BOOK DAY

I can think of a few things my mother did right. One was to nag me into taking an interest in things besides cartoons. This has kept me curious, broadened my horizons, and has even helped my art! I meet so many cartoonists who haven't grown aesthetically since age 14. They are sad and boring.

The retouching book is, of course, way out of date, but has good graphics. Anyway, it was a buck.

Best,
Milt

THE ARTIST'S SWINGIN' PAD

Welcome to my Happy Hideaway.

This is so (hopefully) the landlord's "handymen" don't foul up the lawn with their weed whackers. (They call it 'mowing'.)

Yes, it's a bit disorderly, but I call it home.

I'm going for that 1970s-imitation-1930s lush, cluttered bordello look.

It's not easy moving from a two bedroom apartment to a one bedroom house. All the stuff you hid from yourself is inescapable. Clear up one layer of clutter, and there are always three or four more waiting.

 

Gotta go, eh? Come back 'n' see me sometime!-MK

CHRISTMAS TOONS

Throughout the years...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

COPYRIGHT 2014 BY MILTON KNIGHT

RALPH'S RECOMMENDATION PLUS CUBBY!

Ralph Bakshi sent me a wildly nice email today. He said I could quote it here:

THERE IS A WONDERFULL STYLE OF CARTOONING THAT IS SO PURE AND GREAT IF ITS LOOKED AT A CERTAIN WAY MILTON KNIGHT IS THE PERFECT CARTOONIST TO SHOW IT TO YOU EXPLAIN IT AND USE IT AS AN ART FORM

Thank You, Ralph!!

And here's the cover art I did for Thunderbean's upcoming CUBBY BEAR Blu-Ray collection.

Feeling Good,
Milt

COPYRIGHT 2014 BY MILTON KNIGHT

Hell is Other Artists...WHY?

I wrote the following as part of one of my lessons. I believe I put it as well as I can, and my student approved of my sharing it:

"...you seem straightforward and unselfish, but many artists aren’t. We get miserly with our compliments to others. It’s as if to offer one would wrench some vital organ from our own bodies, our own pride, even help advance another to the success we want for ourselves. It’s easier said than done, but realize how good you are (these are the equal to, or better than stuff I’ve seen in shows), and realize other artists are also just plain humans with as many problems as we have. It’s not imperative you have their approval, and pretty hopeless to try to extract it from them."

Image from www.youtube.com

The Song for today: "My Success", recorded by Bert Lown and his Orchestra in 1931.

And, I want to thank Don. Yowp for his generous links to my blog. 

http://yowpyowp.blogspot.com

http://tralfaz.blogspot.com/

Best Wishes,
Milt

TEXT COPYRIGHT 2014 BY MILTON KNIGHT

ONE LAST MELODIE

Image from old-fashioned-way.org

A selection I neglected to include in previous posts: "Sittin' on a Backyard Fence" from 42nd Street, here sung in Italian by Ines Talamo and Crivel.

Image from http://likelylooneymostlymerrie.blogspot.com

And a second rendition, this one by Dino Oliveri, whose orchestra went on to make 'easy listening' LPs issued in America in the 1950s & 1960s:

That's All, Folks (for now),
Milt

PROGRESSION IN ABSTRACTIONS: FRANTISEK KUPKA

Now for one of my favorites. Born in what is now the Czech Republic in 1871, Kupka began his education and career in Vienna, starting out with paintings ably rendered in a traditional style.

In 1906, Kupka set to work as an illustrator for popular and political periodicals in Paris. His paintings became more caricatural, witty, and stylized.

Influenced by the Futurist movement gaining ground in painting, and experimenting in the relationships between art, motion and music, Kupka's stylization progressed...

 ...and, by 1910 blossomed into the pure abstraction he worked in until his death in 1957.

"Music". Image from en.wahooart.com

Enjoy his art. It's been a big inspiration to me.
Milt

The images posted here have been saved over the internet at such varying times, I have forgotten most of their sources. If you're one of them, notify me. I will either give credit, or remove it if you wish.-MK

MERRIE MELODIES IN ITALIANO

Image from http://www.maramaoband.it

The team of Ines Talamo & Crivel, vocalists I linked to in a previous post, but hadn't heard of until a few days ago, made quite a quantity of recordings of songs composed by Harry Warren (lyrics) & Al Dubin (music) for Warner Bros. musicals. With new lyrics for the Italian translations, the evocative classical singing style make these 78s interesting and exciting.

Image from alfredeaker.wordpress.com

"Shanghai Lil", originally sung and danced by James Cagney and Ruby Keeler (Mrs. Al Jolson) in FOOTLIGHT PARADE (1933).

Image from moviespictures.org

"About a Quarter to Nine" and "Latin from Manhattan", both featured by Al Jolson in GO INTO YOUR DANCE (1935).

Enjoy,
Milt

PALS IN THE DISTANCE

Background characters for an illustration. They will be reproduced at about 3.5 inches high.

COPYRIGHT 2014 BY MILTON KNIGHT

A PIONEER OF THE POSTER

Dudley Hardy (1867-1922) was a pioneer of the British poster at the turn of the twentieth century, a time when the art was emerging as the prime force in an advertising revolution.

Hardy did not only poster designs, but paintings, and was esteemed as a ‘black-and-white’ artist, when ink drawing for reproduction was often seen as an ability separate from, but on an equal footing with painting. 

In Hardy’s time, expertise and imagination were professional pluses, rather than treated with disdain in the face of computer prowess or the ability to copy ‘on-model’, Simpsons-style. As one may deduce from his portrait with the giant canvas, it was often very physical work.

His art is inherently attractive, straightforward and virile. He's a testament to what the artist is capable of once he's got the chance.

Best,

Milt