Friday, May 25, 2007

PIN-UP ART

Most pin-ups don't need to be good art, and therefore they are not. This is what economists call the efficiency of the marketplace. If customers don't buy pin-ups for artistic merit, it would be inefficient to waste time creating it.



For example, the famed pin-up artist Alberto Vargas is (in my opinion) an uninspired technician with no visible artistic ability. The same might be said for many of the other popular pin-up artists, such as Earl MacPherson, Zoe Mozert, Al Buell or Art Frahn (despite the fact that their "art" is now published in fancy art books and sells for astronomical sums).

Of course, there are non-artistic reasons to enjoy pin-up art. It is a wonderful celebration of the huge clanging dumbnicity of men:



Gene Weingarten once wrote,
Many, many years ago, when God was still an adolescent, he decided that for the survival of the species, it was necessary that men be loathesome, prurient pigs.
Yup. And darned proud of it.

But there is at least one real talent in the field of pin-up art, the great George Petty. His well designed pictures and beautifully idealized forms stood out from all his competitors.







Unlike many of his peers, Petty was a genuine artist. You can see his special gift in this assortment of graceful hands from his pin-ups. They look like a flock of birds taking flight.


















I like Petty's work, especially his early years for Esquire Magazine. You can flip through pin-ups by a hundred different artists, but Petty's quality stands out.

55 comments:

Anonymous said...

Petty's hands are nicely done, for sure, but I can't get past his heads, which look really, really weird to me. Both of the examples here seem to lack necks, like the heads were cut from different figures and glued onto bodies that they didn't quite fit on.

Great blog, still. :) Really enjoy reading it.

David Apatoff said...

I see your point, tm, and I can assure you that it was my poor choice of examples rather than Petty's inability to draw. I didn't notice that both images were in slightly hunched poses. I have since added a third image so you can how Petty did with a neck and head. Thanks for writing.

Anonymous said...

I have a lot to learn because I can´t see why Vargas and other pin up artists that you mention doesn't have artistic abilities. Please can you explain it to me?
My interest is really genuine, I really want to learn.
I'm not criticizing your opinion I really like your blog.

Thank you

David Apatoff said...

Manuel, I don't claim to be the arbiter of what counts as art and what doesn't. Art is a vast sprawling circus, and some people just plain prefer the trapeze act to the animals. Others have a thing for the clowns.

But whatever your taste in art, I think it is safe to say that there is no real challenge or honor in merely painting a recognizable likeness, the way Vargas did. And if ever there was, it ended with the invention of photoshop.

Instead, The challenge is to see the design in things, to distill the elements of harmony, balance, beauty, contrast, etc. from our experience of nature and apply them in our own creation. An artist should at least be able to come up with an interesting composition (as opposed to the boring vertical stripe down the center of the page that Vargas chose). An artist should be sensitive to placing the image on the page in a way that demonstrates awareness of the negative space around it, the way that Petty did.

Art can be redeemed by lots of things (style, subject matter, innovation, etc.) but I especially look for art that evaluates (that is, art that makes a commitment by displaying the artist's judgment about the relative value or importance of the forms.) Which lines are important and should be emphasized? Which lines can be left out altogether? The Vargas picture strikes me as an accurate but random snapshot from a not very good camera.

You've asked a great big juicy question, and I understand that this is not a very satisfying answer in the small space I have here, but perhaps we can play with this subject in the next posting.

I would certainly welcome the thoughts of other readers. Jump in!

Anonymous said...

"I don't claim to be the arbiter of what counts as art and what doesn't"
blablabla, zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Anonymous said...

"whatever your taste in art, I think it is safe to say that there is no real challenge or honor in merely painting a recognizable likeness"

Boy, as an aspiring illustrator I sure hope you're wrong. :)

At least, I can assure you that for me, there's plenty of challenge, and I think there's at least a speck of honor in the pursuit.

