Strut your stuff
Posted: 15 May 2012 Filed under: Inspiration, Rona | Tags: ACDC, animals, art, Crazy Daisy, dogs, Labrador Retriever, linocuts, Norman Sailor Jerry Collins, prints, Rona Green, The Duke, Theodor 2 Comments
‘People tend to forget that play is serious.’
Portrait of David Hockney by Andy Warhol
Theodor is one of my favourite prints that I have made.
For me he encapsulates the essence of a cheeky guy up for a bit of fun.
Rona Green, Theodor, 2008, linocut, ink & watercolour, 76 x 56 cm, edition 13
Theodor was inspired by an eclectic mix of things I fancy:
These little fella’s pictured are from the Guide Dogs Victoria website.
A couple of my relatives had Labradors for pets and I adored playing with them.
Labrador Retriever’s being serious
2. AC/DC
One of the best rock and roll bands ever.
They were fronted fantastically by the swanky Bon Scott, from 1974-1980, until his unfortunate demise.
The awesome AC/DC
The ballsy Bon Scott
3. Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins.
Master tattooist and all round purveyor of cool.
The spectacular Sailor Jerry
Tasty Sailor Jerry flash
After Theodor was finished I thought he needed a gang so I made him some friends – Crazy Daisy and The Duke.
Rona Green, Crazy Daisy, 2008, linocut, ink & watercolour, 76 x 56 cm, edition 13
Rona Green, The Duke, 2008, linocut, ink & watercolour, 76 x 56 cm, edition 13
A pretty smooth crew if I do say so myself!
Well hello, sailor!
Posted: 12 March 2012 Filed under: Rona | Tags: art, artists, Charlie Sheen, David Bowie, Dusty Rhodes, Herman Melville, inspiration, Jean Genet, Jean Paul Gaultier, Norman Sailor Jerry Collins, Otto Griebel, Paul Klee, pets, sailors, Tom of Finland 4 Comments
Savvy old school sailors
‘The fame of heroes owes little to the extent of their conquests and all to the success of the tributes paid to them.’
– Jean Genet (1910-1986)
Portrait of Jean Genet by Richard Avedon
I have a bit of a soft spot for sailors.
Rona Green, Rusty Steel, 2009, linocut, ink & watercolour, 38 x 28 cm, edition 13
Several of my pictures salute the sailor man including Greasy Rhys, as well as his mates Rusty Steel and Topsy Turner.
Rona Green, Topsy Turner, 2009, linocut, ink & watercolour, 38 x 28 cm, edition 13
Part of the inspiration for these works is the flash of master tattoo artist, Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins.
Norman 'Sailor Jerry' Collins (1911-1973)
An example of Sailor Jerry tattoo flash
I am certainly not alone in my admiration of the sailor – other fans include:
Herman Melville, author.
Friedrick Ledebur as Queequeg in the 1956 movie adaptation of the 1851 novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Jean Genet, novelist, playwright, poet, essayist and political activist.
Querelle of Brest by Jean Genet
Otto Griebel, artist.
Otto Griebel, Ship Boilerman, 1920, oil on canvas
Paul Klee, artist and musician.
Paul Klee, Sinbad the Sailor, 1928, watercolour on paper
David Bowie, renaissance man.
Aye aye, David Bowie!
Tom of Finland, artist.
Tom of Finland, Sailors, 1985, pencil on paper
Jean Paul Gaultier, fashion designer.
Advertisement for Jean Paul Gaultier's 'Le Male'
One of the things that particularly tickles my fancy about Navy culture is sailors nicknames.
Crew mates are given monikers such as ‘Chalky’ White, ‘Nosey’ Parker and ‘Smokey’ Cole.
John 'Dusty' Rhodes and Bindie
The following print is a tribute to my great uncle, John ‘Dusty’ Rhodes (and it’s a tip of the hat to Bindie as well!).
Rona Green, Dusty Rhodes, 2011, linocut, ink & watercolour, 76 x 56 cm, edition 23
You may have noticed the 8 balls on Dusty’s hands – these are a reference to the character Bean, in the movie Cadence.
Charlie 'Bean' Sheen (pictured left) in Cadence
It’s time for me to sail away so i’ll leave you in the capable hands of Turbonegro, performing their song Sailor Man…
And here’s a bonus sailor:
A hirsute seafarer
Hold fast!
Rona Green 