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

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)

Demonio!

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

LINK (The Morgan Library)

The Art of Amy Crehore

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.

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.

The Art of Amy Crehore

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".

The Art of Amy Crehore

Very unique instrument: Gibson Mando-bass

I used this antique Gibson Mando-bass from 1917 that we have at home as an inspiration for my dream-like "Feed the Bear Blues" painting (shown above, Amy Crehore 2007, oil on linen, approx. 9"x 9"). The gorgeous pod-shape of the mando-bass reflects the wonderful art nouveau sensibility of Gibson at the time. The mando-bass can be played standing up or sitting down (horizontally). I exhibited this painting in my Brooklyn show at Ad Hoc Gallery in 2008. (By the way, the painting is still available.) You may have seen the band Smashing Pumpkins play one of these in a music video. The mando-bass was generally used in mandolin orchestras of the time.
 The Art of Amy Crehore