"...and if ever there was, it ended with the invention of photoshop."

But, interestingly, it didn't, did it? The camera didn't end portraiture either. People still draw and paint and strive to capture human likenesses the old-fashioned way, even though photography would seem to have made it all irrelevant.

I'm struggling right now to do a portrait of my aunt, who passed last week, from a 50-year-old wedding photo, as a gift to her family. I could have just printed out the photo (and it was theirs to begin with), but that would somehow be less interesting than an object that a human obviously poured a lot of time and effort into, even if the results can only, more or less by definition, fall short of the perfect likeness captured in the photo.

I'm not saying I understand it, but I wouldn't be so quick to write off the artistic effort to capture a likeness as unimportant. I'd agree that an even higher and rarer form of artistry is to create something original and new out of a likeness, but I think it's hard to argue that there's nothing gained by the pursuit of realism (if only as a step on the way to whatever's higher).

Cheers,

TM

David Apatoff said...

Good point, anonymous. That's always the risk when you go down this path, isn't it? Thanks for a healthy reminder.

David Apatoff said...

tm, I don't disagree. I am a big fan of acquiring technical skills-- perspective, anatomy, mechanical drawing, lettering-- that's important stuff. In fact, I've flagged a number of artists on this blog (such as Ben Jaroslaw who painted cars so realistically) whose skills I admire deeply.

But as far as I'm concerned, those skills are just a means to an end. Norman Rockwell painted photographically, sure, but the camera could never compete with him because of what he added to realism. On the other hand, the internet is littered with magical realist artists who paint dull and inert pictures with great precision. The process of painting such pictures has value because it is therapeutic and relieves tension, but I would not call the outcome good art.

By all means, keep working hard on capturing a likeness. I spent many years doing the same thing, and I'm glad today that I did. But don't stop there. The important part comes after you've acquired the skill.

Anonymous said...

"the internet is littered with magical realist artists who paint dull and inert pictures with great precision."
Did you really mean "magical"? Not, say, "marginal", which would make a lot more sense?
It's magic...

David Apatoff said...

Anonymous, according to wikipedia, Magic realism is "a style of visual art which brings extreme realism to the depiction of mundane subject matter." Why it is called magic I don't know. But all those Andrew Wyeth wannabes who spend weeks painting blades of grass fall into that category. So do illustrators like Steven Dohanos.

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for your answer.
I think I can appreciate the differences between Vargas and Petty better.
I´ll look forward for the next post.

Anonymous said...

And according to wikipedia there is also photorealism and hyperrealism and a long list of other genres and movements, magical realism often overlaps or is confused with; so what?
After all you can find "dull and inert pictures" in any "-ism", there is allways, say, 5 per cent art and 95 per cent crap...
What about academism? The internet is littered with dull and inert pieces of academic art, wouln't you agree? Though academic painters usually know far more about composition, negative space, color theory, "harmony, balance, beauty, contrast, etc." than you and me...
There simply is no formula; that's what makes art art, and that's what makes your undertaking here, your "art ist this and art isn't that" sometimes so aggravating; and sometimes it's fun anyway, just don't be so convinced all the time...

Jason Chalker said...

Hey David, first-off, I've just recently discovered your blog and have been enjoying it.

I would agree that Petty did some nice things with his composition and style, but the one artist you're leaving out, and whose style and artistic merit are as strong, if not stronger than Petty's, is Gil Elvgren.

Manuel- Art is highly subjective. If you think something is good art, that's all that ultimately matters. But, it doesn't hurt to learn all you can and figure out why you enjoy the art you like.

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in. Keep up with the good work on the blog. I appreciate it when someone's willing to voice some interesting opinions and make people think.

Mike Dutton said...

As a growing fan of your blog, I'd love to contribute to this discussion, but I'd like to instead say I wish you enabled comments on the Frank Lloyd Wright post! I had a great quote I'd love to have shared on that one.
I will echo someone here earlier and say that Gil Elvgren should be added to the very short list of master pin-up artists. But Petty is definitely rightfully up there as well.

