Antique folk art sculpture Man with a Cap with Original Blue Paint and a Tin Visor. Collection Jim Linderman

Antique folk art sculpture Man with a Cap with Original Blue Paint and a Tin Visor. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Cedar Creek Charlie Fields Folk Art Sculptures from a long lost folk art environment and the book by Elinor Lander Horwitz Contemporary American Folk Artists

Three remaining folk art sculptures made by Cedar Creek Charlie. There aren't too many of them around. Of course, Mr. Fields is one of the earliest 20th century yard art creators. I've done a few posts over the years on Charlie as it was a friend of mine who paid the rights to salvage (and save) significant portions of his house. By the time they got to it the place had been ravaged by vandals. So much so that in 1990, when the Rosenak encyclopedia of American Folk Art was published, they wrote "Probably only about ten objects from the whole house and his environment survive." One if them, the "Polka--Dotten Crucifiction" wasn't even made by Charlie. It was made by a prisoner and Charlie only added the polka dots. So, they were wrong. On the other hand, I recently bought a copy of the Elinor Lander Horwitch book Contemporary American Folk Artists for the third time. Both my other copies were lost while moving. It's still available as an out-of-print book for less then ten bucks if one is patient. There have been numerous writings on Charlie but this one is still the best. No errors...and she faithtully shares pictures of both the place and the Museum of Appalachia collection. There were ten objects by Charlie there alone. I guess the Rosenaks missed them. Contemporary American Folks Artists remains a VERY entertaing survey from the earliest days of discovering these self-taught geniuses. I later learned her son was the late Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tony Horwitz and the mother of journalist Geraldine Brooks! So, the objects here were "insiders" in that that were installed in Charlie's house rather than spread out in the yard. The yard, which originally included a Ferris Wheel, a giant airplane and functioning Polka-dot Beehouses, was trashed. Howard Campbell and Marcus King preserved much of the exterior including the famous front door. For some revealing photographs of Charlie's yard, see SUSAN CHANDLER'S FIND A GRAVE post HERE Three objects by Cedar Creek Charlie Fields c. 1950 - 1960. (Sign Holder jar, repurposed Ball jar and Talcum power cannister. Tallest 20". Collection Jim Linderman Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Greenback Castle Fortress of Faith in Tennessee : An Excursion by Jacob the Carpetbagger

For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to come upon a magical "Folk Art Enviroment" as they are called, the spiritual construction of Floyd Bankes Junior fits the bill. Brought to you by Jacob the Carpetbagger, a most cordial and genial host. Jacob is closing in on a half million youtube followers. He brings his trademark indefatigable excitment to this place you have to see. I hate to crib content from his film, I hope he doesn't mind me sharing. I have been a fan for a long time, and his post of April 12, 2022 is, for our purposes exactly the thrill one expects to see! Follow him, support him and subscribe. You'll get a postcard from him once a month if you conribute to his Patreon Channel. I don't have half the energy for road trips but he does a fine job for me. I'll let his film do the rest of the talking. Words fail me! LINK TO JACOB THE CARPETBAGGER

Antique Folk Art Puppets c.1920 Collection Jim Linderman

Antique Folk Art Puppets c.1920 Collection Jim Linderman

1930's version of HELL in frightful tableau form

Some stealth photographs of Hell! Taken under less than ideal circumstances (flashlight and screen grabs) is this staggering mini-replica of HELL from artist Butch Anthony's collection. Road warrior Carpetbagger first shared these tableaus on a video you have to watch. Carpetbagger is a national treasure, and in his own way so is Butch! These visions were created by a traveling preacher in the 1930s. Whatever the pittance asked for viewing, it was a deal. We have a fine tradition of scaring folks into salvation in this country but these could be the best. The American version of Hieronymus Boshch. WATCH VIDEO

Oh Mercy. Trotsky and Bob Dylan Cover Art

This should interest a few Bob Dylan fans.  The original study for the album art for the Bob Dylan OH MERCY record cover.  It was done by Trotsky, who was a muralist active in New York City's Hell Kitchen neighborhood.  Dylan saw the mural while riding past on his bicycle, and obtained permission to use the painting, which was on the wall of a Chinese restaurant, for the jacket. 

Trotsky was a friend of mine and I obtained this piece, a pastel, from him.  Long ago.  The mural is, of course, long gone...and I sold the piece here long ago as well.  It is now on some other wall, and I hope loved as much as I did.  A wonderful little tribute to Mr. Dylan and the street artist Trotsky.

As you can see, in the original study there was a third person in the work which was the artist.  Some have speculated the painting was a fellow with a gun in his hand, but as you can see in the study, nope.  They were dancing!

The album was released in 1989, and as I recall I was guest at Dylan's Radio City Music Hall that year courtesy Trotsky.  Not only did Dylan's folks pay to use the painting, they gave the artist a few comps.

Original photograph "In Situ" by Jim Linderman 1986. 

