Friday, September 30, 2011

Big and bright





I just returned from Texas; a two-day holiday spent with K. who moved there a few years ago.  I've driven through Texas, but this was my first real visit.







Wikipedia notes that Texas is the second largest U.S. state and that there is no official language.
I heard a woman holler, "Yoo-hoo!" with great conviction. 






Forget Belgium, my waffle was in the shape of the Lone Star State!




Thursday, September 29, 2011

Peace





It's hard to imagine that fashion magazine covers were once exclusively illustrated. I get tired of the glossy, digitally enhanced photos that tend to blend into a chic but boring soup. An occasional issue with an illustrated cover would be for me, a real treat.





The stark yet beautiful 1945 cover for UK Vogue illustrated by James de Holden-Stone. The war had ended. What better way to celebrate peace than a clear blue sky?




Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Something Cool





Something cool
I'd like to order something cool
It's so warm here in town
And this heat gets me down
And I'd like something cool

—lyrics by Bill Barnes, 1954





Published in 1955, The First Book of Jazz by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Cliff Roberts.













Tuesday, September 27, 2011

First name Mister





Larger than life for 30 years.






I love the Mr. T(ea) towels from To Dry For.





Monday, September 26, 2011

Picturesque













A peek, a sliver, a mere glimpse of Jean Patchett is pure glamor.




Sunday, September 25, 2011

Société Anonyme

Between 1920 and 1940, the Société Anonyme held 80 exhibitions of avant-garde and abstract art.
Despite the organization's subversive rejection of popular standards of art and design, their graphics, posters and collage are especially beautiful.











(images from the Yale library)

Friday, September 23, 2011

Just you, just me











Inspired by the Missed Connections of Craigslist, illustrator Sophie Blackall recreates those shared moments of hope and attraction between strangers.




Thursday, September 22, 2011

Distortion









Images by Czech photographer Václav Chochola (1923-2005)




Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Name, profession, location








One image posted on the office bulletin board of Charles and Ray Eames.




Monday, September 19, 2011

Fan mail





M.M  (Marilyn Monroe)

Errol Flynn

M.M (Mickey Mouse)




Sunday, September 18, 2011

Art of letters












Oh, to receive a letter from Edward Gorey!




Saturday, September 17, 2011

Taking good notes









There are many good reasons for buying secondhand books and supporting used bookstores; perusing dog-eared discards for random drawings and notes is my personal favorite.




Friday, September 16, 2011

Sum of its parts











I love the vibrant paintings and collage of Cecil Touchon.




Thursday, September 15, 2011

Kite









Charles Eames kite design




Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Once upon a time










From Taschen, a collection of twenty-seven treasured fairy tales, illustrated by the top of the toppermost illustrators including Arthur Rackham, Kay Nielsen and Walter Crane.




Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Private no more





A seven-part interview of Jacqueline Kennedy by historian and Kennedy aide Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. will be published as a book and audio recording. The interview, from 1964, takes place only months after the assassination of the president. Jacqueline Kennedy was just 34 years old.






Illustration of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy by Jacqueline Duheme from the book 
Mrs. Kennedy Goes Abroad





Saturday, September 10, 2011

Morning, noon and night






Following the light with Rockwell Kent.



Alaska, 1919


March, Greenland (1933)


Donegal, Ireland (1927)



Moonlight in the Adirondacks (1960)