Photo of the Day

I found this photo here: LINK 

Sculptor (above) is making the prototype for the mold for mannequins like the one Lou Reimuller used to build his Teenar, girl guitar (below). Right now, Lou is finishing up Tickler Uke #3, a beautiful custom concert ukulele (that I designed).

The Art of Amy Crehore

Some Photos From Recent Trip to L.A.

Kirsten Anderson (of Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle) and artist Joey Remmers pose in front of a magnificent Nick Brandt photo at the Kingdom Animalia show in Anaheim Hills, CA on Friday evening, June 29th, 2012. (See my previous blog post for more details and info: LINK  )

I'm standing in front of a wall of paintings (my "Blue Mirror" painting is to the left of my head) at the Kingdom Animalia Show. It was a lovely opening - lots of excellent animal-themed works complete with fabulous food and ice sculpture- to benefit the Big Life Foundation.  LINK to artwork.

Back at the hotel. It had an ocean view from the terrace.

I got lucky on Saturday. Artist Joshua Petker was having an artist talk about his show ("Adrift") with Howard Fox (who was LACMA curator of Contemporary Art for many years) at LeBasse Projects. Wonderful show. Great people. Thank you Beau Basse.

On Saturday, I also got to see an amazing show of paintings and ceramic sculptures by Allison Schulnik ("Salty Air") at Mark Moore Gallery. I blogged about her animations earlier (Hobo Clown and Mound ). They were showing "Mound" in the back room.

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Don't Miss: Kingdom Animalia Art Exhibit, June 29th, 2012 Anaheim Hills, CA

My new painting "Blue Mirror" shown with the frame (20 5/8" x 20 5/8" framed) ©Amy Crehore 2012 (CLICK TO ENLARGE).
See also previous post: "Blue Mirror" 16" x 16"oil on linen: LINK

 This ad for the exhibit features a splendid B & W image by artist Femke Hiemstra. Shown below is an exquisite B & W photo of elephants by amazing photographer Nick Brandt who founded the Big Life Foundation  in response to a dramatic escalation in poaching of African animals. If you are in the area on Friday night, June 29th (7-10pm), please stop by Land Rover, Anaheim Hills, CA (5425 E. La Palma Ave) for a very special exhibition to benefit Big Life Foundation. Artist James Jean will be signing a special print at the show.
I will be going to this opening. Hope to see you there!


 Kingdom Animalia
June 29-July20

"Elephant Herd Crossing Lake Bed in Sun" ©Nick Brandt 2008

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New Painting: "Blue Mirror" by Amy Crehore for Kingdom Animalia Exhibit

PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Here's my painting for the upcoming Kingdom Animalia art show. It is called "Blue Mirror", 16" x 16" oil on linen (© Amy Crehore 2012). This just a quick digital shot (above), but you can see this painting with its frame HERE (in a photo that shows more texture, detail and vibrancy of color using real film).

Check out this amazing list of artists (below)! If you are near Anaheim Hills, CA on the night of June 29th, 2012 please don't miss this wonderful show to benefit Big Life Foundation. I will be there along with many others!

The show will take place at Land Rover Anaheim Hills, 5425 E. La Palma Ave. Anaheim Hills, CA 7-10 pm.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

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Peek at Tickler Ukulele #3 (Crehore)

Here's a sneak peek at the shimmering green end graft of Tickler Ukulele # 3 (concert uke built by Lou Reimuller). This is just one of the special details on the new uke that I designed. It is almost ready for me to paint a design on the front.

I know it has been a long time since Tickler #2, but it will be worth the wait.

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The Sky

I think the sky itself is a perfect work of art. I have been looking at and trying to paint it lately and, I have to say, that I have never had more fun. Here is a quick ipod photo of just a detail of a new painting that I recently finished for a show in CA at the end of June. I will be blogging more about the show very soon and posting my completed work of art. I am glad to be finished with it as I spent quite a few weeks of intense painting. That is why I have been so quiet lately! This group show is going to be amazing and I can't wait to tell you more about it.
Kingdom Animalia

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Photo of the day: Phantoms of Venice

Costumes created by Salvador Dali for a ball in Venice 1951

LINK

Click photo to enlarge

Scene from Ghost World: Devil Got My Woman

I wrote a little essay about the movie Ghost World for Boing Boing's Mind Blowing Movies series.
 LINK

 Here's the scene where Enid discovers Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman" for the first time, a record she got at Seymour's yard sale.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Hokum Scorchers songs

Picture of the Day by Prins Eugen (1896)

"The Cloud" by Prins Eugen, Swedish painter of royal birth, 1896. I've been looking at a lot of landscape painting lately. This one is amazing. Read about the painter here:

LINK

(Thanks Janet)

The Art of Amy Crehore

What am I working on?

