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An example of Harold Cleworth's paintings, Depicts
a Customized 1950's Mercury. (Image source: telegraph.co.uk)
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As both Men have simply chipped away at their
profession...
Otay, so it's a 'Wee Bit of a Stir-retch. But
in honour of today being Cinco de Mayo, I'm going a different route than past
years here in Nofendersville.
As I listened to two articles about Artists
upon my NFB Newsline for The Blind telephone service recently, that I found
most appealing. One regarding a still struggling Artist, and another who's
apparently made it, albeit they're both foreign to Mwah.
As the first is Manuel Lopez, who
began Drawing at an early age, when he competed with his sister over who could
draw the best Trix Rabbit. And when he was eight years old, first discovered
those East L.A. Hills that would ultimately become his future landscapes.
In High School,
he began having friends pay him for Artwork
of various subjects, along with discovering the famous Mexican Artist Frida Kahlo, for
which he promptly became engrossed in.
Attending the "Windy City's" Art
Institute of (Chicago, Lopez became somewhat disillusioned, when students asked
him why he would paint a Psychedelic Unicorn flying thru a Storm of Glitter in
Outer Space? As Manuel liked working in bright Pinks, Green and Blue Hues which
reminded him of home.
As naturally Lopez felt Offended over being
Chastised for not doing traditional Latino Artwork, when others critiqued his
work as not being from his Culture, Whatever that means, Ci?
Returning home to Los Angeles, Lopez
initially Quit Art, before finding work as a Teacher's Assistant for East Los
Angeles College Art Courses. Before ultimately returning to those Boyhood Hills
of East L.A. which now serves as his
current Artwork inspiration...
Then next how could I resist a story about an
Automotive Artist? Especially since the catalyst for the story, was the
author's having purchased a 6X8-inch print of a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso as a 'Wee
lad in Bloody England.
Fast forwarding some four decades later, and
the stories' author having relocated to Los Angeles, he struck up a Casual conversation
with an Ex-Pat named Harold on Venice Beach when Dog Walking, who told him he
liked painting Cars. Later Harold showed him a book containing some of his Artwork,
which included that exact same Ferrari 250 GT Lusso.
Ironically, Venice Beach is where Manuel Lopez got his inspiration for his Unicorn painting after seeing various "Surfer Vans" there.
While the renown artist's name is Harold Cleworth, although his formal name is Harold James Cleworth. He's just one more famous Automotive Artist I've never heard of, but it sounds like he's a Fantastic Painter, now in his late 70's, but having NO desire to stop painting Classic Cars anytime soon.
And it's pretty Cool that the author who
penned the story, got a total surprise
from his wife for his 50th Birthday, when he was presented with a Cleworth
original of his classic 1967 Mercury Cougar XR7 GT!
And as 'Ol Stevie
Gee-Tar' Miller once Crooned:
"I'm gonna Buy
Me a Mercury,
Drive Up 'N Down
these Hills,
'Cause I'm Crazy
'bout Mercurys!"
Now Somebody Give
Me A Cheeseburger!