BROWSE AND ORDER BOOKS AND $9.99 eBooks by Jim Linderman HERE

Antique Folk Art Sculpture Thresher and Steam Tractor c. 1920 Real Photo Postcard

Someone received a nice giant toy! Antique Folk Art Sculpture Thresher and Steam Tractor c. 1920 Real Photo Postcard Collection Jim Linderman

Test your Kisser

Novelty Lip Tester 1948 Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Drawn Money! Drawn by Hand Bill and the story of J.S.G Boggs

When I received this drawn by hand tenspot from one of my favorite antique finders (as a gift) my thoughts went to one of the greatest contemporary performance artists ever. J.S.G Boggs drew money and spent it! He raised so many questions about the relationshop between money and art that it took New Yorker writer Lawrence Weschler a whole book to explain it. Basically, If Boggs wanted to purchase something for 100 dollars, he would draw a hundred dollar bill and spend it for the item. Arrested several times for counterfiting, I think he squeezed out of most charges. He didn't really sell his work...after "spending" a money drawing he would alert collectors where the transaction took place and it was up to them to track down the "Boggs Bucks" and purchase them back from the person who accepted his work of art in good faith. That is believing the drawing was so good it was equal in value to the object sold. His art was thus not valuable only for the drawn bill, the value was in the transaction. Back in the 1980s I was involved in one! A friend who was working on a profile of Boggs for television told me the artist had just spent five of his dollars for a drink at the Prince Street Bar in Soho, NY. I met the bartender, paid her for the bills (which she was happy to sell back) and received the signed receipt confirming the deal. i also subsequently met the artist himself,and he was crazy smart and interesting. Boggs passed away a few years ago. In retrospect, his "carny" background might have contributed to his oeuvre but he sure could draw good money. During his heyday, I recall hearing he had even purchased a motorcycle for a drawn 5,000 dollar bill! Let's just say he took the concept of Trompe l'oeil to the maximum. The bill here is unfinished and anonymous. I am guessing it dates to the great depression, when all most Americans had was a dream. I won't try to spend it. Read about the remarkable J.S.G Boggs in Weschler's book in Boggs: A Comedy of Values, or check his wikipedia page. A fantastic story by a magical artist and con man. Hand drawn "ten dollor bill" by anonymous, circa 1935? Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Antique Pair of Folk Art Hand Carved Puppet Heads c. 1900 Collection Jim Linderman

Made for each other! A matching pain of puppet heads, carved by hand, circa 1900. Original paint. Collection Jim Linderman

Juvenile Art Trace and Color in Crayon

Anonymous juvenile artist takes instructions literally...and traces the TITLE PAGE! Original page and corresponding traced page from Trace and Color Merrill Publishing 1937 each 11" x 15" Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Three Sober Horses at the Drinking Trough. 19th Century Folk Art Drawing based on 'Three members of the Temperance Society': Three Horses at a Drinking Trough (after J. F. Herring the elder)

I much prefer this lovely folk art drawing to the original. "Three Sober Horses at the Drinking Trough" 19th Century Folk Art Drawing based on 'Three members of the Temperance Society': Three Horses at a Drinking Trough (after J. F. Herring the elder) Original Folk Art Drawing collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb.

Black Jesus Last Supper Outsider Art collection Jim Linderman

Black Jesus Outsider Art. The Last Supper, mid 20th Century. Signed by RAY (unknown)said to be from Virginia. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Antique Original Pencil Drawings from a Stencil Set c. 1890 - 1910

A group we might call a meticulous menagerie. Antique Original Pencil Drawings from a Stencil Set. Drawn by hand on cheap lined paper. Still crisp considering age and acid. They come from a group of over fifty. Finding an original boxed stencil set seems difficult, but I have never seen such a large group of originals. I've cribbed a photo of a similar set from the web. Antique Original Pencil Drawings from a Stencil Set c. 1890 - 1910 Collection Jim Linderman

Bucking Bronco of Colorado RPPC

Circa 1935 real photo postcard. Written on reverse "Here is a picture of the higest bucking in the west. They put rubber hooves on the horse hoofs for an experiment but he got to going so high they had to shoot him to keep him from bucking himself to death. Sworn to by a notary." Real Photo Postcard Colorado circa 1935 Collection Jim Linderman

Antique American Folk Art Drawing c.1900 on a promotional notepad. Collection Jim Linderman

One of a number of original drawings from a Excelsior Stove Company promotional writing pad from the turn of last century. Slighty larger than 3" x 5". It is rather extraordinary that such a small, disposable advertising item from over 100 years ago remains! Antique American Folk Art Drawing by a child. C.1900. Collection Jim Linderman / Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Nyla Gladine Thompson (1927-1969) Texas Outsider Art by a Polio Victim The Landscape Paintings Collection Jim Linderman

Nyla Gladine Thompson was 9 years old when began to suffer infantile paralysis. She began painting at age 13 with a brush held in her mouth. She painted this way for 20 years, becoming well known in the several Texas towns she lived in. Among her fans was first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. These works date to 1955 or so. Nyla Gladine Thompson works in oil, circa 1955 Collection Jim Linderman

Handmade Antique Book in Cyanotype Prussian Blue ! Westinghouse Bowling League 1919 has the Blues

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. Engineers used the process well into the 20th century as a simple and low-cost process to produce copies of drawings, referred to as blueprints. Here the technique is employed to celebrate (and lampoon) the members of the Westinghouse Bowling League 14th annual meeting. The anonymous artist names each member being drawn, and the names are each found on a page reporting their scores. Not so good! While being one of the very first photographic techniques, the cyanotype has a secret skill. Shield them from light, and the color regenerates! These pages are nice and dark! Cyanotype Handmade Book 1919. Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Make-Do Handmade Working Folk Art Duck Decoys with Original Paint c. 1940

A skein, a flock, a gaggle,a raft, a brace...all names for a bunch of ducks. These I call a group of make-do, handemade duck decoys. Cut by hand from tin or actually galvanized steel. Tecnically a group of folk art silhouette decoys with original paint. Make-Do Handmade Working Folk Art Duck Decoys with Original Paint c. 1940 Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb / Jim Linderman