A Leak in the Safe

This Week

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:20:06 -0400

This Week

"The principle of my work is a passionate subordination to the object that occupies me, to which, in..."

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:53:37 -0400

“The principle of my work is a passionate subordination to the object that occupies me, to which, in other words, my love belongs.”

- Rilke, Testament

Marlon Brando - 1948 Carl Van Vechten at the Hammond Museum

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:30:19 -0400

Marlon Brando - 1948

Carl Van Vechten at the Hammond Museum

Why Betty has no Tumblr…

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:27:05 -0400

Why Betty has no Tumblr…

Grazing in the Grass

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:33:40 -0400

Grazing in the Grass

Kees van Dongen (French, 1877–1968) Modjesko, Soprano...

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:07:03 -0400

Kees van Dongen (French, 1877–1968)

Modjesko, Soprano Singer

1908

MoMA

Make A Great Move!

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:40:24 -0400

Make A Great Move!

“You’re kind of a rat, aren’t you?” Doll...

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:13:38 -0400

“You’re kind of a rat, aren’t you?” Doll Fenner said, obviously not hating me for it. I was puzzled until I realized that she still knew me as her friend Jolly’s steady, not as a cop. And staying in character would probably get me better answers.

“Well, a guy gets tired of the same woman.”

“I’ll bet you wouldn’t get tired of me.” She gave me an intimate smile. “Tell me — do you like me?”

“I think you’re a doll.”

“That’s a lousy pun.” She looked up into my eyes. “Why don’t you find out if you really like me?”

And she reached behind her, untied her halter and slipped it off. She stood holding it in her hand, letting me admire her small, pointed, delicate-veined breasts.

[1963]

Cicada from Grand Cayman Island Type specimen; Diceroprocta...

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:47:01 -0400

Cicada from Grand Cayman Island

Type specimen; Diceroprocta cleavesii

Staten Island Museum

Syzygy 3

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:20:00 -0400

Syzygy 3

"I don’t need no apologies and you can stick forgiveness up your ass. What psalm’s that..."

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:53:47 -0400

“I don’t need no apologies and you can stick forgiveness up your ass. What psalm’s that from, Padre?”

- Loren D. Estleman, The Confessions of Al Capone

KLONK

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:26:59 -0400

KLONK

Syzygy 2

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:33:44 -0400

Syzygy 2

Chambered nautilus Cross-section Ray Erickson photo Staten...

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:06:53 -0400

Chambered nautilus

Cross-section

Ray Erickson photo

Staten Island Museum

Crystal

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:40:12 -0400

Crystal

Gertrude Käsebier (American, 1852–1934) Bungalows, Oceanside,...

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:13:43 -0400

Gertrude Käsebier (American, 1852–1934)

Bungalows, Oceanside, Long Island

1907

Gum Print

MoMA

CALL GIRL The blonde didn’t have to tell Liddell that she...

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:47:04 -0400

CALL GIRL

The blonde didn’t have to tell Liddell that she made the circuit. One look, and he could see she was a fast operator.

Johnny Liddell dialed “0” for information, but all she was selling was her party line…

[1963]

Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954) Female Nude 1907 Hand Painted...

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:20:04 -0400

Henri Matisse (French, 1869–1954)

Female Nude

1907

Hand Painted Ceramic

MoMA

cokelley: cokelley: Figure Study Based on a photo by...

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:17:33 -0400

cokelley:

cokelley:

Figure Study Based on a photo by http://jacsfishburne.tumblr.com/

Oil Pastel on Newsprint

So maybe a synopsis of my process for these new drawings is in order?!

With my latest pastel on newsprint pieces that I’ve been so compelled to create lately I decided that I wanted to work in a spontaneous manner without erasing or altering any lines I make during the entire process. I’ve been working from photos for these and I usually begin with a color at random and start drawing the figure roughly and as the sketch progresses I choose different colors to make new lines and articulate things that I missed on the first go around. Since I’m working with pastels and have no preliminary sketch underneath every line that I make is visible on the finished project. These drawings take on an abstract character because I have chosen to be very free with the interpretation of my subject coupled with the fact that I don’t erase any mistakes. You guys get to see the entire drawing process demonstrated in the finished work, ‘mistakes’ and all. Having said that, I don’t really believe in mistakes and every line articulates some kind of emotional, mechanical, or visual response to the photo I’m drawing from so every line is important and since realism is not my goal here, I don’t really care how true to life this type of drawing turns out.

"Life in the cycle of the countless rebirths is like a vision in a dream. The gods on high, the mute..."

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:53:40 -0400

“Life in the cycle of the countless rebirths is like a vision in a dream. The gods on high, the mute trees and stones, are alike apparitions in this phantasy.”

- Heinrich Zimmer, Myths and Symbols in Indian Art and Civilization