.

Erling Wold Blog

The Art of Amy Crehore

Nabokov's Interview with Playboy 1964

Alvin Toffler: "With the American publication of Lolita in 1958, your fame and fortune mushroomed almost overnight from high repute among the literary cognoscenti-- which you bad enjoyed for more than 30 years-- to both acclaim and abuse as the world-renowned author of a sensational bestseller. In the aftermath of this cause celebre, do you ever regret having written Lolita?"

Nabokov: "On the contrary, I shudder retrospectively when I recall that there was a moment, in 1950, and again in 1951, when I was on the point of burning Humbert Humbert's little black diary. No, I shall never regret Lolita. She was like the composition of a beautiful puzzle-- its composition and its solution at the same time, since one is a mirror view of the other, depending on the way you look. Of course she completely eclipsed my other works-- at least those I wrote in English: The Real Life of Sebastian Knight, Bend Sinister, my short stories, my book of recollections; but I cannot grudge her this. There is a queer, tender charm about that mythical nymphet."

Read more of this enlightening and entertaining

interview with Vladimir Nabokov.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Blues Women Playing Nationals

Sister Rosetta Tharpe with sunburst Triolian
Sister Rosetta with Count Basie
Memphis Minnie with Electric National

Vintage photos of women playing National Guitars. Love them.
The Art of Amy Crehore

Details of Lolitas

Detail of "Lolita Part Two" copyright 2007 Amy Crehore

Detail of "Lolita Part One" copyright 2007 Amy Crehore

Here are a couple of details of my paintings for the Corey Helford "Literartistry" Show which opens August 11, 2007. I did a set of two paintings, "The Story of Lolita" Parts one and two.

I should be able to show you the entire pieces in the near future. I am glad to be done. I worked very hard on them. They are oils on linen panels and will have ornately carved frames. They are not literal interpretations of the novel, they are more symbolic. You'll see.

This show will have 50 different artists -each interpreting his/her favorite book.

Participating artists to date include: Jason Shawn Alexander, Erik Alos, Chris Anthony, Chris Conn Askew, Attaboy, Anthony Ausgang, Lauren Bergman, Andrew Brandou, Dave Burke, Paul Chatem, Greg Clarke, Amy Crehore, Camilla d’Ericco, Jason Dugan, Korin Faught, Sarah Folkman, Melissa Forman, Andrew Foster, Lauren Gardiner, Andrew Hem, Michael Hussar, Stella Im Hultberg, Mari Inukai, Wednesday Kirwan, Kukula, Joe Ledbetter, Tiffany Liu, Kevin Llewellyn, Lola, Jeff McMillan, Lisa Moneypenny Murray, Tom Neely, Joe O’Neill, Alex Pardee, Kevin Peterson, Joshua Petker, Carlos Ramos, Sergio Rebia, Joey Remmers, Lesley Reppeteaux, Isabel Samaras, Mijn Schatje, Nathan Spoor, Bob Staake, Gin Stevens, David Stoupakis, Cassandra Szekely, Heidi Taillefer, The Pizz, Sage Vaughn, Amanda Visell, David VonDerLinn, and Jasmine Worth.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Chalk it Up for Literacy -Portland, OR

Lee Moyer's "Odin" poster from 2004

I am going to participate in the 5th annual "Chalk it Up for Literacy" event in Portland, Oregon on August 4th, 2007 from 10am-4pm in Pioneer Courthouse Square. I did this event in 2004 and it was tons of fun. That year, it was held under a tent at the Portland Art Museum because of rain. But, usually it is held outdoors. About 40 or so artists and illustrators will create posters in chalk "live" between 10am and 4 pm. The art will be sold later to benefit Oregon Literacy, Inc. This is a really good cause! "Everyone has a right to literacy." I hope to see my artist friends and also meet some new Portland people this year. Read more about it here:
OREGON LITERACY
and a gallery of past art
The Art of Amy Crehore