The ominous back storyhere

In front of a condo downtown beside a Starbucks, not the most appropriate home for this beauty.

Walking around on the weekend around the neigborhood.

Tonights viewing was PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1945). Directed by Albert Lewin who I think did some really interesting films especially PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN. This version of the classic Oscar WIlde story is my favourite on film that I've seen. George Sanders is terrific as always. I'm halfway through a Aubrey Beardsley biography so I had a hankering to rewatch it.

Another relaxing movie sketch page this time viewing THE MAD MISS MANTON. A goofy screwball whodunit from 1938 with Barbara Stanywyck and her sleuth'n crew of beautiful society dames who do a good job of beating up reporter Henry Fonda and solving the case. Lots of zinger lines and beautiful cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca photographing the fur-clad ladies in gorgeous black and white.
First time I've seen this movie and and I got a big kick out of it. .

various older scribbles,

Saddened to hear of the passing of Ronald Searle today at 91. An artist whose work has been and will continue to be a huge inspiration and bring joy to my life. Searle's draughtsmanship was incredible and combined with his outre, dark sense of humour that pushed graphic exaggeration into far-out places produced work that has inspired generations of artists from across fields. I find his drawings as a prisoner of war during world war 2 powerful and moving and his ability to laugh, make ridiculous and celebrate all aspects of mankind a amazing body of work. Tho I have my favourite periods, he is one of those artists whose powers seemed undiminished over time and never stopped producing memorable images.
R. I. P.

I never got to meet him but a treasured item that I posted earlier is this note from him and a champagne cork that my friend Matt Jones got for me during one of his visits with him. Thanks Matt.

Island of Lost Souls

First sketchbook drawing of the year is from ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, one of my favourite 30's horror movies. Charles Laughton is a brilliant Dr. Moreau and Bela Lugosi a expressionistic beast-man is great fun to watch. Criterion released the movie recently with lots of fun extras including interviews with two members of Devo who took the Law of the beastmen as part of their title for their first album.

Happy New Year everyone! Hope everyone had a great night last night. Alison and I had a some close friends over for a little seafood chow down including lobster tails, scallops, prawns and shrimps plus some bubbly. Elvis's King Creole (and others of his sixties records) was the soundtrack.
Thanks for visiting Hypnotik Eye and lets see what the upcoming Year of the Dragon holds... more drawing and seafood I'm sure.

doodlin..

Card for my niece..

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and Super Solstice folks...