William Mortensen: Monsters and Madonnas

   

Photos by William Mortensen

Several months ago I ran across this book at The Purple Heart thrift store and just had to buy it.  Years ago I worked in photography and was intrigued by this old book. I have since learned there is renewed interest in the life and work of artist and photographer William Mortensen.  Yes, the cover of this book was in bad condition but the pages were all intact.  I paid only a dollar for it but on Amazon found used copies currently going for $59.99.


My treasured one dollar book.



William Mortensen, (1897-1965), after serving with the US Infantry from 1918 to 1919, studied illustration at the Art Students League in New York City.  He is primarily known for his Hollywood portraits in the 1920s-1940s in the pictorialist style.  He preferred the pictorialism style of manipulating photographs to produce romanticist painting-like effects.  He received much criticism from straight photographers of the modern realist movement. One of his most vocal critics was the photographer Ansel Adams. They carried on a "prolonged written debate".

One of his more angelic faces.  He used old techniques
of spot-printing and vignetting on this photographic portrait.





Portrait of William Mortensen.  I have to say
I like his sense of humor.

Wiki says:

His arguments defending romanticism photography led him to be "ostracized from most authoritative canons of photographic history."  In an essay, Larry Lytle wrote "Due to his approach—both technically and philosophically in opposition to straight or purist adherents — he is amongst the most problematic figures in photography in the twentieth-century... historians and critics have described his images as "...anecdotal, highly sentimental, mildly erotic hand-colored prints...", "...bowdlerized versions of garage calendar pin-ups and sadomasochist entertainments...", "...contrived set-ups and sappy facial expressions...", and finally he was described by Ansel Adams as alternately the "Devil", and "the anti-Christ.""

The man was vilified. (my words) :-(

One of his ghastly creatures ... I find it interesting
that Fay Wray gave credit to her success and discovery
to Mortensen.  He traveled with her as an escort to Hollywood.   Fourteen year old Wray
was a friend of his sister's.





A beautiful face ... I suspect this one may be one of his
enhanced photographs.  It could also be
an illustration.

The Warlock



The Salvador Dali clock theme.



Jean Harlow



Mary Duncan (1895-1993) American actress. 
She died at the age of 97.
Photo made in 1920 by Mortensen. 





Love this one, too.





One of Mortensen's illustrations.
That nose ... why is this man smiling?

I can think of two possible reasons. 

(I don't know a symbol for a smirking smile)

(or downright FEAR!)



This one is entitled, "Fear".  I can see some airbrushing
techniques in the folds of the veil -like material
 in this one.

Another Jean Harlow portrait

Was this man ever ahead of the time!  Look around us today in this digital age of photography.
Recent years have brought praise for Mortensen's development of manipulation techniques and a renewed interest in his work.



Some of my old Marshall's Photo Oil Colors.  I have hung
on to them all these years.



Thank you all so much for spending a little time here with me.

Thinking Out Loud

Yesterday Clint looked outside to our backyard and said,
"Look at that cloud!"  I grabbed my camera and snapped
some pictures within seconds.  I wish I could have captured exactly
what we saw at first.  There were some dark streaks in the brightest
part of the opening.  I really love the rays shooting down from it.

Good afternoon, friends ... hope every one's Monday is off to a good start.  Last week Clint developed a cold and now I have it.  Last night we decided on nachos, made at home of course. These simple nachos proved to be a little more labor intensive than we had expected. Next time I will make our favorite Hot Ole Dip, it is baked and has been a favorite of ours for years. It truly is more simple, delicious and very filling. We watched the Super Bowl and I have a confession to make: I am an alien.  I don't really care about sports and don't have much interest in them at all. Clint calls the sports section of the paper my "fish wrapper".  Clint also says a woman who is knowledgeable about sports is considered sexy by other men. I guess I will just keep my mouth shut in the company of other men when the topic of sports arises. ☺ To me, a man who can quote Shakespeare is considered sexy ... I don't know about other women.


