"One Blue Pussy” by Andy Warhol

I’ve decided to make every Wednesday Warhol Wednesday because he is my true love.  For my first Wednesday post I’ve been a stuck between making One Blue Pussy or Marilyn Monroe my first Warhol blog. I’ve concluded with One Blue Pussy since the artwork will be with me forever.
November of 2009 I went to Anthem Tattoo Shop and got my second tattoo.  It’s of Andy Warhol’s One Blue Pussy from his book 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy. Yes, I have a giant blue cat on the inner part of my left arm.  I’ve never been more proud of a tattoo choice.  I got the tattoo as constant reminded of my love for Pop Art and Andy Warhol (and of Cats).  It’s my inspiration for my career in Art History.

This is a 1954, Hand-colored offset print by Andy Warhol and his mother, Julia Warhola. One on my favorite parts of this piece is the name.  25 Cats Name Same and One Blue Pussy. Julia Warhola left the “d” off of “named.”  Andy didn’t correct her on this mistake because of his love for imperfections.  I feel that just in this fact, there is a great deal of explanation about Andy Warhol.

Warhol and his mother started working on the books as Christmas keepsakes for all the family members.  Andy always had a lot of cats and at one time he had 26.  He and his mother always named them Sam, except for one who they named Hester.  Andy printed and hand painted all of the cats while his mother did the calligraphy.  The book only contains 16 cats and doesn’t use any text except for the cat’s names and Andy’s signatures.  Sometime there is confusion with the blue cat because Warhol did a print of another blue cat that isn’t used in the book. He is not to be confused with the One Blue Pussy.

Andy Warhol his one of the most interesting artist I’ve studied. The more I read about Warhol, the more I find in common with him and fall in a deeper love.  I’ve read three books by Warhol on his life and art.  The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B & Back Again) has been my favorite.  It is from this book that most of Warhol’s quotes are taken.  I would recommend the book to anyone who is studying Warhol. Warhol covers topics such as love, beauty, fame, work, sex, time, death, economics, success, and art.  He is truly a wonderful man and I’m constantly finding more fascinating things about him.

 
I found a great article on Christie’s if you wish to read more about the book.
http://www.christies.com/features/2009-September-London-Andy-Warhol-25-Cats-Named-Sa-102-1.aspx

Photos and Information gathered from http://thumbs.imagekind.com/museum/350X350/MCG/JPGS/PF1296.jpg, http://files.solarnet.tv/2008/10/13015729-0.jpg, Andy Warhol “Giant” Size by Phaidon Editors,  Cats, Cats, Cats By Andy Warhol, and  The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B & Back Again) By Andy Warhol

“Where Have You Been?” by Dr. A. David Crown

A few days ago a friend and I went onto our old college campus and as we passed the gallery we noticed there was an exhibit going on.  With the both of us being art studio students, we couldn’t pass up a gallery viewing!  The college had asked Dr. A. David Crown, M.D. to display his art work.  I thought I would share one of the pieces that I found most familiar.

*I’ve tried to apply the picture to this post, but it doesn’t seem to be working consistently.  I have supplied the link here to view the artwork if you cannot view it on this post*

http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/crown_david_wheres_cat.htm

Where Have You Been? A mezzotint by Dr. A. David Crown, printed in 2005. A collection of his artwork can be found at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida or at the Santa Fe College Gallery from September 10^th to November 4^th, 2010.  

 

Where Have You Been? shows the shadow of a person opening the door for a cat at the top of the steps.  The artwork instantly gives off the sense of curiosity because of the dark shadows and mysterious arch under the stairwell.  It looks as if it is a late night and the family cat has finally decided to return home.  This artwork reminds me of the many nights my mother stayed up yelling on the front porch for the cats to come home.  Always worried about where they’re at and what they’ve been up to.  As soon as they arrive, meowing on the front porch, she would open the door and say Where Have You Been? making this the perfect name for this piece.

Dr. Crown works mostly in the medium of original mezzotint with is artwork.  In 1997 he founded the International Mezzotint Society.  Mezzotint is a form of ink block printing.  The process involves pricking small holes into a metal plate to hold ink.  A cradle or rocker is used to help create the holes that creates the image on the plate. Once the ink is applied the print can be made.  Different plates are used to create the different layers of the artwork.   Dr. Crown has been practicing this technique since he retired as a physician in 1982.

Photo and Information gathered from www.artbydavidcrown.com, www.math.ufl.edu/~glover/mezzotint.html, and www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/crown_david_wheres_cat.htm