David Apatoff said...

Anonymous, since I repeatedly scold people about the importance of keeping an open mind, it would be hard for me to object now when you tell me the same thing.

But at least grant me this: Some art is simply better than others. Rembrandt is better than LeRoy Nieman. That's not being closed minded, that's having mature taste and judgment.

On the ole Scylla/Charybdis spectrum, the rock is so unfashionable these days that we are happy to look quite foolish sitting in the whirlpool. But it seems to me that every once in a while we should not be afraid to say that standards are not an illusion, that there is some art out there that is simply not very good. We should do it for the talented, under appreciated artists who starve while crummy paintings by Vargas (or Kinkade) sell for small fortunes. The reality of excellence is their primary consolation.

Anonymous said...

Some art defies "academic standards". The Goya "Black paintings" are not beautiful in a conventional sense but are excellent paintings.

Elvgren is pretty good, I find Adam Hughes' pin-ups to be amusing.

David Apatoff said...

Jason, I do like Elvgren's work, mainly because I am a sucker for paintings in that rich, buttery style of Sundblom, Loomis and Anderson. Leif Peng's great "Today's Inspiration" blog recently had an excellent week long discussion of that style.

Just to show you that there is no limit to curious human behavior, I read recently about some wacko who is so obssessed with Elvgren that he went to the US Patent and Trademark Office to try to get a trademark on Elvgren's signature, and now spends his time recreating Elvgren's paintings on Elvgren's very own easel. It did not say whether he was using a ouija board to channel Elvgren's spirit as well(!)

David Apatoff said...

Mike, I am so sorry! I didn't realize that people couldn't comment on the Frank Lloyd Wright posting. I just thought nobody here liked Frank Lloyd Wright. I have gone back and fixed my formatting error. Please do comment with your quote.

Anonymous said...

You're right, David, of course, Rembrandt is "better" than LeRoy Nieman, but for those talented, under appreciated artists who starve, there ist no use in this finding. All we really can do is help them do their best, and any standards are millstones round their necks;
To make a piece of art you need perseverance, devotedness and luck. And talent, of course. You've got to work hard - and be patient. And you have to accept that there are no rules, not even such rules, which could probably be derived from the most satisfying part of your own work. (I hope, by the way, you forgive my terrible English, I can hardly write down two words without the reluctantly given help of my dictionary...)
Never, ever, walk down the same path twice, not if you want to make art. Don't believe in this rule, either...
You may ignore every single how-to, violate every rule that has ever been formulated during art history and still create something which is powerfully alive, breathing and winking, kicking the viewer into new dimensions. And you may stick closely to everything you've learned, from color theory to composition rules, from the "secret knowledge of the old masters" (and everything, David Apatoff has said) to your own inventions - and all you get are stillbirths...
And vice versa, of course.
There are no rules.
Believe me

Anonymous said...

Gee, I thought it was all about hot babes, and fodder for the, um, imagination.... pcp

Anonymous said...

at least, while Davids aim is to console underestimated artists by insisting in the reality of excellence, some hot babes probably would be much more of a comfort to them

Jack R said...

Petty's hands were above the average in my view but fall short of Enoch Bolles, who was truly fixated on doing them right. At the other end of the body, Petty had a hell of a time with feet, to the point to where he ended up binding them all in ballet shoes, even his Rigid tool girls. Talk about weird. And as the years moved on Petty's subtle distortions became excessive; his girls had legs that look like they were grafted on from basketball players. Even some Esquire readers back in the late 30s noticed and complained about it in the monthly letter column. I mentioned this to Reid Austin while he was still alive and as true a fan as he was, it bothered him too.

David Apatoff said...

For a while, I thought we might actually make it through the week discussing pinups on a pretty lofty level. Thanks a lot, pcp.