Yesterday morning we watched Charles Stanley.  I did some research online on how to glue canvas on particle board or Masonite. I am preparing to paint my oil painting of the Smoky Mountains. I headed to Lowe's yesterday afternoon to buy a piece of particle board. It is so frustrating to not be able to get help at this store. The worst part was having trouble breathing with this cold and walking through the long aisles of dusty broken cement bags, exposed insulation packages and saw dust. This would have to be such an unhealthy environment for working.  I had to walk all the way up front and have someone call for help and walk all the way to the very back of the store to meet the guy. Luckily he cut the piece perfectly for me, it fits the frame. I had to buy the whole piece, there was no way I felt like carrying the huge heavy piece that was left over, it had to have been about 5' by 6'. I asked the guy if I could leave it there and he said that would be okay, that he could use it himself for remodeling his garage. That was good to hear.







The labor-intensive leftover nachos thrown together today for lunch.





Also, yesterday I received a very exciting email concerning a blog topic. It came out of the blue.  I hope it works out that I can write this blog very soon.  Those of you who know me will understand my excitement when you see what I share on this blog post.


Believe it or not, I have some blog drafts I have been working on and will have a new one posted tomorrow. We both have have been enjoying our bird watching.  Birds are so entertaining and I could watch them forever.  This morning we saw an Eastern Towhee flitting around on the ground.

Eastern Towhee

In my last few posts I realize I have been a bit of a drama queen, an undesirable trait.  Then I got all torn up about the painting I wrote about in the previous post, my painting Lonely Times, which may have perished in the Nashville flood of 2010 at the Opryland Hotel.

One more thought I could have added to the list of memories associated with that painting was on that snowy afternoon we dropped off the paintings for the competition, we made another stop in Nashville before heading for home. That afternoon was the only time my daughter ever saw her grandmother.

It has occurred to me this painting was more about memories instead of paper, wood, paint and glass.  All those memories were so tied up in that painting. Also, I was not counting my blessings.

The day of the flood, I was returning to Texas from Knoxville.  I had driven to Tennessee from Texas, the longest distance I'd ever driven alone. We had discussed and debated going through Nashville instead of the more southern route.  I chose the southern route and missed being on the roads during the Nashville flood.  It was bad enough driving in storms that day through Louisiana, I called Clint in a panic to have him look at the weather to see if I was driving near a tornado. We also missed being in the Tuscaloosa tornado while moving here by less than 24 hours. Whew!

My online friend Patti and her husband Stan lost their home and possessions in the Nashville flood. I have not forgotten their story. It's just good that I've survived this past year.

Thank you all for "listening" to me. Also, thank you Facebook friends and blogger friends for your comments on Clint's blog, messages, emails and concerns.

Stay tuned tomorrow for madonnas and monsters ... {;~D)

Searching For Lonely Times

This morning I loved the shadows and light
from our backyard. A fitting photo for a
blog entitled "Lonely Times".



Clint and I have been searching for Lonely Times.  Most times we don't have to go searching for lonely times in our lives, they can arrive when least expected.  The Lonely Times I have been trying to locate is a  painting of mine entitled Lonely Times.  I painted this watercolor painting in 1977.  What a storied past behind this painting!

The entrance to the original main lobby known as
the Magnolia Building where Lonely Times was hung.

