BEAUTY: Embroidery--Peter Frederiksen

I am tickled by and subsequently fascinated with the wonderful embroidery work of textile artist Peter Frederiksen. He uses iconic imagery from classic cartoons. He explained in an interview with gallerytalk.net:

"These cartoon characters are the basis of my entire aesthetic. I like that this imagery is already engraved in people's minds. As a child, like many others, I used to watch 'Looney Tunes' with my dad on Saturday mornings. They're really beautiful films - hand-drawn, colorful and funny. They're art, it's that simple. However, these cartoons are also super brutal and often racist. You can tell that they obviously come from a different time. I work with the imagery of the so-called 'Golden Age of American Animation.'...The term 'Golden Age' seems like a provocation today: the concept of a past, better time, which makes you think about what could have been, leads nowhere. Things aren't going well right now. But it's crazy to think that things would have somehow been better 50 or 60 years ago. For me, the cartoon aesthetic is a way to engage with this idea."

Top to bottom: Closer with every cut; Don't even need bait; Forging a path; Heavier than it looks; Incredibly happy for you; Peril; Some locks won't hold; Teetering on indecision; They'll never be the wiser

https://www.pefrederiksen.com/

BEAUTY: Painting--Robert C. Jackson

I am tickled by the work of painter Robert C. Jackson. He gets me right where I live: I have a weakness for the type of bygone pop culture references he uses to populate his images. Cartoon characters and advertising mascots representing food of all kinds (hello Cap'n Crunch, Charlie Tuna, Poppin' Fresh!) congregate on crates for soft drinks and sodas. Because I am a man of a certain age, I grew up with all these characters and feel a sweet sense of comfort and nostalgia when I see them.

Top to bottom: American Way; Board Meeting; Bob's Bob's Big Boy; Just Nuts; Shared Experience; That's All Folks

His series of balloon dogs cavorting and feasting are equally as delightful. I especially like the ironic Making Friends which shows a balloon animal inflating another balloon to literally make a companion.

Top to bottom: American Landscape; Flower Market; Ideal Feast; Italian Feast; Making Friends; Pop Betsy Ross; Smorgasbord

And then there is the delightful cookie/donut/macaron/sweet treat series. A tower of Oreos? yes, please.

Top to bottom: 52; Black and White; Comfort Food; Crossing; Macarons; Magi; Might Need More Coffee; Props; Rain; Starting The Challenge; Still Need More Milk

https://robertcjackson.com/

Vintage Bugs Bunny Cards

These Christmas cards from the 1940s featuring Bugs Bunny were commercially available and even people who worked for Warner Brothers used them. The first two images show a card that was sent from Warner Bros. cartoon producer Edward Selzer to Warner Bros. cartoon musical director Carl Stalling (the last card is also from the Selzers). Then you can see a personalized card of Bugs from Mel Blanc, his wife Estelle, and son Noel.

Animated Halloween 2016

I grew up watching cartoons like "Scooby-Doo" on Saturday mornings...

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"

This beloved holiday classic airs tonight at 8PM on ABC (if anyone still watches television...I am sure most people own this on disc or will on-demand it). I grew up watching this every holiday and it means a great deal to me. It is the soundtrack for all my early childhood winters...