De Berardinis, Olivia. Let Them Eat Cheesecake: The Art of Oliva. Malibu: Ozone Productions, Ltd., 1993. Print.
Yes, I know it's the latest, greatest MLA style up there, and yes, I agree that having to actually write the word "print" for something that should obviously show itself as a bound and printer piece of work is ridiculous, but the MLA changed it, not me.
And now, to the meat of this review! And oh, what a delightfully well-trimmed chunk it is!
I first discovered the beautiful and breath-taking artwork of Oliva De Berardinis and her husband, Joel Beren, back in the early 1990s, as a sophomore at Fairmont State, through my new friends Jennifer and Paxton. Arty and Beat to the core, we drank red wine, imported beer, and wrote poetry and admired artwork in their tiny house tucked behind a bridge, and held many a delightful rent party at the end of each month.
Jennifer was the one who introduced me to Olivia, Bettie Page reprints, and modern-day burlesque.
With delightful drawings of well-muscled, strong women, some wielding whips and some in demure lace sipping from demitasse cups, perhaps my favorite Olivia can be found in the center of the top of page 56, and it is an untitled work, depicting her cat, Buffalo, a Siamese, wrapped around the ankle boot of Olivia's friend, Jennifer (taken from the description notes, page 103).
I first began collecting some of the artwork in this book as trading cards from a comic shop just down the street from Jen and Paxton's house, and for years I have longed to find a copy of this book. The artwork is, of course, impeccable. Beautiful oil and gauche and richly colored, this is everything a modern-day art lover and appreciation of the female form deserves. I'd suggest hitting Amazon for a copy of the book, but if you are interested in following the Divine Ms. O and her artistic musings, I'd suggest checking out her web site,
http://www.eOlivia.com.
Interested in some of the artwork featured in the book, plus the ever-popular much much more? I'd suggest you check out the following YouTube video from pfMaya.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
New Reading Material
My pin-up art books are in. . . 2 are by the incomparable and wonderful Olivia deBerardinis and her husband, Joel Beren, Let Them Eat Cheesecake and a book dedicated entirely to the art and poses of Bettie Page, and a study of Gil Elvgren's work. I'll review them after I've given them more than just a quick glance-through, but I already like what I've seen. Of course, I knew I would, and I hope, dear readers, you will too. Now go enjoy your cheesecake and eat it too! I command it!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Retail Therapy
I'm home today, waiting for a new internet and cable and phone company hook-up after going offline and without phone service for darned near 2 weeks. But that will start a rant, and until my medication kicks in, I don't want to go off on a tangent. You, dear reader, have done nothing wrong, so there is no need for me to swear, shout, vent, or possibly knock your teeth loose. Those morons at Frontier Communications, however. . .
I just bought a lovely, retro-inspired dress at a web site that caters to that sort of thing, and then that wee purchase led to a quick trip to a UK BDSM site which touts an on-going and oft-updated list of their top 100 books on BDSM and all its rather delightful varieties.
I went there because they consistently have 2 books there about the Divine, Beautiful Bettie Page. One book they panned, the other is quite good as it is written along with Bunny Yeager, one of Page's former photographers. This led to me clicking the US Amazon link and picking up, instead, I think, 3 books from pin-up sketch artist Olivia.
I have been a fan of pin-up art since I was in high school and first glimpsed some of the old-fashioned "girly" magazines stashed in my late grandfather's storage area in his garage. I didn't consider it pr0n and I still don't. A majority of the cheesecake available then is still available now, and I'd much rather look at an artist's rendition of a suggestively nude form than what passes for "art" in t3h pr0n industry. I am also a HUGE fan of Gil Elvgren's work, simply because some of his images showcase these wholesome, well-scrubbed, all-american beauties not only in varying positions and filmy lingerie, but also because he sometimes showcased librarians and girls sitting in chairs reading. Perhaps my favorite Elvgren is one in which the female subject is fully clothed in a late-40s style women's skirt-suit, wearing sensibly-heeled shoes and is walking a small Scottish terrier on a breezy autumn day.
A more recent pin-up model who I greatly admire is Ms. Bernie Dexter, delightful retro rockabilly queen who looks remarkable like the late, great Ms. Page.
I have no desire to look like any of these women, but I sure do dig their threads!
I just bought a lovely, retro-inspired dress at a web site that caters to that sort of thing, and then that wee purchase led to a quick trip to a UK BDSM site which touts an on-going and oft-updated list of their top 100 books on BDSM and all its rather delightful varieties.