This is a small detail of a larger painting that I am working very hard on for an upcoming show. That is why I haven't been blogging much this past week. I still have a ways to go. (Above: grainy ipod photo of detail of unfinished work.)

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Art of Amy Crehore

Julie Heffernan talking about her art

Here is the artist Julie Heffernan talking about the meaning of her work at her recent Oklahoma City Museum of Art retrospective. Her paintings are so ambitious and layered. It's good to see a great women painter being featured in a museum show.

Upcoming Show: Kingdom Animalia

Click on image to enlarge.

Artist Joey Remmers and Kirsten Anderson (owner of Roq La Rue Gallery) have curated a fantastic show called Kingdom Animalia to support the Big Life Foundation. I am honored to be included in this group of wonderful artists. Here's a link to more info about the show which will take place in Anaheim Hills, CA, June 29th, 2012: LINK 

Big Life Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Africa's wildlife and ecosystems, was established by the amazing photographer Nick Brandt. Here's the LINK

Show line-up includes recognized artists from around the world: Amy Crehore, Amy Sol, Ana Bagayan, Brad Woodfin, Brian Viveros, Camille Rose Garcia, Christian Van Minnen, Chrystal Chan, Craig LaRotonda, Dan May, Dan Quintana, Dave Cooper, Heidi Tailleferr, Henry Lewis, Glenn Barr, Greg Simkins, James Jean, Jessica Joslin, Joe Ledbetter, Joey Remmers, Kim Thompson, KMNDZ, Kris Kuksi, Krista Huot, Lindsey Carr, Lola, Madeline von Foerster, Marco Mazzoni, Mark Dean Veca, Mark Garro, Mark Ryden, Marion Peck, Martin Wittfooth, Melissa Forman, Mia Araujo, Michael Page, Nathan Ota, Nathan Spoor, Naoto Hattori, Nick Baxter, Nick Brandt, Nicola Verlato, Paolo Guido, Sam Wolfe Connelly, Seamus Conley, Scott Musgrove, Shag, Shaunna Peterson, Suzanne Falk, Ti Kunkit, Tom Bagshaw, Travis Louie, Ver Mar and Yumiko Kayakawa.

I am currently working on my painting for this exhibit. Stay tuned for more news about this show!

The Art of Amy Crehore

Huge list of things that you can no longer send to Italy by U.S.P.S.

1. Albums of any kind (of photographs, postcards, postage stamps, etc.
2. Arms and weapons.
3. Articles of platinum or gold; jewelry; and other valuable articles (unless sent as insured Priority Mail International parcels)
4. Artificial flowers and fruits and accessories for them.
5. Bells and other musical instruments and parts thereof.
6. Cartridge caps; cartridges.
7. Clocks and supplies for clocks.
8. Compound medicaments and medicines.
9. Coral mounted in any way.
10. Ether and chloroform.
11. Exposed photographic and cinematographic films.
12. Footwear of any kind.
13. Haberdashery and sewn articles of any kind, including trimmings and lace; handkerchiefs; scarves; shawls, needlework including stockings and gloves; bonnets, caps, and hats of any kind.
14. Hair and articles made of hair.
15. Human remains.
16. Leather goods.
17. Lighters and their parts, including lighter flints.
18. Live bees, leeches, and silkworms.
19. Live plants and animals.
20. Nutmeg, vanilla; sea salt, rock salt; saffron.
21. Parasites and predators of harmful insects.
22. Perfumery goods of all kinds (except soap).
23. Playing cards of any kind.
24. Postage stamps in sealed or unsealed First-Class Mail International shipments.
25. Radioactive materials.
26. Ribbons for typewriters.
27. Roasted or ground coffee and its substitutes; roasted chicory.
28. Saccharine and all products containing saccharine.
29. Salted, smoked or otherwise prepared meats; fats; and lard.
30. Tobacco.
31. Toys not made wholly of wood.
32. Treated skins and furs.
33. Weapons of any kind and spare parts for them.

Recently I wanted to mail someone in Italy a t-shirt and a couple of postcards, but I found out that they are prohibited! I don't know if this big list of prohibited items signals increasing problems with the U.S. mail or problems with the Italian customs office or both. Either way, it's not looking good. Also, one must fill out all U.S.P.S. customs forms at home on a computer (including the weight of package and phone number of recipient) and print it out before taking it to the post office. NO MORE hand-written forms!

