My Animations playing at the Rendezvous in Belltown on Friday, April 22nd

My animations will be playing in between Le Sang Song and Case Studies this Friday night at 10:00 pm. Jesse Lortz did the awesome poster.

Woman With Guitar #2 in Color

Woman With Guitar #2

Woman With Guitar #1

Before The Spanish Guitar But After The Cittern

In the early 19th century, the terz guitar was so popular that the majority of duets published called for the primary guitar one part as terz guitar with one normal second guitar. This is usually indicated by the notation "tierce" or various other spellings. In Vienna, the terz guitar was especially popular, and in fact many original editions of duets from Vienna in this time period do not specify "terz", but the guitar parts are often in different keys off by a third (for example guitar 1 is 3 sharps / A major and guitar 2 is no sharps / C major), which is an indication of terz guitar being required. So common was the terz guitar for ensembles, that it was assumed.

C.F. Martin, Luthier

From wikipedia:
Christian Frederick Martin, Sr. (German: Christian Friedrich Martin I.; January 31, 1796 – February 16, 1873) was a luthier who specialized in guitars.
Born in Markneukirchen, Germany to a family of cabinet makers, Martin became an apprentice of the guitar maker Johann Georg Stauffer of Vienna, Austria.[1]
As a result of a dispute between the Cabinet Makers Guild, of which Martin was a member, and the Violin Makers Guild, Martin moved to the United States in 1833. On arriving in New York City , he set up shop at 196 Hudson Street on the Lower West Side. Martin’s first workshop housed a small production setup in the back room, and a retail music store up front. This shop was the forerunner of C. F. Martin & Company, which is still family-owned and operated, whose current CEO is CF Martin's great-great-great grandson, CF Martin IV as of 2007.

Important Individuals in the History of the Mandolin #3 Yank Rachell

From Bluesworld: James "Yank" Rachell (mandolin, guitar, vocals - 87 years old) was one of the few blues musicians to play mandolin as a primary instrument . Blues mandolinists are not exactly commonplace and because he was also largely self-taught, his music was even more unique and a testament to his prowess as an instrumentalist. He was born in 1910 on a farm outside of Brownsville, Tennessee. How Rachell chose the mandolin is a classic blues story. Rachell's mother had given him, then eight, a young pig to be raised for butchering that fall. One day he was walking down the road and saw a neighbor playing a mandolin on his front porch. He loved the sound and was determined to get the mandolin. Rachell asked how much he wanted for the instrument, and the man said five dollars. He didn't have the money so he offered to trade the pig for the instrument. When Rachell went home his mother was very upset. He recalled her saying "Next fall when we're all eating pork, you can eat that mandolin". It turns out he didn't have to eat the mandolin. Rachell taught himself to play the mandolin and soon was making a living as a musician. Soon Rachell met Hambone Willie Newbern (recorded the first version of the blues classic Rollin' and Tumblin in 1929), who became his mentor. The two performed in and around Brownsville at house parties and fish fries. It was at one of these parties that Rachell first met and played with Sleepy John Estes (whom Rachell played and remained friends with until Estes' death in 1977).

Important Individuals in the History of the Mandolin #2 Bill Monroe

Inspired by the great book Can't You Hear Me Callin- the life of Bill Monroe, Father of Bluegrass by Richard D. Smith. While I agree with Sam Mghee that "bluegrass is just old time music played too fast", I really enjoy Monroe's bluesy mandolin style especially on the tracks Tennessee Blues, Rotation Blues, Heavy Traffic Ahead, Muleskinner Blues, The Blue Yodels, and Wayfaring Stranger. This is due to the fact that Monroe, at a young age played with and was inspired by a Kentucky blues musician named Arnold Schultz who played the guitar and the fiddle. Sadly, Schultz was never recorded. Monroe is also responsible for the enormous popularity of the F Style mandolin.

