Here’s the conclusion to my interview with Amy Crehore, Painter of Pierrots and Monkeys; you can read Part 1 here.

Me: What are Hokum Images and how do they play into your blog, Little Hokum Rag?   In what way do you use Hokum Images in your paintings?

Amy: Well, hokum images are full of humor and double entendres. Hokum is a certain kind of black music from around the 1920’s. It’s a dirty, funny blues. Jugband , rags and early jazz. I played this music with my significant other, Lou, for many years.

My paintings are sometimes about my experience with this music and they are the visual equivalent of hokum music.

Me: Noticed you published a comic book at one time, what are your favorite comics and how has comic book art influenced your paintings?

Amy: Well, yes, my friend Tom Campagnoli and I published a comic book in Richmond, VA the early 80’s called, “Boys and Girls Grow Up”. We did five issues.

I suppose R. Crumb and Robert Armstrong were my influences at the time.

But, I have always loved comics like “Little Nemo in Slumberland” and “Tin-Tin”. Cartoonists Jack Cole and Charles Addams and contemporary artists Daniel Clowes and Seth are favorites of mine.

I have always looked at and absorbed everything in the history of graphic arts and comics as well as old childrens books. I simply like art with humor and illustrative art. I guess my paintings reflect that somewhat.

I would like to say that films/theater/music have also inspired me throughout my life.

Me: How does the Monkey Love Series differ from the Little Pierrot series of paintings – is there a difference in mood?   Noticed that often one of the Monkey’s is wearing a sailor’s cap – any significance?
Amy: The girls are a bit more sensual in the Monkey Love Series. They are not entertainers or assistants to clowns. The mood is different because the setting is different.

The Monkey Series takes place outdoors. The girls have a sense of freedom and relaxation that they don’t have on stage. They are alone on an island basically with monkeys for friends. I suppose the monkey takes the place of the pierrot and the sailor hat makes the monkey a male figure. The viewer will have to decide for himself what it all means.

(Note: the painting above is called “The Charmer” and is both a painting and a small print in limited edition).  Besides Amy Crehore’s blog, her main site, www.amycrehore.com, has pictures of her latest work and and an online store to buy prints of her work.

Me: In many of your Pierrot paintings a red curtain appears as a backdrop – why is that curtain always red (instead of blue, or green or gray, or yellow or any other color)? 

Amy: Red is the color of passion. And it’s a passion play in a sense. Besides, any other color would just not work!

Me: Do you usually sketch a painting out first and then start painting or have you painted without a sketch?

Amy: I have painted without a sketch. I did that for years on my larger works. But the last couple of years, I have gotten into drawing the ideas out first on paper and then transferring the drawings to canvas. And I have had a real breakthrough in my art because of it. Drawing is so important to me now. It brings my ideas into focus.

Me: You admire a painter called Antonio Donghi (1897-1963) who was not well known in his life and even today.  Were Donghi to do it all over again now, would he be more successful given the internet?

Amy: Maybe. I hope they will re-print the book on him in English! He’s fantastic! I think he’s well-known in Italy.

Final Question - Me: Comment on how the internet and blogs have helped nurture your work?

Amy: It gives me a way to get my work out there and seen by many people globally who normally would never see it without the internet. That’s simply amazing! And I get to interact with people whom I never would have met in a million years.

It gives me hope and keeps me company, too.

I don’t live in a big center of artistic activity. My blog has opened things up even more as far as networking goes. It enhances my website and keeps people up to date with what I am doing. A blog is sort of like publishing your own magazine and it immediately reaches an audience as soon as you are done typing. Wow.

End of my Interview with Amy Crehore, Painter of Pierrots & Monkeys.  

You can read some more about Amy Crehore at  Celebrity At Work, a sister blog to ArtNYC.