Jack R, I agree with you that the feet on Petty's women don't have the bone structure of a normal human foot. However, I think saying Petty's feet look "weird" is like saying Frazetta's butts are too big, or R.Crumb draws women with stallion thighs, or Will Elder's breasts are wildly out of proportion. These aren't the result of asrtistic weakness, these are just ways that men perceive women.

I think Petty's highly stylized pink nubs are a foot fetishists's dream. Not my personal preference, mind you (I'm saving those for my very last posting) but something I can at least relate to.

Jack R said...

I would agree if Petty did, indeed, have a foot fetish. But the fact was he grew frustrated enough with drawing feet that he resorted to binding them up. And any proper foot fetishist knows (so I've been told) that the shoes are as much a part of the package as the feet. We all know that Frazetta won legions of fans just because of how well he could draw butts. Petty's ballet shoes, however, were a visual crutch. But who knows, maybe there are a lot of ballet slipper freaks out there...I can't believe I'm going on and on about this :)

David Apatoff said...

Jack R, it's not our fault that you and I are going on and on about foot fetishes. I blame it on pcp for diverting the discussion from art to "hot babes."

I don't feel I understand enough about foot fetishism to speak for fetishists, so I invite any of them out there to join in. I will say it is difficult for me to believe that an artist who could draw as accurately as Petty in all other areas was physically incapable of learning to draw feet. My guess is that his feet bound up in laces and thongs would have been a crowd pleaser in the Ming dynasty in China.

Finally, you say that Frazetta was famous for drawing butts "well," but that just means they were stylized in a popular way. Frazetta's butts are no more "accurate" than Crumb's huge legs or Elder's huge breasts. Aren't these all just different filters (or sexual preferences) through which men view women?

Jack R said...

From what Reid Austin told me, Petty did struggle with his stylizations, including proportion, as well as the foot thing (which may have been more of a don't like to draw shoes thing). Frazetta's success in stylizing involves far more than simply appealing to base sexual preferences. It's no real feat (no pun intended) to make body parts bigger, but the sexiness of Frazetta's girls was the product of so much more. Plus the guy could paint!

Anonymous said...

So this blog inspired me to go looking around the web for stuff on pin up artists.

I think when it comes down to it, I tend to concur with an earlier poster who gave Enoch Bolles a shout. The Bolles girl always looks active and is usually doing something unconventional, instead of just standing there posing. Maybe Bolles' girls weren't as "realistic" as Petty and Vargas', but I think they have tons more charm.

Jack R said...

Ok, the Bolles fan would be me. And if you'd like to see more check out my flickr page at:
http://flickr.com/photos/53825478@N00/

This is just a 'fan page' and there are no commercial products or endorsements associated with it. :)

David Apatoff said...

Jack R, I just figured out from your flickr page that you must be the same Jack R who wrote that superb article about Enoch Bolles for Illustration Magazine. I apologize for being so dim. It is an honor to have you commenting here.

I like Bolles for many of the same reasons you mention in your article (and like Petty, he was a "stylist and interpreter," not just a reporter).

I was also very interested in your treatment of Bolles' long struggle with mental illness. I am on the Board of a national organization that provides free legal help for people with mental disabiliites. I have seen people mistreated in "grim" hospitals such as the one you describe, even today. It must have been terrible in the 1930s and 40s, but I have never seen an artist produce the kind of sunny, cheerful art that Bolles apparently still produced while hospitalized.

Jack R said...

Hi David,
Thanks but it’s really my honor to be a member of the vigorous community you’ve created through your hard work, insightful commentary and rigorous scholarship. I’m heartened that you enjoyed my article on Bolles and more important, his art. Bolles was indeed an interpreter (I like your use of the term ‘reporter’ but unfortunately it applies all too well to a long list of illustrators). Bolles work was imbued with an intensely personal vision and philosophy of art, and when you see a larger cross-section of his paintings, it becomes apparent he was far more talented and stylistically flexible than generally credited. Unfortunately the effort in supporting a family of seven children during the depression drove him to specialize on as he put it “painting chlorines” and I’m afraid he was never able to free himself of this artistic niche, in large part because he had to complete four or more magazine covers a month for much of his long career. I’ve wondered what he could have done with the gift of time that Petty had doing his Esquire gatefolds.

