art by Mark Ryden
I’ve always been a sucker for tiki.
About Mark Ryden:
Blending themes of pop culture with techniques reminiscent of the old masters, Mark Ryden has created a singular style that blurs the traditional boundaries between high and low art. His work first garnered attention in the 1990s when he ushered in a new genre of painting, “Pop Surrealism”, dragging a host of followers in his wake.
This is a 1957 original gelatin silver photograph, from the archives of Gil Elvgren showing the model as posed for his Brown & Bigelow commissioned pin-up painting titled “Looking for Trouble”. Elvgren only worked with live models and he likely took this photo himself.
Grapefruit Moon Gallery, from a 2009 auction as cited by the “Worthopedia” price guide. I’m not sure where GMG sourced it’s date, as the actual painting and related advertising products are circa 1953.
Looking for Trouble, 1953
GIL ELVGREN (American, 1914-1980)
Oil on canvas, 30 x 24 in.
My DIY “Ms. July” — Happy Independence Day!
The National Council on Fireworks Safety invites you to celebrate our nation’s heritage on the Fourth of July, but celebrate safely.
- Use fireworks outdoors only.
- Obey local laws. If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
- Always have water handy. (A hose or bucket).
- Only use fireworks as intended. Don’t try to alter them or combine them.
- Never relight a “dud” firework. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
- Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
- Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated shooter.”
- Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
- Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives: They can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
I need to start citing the work title before the artist, so that I can tell which posts are getting ‘liked’.
“blisters liked your photo: Gil Elvgren (Americ…” tells me nothing.
It’s a Snap (Pretty Snappy; Snap Judgment), 1958
GIL ELVGREN (American, 1914-1980)
Oil on canvas, 30 x 24 in.
Another month almost gone, and I’m just now getting around to displaying my June pick for my DIY desk calendar. While I’m at it, I’ll queue up my July pick as well.
Track Girl, circa 1944
VAUGHAN ALDEN BASS (American, 20th Century)
Oil on canvas, 29 x 23 in.
In honor of the Preakness Stakes which runs this weekend, this image is “Ms. May” in my DIY Elvgren desk calendar. But it’s not an Elvgren, you say? Look again. Familiar, isn’t it?
After Gil Elvgren left the Louis F. Dow Company in 1944 to work for competitor Brown & Bigelow, Dow hired Vaughan Alden Bass to over-paint certain Elvgren images. In this way, Dow could use the images again without having to pay Elvgren any fees. Bass was respectful of Elvgren’s work, though, usually only redressing the setting or clothes of the model while leaving the face, hands and legs mostly untouched.
In Track Girl you can also see the remnants of the original boxing ring ropes. Stretching right-ward from the model’s hip, one rope cuts across the horses at their knees.
“A Knockout” by Gil Elvgren 1939
I want to reblog this one. The original painting is lost (more on that later) so there are not many decent quality images to be found.
I wonder, though, if this is actually a print of the original Elvgren or if it’s by “replica artist” Daniel Vancas? I can’t read the small caption in the lower left, though it’s probably a copyright notice.
Gay Nymph, 1947
GIL ELVGREN (American, 1914-1980)
Oil on canvas, 36 x 25 in.
On May 4th, Gay Nymph sold for over $280K, a record price for an Elvgren. Major nudes by Elvgren are exceedingly rare and represent some of the most desirable paintings the artist ever created; this one is unquestionably at the top of the list.
Marilyn
EARL MORAN (American, 1893-1984)
Pastel on board, 30.75 x 22.5 in.
In 1946, young model Norma Jean Dougherty approached established artist Earl Moran to pose for a painting. During the next four years, the two worked together often and created a lasting friendship.
to me, vintage is something that’s actually old, while retro is something done in such a way as to purposely emulate an older style.
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After a little thought, I came to much the same conclusion. For example:
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The reason I focused on Rob Ullman yesterday was because it’s Stanley Cup Season. What does that have to do with anything? Rob spends a lot of time drawing girls in hockey sweaters (and other uniforms). In addition to the numerous commissions he takes in this style, every year he also illustrates his playoff picks.
Go Capitals. Rock The Red.
Folksonomy
I want to clarify my #tags before the gallery gets too big. What’s the proper syntax: Pin-Up, Pin Up, or Pinup?
Wiktionary implies that “Pin Up” is the verb and “Pin-Up” is the noun, while “Pinup” is a variant of “Pin-Up”.
Also, what’s the nuance of Vintage vs. Retro?
Zombie Gil, 2006
ROBERT ULLMAN
Speaking of Dayna, she’s the one who (re-)introduced me to one of my favorite contemporary illustrators: Rob Ullman. A couple of years ago, I was making noises about maybe attending a shamble and she sent me the homage above. I laughed, and then I tracked down the artist at his blog, Atom-Bomb Bikini, where I discovered that I already knew him from his illustrations in the City Paper.
ROBERT ULLMAN pays the bills as a freelance illustrator for a plethora of publications, such as VIRGINIA LIVING, THE STRANGER, and THE WASHINGTON CITY PAPER. He creates comics in his spare time (of which there never seems to be enough), including ATOM-BOMB BIKINI, GRAND GESTURES, OLD-TIMEY HOCKEY TALES and the upcoming SELLOUT, which will see print one of these days.
