Sunday, December 16, 2007

Sitting on a CLUE

Acrylic polymer emulsion on gessoed hardboard, 12 x 12"
Created- December 9-15, 2007, #141.

Just in time for Christmas, I bring you what I would have liked to see appear under our tree as a 10 year old. I spotted this Gumby & Pokey bendables in a gift shop in Cape-Breton, NS a few years back. I regretted not buying them at the time. With a credit card, you are only a click away to your heart's content, so I was able to order this dynamic duo on-line in their 50th anniversary packaging. Gumby was created by Art Clokey in 1955. He made his television debut on The Howdy Doody Show in 1956 and that same year had his own NBC Saturday morning TV series. The bendable toys were introduced in 1964. I remember watching many episodes in reruns during my childhood years. This painting is all about visual impact, color and surfaces. Never have there been so much lettering in one painting. My favorite part is the area surrounding the marble, which I decided to add after I had already started the painting.

Interesting TRIVIA-
-The Checkered Game of Life was invented in 1860 by Milton Bradley and the modern version was introduced for it's centennial year in 1960.
-Clue was invented in Great Britain in 1948. Outside of North America, it is known as Cluedo.
-It takes 1440 still-frame pictures to make 1 minute of clay animation. re: Gumby
-Click on this link to go down memory lane for a 1960's commercial of 'The game of Life" .
-private collection