• I was inspired to do this painting after seeing an elderly lady looking out her window in my hometown.  I would see her often as I sat in the car at our local grocery store.   
• Lonely Times won Best of Show at our county fair.
• In 1977 I gave Lonely Times to a "friend" as a gift, the "friend" set it aside in his closet in much the same manner he was treating me. I read in the obituaries he passed away a few weeks ago.
• There was a large art show in Knoxville, the "friend" loaned me Lonely Times to enter in the show. The entries had to be for sale and I put what I considered a very large price on the painting so I could return the gift to him after the show.
• Lo and behold, Lonely Times sold!  
• After not receiving the money from the gallery on the sale of the painting, I called and was informed the "buyer" had not come through. That is not the way to do business but it worked okay for me in this chain of events regarding Lonely Times.  I brought Lonely Times home and had ended the relationship with the "friend" during those previous weeks. 
• Lonely Times won a $100 best media award at the Dulin Gallery Art Show in Knoxville.  There were over 600 works of art entered and the painting won one of four awards.
• I entered Lonely Times and another piece in a major statewide competition for Tennessee Art to hang in the Opryland Hotel. in Nashville. This was during the winter of 1977. 
• My sister drove us to enter my work---my mom, daughter and me to Nashville during a snow storm.  She turned at an exit and we slid into a circle.  Very scary, we ended up having to buy chains for the car.
• Lonely Times was purchased as part of the Tennessee collection and was hung in the original main lobby of the Opryland Hotel, in front of Rachel's Kitchen.  This building is called the Magnolia Building of the Opryland Hotel.  
• I made a new friend and learned the woman in the painting was my friend's grandmother!  My friend Joan and I saw the painting together and she and her family were happy about the inspiration involving their loved one. 
• I received a call from a woman who said she just had to have Lonely Times. I explained it belonged to the hotel, etc.  Another time I did a commission for a similar painting and it was delivered to the purchaser by a university president. :-)
• Tom Griscom, Vice-President of WSM Radio,  would call me occasionally to inquire about any new paintings I had completed.  Tom was a judge in the competition and really liked my Lonely Times.
• Lonely Times has hung in the hotel for decades, I would love it when local people from my town would tell me they saw it.  There was a lucite plaque under it with my name and the name of the painting.  Every time I would go to Nashville, I would want to visit my painting. I had not seen it since the last time Clint and I went back in the early 2000s.   



Tom Griscom, Vice-President of WSM Radio,  had been with the station
since 1950 and was head of the Opry's broadcast operations.
He called me several times after the purchase of the painting
to inquire about my latest paintings.  He was fond of Lonely Times
and was a judge in the competition.

Clint and I on our way to see Lonely Times after many years.  The grounds there
at the hotel
are beautiful.

There are 50,000 tropical plants over nine acres in the Garden Conservatory at
the Opryland Hotel.
There is a indoor lake, a river and waterfalls.

The Opryland Hotel is out of this world!  We made these pictures
when we were there in January.



An old newspaper clipping dated Sunday, March 26, 1978.



My painting in the catalog ...



Detail from the catalog ...



Awarded a best media award, $100 at the Dulin Gallery
in 1977.  There were four awards with over 600 entries.

One of the best pictures of the painting taken by my dad and step-mother in the 1980s.



My sister and I attended a reception at the hotel honoring
the artists.  This picture was made April 2, 1978.

(I was goin' through my Edy Williams phase with that hair!
Also, ignore dark splotches on photo on my face
that in real life are not on my face :-))

Clint and I never found my painting, Lonely Times.  We walked and walked and searched and searched.  We inquired of some employees and had one nice woman make some calls and still there was no word on Lonely Times. We have also Googled and Googled.  This afternoon I called a number at the hotel and spoke with a woman about the paintings.  I told her where my painting was hanging.  She told me the painting was hanging in an area that was most damaged by the Nashville flood of 2010. She said it quite possibly could have been destroyed.  I had not expected to be so emotional when she told me this and apologized to her.

I've cried and cried ...

Wordy and Whimsical Wednesday

A few days ago I had mentioned that I would be back and tell about how I had saved someones life.  Monday Clint and I went to pick up his repaired computer, a distance of about 30 miles.  While we

were in this town, I visited my mom for a few minutes.  Mom was very happy to see me and we visited for

a few minutes while she had her lunch delivered to her room.  The curtain was drawn between mom and her roommate.  As I was about to pass the curtain to leave, I was hearing a strange sound coming from the woman and noticed the woman next to mom had her head hanging over and appeared to be choking. I ran out to the hall for help and then had to call for more help from the nurses station.  As far as I know, the woman survived and I don't think my

mother ever really understood what was going on next to her.

Oh, I had mentioned in one of the previous blogs about feeling very sorry for a patient there at the facility where my mom lives.  This man was wearing very ratty and dingy looking pants and I had wondered if he didn't have any better or perhaps he was "attached" to this pants for some sentimental reason. I am happy to

report I saw him Monday and he was very well dressed in some black pants and matching shirt. I gave him a big hello and smiled at him.  He did the same.

☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼

Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs with "Too Slim" of The Riders in the Sky.
Friday, January 13, 2012.  I made this photo when we
visited the Opry.

