Happy Halloween!

Some Items from Upcoming Skinner Auction...

"Untitled" by Richard Campbell

Marker on paper.

Ambrotype of a Woman's Back

Sketch for a 1930s GAS Trade Sign

Reverse Painted on Mirror Optometrist Sign

Lost this one this past weekend. Sold for $ 230.00. Why do I always bid so passively? Maybe it's the lack of money! :)

Beautiful Shot of a Nude Woman

Beautiful risque nude shot of a woman, probably 1940s-50s. Meant to be salacious, and is, but also approaching something like art.

Bizarre and Sexy Sometimes Works!

World's oldest wall painting unearthed in Syria

I rarely (ok, never) comment on news stories, but this one caught my eye this morning on Yahoo! News. French archaeologists have discovered what they think is the world's oldest wall painting in Syria. From what I can tell from the very small photo that was released, it's a beautiful abstract form of rectangles that, as the article goes on to describe, is akin to the work of Paul Klee. What's funny is that the forms are very close to what I'm doing in my own paintings these days and I find it particularly inspiring that one of the world's oldest painters and an artist working in L.A. at the beginning of the 21st century are both fussing over the same things, maybe for different reasons, maybe not.

Here's a link to the article.

1940's Salesman Sample Billboard NY State Route Road Sign

How cool is this? An original salesman sample Billboard Advertising Sign! Currently on eBay with starting bid of $ 499.99 with reserve.

Here's the seller's description: "The story was told that this hung in a Bus Station in the city. It looks to be from the Monticello Chamber of Commerce Advertising the Trip on NEW YORK STATE ROUTE 17K up to Monticello, NY. This is amazing, it looks to be all handmade by a skilled hand. The wooden frame and lattice work is identical to an OLD Real Full Size Billboard. The Sign surface appears to be an old advertising for soemthign else at one time but the PAINT IS AMAZING!! Note the crazing and aligatoring to eh paint surface, simply GREAT!! This can stand or hang! One of a KIND, OOAK!!!. Monticello, NY is where the proposed newest casinos are slated to be made."

How Are They Going to Get Out?

I've been finding some interesting photos lately....some I've even been able to acquire. This one I got about a week ago. Couldn't resist the way the form follows the content so cleanly, enhanced by the lite pencil embellishments to the bottle. I like how the guy on the right is hell bent on getting every last drop out of that whisky bottle!

Abstraction Kills White Boy Dressed As Indian

I can't begin to wonder why the boy in the center of the original photo on top was swiped out of the second photo in the photo lab. The bold white curved form works even better with the pattern of stripes on the teepee behind the boys!

She's Got Legs!

1940's Nude Woman's Breasts

Victorian Jointed Paper Doll

I like the way that this unused sheet of paper doll parts are laid out. Very surreal.