Orville Gibson (the first of my new series: Important Individuals in the History of the Mandolin) 3"x4"

Engraved in Resingrave- printed with Speedball Ink on old book pages
Orville Gibson is responsible for the flatback mandolin- as opposed to the Neapolitan style "potato bug" or "bowl back" that was prevalent in the 19th century and came to America from Italy. From Mandolin Cafe: "Orville Gibson was apparently obsessed with ornamentation, particularly the scroll. He also emphasized the importance of machines in precision manufacture. His personal hallmark, included as an inlay on many of his early instruments, was an occult star-and-crescent." I find this last tidbit of information very interesting because Lloyd Loar, the famous Gibson luthier was a himself a theosophist...strange
From Wikipedia:
Orville H. Gibson (1856, Chateaugay, New York - August 21, 1918, Ogdensburg, New York) was a luthier who founded the Gibson Guitar Corporation in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1902, makers of guitars, mandolins and other instruments.
Gibson began in 1894 in his home workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With no formal training, Orville created an entirely new style of mandolin and guitar, with tops carved and arched like the top of a violin. His creations were so different that he was granted a patent on his design.[1] More important, they were louder and more durable than contemporary fretted instruments,(4)and musicians soon demanded more than he was able to build in his one-man shop.
On the strength of Orville Gibson's ideas, five Kalamazoo businessmen formed the Gibson Mandolin Guitar Mfg. Co., Ltd., in 1902. Within a short period after the company was started, the board passed a motion that "Orville H. Gibson be paid only for the actual time he works for the Company." After that time, there is no clear indication whether he worked there full-time, or as a consultant. Orville Gibson was considered a bit eccentric and there has been some question over the years as to whether or not he suffered from some sort of mental illness.

Go to Pike Street Press

A bunch of my linocut prints are up in the Pike Street Press (at Alaskan Way and Pike). From their website: Pike Street Press is a custom Letterpress Studio and Retail store/gallery located in Seattle below Pike Place Market. The Gallery showcases local letterpress artists,we host everything from prints and broadsides to cards and mixed printed ephemera. Feel free to head over and purchase away! Thanks to Sean for taking this picture with his iphone!

Sam Ku West

From holywarbles: 'Sam Ku was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1907, becoming a professional musician when he joined Irene West's troupe of touring musicians and dancers in 1926. Initially he was known as Sam Ku, Jr. but soon adopted the professional name of Sam Ku West. Often he would be billed as the 'Kreisler of the steel guitar' [referring to the famous violinist]. This title was given to him by Prince George of England who saw him play in Singapore in 1926.

Krakatoa The Raven Flies Tonight

Oil Cans!

Set in 1880's Boston, this gritty novel follows a family of Irish immigrants as they try to navigate the workplace and a new country. Similar in some respects to Upton Sinclair's 1906 masterpiece The Jungle. Regarded by many people as the best book of the 1980's.

Which Side Are You On?

In honor of the Wisconsin state workers and everyone protesting the villain Scott Walker (the Governor not the singer and Jacques Brel interpreter) and the Republican state legislature. Here is a great story on who is funding Walker's efforts to destroy the state worker's collective bargaining rights.
Pictured above is former Wisconsin Governor, Senator and Progressive Party presidential candidate Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette. He was an opponent of railroad trusts, bossism, World War I, and the League of Nations. According to wikipedia: A 1982 survey asking historians to rank the "ten greatest Senators in the nation's history" based on "accomplishments in office" and "long range impact on American history," placed La Follette first, tied with Henry Clay.

The Banjo Boys

Set in early 1950's Vermont. Two brothers learn how to build banjos from their eccentric old neighbor. However, when their abusive father finds out about their activities he threatens to destroy everything they've been working for. This book won the National Book Award. Suggested soundtrack: anything by The New Lost City Ramblers.

Color Blotch: A Psychadelic Novel

Color Blotch was written in 1967 while I was living on a community farm north of San Francisco. It was written in an experimental style and was described by the Atlantic Monthly as "having the same effect as taking mushrooms, LSD, marijuana, coca cola and a burrito all at once." The novel follows the journey of an unnamed narrator who meanders through life, not being able to communicate effectively with anyone. One woman understands him and they end up leaving earth together on a ship after an enormous earthquake. A good soundtrack for this book would be The 5,000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion by the Incredible String Band.

The Cooper's Daughter

Set in a small village in early twentieth century Yorkshire, England. A cooper is someone who makes wooden casks, kegs, buckets, barrels and things of that nature. When the cooper's son dies in World War I, he must teach his reluctant daughter in the family trade. A generational story similar in many respects to On The Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin and a little bit of Knut Hamsun's Growth of the Soil. A good soundtrack for reading this book would be Hark! The Village Wait by Steeleye Span or anything by Martin Carthy.

The New Smash Hit Romantic Novel set in Dust Bowl era Eastern Washington: Good Evenin'

Bud and Gertrude have both outlived their spouses and are drawn to eachother. However, their sons are competitors in local business and this causes great strain within the families. This heartbreaking romance was given a rave review by Michiko Kakutani in the New York Times. She said "Christie limns out the heart from these hard scrabble westerners and limns an incredibly moving cover for the book-which actually limns out the entire book."