I went there because they consistently have 2 books there about the Divine, Beautiful Bettie Page. One book they panned, the other is quite good as it is written along with Bunny Yeager, one of Page's former photographers. This led to me clicking the US Amazon link and picking up, instead, I think, 3 books from pin-up sketch artist Olivia.
I have been a fan of pin-up art since I was in high school and first glimpsed some of the old-fashioned "girly" magazines stashed in my late grandfather's storage area in his garage. I didn't consider it pr0n and I still don't. A majority of the cheesecake available then is still available now, and I'd much rather look at an artist's rendition of a suggestively nude form than what passes for "art" in t3h pr0n industry. I am also a HUGE fan of Gil Elvgren's work, simply because some of his images showcase these wholesome, well-scrubbed, all-american beauties not only in varying positions and filmy lingerie, but also because he sometimes showcased librarians and girls sitting in chairs reading. Perhaps my favorite Elvgren is one in which the female subject is fully clothed in a late-40s style women's skirt-suit, wearing sensibly-heeled shoes and is walking a small Scottish terrier on a breezy autumn day.
A more recent pin-up model who I greatly admire is Ms. Bernie Dexter, delightful retro rockabilly queen who looks remarkable like the late, great Ms. Page.
I have no desire to look like any of these women, but I sure do dig their threads!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
The Gift of Fear
I first found this title from my friend Josh's blog over at World's Strongest Librarian. Josh and his gorgeous wife Janette read The Gift of Fear together, making comments to one another and in the margins of their copies. As someone who really enjoys Amazon's deep download discounts for my Kindle, I chose to download my copy. I'm still reading it, but I'll give you my impressions that I've gathered thus far:
1. Violence really can occur anytime at anywhere, but unless the perpetrator really is a psycho, there are some factors that lead up to violent behavior--but you can't be blind to it, like MOST HUMANS ARE.
2. Women get attacked in the country A LOT. Physically, verbally, and mentally, and no, it just isn't through advertising. If you are a mother and you are reading this, PLEASE RAISE YOUR BOY TO BE A BETTER MAN.
3. The mental health facilities in this country really SUCK. So does society's overall social treatment of these people.
4. When it comes to me being me on my own, I'm doing LOTS of stuff RIGHT, kettlebell and heavy weight workouts not withstanding.
I'll give you a full review later, after I've finished it. If you'd like to read what Josh has to say about it, please click here.
1. Violence really can occur anytime at anywhere, but unless the perpetrator really is a psycho, there are some factors that lead up to violent behavior--but you can't be blind to it, like MOST HUMANS ARE.
2. Women get attacked in the country A LOT. Physically, verbally, and mentally, and no, it just isn't through advertising. If you are a mother and you are reading this, PLEASE RAISE YOUR BOY TO BE A BETTER MAN.
3. The mental health facilities in this country really SUCK. So does society's overall social treatment of these people.
4. When it comes to me being me on my own, I'm doing LOTS of stuff RIGHT, kettlebell and heavy weight workouts not withstanding.
I'll give you a full review later, after I've finished it. If you'd like to read what Josh has to say about it, please click here.
Masks--A Review
Evangeline Anderson's short novel Masks first caught my attention because it was a free download from Amazon, and it hinted at D/s.
Brief Plot Synopsis: Zoe is a ProDomme with a twisted ankle, so she asks her shy, retiring, school-teacher twin, Chloe, to stand in for her. Zoe has been keeping secrets about her true Dominant nature (and job) and must nearly twist Chloe's arm to get her to stand in for her. There are three rules Chloe must abide by, however: 1) don't lose control, 2) don't have sex with the client, and 3) NEVER take off the mask.
The meat of the review: Chloe, of course, manages to BREAK all three rules. She DOES lose control, and her "client," Mark, easily gains the upper hand. She DOES have sex with the client, who turns out to be not only dominant and rather vanilla, but is also quite gentle. He requests that she take off her mask, which she eventually does. Mark takes off his mask, too, and that is where the story truly takes an interesting turn.
Problems with the plot: Right off the bat--no professional Dominatrix would EVER request someone stand in for her. She'd just call her client and cancel. She also certainly would NOT request that her stand-in be someone who is COMPLETELY FOREIGN to the BDSM community, even IF aforementioned stand-in were here identical twin sister. REAL PRO DOMMES DO NOT HAVE SEX WITH THE CLIENT ANYWAY! This later plays itself out in the end of the story, in which Zoe, dressed as her sister, must substitute for Chloe as the teacher of her first-grade class so Mark can speak with her. I have problems with this, too. I am an educator out there in the vanilla world. You can't be a Domme with first graders, parents will call by day's end and demand your firing at the least, see you in court and push for hard-core jail time at the most. First graders don't require a Domme/Dom, they require gentle guidance, a firm but loving voice, and lots of patience. LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of patience. Oh, and a tolerance for accidental bodily fluids (hey--if a first grader says, "I have to go to the bathroom," LET THEM GO! Unless you have a thing for the smell of urine, chances are good the rest of the kids in that class DO NOT! LET THEM GO!). Chloe seems the stereotypical stick-in-the-mud schoolmarm with zero sense of humor and outdated moral hang-ups about sex. Zoe seems way more fun and authentic, even if she is just a cookie-cutter.
