The Daring & The Different

I have a genuine fondness for the DC comics of the 1967-74 years, a transition period of sorts between the Silver and Bronze Ages. The art and the stories were actually better in many ways than the Golden and Silver Ages, as the comics industry was starting into its 3rd generation of talent. Don't get me wrong though, the Golden and Silver years were raw, bold, colorful, and wonderful — with a huge nostalgic factor. 

Below is a tribute by Nick Cardy, one of the 2nd generation artists that was at the top of his game during this period. I have bittersweet memories of this time, as it bookended my high school years into my army years, when I was still collecting as I could, attending early comicons and such, and seeking out my favorite creators to shake their hands.

Nick Cardy — Comic Book Artist — 1999

And Now . . .

And now for something NOT controversial . . . but refreshing.

Marion Kavanagh Wachtel

Crystal Craig and Lake George

1925

No Happiness Like That Given by a Woman

The text sentiment regarding women is spot on in my little universe.

Art: Milo Manara — I think the text is by Fellini

(I've lost track of the book, except for a couple of scans)

Moving Ahead

Spammers be damned. Let's move ahead with alacrity. 

What a pleasant arrangement of color:

Helen Dryden — Vogue — January, 1918

Spammers Keep Coming

The spammers keep coming, no matter how fast I defeat delete them! Underscore_slash/THIS you hellish dogs!

Richard Corben — Infinity Four — 1972

Under Siege

Is anyone else under siege from spammers? I have been inundated with horrible gibberish and fake comments sneaking past my spam filter. It's like fighting off a goblin army!

© Frank Thorne — Ghita under siege

Liv Tyler and Proper

Matt Groening

I Want My Life to Have Meaning . . .

Matt Groening is one of the wisest billionaire cartoonists in the business, even though his business these days probably precludes any cartooning time (sadly, he did retire recently from Life in Hell).

His wisdom and humanity shines through every Life in Hell page, bless his heart, and he still hasn't invited my little family over for dinner. But, Matt, I'm inviting you to either brunch, lunch or tea, my treat. I'd love to render a portrait of you and talk about life in hell.

Really, email me.

© 1989 Matt Groening — Life in Hell — 10-13-89

Lovely Lalique

A lovely modern ad graphic for vintage art captured in glass.

 René Lalique – Bacchantes – 1927

Blushing Vegetables

Another reason for the boys to come home in WWII—

the beaches were lonely.

Blushing Vegetables — crate label — 1943

Grim Determination

When this ad came out in 1943, it was still a hard fight to the end of the war, but grim determination won out. The same sentiment could be used now for the service men and women still in harm's way — "Let's Get It Over With Quick!"

Nash-Kelvinator ad — December 1943

Fair Game

At this here blog thingie we don't discriminate between "fine art" and "popular art", between "good taste" and "tasting good". All images are fair game, some more than others.

Al Feldstein, venerable artist/editor at the old EC madhouse, recreated, as an oil, his cover from Weird Fantasy #15, as many graphic artists have done to make a buck in the collector's market, and why not? 

Now THAT'S entertainment!!!

© 1991 Al Feldstein — recreation of Weird Fantasy #15

White Peacocks

About a year and a half ago I posted a few lovely paintings by Jessie Arms Botke of exotic birds in exotic settings. Well, here's another.

Jessie Hazel Arms Botke — White Peacocks & Hollyhocks — 1935

Warm 'n' Cozy

It's really cold outside my cozy little studio right now.

Hope where you're at, YOU are dry, safe, warm 'n' cozy!

Carl Barks — Blizzard Tonight — © Walt Disney Company

For Damned Intellectuals

Over 30 years ago, Joost Swarte had the courage to expose the TRUE behind-the-scenes business of how comix are produced, not unlike the movie industry, with the studio teamwork of many specialized technicians. Even some of the same Hollywoodish hanky-panky, as we spy going on in the water closet.

© 1980 Joost Swarte — Comix Factory — Raw #2

Long Ago Volume

This image is from one of those long ago volumes that a Victorian gentleman would keep on the highest shelf in his library, or perhaps in a cabinet under lock and key. This volume was a survey of sexual customs from around the world. Now that I've posted this I will replace the volume back to its high shelf.

A Terrible Day in 1872

From a sketch by E.Y. Breck

'On Christmas Eve, 1872, a dreadful derailment took place at Prospect Station, Pennsylvania. Twenty-five passengers were killed when coaches fell from the bridge into a frozen creek bed, where they were set afire from overturned stoves. The derailment was caused by a broken wheel.'

Beasts and Demons

Now and then I receive email enquiries regarding background information on this image or that. 

This image is one that particularly caught my attention because I greatly admire the artwork of WT Benda. Peter was wondering if I knew the date or where this work might be. I do not. This reproduction is from an old Architectural Digest magazine with only the caption: A Mural Decoration by W.T. Benda.

Knowing Benda's fascination with masks, collecting and creating them, this retinue of beasts and demons makes a bit of sense, but still is a mysterious crowd. Some of you out there are fans of Benda, and knowledgeable besides. Do you know the date or whereabouts of this mural? Is this a reproduction of a study or of the actual mural? Are these dimensional masks placed on a painting, or is this a conceptual preliminary meant to drive the execution of full-sized masks? Enquiring minds want to know.

WT Benda — A Mural Decoration

IT

This girl was "it" in her day and, for some, still today.

Clara Bow in Hoopla — 1933

Shocking

There's a post over on the cool Enoch Bolles site that brings up the topic of early 20th century images portraying women smoking cigarettes, a rare and shocking event at that time. Enoch Bolles used smoking as a prop for a magazine cover of 1914. But Raphael Kirchner, in the same year, showed a young Ziegfeld beauty actually savoring her nicotine. The shocking thing these days is that ANYone is smoking, knowing the damage that it inflicts.

Raphael Kirchner —Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic — 1914