TechnoRetro

A really nice example of the TechnoRetro illustrator—Philip Castle:

My Favorite Hong Kong

I'm sorry I don't know the photographer of this portrait of Hong Kong, but it is my favorite image of that amazing megopolis.

Fairy Tale Art

Fairy tale art was abundant in 1920s advertising. This Djer-Kiss art by C F Neagle.

Golden Age of Mythology

This is one of my very favorite paintings by Herbert Draper, called Sea Melodies, very evocative of the golden age of mythology. This is a time and place I go to when I'm in a fever dream.

Art Deco Artform

Art Deco manifested itself in many artforms, but none so charming as the many bronze and ivory sculptures of the era. This one is by Pierre Le Faguays. I plan to post a number of others.

Image Treat

Millions of people have already been there, but just in case you haven't, run—do not walk— over to www.SkullADay.com, for an image treat. Buy the book. Below are just 3 samples of many many examples of creative skull. . .I mean skill of Noah Scalin.

The plate of spaghetti is my favorite.

Yow, Ditko!

A cool Steve Ditko piece, from the cool Fantagraphics book: Strange and Stranger—The World of Steve Ditko. This artwork originally for  the cover for All Stars #1, 1965. Some people say Ditko lost the early Kubert influence in the early 1960s, but somehow I always still see it in most of his work. Here especially in the woman, but also here and there. Not a bad thing by any means.

Personified Waves

What fabulous stylization! Personified mermaid waves, subtly evoked. An Edna Cooke cover from 1920.

My Favorite Vermeers

These two paintings are my favorite by Vermeer, and below them is my favorite photo inspired by a Vermeer. OK, OK, they're everybody else's favorite Vermeers too.

Enchantment's Veil

Mid-summer enchantment doth impart its veil upon us. This lovely tableau, entitled Mid-Summer Nights Faeries, was painted by Robert Huskisson in 1847.

Dark and Brooding

A dark and brooding poster by Edmund Dulac, 1911.

Photo Reference

I love comparing artists' work with their source material. Alberto Vargas painted this publicity portrait of the Ukrainian-born actress Anna Sten. The photo reference is a work of art in itself.

Primitive Charm

These are a handful of illustrations from Tales From the Arab Tribes, a collection of stories told by the Arab tribes of the Lower Euphrates, a 1950 publication. The illustrator is John Buckland-Wright, not very well known, but the drawings have a primitive charm. 

It's interesting that I found this volume in the children's section of an old bookshop. Heck yeah, where else would you place it?

Flower Faerie

I have many favorite Arthur Rackham illustrations, but this flower faerie is one of my special favorites. It's simple and sweet. 

Magazine Stylings

I am crazy for the magazine stylings of the 1920s and 30s.

Homer Conant

Disney Stuff

Disney stuff made for good illustrations in the national media back in the 30s and 40s.

A Bucky Project

Another set of original art that I obtained from Wally Wood, but is no longer in my possession. This must have been for a 'Bucky' project? I love in the sketch how Wood tried a couple of arm positions.

Sunday, Kelly Sunday—Gack

Exactly 45 years ago this morning, this Pogo strip first saw 'print'. Now it's seeing 'post'.

Mucha : L'illustration

Here's a Mucha I haven't seen reprinted a lot, a beautiful cover to L'illustration, a beautiful French periodical. I would dearly love to see a coffee table book dedicated to this magazine's contents that were published over the years.

Costume Drama

A Herbert Draper oil study, this time a costume drama regarding the story of Tristram and Yseult.

Swirling Red Cloak

The previous post was intriguing for its swirling red cloak and evoked a sense of similarity. And then I remembered Frazetta's and Krenkel's riveting use of amorphous, nearly organic, swirling red cloaks on some of their covers. But these were the two covers I had at hand.

Frank Frazetta

Roy Krenkel

Art and the Jade

Another in an on-going series of Herbert Draper works, this one entitled Art and the Jade.

My Favorite Adventure Movie Poster

Vintage Morn

Another Herbert Draper painting, The Vintage Morn. 

I'm sure there's a story attached to this painting, but all I know is—that kid is on quite an adventure. Stuff that dreams are made of.

Another Mucha print

The last post was a quality Mucha print that I've treasured for years. Likewise for this simpler Mucha print.

Beautiful Preliminary

A beautiful preliminary study by Mucha. . .

Bogart

Anyone who loves Bogart has to love this beautiful illustration by Sanjulian. 

This is as good a place as any to remind everyone that material posted on this 'blog is copyrighted by creators and publishers and it is a major violation to utilize these works in a commercial manner, without proper authorization. I post this material in the non-profit interest of public information. 

Some of these creations would make dandy posters and such, but don't try to make money at it.

This piece is copyrighted by Sanjulian.

Ain't it a beauty though?

Allegories

Gustav Klimt created two versions of an Allegory for Sculpture. Lovely to compare.

Day & the Dawn Star

Many times I find that I like preliminary work more than the final artwork, for myself as well as really top-notch artists. Such is the case here with another of Herbert Draper's paintings, Day and the Dawn Star. Immediately below is the study, below that is the final art. 

Mountain Mists

Herbert Draper's Mountain Mists 

Final Painting

Oil Sketch

Figure Study

Public Notice

As much as I really want to, I just don't have time right now to post entire sets, themed or otherwise, of images that I treasure. But I do have time to pull up images (at decent resolutions) one at a time, with little comment and apply labels so that ultimately they will organize themselves somewhat. So just a notice, that for now I will do that more often than not, just so that I can keep posting until my projects die down (oh please don't die down too much--projects are good).

Thanks for tuning in, and keep doing so, cause here and there I will make time for larger posts.

Bangola

Pogo, as published 45 years ago today, is written only as Kelly could write it. Bizarre and funny.

The sound effect of 'Bangola' is too similar to 'payola' to think that isn't what Kelly was referring to. But it seems to be an oblique reference. For debaffling sake, here is a summary of 'payola', as found on the internet:

Payola -  The paying of cash or gifts in exchange for airplay.

"Payola" is a contraction of the words "pay" and"Victrola" (LP record player), and entered the English language via the record business. The first court case involving payola was in 1960. On May 9, Alan Freed was indicted for accepting $2,500 which he claimed was a token of gratitude and did not affect airplay. He paid a small fine and was released. His career faltered and in 1965 he drank himself to death. 

Before Alan Freed's indictment, payola was not illegal, however, but commercial bribery was. After the trial, the anti-payola statute was passed under which payola became a misdemeanor, penalty by up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison.

Intrigue

Ah, the fireworks are lovely this time of the year, as is the intrigue of the night.

L'Intrigue Nocturne by Gaston de Latouche

Educators, Please Read This

I've been scanning a lot of Pogo strips lately, and looking at the strips on the backside. 99% of that material is meaningless, but this Archie strip stood out, for its message-of all things. I ask anyone who has an interest in improving education to please read this, and take it to heart. It's message is valid. 

Technical Difficulties--Please Stand By

As you can see on the surface of this cartoon, I've got ink spots all over my scanner glass. I don't know how they got there, and they won't clean off! I'm not naming names but somebody else is using this scanner. Please stand by for any further posts until I figure this out.