Just Tango On

I love the scene from “Scent of a Woman” where U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino), dances the Tango with the beautiful Donna. Slade and his young companion Charlie, find themselves at a restaurant, observing a beautiful young woman (Gabrielle Anwar), waiting for her date. The blind Colonel takes her for a tango on the restaurant's dance floor.

This abstract print from my original painting seeks to capture the depth of passion in the Tango and the powerful feelings of the blind Frank Slade. I have used army colors and black for Pacino along with yellows, pinks and reds for his dancing partner. The paint is put down with bold strokes to express passion and the movement of the dance.

Sexy, Sassy Tangerine

Taken from my original acrylic painting, this giclée print — pronounced “ghee-KLAY” — fits an 11 x 14 inch frame when matted. The inspiration for this portrait came from the jazz classic entitled "Tangerine". The music was written by Victor Schertzinger, the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was published in 1941.

The Jazzy "In Crowd"

Jazz festivals are happening all over the world — yeah, right now! Musicians form groups and fill the air with cool sounds. Everyone loosens up and lets the music get deep inside. This is an abstract print from an original painting of mine. It’s all jazzed up for summer!

Here is the famed jazz pianist, Ramsey Lewis, on the keyboard playing “In Crowd”

Ramsey Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Ramsey Lewis, Sr. and Pauline Lewis.[2] Lewis began taking piano lessons at the age of four. At 15 he joined his first jazz band, The Cleffs. The seven-piece group provided Lewis his first involvement with jazz; he would later join Cleffs drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young to form the Ramsey Lewis Trio.

By 1966, Lewis was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with "The In Crowd", "Hang On Sloopy", and "Wade in the Water". All three singles each sold over one million copies, and were awarded gold discs. Many of his recordings attracted a large non-jazz audience. In the 1970s, Lewis often played electric piano, although by later in the decade he was sticking to acoustic and using an additional keyboardist in his groups.

Lewis still lives in Chicago, Illinois, the city of his musical roots. He has seven children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
—Source: Wikipedia

Shaken not Stirred

I love working with collages. It's fun to see how shapes and colors work together differently just by moving them around. Then add some graphics and you've got art. This one reminded me of a martini glass and I remembered James Bond's favorite line ... "Shaken not stirred". Here is a video you might enjoy.

SIZZLING Goddess

When a painting doesn't turn out the way I want it to, I shelve it until I learn something new -- some way to improve it.  This was one of those cases.  I took my original portrait into Photoshop and turned it into a fiery goddess.  Jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis enhances her power.   

It's That Look of Love

Her eyes say everything.  They are filled with love for you.  Remember when eyes looked at you like that?  I doubt if we ever forget that expression.  If you'd like this Fine Art print, you can buy it from me at  http://www.etsy.com/shop/MoxyFoxDesigns .

GREEN DOLPHIN STREET

"Lover, one lovely day,

Love came, planning to stay;

Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting,

The setting for nights beyond forgetting..."

Green Dolphin Street (1947) is a historic drama film starring Lana Turner that was based on the historical novel Green Dolphin Country (1944) by Elizabeth Goudge. The title song "Green Dolphin Street" (sometimes given as "On Green Dolphin Street") is a song written for the film by Bronislaw Kaper and Ned Washington. This song has become a jazz standard.  

 

Go Ahead --Take a Look at My Soul

A prolonged admiring glance from a woman usually causes quite a stir in a guy's mind.  Looking at this girl with her "come-hither" expression indicates she means business.  She definitely likes what she sees, and knows what she wants.


I am selling this fine art print.  It is number 1 of 50.   You can see the full presentation here:
http://www.zibbet.com/MoxyFoxDesigns


Here is Harry Connick Jr.'s rendition of "It had to be you". You can tell he's baring his soul -- but that's what love is all about.

Valentine's Cozy Wool Sweaters

Now that winter is upon us and Valentine's Day is just around the corner, you've got to get your beautiful red sweaters washed and ready to go.  This is a Fine Art Print I created from a photo.  I took it after I had hand washed my red sweaters and laid them on the floor to dry.

This can be a very quick process.  Sweaters don't have to stay in the soapy water for more than 20 minutes, and if you don't want to invest in a drying rack they can be easily dried on the floor.  


This video is from http://thelaundress.com/

Complicated? You Bet!

Every man will say women are so complicated.  Okay, so we use our brains in different ways than men do.  We don't look like men -- so what did you expect? 

Here's a cool video of Pomplamosse to demonstrate the theory of complication:

SIZZLING FIREY GODDESS

When a painting doesn't turn out the way I want it to, I shelve it until I learn something new -- some way to improve it.  This was one of those cases.  I took my original portrait into Photoshop and turned into a sizzling, fiery goddess.  Jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis enhances her power with his version of "Earth Wind Fire". 





 

You're Already in Trouble

Starting with the Impressionists, artists have gone beyond what is visible to the eye and have plowed deeply into the inner workings of their subjects.  Especially with portraits, it is crucial to bring out the inner feelings.  How does an artist show the passion of her subject?  Here I have heightened the feelings of sexual hunger with burning cheeks and an aura that could never be seen with the naked eye.  Passion is hot and uncontrollable.

Here is a wonderful trailer from "All the Pretty Horses" where lust and love have dire consequences.

...

Summer and Sambas

What would summer be without the bold big sunflower?  And how could it be summer without the samba played by Brazilian Eliane Elias?

Eliane Elias (eh-lee-AH-neh eh-LEE-ahs) (born March 19, 1960 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian jazz pianist, arranger, vocalist and songwriter.  She is one of my favorite jazz pianists.  Her mother was a classical pianist who had a huge collection of jazz records.  When Eliane was a little girl she grew up listening to jazz music being played in her home.

Listen -- Is That a Blackbird Singing?

This abstract print was inspired by both the melody and the lyrics of this Beatles's song.  I hope your heart will be renewed by the depth of their meaning as expressed in the simple lines of the artwork.

"Blackbird" is a Beatles song from double-disc album The Beatles (also known as The White Album). Blackbird was written by Paul McCartney, but credited as usual to Lennon/McCartney. McCartney was inspired to write it while in Scotland as a reaction to racial tensions escalating in America in the spring of 1968.

McCartney explained on PBS's Great Performances (Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road), aired in 2006, that the guitar accompaniment for "Blackbird" was inspired by Bach's Bourrée in E minor, a well known classical guitar piece. As kids, he and George Harrison tried to learn Bourrée as a "show off" piece. Bourrée is distinguished by melody and bass notes played simultaneously on the upper and lower strings. McCartney adapted a segment of Bourrée as the opening of "Blackbird," and carried the musical idea throughout the song.

— Source: Wikipedia

Here is how the print looks in a digital frame.

Slow Boat to China

After spending a couple of years in the Orient, I returned with a love for all things Asian -- Asian films, books, woodcuts, pottery and art. Here is a drawing portraying one of those elegant Chinese women.  She's dressed beautifully and has an air of sizzling sophistication about her.

This YouTube video of Gary Cooper features the song from which the title of this print is taken.  He was dashingly handsome and I can see him falling desperately in love with this woman.

Blue Geisha

My print entitled "Blue Geisha" reminds me of all things Japanese.  Remember the film "Memoirs of a Geisha"?  I hope this video brings back fond memories of the love story.