I Got Good Things in the Mail

Here's the original ink drawing I bought from Robot Johnny's store.

"Sob, Sob" by John Martz.
Nice personalized autograph depicting a monkey with a sailor hat, drawn by Martz in the front of my copy of "Warm-Up Drawings". (Gee, I almost like it better than my own monkeys. Those ears and teeth are so great.) Here is the cover of John Martz's new collection of warm-up drawings in small, adorable book form.

Sometimes I get good things in the mail. Like my Nate Williams pillows or an original drawing and book from illustrator/cartoonist John Martz.

Martz does the funniest little drawings and I picked this one out ("Sob, Sob") because it reminds me of myself. A little crybaby. Always crying the blues. It reminds me to wipe those tears and keep on drawing because each new drawing is the key to happiness. There are quite a few cool things in Robot Johnny's store. You will have to go see for yourself. Everyone has an opportunity to own an original Martz drawing. Thanks, Johnny!

Robot Johnny's Store

The Art of Amy Crehore

Sunday Night Song featuring a National Mandolin

Lou Reimuller made a special recording in 1992 of the song "Blue Heaven Blues", originally done by Charlie McCoy, Bo Chatman and Walter Vincent in 1930. On this cut, Lou plays the National guitar and the National mandolin by laying one track over another. He is also singing. This is a Hokum Scorcher's song from their "Feed the Kitty" album.

LINK

The Art of Amy Crehore

This song changes every Sunday or Monday on my website, so it will be different by the time you read this post.

Varnishing Paintings

Windsor Newton has information about varnishing fine art paintings on their website. I can't help but notice that some of the paintings in the art shows I have been in are very shiny and intense. Mine, on the other hand, are more matte because I have not varnished them. Why did I not varnish? Because I use thick paint layers and oil paint normally takes 6 months to a year to thoroughly dry. You are not really supposed to varnish a painting before that. Still, I know that my paintings would be much more vibrant in color if I varnished them. So, before every show, I debate whether I should varnish or not. Is it dry enough, I ask myself? I usually decide not to. Besides, varnishing is very difficult to get just right. The Windsor Newton website also says that acrylic paintings actually need varnish more than oil paintings do. I never knew that!

My Progress

Okay, it's time to blog about myself again. What's a personal blog for if I'm not using it keep people informed about what I am doing? I've been working hard at paintings for my next big show. The show is not until Feb, but it will take tons of time to get everything ready for it. My art is not quick art and I don't just "crank it out" (read that somewhere on a blog), although lately I have been working on some things simultaneously out of necessity. I don't want to reveal too much about my plans yet because I have some surprises in store. Let's just say, I am incorporating more music into my art daily.

Also, my number two Tickler Ukulele has been a long time coming, but it is definitely coming soon. I can almost taste it now. Good things come to those who wait!

And, I have been thinking about which prints to release next. I have a hard time deciding these things. I don't release a lot of prints, but plenty of people have asked me about certain images, so I have been batting it around in my head. Feel free to drop a note to me if you have any favorites. Thanks, as always, for your support and nice feedback. You have no idea what it means to me.

The Art of Amy Crehore

P.S. Look for 5 pages of paintings by me in Prevention Magazine, Nov. issue... and for my "Deja Vu Waltz" painting in the new issue of The Oxford American which I just got in the mail today! The painting is a spread.

Vintage Arcade & Souvenir Photo Collection

I have blogged about his collection of vintage paper moon portraits before, but Steve Chasmar has now organized them into 3-page set on flickr with additional souvenir portraits such as the ones shown here. They are hilarious and lovely. For more, visit this link:
Arcade and Souvenir Photos

ameta 1903

ameta
Originally uploaded by undream

A silent film posted on flickr by undream

Paintings of Gottfried Helnwein

His paintings are very intense and unforgettable. Like war itself.

Here are two from 2005. More here:

Helnwein