It boggles my mind that he spent nearly 30 years in a mental institution. I’ve visited the hospital, it’s a vast facility but also a state institution that was severely overcrowded when Bolles was a patient. With enough money you could have had your own suite with personal servants but the typical patient fared poorly. Still, the day Bolles was released he never spoke ill of it, despite the rumor that he was kept there long after he had recovered to paint portraits of the staff. With your experience as a mental health advocate I’m sure you can empathize with the conditions Bolles endured (I am a member of the APA but am a research psychologist and not licensed for clinical practice), but in all the letters of his I read, there was never a single note of bitterness.

So thank you again for your forum. I must add that your Illustration Magazine article on Bernie Fuchs is my all-time favorite and I hope you will expand it to a book someday soon.

Jack

Anonymous said...

David Apatoff:

You made some very crude and uneducated comments that amount to slander without facts against the artist Daniel Vancas and the ELVGREN TRADEMARKS.

If David did some research he would have discovered that BROWN & BIGELOW signed a FEDERAL COURT ORDER that gave the rights of OWNERSHIP of the Elvgren trademarks to Daniel Vancas; who was FIRST licensed to B&B, and who created the revival market for Elvgren art, and feasibility for the later books.

As there was about 40% of these pinups paintings lost and thrown away, and a very poor archive (at that time) and Elvgren's name only known to a few, Daniel Vancas was needed to paint Elvgren replicas to remaster the lost or missing art. This was not a plan, just a business solution.

He spent 15 years and $1,000,000 in promotional effort, opening 3 galleries and countless art shows across the country. This was BEFORE the later popular art books and art dealer who derived their feasibility from Daniel Vancas first effort and investments.

This effort included authorized and NEEDED recreations of the lost and missing paintings to support Daniel Vancas's world licensing contracts with B&B, of 1995 through 2000, & 2001. For which he paid over $264,000 to B&B.

When those of financial power then wished to push out Daniel Vancas from the pin-up & Elvgren market, this B&B contract and his trademarks were ONLY THEN in the way and in dispute. Many people believe this was merely to push him out, rather than BUY his interest Out. As during this time he was also harassed, threatened and ultimately hurt.

Though Daniel Vancas and B&B arbitrated and ended their disputes , sealed with Federal Court Orders, that provided that Vancas was to keep the Elvgren TM and have continued use of a large number (undisclosed) of Elvgren images. Several licensees, in violation of this Federal Court Order, continued to ignore The B&B/Vancas Binding Arbitration and Federal Court Order. It is their slander and misinformation that is still published on the web that may be the ONLY information David relied upon. These are same people that made the millions in the Elvgren market.

Additional questions we'd ask David: Daniel Vancas paid over $264,000 in Elvgren royalities, how much has David paid?

Daniel Vancas paid over $500,000 in legal fees to protect his Elvgren effort, investments, first propriety the Elvgren rights and the Elvgren TM. All of which were required to support his lawful fine art publications, paintings and business.

Daniel Vancas promoted Elvgren, at a $1 Million Dollar loss . It was the other art dealers, book publishers, B&B who took the benefit. The end result was an award, a Federal Court Order protecting his Elvgren trademarks but no profit.

Though David may not really know the facts, nor the deeper history of pinup, Calling Daniel Vancas a "Wacko", David will need to do better research, and better "channeling" with his ouija board.

Daniel Vancas painted over 340 recreations of Elvgren pin-ups, owns dirivative copyrights and still owns the trademarks. This is still the fact today.