Detailed Pop Art by Domenico Gnoli

These are cool. Trendland has a selection of works by Domenico Gnoli, an Italian painter and illustrator who died at age 36 at the peak of his career. Shown above: close-up of a bra painted by the artist. These acrylic (and sand) paintings are large (about 50") and they consist of detailed close-ups of hair, pockets, collars, textured fabric on pants, dresses, blouses, etc. The first exhibit in the U.S. since Domenico’s death in 1970 can currently be seen in New York’s Luxembourg & Dayan Gallery until June 30, 2012.
LINK to more photos.

The Art of Amy Crehore

A Look Inside the New Barnes Museum

Vogue has an exclusive look inside the new Barnes Foundation Museum (a couple of views  shown above, photo credit :Tom Crane). Here's the LINK

It looks like they recreated the rooms exactly as they were at the old Barnes Foundation. The collection was housed in Merion, PA for years. The new museum will open in Philadelphia on Saturday, May 19, 2012 (2025 Benjamin Frankin Parkway). That's exciting for Philadelphia because Mr. Albert C. Barnes' collection consists of 69 Cezannes, 59 Matisses, plus many Picassos (46), Modiglianis, Van Goghs (7), Seurats, Renoirs (181 of them), etc. It's one of the most fantastic collections that I have ever seen. I'll never forget the first time I saw these works on a field trip in college (by appointment only). Now many more people will have a chance to view these paintings.

Barnes Foundation
P.S.Update: For even more photos with wow factor check out this NYT link.

Eurospy

David J. Deal has a nice gallery of "Eurospy" posters: LINK (Eurospy).

(Thanks, Josh Gosfield)

The Art of Amy Crehore

Ata Kando's Dream Photos 1955

How beautiful and inspiring. This photo is from a series called "Dream in the Forest" - copyright by photographer Ata Kando 1955.

Read the story of this fascinating photographer, Ata Kando, and see more images in this series on her new website: atakando.com.

(Thanks, Suzanne Gerber)

The Art of Amy Crehore

Do animals have pets?

Koko and Tonda with their pet cats. LINK  (Primatology)

The World Underground 1741

See a fascinating Flickr Set of Illustrations to Ludvig Holberg's The Journey of Niels Klim to the World Underground (first published in Latin in 1741, this is a later version, I believe). Read an article about this" satirical science fiction/fantasy novel" here: Public Domain Review . This book inspired Mary Shelly and Edgar Allen Poe. Ludvig Holberg lived from 1684 to 1754 and is referred to as the father of Danish and Norwegian literature. LINK
I'm sort of wondering who came up with the illustrations?

The Art of Amy Crehore

One man on an island with tortoises

86 year old Brendan Grimshaw bought an island in the Indian Ocean
in the early 60s and made it more than livable for himself.
It became the world's smallest national park.
Just watch. Thanks, Mark at boingboing for this inspiring, true story.

Natural Fashion, Natural Art

I've been looking at the photos that Hans Silvester took of the people of the Omo Valley (Surma and Mursi Tribes) in east Africa. These people decorate each other in the most creative ways. On this link you will find some fascinating photos from his book, Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa, such as the one shown here.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Time Lapse - Clouds

timerPan2 a video by steve_lodefink on Flickr.

This is beautiful. Steve Lodefink shot this little film of clouds. He tells you how he does it on his blog, Finkbuilt, where you will see a few more time lapse films of Seattle.
http://www.finkbuilt.com/blog/downtown-seattle-time-lapse/

Via Flickr:
another kitchen timer time lapse pan.
Rainbow ending.

Sheet Music Designs of Magritte

Hyperallergic has some examples of sheet music that Rene Magritte, the surrealist painter, designed in the 1920s. Follow the link below to see a couple more examples. Apparently he designed and illustrated about 40 in all. These designs reflect the art deco period. Just about every representational painter in art history did some sort of commercial work. Magritte was a well-rounded artist with a knack for composition and design as well as a talent for creating mysterious paintings.

Sheet Music Rene Magritte

The Art of Amy Crehore

1949 Bigsby Solid Body Electric

This guitar just sold at the Vintage Guitars and Musical Instrument Signature Auction in Dallas for a whopping $266,500. LINK If you want to find out more about the maker of this instrument, Paul Bigsby, there is a new blog called The Bigsby Files. Deke Dickerson is the author of the new blog.

