"The Beatniks" Trailer

My friend Ted Salins teaches a film production class at Randolph Macon. His students concentrate on writing, directing, art directing and doing all the filming and sound recording themselves with Ted supervising. He edited some of their footage together into this faux "Coming Attraction". Ted assigned the Beatnik theme to his students so that they learn how to research an era for props, lingo, acting style and costumes.
They write scripts and then translate them into " beatnik" language.

Nudes in Nature

Painting by Emile Chambon

 Painting by Henri Rousseau

 

A couple of paintings I recently discovered - one by Emile Chambon of two nude women in the woods. One girl is standing up and displaying a just little bit of herself. The other girl is revealing absolutely nothing of herself with a cloth draped perfectly over her private parts, but she is looking intently at the other one. This painting has a wonderful sense of humor as does some of the other work by this artist. Chambon seems to rely heavily on compositional elements taken directly from Balthus in many of his paintings, but this is a nice example of his unique work.

The other painting is by Henri Rousseau. It is a charming scene of a big black dog getting it on with a lovely nude who happens to have a mirror in her hand.

(Just noticed the mirror!) This is a painting that I had never seen before.

Henri, you are a bad boy!

This is yet another example of humor in art history.

The great masters of art knew how to have fun.

Thank god for these artists. They keep me on track.

Now, back to painting....

I am finishing up my two new ones. Stay tuned!

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

 

(Thanks, Ralph Paine for sharing Henri Rousseau image) 



A Very Talented Bear!

I could not resist posting this.
Yes, that is a bear playing a trumpet and mastering the hula hoop.

(For Raleigh Powell)


Tickler Ukulele #3 progress!

Tickler uke #3 progress showing green inlay and carved bridge, a photo by Amy Crehore on Flickr.

Here is the front of Tickler Uke #3 showing green and black inlay design and carved ebony bridge. Lou Reimuller has constructed this concert uke with amazing attention to detail. It is almost ready for me to paint the front. The back is made of beautiful figured mahogany. (See more progress shots in my Tickler Uke #3 2013 flickr set.)
Design: Amy Crehore, Luthier: Lou Reimuller

Shary Boyle represents Canada in Venice 2013

I've always liked Shary Boyles' surreal, imaginative art ever since I first saw it many years ago online. Well, I just discovered that she will represent Canada at the Venice Biennale 2013. Wow. What an amazing honor. It's wonderful to know that Canada recognizes this gifted woman as a major artist.
And, she's only 41.
The actual Venice preview opens tomorrow, May 29, 2013.
Here's a link to some of her work: Jessica Bradley Art + Projects
She paints, sculpts porcelain, does performances and installations. She made all brand new work for the Biennale. Can't wait to catch glimpses of it online. A Globe and Mail article says she worked 80 hour weeks, 14-hour days in Canada, preparing for this show, after visiting the location in Venice. She embraced the project for a year and I'm sure it will be a fabulous environment full of her own personal brand of wit, charm and artistry.
LINK 
I just wish I could see it in person.
UPDATE 5/29/13: A few photos and news story: LINK

 Virus, 2009, Shary Boyle

"Bad Boy"- a new memoir by Eric Fischl

I am spending my days working away on my new paintings and at night I am reading Eric Fischl's memoir. He starts out remembering the night of his retrospective at the Whitney Museum in the 80's. He mentions that Alex Katz had a show on the floor above. As soon as I read that, I realized that I had actually seen those shows in person just before moving out west.

I am reading it as an ibook (on my ipad) which enables me to look up paintings and people mentioned in the book as I go. So far, it's a fascinating read!

 

The Art of Amy Crehore

New Works in Progress by Amy Crehore

I'm working away to try and finish two new canvases on my easel.

Here are some glimpses of my progress.

 

The Art of Amy Crehore