Bruno Schulz Linocut Portrait (two-block print)

Bruno Schulz was a Jewish artist and writer who lived in what is now Ukraine but what was at the time Poland. During Nazi occupation, Schulz was protected by a nazi officer who admired his drawings. To get back at this officer, another Nazi named Karl Gunther shot and killed Schulz. Like many people, I found out about Bruno Schulz from the exquisite 1986 animation Street of Crocodiles by the Brothers Quay. I read Street of Crocodiles (Cinnamon Shops) and am planning on reading Under The Sign of The Hourglass. Schulz was an amazing stylist with words and imagery and should be more well known today for his drawings and particularly his writing.

Pyotr Stolypin

Pyotr Arkadyevich Stolypin was the third Prime Minister of Imperial Russia. He enacted the agrarian reforms and was opposed to Rasputin. He was assassinated at the Kiev Opera House in 1911 and there are some conspiracy theories involving his death. One book I read purported he was a double agent.

The New Smash Hit Children's Book about the inner workings of the 19th Century Prussian Munitions Sales Industry: The Baron Had No Choice

I started this blog 5 or more years ago to post my book covers I had come up with for non existent books. I am continuing this tradition.

Before the Revolution

The Reluctant General

Daniel Webster

Cousin of Noah Webster whose picture I came across while reading a biography of Andrew Jackson. This Webster was a Whig, an opponent of Jackson, a pro Bank, pro shipping, conservative and avowed elitist.

Robin Hood's Bay, Yorkshire

Inspired by a book given to me by my lovely mother.

Honest Abe

Inspired by the deguerreotype of the young Lincoln that presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin was mocked for having remarked looked "sexy".

Noah Webster

Inspired by a Christmas book I got from my sweetheart on Noah Webster, an American lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. He has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education" and well known for the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

I'm on Art Zone again!

Seattle Channel Video can be played in Flash Player 9 and up

This time I was profiled by Matt McNaghten.

Jim Fisk

From Wikipedia:
Fisk was born in the hamlet of Pownal, Vermont in the township of Bennington on April Fool's Day. After a brief period in school, he ran away in 1850 and joined Van Amberg's Mammoth Circus & Menagerie. Later, he became a hotel waiter, and finally adopted the business of his father, a peddler. He applied what he learned in the circus to his peddling and grew his father's business. He then became a salesman for Jordan Marsh, a Boston dry goods firm. A failure as a salesman, he was sent to Washington, D.C., in 1861 to sell textiles to the government. By his shrewd dealing in army contracts during the Civil War, and, by some accounts, cotton smuggling across enemy lines (in which he enlisted the help of his father), he accumulated considerable wealth, which he soon lost in speculation.

Sombrero and Blanket

Carson Robison

One of the grandfathers of American Country music, Carson Robison started out as a trick whistler who could whistle two tunes at one time. He went on to make the landmark recording of "The Wreck of the Old '97" b/w "Prisoner's Song" (1924), widely regarded as country music's first million-seller. There is a great article on him in the September issue of my favorite magazine, the Old Time Herald.

Down The Volga

Deus ex Machina

Go Bernie!

Yes, that charmingly disheveled U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, the Independent Socialist of Vermont is leading a one man filibuster against the odious and Dickensian Obama-GOP tax cut deal. He has been going strong since 10 am eastern time. Watch live footage here or here. Here is his website if you want to give him a donation or ask him a question.

Key Players in the JFK Mafia Hit (18" x 24")

Inspired by the amazing new(ish) book Ultimate Sacrifice. I have read many books on the JFK assassination, including Six Seconds in Dallas and Jim Mars' Crossfire: The Plot That Killed Kennedy. This book is the best and most comprehensive in terms of background involving Cuba and the Mafia, mainly because of the wealth of documents that were only declassified within the last 10 years. It basically posits the theory that three southern mafia bosses infiltrated the Kennedy brothers plot to overthrow the Castro regime in Cuba. Once involved in this plan, these Mafia bosses used their usual hit tactics: moving vehicle, a communist patsy, and CIA/FBI connections to secure a government cover-up-therefore keeping there own nefarious, clandestine plans secret by way of a sort of governmental blackmail/embarrassment. I can't recommend the book enough.

Soundtrack is Son House performing his salute President Kennedy.