I'd only read this if it was free. The sex is steamy but gentle, and really, really vanilla. Mark slips up by stating Chloe's name after sex (she never did formally introduce herself by her name, merely as Mistress Sensua) and he later really messes things up by saying, "I'm hungry. Let's see what your sister has to eat around here." If you'd like to find out why Chloe reacts with shock and horror and goes from cuddly satisfied Woman to Bitch in .03 seconds, I'd suggest you download and read the book by clicking here.
Brief Plot Synopsis: Zoe is a ProDomme with a twisted ankle, so she asks her shy, retiring, school-teacher twin, Chloe, to stand in for her. Zoe has been keeping secrets about her true Dominant nature (and job) and must nearly twist Chloe's arm to get her to stand in for her. There are three rules Chloe must abide by, however: 1) don't lose control, 2) don't have sex with the client, and 3) NEVER take off the mask.
The meat of the review: Chloe, of course, manages to BREAK all three rules. She DOES lose control, and her "client," Mark, easily gains the upper hand. She DOES have sex with the client, who turns out to be not only dominant and rather vanilla, but is also quite gentle. He requests that she take off her mask, which she eventually does. Mark takes off his mask, too, and that is where the story truly takes an interesting turn.
Problems with the plot: Right off the bat--no professional Dominatrix would EVER request someone stand in for her. She'd just call her client and cancel. She also certainly would NOT request that her stand-in be someone who is COMPLETELY FOREIGN to the BDSM community, even IF aforementioned stand-in were here identical twin sister. REAL PRO DOMMES DO NOT HAVE SEX WITH THE CLIENT ANYWAY! This later plays itself out in the end of the story, in which Zoe, dressed as her sister, must substitute for Chloe as the teacher of her first-grade class so Mark can speak with her. I have problems with this, too. I am an educator out there in the vanilla world. You can't be a Domme with first graders, parents will call by day's end and demand your firing at the least, see you in court and push for hard-core jail time at the most. First graders don't require a Domme/Dom, they require gentle guidance, a firm but loving voice, and lots of patience. LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of patience. Oh, and a tolerance for accidental bodily fluids (hey--if a first grader says, "I have to go to the bathroom," LET THEM GO! Unless you have a thing for the smell of urine, chances are good the rest of the kids in that class DO NOT! LET THEM GO!). Chloe seems the stereotypical stick-in-the-mud schoolmarm with zero sense of humor and outdated moral hang-ups about sex. Zoe seems way more fun and authentic, even if she is just a cookie-cutter.
I'd only read this if it was free. The sex is steamy but gentle, and really, really vanilla. Mark slips up by stating Chloe's name after sex (she never did formally introduce herself by her name, merely as Mistress Sensua) and he later really messes things up by saying, "I'm hungry. Let's see what your sister has to eat around here." If you'd like to find out why Chloe reacts with shock and horror and goes from cuddly satisfied Woman to Bitch in .03 seconds, I'd suggest you download and read the book by clicking here.
My Apologies for the Absence
Please accept my sincerest apologies for the absence, I was going through a bit of personal inner turmoil as to whether or not to keep this blog up and running. In light of my inner revelations, I have chosen to keep writing, Dear Readers. . . for now.
Without much further ado--I have recently downloaded and begun reading three new titles for your educational and leisure reading preferences: Masks (a work of fiction from Ellora's Cave), Ties That Bind (a book of essays) and SlaveCraft (because I feel I need more information on submission, slavery, and who I am dealing with not only with my submissive, but also with my submissive as a person).
Evangeline Anderson's Masks is a quick, interesting read, but I have problems with it. Oh dear. . . I feel a review coming on. . . time for a new post!
Without much further ado--I have recently downloaded and begun reading three new titles for your educational and leisure reading preferences: Masks (a work of fiction from Ellora's Cave), Ties That Bind (a book of essays) and SlaveCraft (because I feel I need more information on submission, slavery, and who I am dealing with not only with my submissive, but also with my submissive as a person).
Evangeline Anderson's Masks is a quick, interesting read, but I have problems with it. Oh dear. . . I feel a review coming on. . . time for a new post!
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