Terry Frost Paintings

Terry Frost, Green Movement, 1953, oil on board, 29.5 x 48 in., Bonhams, England

Terry Frost, Green, Black and White Movement, 1951, oil on canvas, 43 x 33.5 in., Tate Collection

Terry Frost, Pink Quay, 1956, oil on board, 91.5 x 41 in., National Galleries of Scotland

Terry Frost, Black and White Movement on Blue and Green II, 1951, 44 x 34 in., National Galleries of Scotland

Terry Frost, Red And Blue Harbour, 1954-1955, 24 x 30 in., Christie's, London (sold for $25,379 in 2003)

Terry Frost, Blue and Green, 1952, oil on canvas, 20 x 30 in, Jonathan Clark & Co., London

Terry Frost, Red, Blue and Black, 1965, 18 x 14 in., Bonhams, England (sold for £14,400 in 2006)

Terry Frost, Red, Black & White, Winter, 1956, oil on board, 48 x 37.5 in., Richard Green, London

Terry Frost, Blue Harbour, 1953, 26 x 42 in., Sotheby's, London (sold for £121,250 in 2010)

Terry Frost, Walking Down the Quay St Ives, 1954, Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University

Terry Frost, Madrigal, 1949, oil on canvas, 28 x 35.75 in., Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, England. This is recorded as Terry's first successful abstract painting, based on the poem Madrigal by W. H. Auden.

Terry Frost in his studio, circa 1960's.  Photo: Gilbert Adams

Sir Terry Frost, RA. Photo: Andrew Dunkley

While Terry Frost is well known for his brightly colored abstracts, I tend to like his subdued-color painterly pieces the best.  Above is a selection of some of my favorites.

Terrance Ernest Manitou Frost (1915-2003) was born in Leamington Spa, England on October 13, 1915.  While serving as a British Army Commando during WWII, he was captured and held as a POW from 1941-1945. During his imprisonment, he was encouraged to begin painting by Adrian Heath, an artist and fellow prisoner. With no art supplies, he had to make due with what was available; he used oil from cans of sardines to make paint, horse hair to make brushes and a pillowcase suited as a canvas. After the war he pursued his newfound passion for art and attended Camberwall School of Arts and Crafts where he studied under Victor Pasmore from 1947-1950.  Following Victor's encouragement to pursue abstract art, Terry painted Madrigal in 1949 (see painting above).  Many of Terry's pieces were inspired by scenes from his walks along the quay in St Ives where he had lived; The semi-circle motif so often seen in his works, is a representation of the many boats seen during these walks. He taught at various academies and universities from 1952 till the 1980's. He was Knighted in 1998, hence the name "Sir" Terry Frost.  He passed away on September 1, 2003.  

If you would like more info on Sir Terry Frost. Click here and here.

Motorola's Modern Visions

Motorola's ads from the 1960's were amazing.  They had this sense of hope for what the future would bring, full of idyllic images of leisure, extravagance and bliss; of course with the television at the center of it all. They perfectly captured the mid-century modern architectural theme of "Bringing the outdoors in", with expansive pavilion-like rooms and large glass windows that blend the boundaries between interior and exterior space.  Continue the visual journey below.

If you enjoyed looking at these images as much as I did, then you need to head over to James Vaughan's X-Ray Delta One flickr page, where you can find these and many more like them; but make sure you've got the time as you will surely find yourself spending hours there!

Evelyn Ackerman Mosaics

(Top Left)  Hot Bird #201, 1957, 37 x 13 in.,  LA Modern

(Top Center)  Bird #202, 1957, 37 x 13 in.,  LA Modern

(Top Right)  Partridge #101, 1957, 37 x 13 in.,  LA Modern

(Middle Left)  Birds in a Cage, 1958,  LA Modern

(Middle Center) Juggler, 1955, 31 x 11 in.,  Reform Gallery

(MIddle Right)  Byzantia Night, 1958, 37 x 12.75 in.,  LA Modern (sold in 2010 for $2,000)

(Bottom Left)  Adhara, 1958, 60 x 13 in.,  LA Modern (sold in 2009 for $2,000)

(Bottom Center) Puerta, 1959, 48.5 x 13 in.,  LA Modern (sold in 2010 for $3,750)

(Bottom Right) Abstract Compostion, 1950's, 60.5 x 12.75 in.,  Treadway Gallery

Evelyn Ackerman, Rain, 1955,  Private collection

Evelyn Ackerman, Sagittarius, 1950's,  Objects USA

Evelyn Ackerman, Leo, 1950's,  Objects USA

Evelyn Ackerman, abstract #403, 1950's, 31 x 11 in.,  LA Modern

Evelyn Ackerman, Ellipses, 1958, 60.5 x 12.75 in.,  LA Modern (sold in 2008 for $2,600)

Evelyn Ackerman, Pennants, 1958,  Ackerman Modern

Evelyn Ackerman, Mermaid, 1957,  via Urban Picker blog. Thanks Tracy!

Evelyn Ackerman, Vikings, 1950's, 48.5 x 12.75 in.

Evelyn Ackerman, Gallant Horse #506, 1958, 37 x 17 in., LA Modern (sold in 2009 for $1,800)

Evelyn Ackerman, Horse, 1950's, 28.5 x16.5 in.

Evelyn Ackerman building mosaics at the Jenev Design Studio, 1950's. Photo: Milton Lipton

Evelyn Ackerman outside the Jenev Design Studio, Los Angeles, 1950's.  Photo: Bob Buckman

Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman were prolific artisans who virtually defined Mid-Century Modern home decor. The husband and wife team decided to go into business after attending a modern design exhibition in 1949, where they encountered the design duo of Charles and Ray Eames. Jerome recalls, "If the Eames can do it, why can't we?"; so they opened the Jenev Design Studio (a combination of their names) in West Los Angeles. They began producing slip-cast ceramics and eventually expanded their offering to include a  wide variety of home decor and architectural elements. The business name changed to ERA Industries in 1956. 

While they worked in a variety of media such as wood, metal and textile, my favorite has to be Evelyn's mosaics. Evelyn began creating mosaic panels and tables in 1955 after seeing a mosaic piece at an exhibition in San Francisco. In order to allow her to focus on design and keep up with demand, they established a workshop in Mexico that would build the mosaics.  She would create a full sized drawing and color reference chart for each design and send it to the workshop to be produced. Today her mosaic panels are highly sought after, selling for thousands of dollars at auction. If you are interested in learning more about this quintessential Mid-Century design team check out their website here.

Blenko Graphics

I love this illustration by the great Charley Harper for Blenko.

Here are some of my favorite vintage Blenko catalog covers (click for larger pics).  The 1953 illustration looks like it was done by Robert Lyons, who was known for his wood veneer art pieces sold by the Franklin Picture Frame Co..  The others, especially the 1958 cover look like they may have been done by Ben Shahn?