Blanch Ackers African-American Artist from Arkansas, Michigan.

Blanch Ackers moved from Arkansas to near Detroit, Michigan in 1943. In 1985 she found employment in a Foster Grandparent program and was introduced to art by Christine Hennessay, an art teacher. She was over 70 years of age when her first drawings were produced. Essentially "memory paintings" the work reflects strongly the African-American experience in the Southern United States where she spent her childhood. Blanch Ackers passed in 2003 at the age of 88. Ms. Ackers has a wikipedia entry, and her works are held by the University of Michigan Art Museum Blanch Ackers. Five untitled drawings, c.1990 Collection Jim Linderman

True Crime Dull Tool Dim Bulb. Lurid Drawings by a Young Woman Underworld True Crime Stories

Two lurid drawings by a young woman in 1947. These come from an album of original art (and a few tracings?) with the initials M.R. Lets assume these two weren't drawn from life. There were dozens of true crime pulps during the era, although most confused "true" with "fiction." Dad must have had these issues around, but Mom surely read them.

Back to School Drawings. Students from the 1950s draw the Family at Dinner collection Jim Linderman

Well, the assignment is "My Family at Dinner" and the paper is manilla. I like to think of these drawings as being on the cusp of perspective. Being only an amateur scholar of children's art, I can't evaluate these much, but it appears ta few of the artists might need a bit of attention. C. 1950 Children's drawings from a classroom, ages up to 11 years old. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

At the Circus. Vintage photographs of Circus Performers and Trainers from the Jim Linderman Collection

Most of these antique circus photographs have appeared on the Dull Tool Dim Bulb blog before, each with a story and some documentation. This post is just to look. Various 19th and 20th century circus photographs Collection Jim Linderman

Antique American Folk Art Drawing Woman with Umbrella Anonymous late 19th Century Collection Jim Linderman

Courtesy the wonderful online shop CRITICAL EYE FINDS The site has beautiful and unique Items of interest to anyone who enjoys this blog! Folks are always asking where I find things? Critical Eye Finds is now one! Nice items, great photos and a transparent,fascinating pricing strategy. The inventory is selected by Kate Hackman, who has a strong fine art background. MUCH recommended! Antique American Folk Art Drawing Woman with Umbrella Anonymous late 19th Century Collection Jim Linderman CRITICAL EYE FINDS is HERE

Arthur S. Mole The Nine O'Clock Hour of Prayer or the Living Clock Hour of Prayer Mass Panorama 1915 RPPC Collection Jim Linderman

The Living Clock is a lesser known "mass panorama" photograph staged and photographed by Alfred S. Mole in 1915. This real photo postcard was mailed from Zion, Illinois the same year. I don't offhand find much about the piece, but Zion was a religious hotbed in the early 20th Century. Real Photo Postcard The Nine O'Clock Hour of Prayer or the Living Clock Hour of Prayer collection Jim Linderman Books and Ebooks by Jim Linderman are available HERE at Blurb.com. Scroll to see five books available.

Folk Art Handmade Postcard Teddy the Bear dated 1908

Folk Art Handmade Postcard Teddy the Bear dated 1908 Felt with cut paper letters and a hand painted applique. Collection Jim Linderman

Meet the Beatles Amateur Fan Drawings

Group of four (of course) amateur drawings of the Beatles. Anonymous. dated 1968. Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Outsider Art from The Seaside Psychiatric Hospital in Waterford Ct circa 1950-1970

Tempura or watercolor paintings on paper said to have been produced by a patient at the now abandoned Seaside psychiatric hospital in Waterford, Ct. I don't know about that, but they are very interesting. Group of paintings by F. Jennings circa 1950 - 1970. Collection Jim Linderman

Shopping for Pueblo Pottery Roadside Vendor Original Photograph c. 1930 collection Jim Linderman

A pair of travelers stop to shop for early 20th Century Pueblo Pottery of unknown tribal affiliation. The enlarged photo might allow someone to identify the pots for sale. Original Photograph collection Jim Linderman

A curious Folk Art Watercolor Painting c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

A curious Folk Art Watercolor Painting c. 1900, likely from Pennsylvania. On scrap paperfound in a scrap book. Anonymous. Collection Jim Linderman

Young girl in a foreboding Background Foreground Backdrop vintage photograph

Quite a photo setting...a wonderful photograph sent here for my birthday from a collector who has a better eye then I! It looks scary, but she's not alone. There are three other photos showing Mom, Dad and all three together. Vintage snapshot, no date. Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

African-American Yard Show Outsider Art Folk Art Environment Assemblage Art Alabama c. 1993

Original photographs of a previously undocumented African-American Yard Show taken in the early 1990's by Mary Klein and Jim Linderman. The gentleman who built the environment, which was nearly as tall as his garage, is today unknown. Somewhere in Alabama, lost in the past. Dull Tool Dim Bulb the Blog.