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.

Rosebush Shed

Two Ethiopian Beers

Consumed with our dinner at Mesob on Cherry at the back in the bar.

New Animation for the Books live at Neumos, Dec. 4th

STG presents The Books | December 4 | Neumos from STG Presents on Vimeo.

This was done by myself and Amanda Moore for STG presents. The whole thing is based on the poster designed and illustrated by the talented Amanda Moore.

Saddles

Albert In The Hay

Engraved on a piece of maple given to me by the great Carl Montford of the Montford Press. I engraved a second block for the clouds and the white of his shirt- but it didnt look right. Perhaps I will try it again with a different white ink.

The Singing Cowboy

3" x 4". Paper is from an old book called Good News, Bad News, Agnews given to me by the lovely Irene and Dave Weinmann.

Mine Rescue Worker with Canary

Soundtrack provided by the uncomparable Mike Seeger from his 1966 Folkways album Tipple, Loom & Rail. The song is called Miner's Blues and was originally recorded by the Great Frank Hutchison on September 11th, 19 and 28 for the Okeh record label. Album given to me by Davey O'Houlihan.

The Merchant's Funeral

Three inches by Four inches.

Russian Fiddler

His fiddle is made from a mule skull.

Woodcutting with new tools

I just got my new tools from McClain's and some resingrave given to me by Russ Weicking for learning how to woodcut. Russ also let me try out his tools last weekend so I knew which ones I liked. Thanks again Russ! The Spitstickers are my favorite. The amount of detail you can get is amazing compared with the linoleum. I am going to illustrate a Russian Folk Tale as my first experiment in wood engraving.

Empress of the North Official Video

I made this animation for the Moondoggies for their song Empress of the North. The album is called Tidelands and comes out October 13th.
If anyone is interested, I am selling individual frames from the animation- each one is hand watercolored. Thanks go to everyone who helped out- Amanda Moore, Adam Powers, Kent Colony, and my parents Brian and Laurel Christie!

The Man Who Shot The Man Who Shot Lincoln at Local Sightings

My animation will be playing OCTOBER 2, SATURDAY AT 7PM at the Northwest Film Forum with a bunch of other animations. You can order tickets in advance here.