Thanks, Fretboard Journal

Saber's Pick #4 (Amy Crehore)

This is so cool! Wonderful artist Saber held a contest on twitter to pick an artist to be featured in Juxtapoz print magazine and I came in at number 4. I am really honored. This is what he wrote about my art: "(Amy Crehore) Is a savage painter. She sneaks by you casting a line and hook that then reels you into her innocent sexual playfulness all the while leaving you stranded as a tickled voyeur creeping in on this dreamlike island utopia where anything goes…I wouldn’t mine being stranded for a bit. Great detailed technical paintings."

 Made my day.

Go to: Saber's Blog

where you can see the winner and list of finalists.

Check out Saber's Art and follow him on twitter.

You can follow me on twitter as well.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Punch Digs Bathing Caps (1950)

Paul Gravett interviews R. Crumb

There's a great new interview with R. Crumb by Paul Gravett. Here's the LINK

Crumb will be the focus of an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, France opening April 13, 2012.

Sketchbooks of Degas

You can view many of the sketchbooks of Degas on this link (National Library of France): Gallica bnf.

Pretty Baa-Lambs

"Pretty Baa-Lambs" by Ford Maddox Brown 1851-1859

Sometimes it pays to re-visit websites that I blogged about earlier (Oct 2009) because they are endlessly fascinating and educational.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Pre-Raphalite Collection

The Art of Amy Crehore

Details of Progress (Amy Crehore)

I took these quick detail shots of the new painting with my ipod.

I'm having fun brushing it in very freely at first.

I will have to set this aside for a few days, but I'll get back to it after I finish my taxes.

The Art of Amy Crehore

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See my previous posts about this painting: HERE , HERE , HERE

Process of Painting (Amy Crehore)

Yesterday, I quickly brushed in some color and blocked in some forms on the new painting. I am thinking how cool it looks right now with the large figure not even filled in yet. I'm being careful to leave some of the reddish undercoat showing through my layers of brushwork. The contrast of different colors is exciting. The process of painting itself reveals what direction to take, as if I am being guided along by an invisible force. No real decisions are made ahead of time, except in the preliminary sketch where I worked out a composition. Even that may change as I go along, but at least I have a starting place, a skeleton. My pencil sketch evolved out of the process of erasing and re-drawing and feeling it out.

I use "memories of what life feels like" when I do my art. That is one of my main tools. I take a walk and look at the sky. I feel the sun and smell the flowers. I gaze at the trees.

It feels the same as it did when I was a kid.

I get to exist right in the moment when I paint or draw. Everything else falls away. It is such a joy to escape into art, to focus on the process. Painting itself can be quite a struggle and it's outcome unknown.

It is about continual change, sort of like life itself or the weather. Gotta have faith and confidence that it'll all work out in the end, no matter how long it takes. 

I just do my thing and work it out.

Here are links to my earlier posts about this painting: LINK  & LINK

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Progress in Painting (Amy Crehore)

Here's what I did yesterday on the new painting.

See my previous post for pencil sketch. 

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What am I up to?

Finished a preliminary drawing for a new painting.
(copyright Amy Crehore 2012)

Let's hope I can figure this one out. Here's the beginning.

The Art of Amy Crehore

Art of Amy Crehore

Woodblock Prints of the Sino-Japanese War 1894-95

These are amazing! Japanese Meiji woodblock prints were churned out by the dozens during the Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895. They were mostly imaginative images based on news reports (done by many different artists). One artist, who produced more than 70 prints, was Kobayashi Kiyochika (a few examples of his excellent work are shown above- from the Sharf Collection, Museum of Fine Arts Boston). There are more images and story to be found on this beautiful site:

 LINK

(Throwing Off Asia II by John W. Dower, MIT edu)

Oregon Coast Tour 1940

Bathers at Cannon Beach in 1940

LINK for the coast tour, photos taken in 1940 (Oregon State Archives).

Not all that much has changed! You can see why I love Oregon.

Os Gemeos Left Their Mark on L.A.

I'm a little late blogging this one. The Prism Gallery in L.A. had this amazing show and installation by Os Gemeos (twin brothers from Brazil), but it closed a week ago. I wish I could have seen this. I saw a huge show of theirs at Deitch Projects in NYC a few years ago that blew me away. I'll never forget it. Fecal Face blog has a ton of photos of the opening here. It looks like they created another magical environment. They spent six weeks on the installation alone. Los Angeles was lucky to have them.
George Condo is next at the Prism.

Van Gogh's Birthday

This is a little thumbnail from Van Gogh's illustrated letters to Emile Bernard. He has written notes on the sketch: "blue", "orange". Dig the checkerboard dress on the woman with the fan. Happy Birthday, Van Gogh! More letters here: Morgan Library