On the morning we were driving home from Nashville to Knoxville, we were headed south on the interstate and passed an older Cadillac. I glanced over at the driver and thought he resembled Eddie Stubbs. I mentioned that the driver looked like Eddie Stubbs and Clint replied, "Yes, dear". After we passed
the Cadillac I turned around in the seat to look again and was even more convinced it was Eddie Stubbs.  Another "yes, dear" from Clint.
A few days later Clint was Googling a bio of Eddie Stubbs. Sure enough, Eddie drives a 1996 Black Cadillac Fleetwood.  ☺

                It was Eddie Stubbs!

  ☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼



Portrait of Alex, my last grandson portrait that I've drawn.  Alex
is Clint's grandson and is a senior in high school.


Clint's daughter Debbie called me last night
and it made me happy to know she was surprised
and  pleased with her gift!  I completed
this last week and mailed it to Debbie
who lives out of state.



Reference photo used for Alex's portrait.

☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼

I've been busy working on some blog drafts and will  be back on before long.  I want to leave you with the "insanity" part of this post.  Years ago I had bought this little chicken you are about to see.  Today Clint did a blog on it and I helped him with the setting and photos.  We have this little game where we hide the little chick in unexpected places. She had been put away during Christmas and the other day I found her and brought her out for more fun and games.  Yes, I know ... one has to be a little careful about using humor but I can't help it ... I am sick enough to laugh at what we did with the little chick.  I "borrowed" (STOLE) three photos of the chick from Clint's blog post today. The following captions are totally in Clint's words: 

They had to take it breech

OMG!!!!



I caught her using my computer on the website
 dateachick.com





☼☼☼☼☼☼☼☼






Thank you all for your time on my blog.  ☺





Music City U.S.A.



Us in front of the infamous Tootsie's Orchid Lounge.  It was Clint's first
time to experience Tootsie's.
January 13, 2012





Clint planned a surprise weekend trip for me a few weeks ago.  We
were on our way to Nashville to see the Grand Ole Opry!



Window shopping ... ♫ how much is that torso in the window,
the one with the ...  ♫

The Nashville skyline as we arrived Friday afternoon
on January 13, 2012.

Clint in the lobby of the Marriott Courtyard on West End,
we were pleased with the hotel.  We're
waiting for the shuttle to take us to the Ryman.



Conversation overheard at this traffic light:  "Clint, get back into
this shuttle!  You have no business going into "Larry's place!"









Approaching Broadway on Friday evening, January 13, 2012



Clint trying to upstage Elvis!

One could hardly move in Tootsie's,
including Clint.

I made this photo inside the old original Ryman.  I was reminded once again
we were watching a live radio show.  It was interesting to see all the
activity behind the scenes.

I kept thinking Broadway has a Bourbon Street atmosphere to it.
The crowds were wonderful to see, when I lived in Nashville in
1974 I can remember this area being empty.

Who could give a warmer welcome than
Minnie Pearl and Hank Williams!

The Rolls Royce of country singers, Connie Smith.

Vince Gill

Ricky Skaggs

Enjoyed seeing the old photos and albums
in this old shop.



Clint had made reservations for dinner at the Stockyard.  In the early 2000s, we had
really enjoyed eating there and I especially enjoyed the singer in the lounge there.  Clint started
reading recent reviews and was shocked by what he read.  We canceled the reservations
and ate at Demo's instead.  We beat the crowd that extended around the corner.

Saturday as we headed back to the hotel, I thought this was the most
 beautiful scene from Broadway looking toward West End Avenue.

We had the most wonderful time.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

When I wrote my previous blog yesterday and clicked on "Publish Post", I was thinking it might just spiral down the cyberspace black hole without anyone reading it.  Thank you all for your visits and reading my posts! I am doing okay. I am reading all your blog posts, not yours Ginny because you don't have one ... yet. :~)  Before I started this blog post today, I was not going to do anymore "woe is me" posts right now.  As life would have it, something happened today that was unbelievable.  After I got back into the car with Clint this afternoon, I was a little shaky/sick and was telling Clint what I had just experienced. (Clint's first response was 'good blog material') It had not quite dawned on me  what had just happened until Clint reminded me and said:  You just saved a woman's life.

I did, this afternoon I saved a woman's life!  I will tell about this next time I write, I may leave this Nashville post up for a day or two. Take care and thanks again for your visits.