Monday, March 28, 2011

What are "Jazzers"?

Made by Dean's Rag Book in England 1932, these Mickey Mouse Jazzers were fitted to the tone arm of a gramophone by an adjustable clip. They danced to the music of the period.

Illustrated Books of German Expressionists

A Pierrot by Alfred Kubin

A Beckmann Pierrot
Flip thru illustrated books of the German Expressionist Collection at MoMA .
Kirchner, Kandinsky, Beckmann, Corinth, Klee, Kokoschka and more. 1907 to 1947.

Dolly Haas: Al Hirschfeld's other half



Who was this Louise Brooks-style cutie pie photographed playing the accordion, wearing trousers and smoking a cigarette or a little pipe? It was Dolly Haas and she was a famous actress (born in Germany in 1910) who married a famous American illustrator in 1943. They were married until she died in 1994. She did European films, acted on Broadway and was in an Alfred Hitchcock film. Al Hirschfeld, her illustrator-genius husband, lived to be 99 years old. LINK
Read about Dolly here: European Film Star Postcards.


Saturday, March 26, 2011

"Song of the Sirens" Show Opens Tonight NYC

Detail of my painting, "Vulnerable Seascape" (Amy Crehore)

REMINDER: "SONG OF THE SIRENS" ART SHOW
Here is the online preview link. If you are in NYC, please try to go to this show. It's at Paul Booth's Last Rites Gallery, 511 W. 33rd, 3rd floor. Opening is tonight from 7pm-12pm. The show will be on display from March 26th to April 23rd, 2011. I have a new painting in it, "Vulnerable Seascape".(blogged here)
You can see a much larger version of my painting on my website homepage: LINK. I worked very hard on this piece for a couple of months.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Nursery Wall, National Theater in Richmond, VA



These pictures were found on Hodgman's twitpics. Follow link for a couple more of the old nursery wall at the National Theater in Richmond, VA. I lived in Richmond for years and I don't remember seeing these. It was boarded up! But, they renovated the theater and found them. I love them.
About John Hodgman. Here is Hodgman's website: Areas of My Expertise

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Look What I Found in the Bottom of My Teacup, Ma!

lithophane image on ebay



examples above from Helen's Lithophane collection

I never heard of lithophanes before! I came across these unique curiosities while surfing for interesting old Japanese teacups. There is a whole page of porcelain dragonware teacups on ebay with lithophanes in the bottom, little pictures that are only visible when you hold them up to the light. Helen of "Helen's Lithophanes" explains what they are on her website homepage. Click on the flags at the bottom to view lithophanes from Japan, Germany, France, England, Hungary, Sweden, and America. Note: they aren't always found in teacups.
Here's Helen's Japanese page: LINK
Nick's collection of royal and historical portraits. LINK

By the way, I am currently painting an "ema" (wooden votive/prayer plaque) for an upcoming benefit art auction for Japan (April 3). More about that soon!