Pulp Fiction

While fighting my creative block, I thought I'd share more of the things that inspire and inform my creativity. It's not all pretty art/illustration and sweetness and light.

I have a Thing about horrendous pulp fiction covers from the 50s, 60s, and 70s - vintage smut! The quality of the art ranges from the sublime to the what-the-hell-am-I-looking-at, and is almost always unintentionally amusing. For example, this jewel:

I came across this cover illustration while voraciously reading the archives of Pop Sensation. I can't tell you how many times I laughed until my sides hurt. Rex Parker, the fine and twisted mind behind the blog, has one of the most fabulous collections of pulp fiction art on the web, along with hilarious, knowledgeable commentary.

Years ago, I had a pulp novel that I swiped from my grandmother's house. Vintage smut of the first water. After quite a lot of giggling, I loaned it to a friend. Her mother came across it, and into the fireplace it went. I was branded a "bad influence" and that was the end of that. Until, many years later, when I started my own collection of vintage pulp.

Sadly, I can't remember anything about that particular book other than a few key details. It was about a private dick (tee-hee, "dick") who went around quaffing cognac and gettin' it on with the ladies. Which included a pair of redheaded twins (maybe blondes?). I remember that the cover art was bad bad BAD, explicit and awesome.

The whole experience taught me that art and sexuality are powerful things, especially when combined. Especially when they make you laugh and feel slightly shocked at the same time.

Blockity Block Block Block

I have been dealing with horrendous creative block for a few months, for almost everything except for everyday design work. Lately though, I've been feeling more of an urge to draw and create again. It's like an itch.

In order to get around the creative block, I kind of have to sneak up on the act of creation. The more casual, the better. "La la la, not really drawing anything, nothing serious; move along, creative block monster, move along."

A sharpie on the back of an envelope is an excellent way to sneak something past it.

Toby and Pye, Lino Block Edition

I've been playing with a new method of image-making (new to me, anyway): linoleum block printing. Collage offers classes on the subject every other month or so, and after taking one, I was addicted. There is something kind of magical in producing an image by hand that can then be hand-printed on a variety of surfaces. Also, the printing ink has a slightly different quality on the paper than anything I've ever used before.

This was the first lino block I carved: a portrait of our cats, Toby and Pye. Stripey Toby is chasing after Pye and probably going to stick his face right under her tail. I don't get the cats doing that; I thought that was more of a dog thing. She hates it, but then, they are not exactly friends.

The class itself was marvelously fun: good supplies, clear instruction, friendly encouragement. Collage's upcoming classes are here.

Last Friday in St. Johns

We've got an art event coming up in our neighborhood, and this is the poster I designed for it:

Happy New Year!