THE TRADEMARK OFFICE RE-ISSUED THE TM BACK TO DANIEL VANCAS WITH NEW NUMBERS - AFTER 5 YEAR FILING PAPERS WERE LOST WHEN SOMEONE ILLEGALLY removed filing forms and court documents, resulting in the the improperly dropped first registration (5 year filing called a section 8) & a challenge that violates the first B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order.

This is now a matter of a multi state Police and FBI investigation. (RICO) Because this action was concurrent with current and past threats and intimadations against Daniel Vancas and his legal business trade, over these same trademarks. Even his clients, consignors and customers were intimadated and threatened over the years! (This was and is documented in several Federal Court Records and Police files).

Today, it is the historic preservation and promotion of Elvgren as an artist that ELVGREN'S pin-up art has come to mean so much to those who enjoy both the original vintage painting by Elvgren and the hand painted replicas of Elvgren work, as well as the many books in print.

Who better to own the Elvgren easel, that was once given up and sold by the family that wished not to own it?

As Elvgren also sold all his rights, including the right to this trademark to B&B in decades past, therefore, it could only be B&B (NOT some art dealer or book publisher, who's just a licensee), who could have properly contested.

Ultimately, B&B did agree and signed the Federal Court Order that ORDERS the OWNERSHIP of the ELVGREN TM TO DANIEL VANCAS.

With all the slander, and misunderstanding created by unhappy art dealers and licensees. This amounts to illegal post settlement harrassements. It was some of these mean spirited, adversarial art dealers, who took VERBAL pot shots, as well as used threats, intimidation and business interference against Daniel Vancas, his clients and business partners. Today the trademarks have a reduced value, and may only have meaning to those who collect Daniel Vancas replica paintings and prints and the artist Daniel Vancas himself. Your rude comments, further seek to devalue a legitimate property, supported by Federal Court Order.

Is it the bully princple, That made Vancas fight so hard against all odds. Maybe the core issueis that people like David can only see is bigger meaner business people pushing out the smaller business man who had the idea in the first place... that is still ruling the day despite the facts.

David, "might, doesn't make right"!

Daniel Vancas held a lot of Elvgren firsts, including the development wide market appeal & rediscovery of the name and art of Elvgren and the first ever Elvgren pin-up web sites! The first to paint Elvgren replicas for the public. The first to publish Elvgren fine art limited editions. And the first to be physically threatened to be forced out of the Elvgren market he created.

Daniel Vancas, more than earned the right for the Elvgren art trademarks, he proved his need for it.

His Federal Court Order, and what it took to preserve it demands reasonable respect for his effort, good intentions, 15 years of work, 240 painting made and One Million investment, against some rather nasty adversaries and very ill informed slander PROVES DANIEL VANCAS UNDYING LOVE AND RESPEST FOR ELVGREN WORK, LIKE ON OTHER!

Here David, in case you forgot, is your blind, uneducated comments against Daniel Vancas, his work effort, and the legal Intellectual Property called the Elvgren trademarks.

- THE FOLLOWING WRITTEN BY :
David Apatoff said...

Just to show you that there is no limit to curious human behavior, I read recently about some wacko who is so obssessed with Elvgren that he went to the US Patent and Trademark Office to try to get a trademark on Elvgren's signature, and now spends his time recreating Elvgren's paintings on Elvgren's very own easel. It did not say whether he was using a ouija board to channel Elvgren's spirit...

David Apatoff said...

Anonymous, I'm afraid you've picked the wrong target. I am the chairman of the intellectual property law practice at a large multinational law firm. I would be happy to explain to you how the law of trademark, licensing and slander work if you wish to contact me in that capacity.

However, my remark had nothing to do with the legal or business aspects of the arrangement. My point was that taking the name of a dead artist and using his easel to paint exact replicas of his work is not a job for a self-respecting artist, it is a job for a mortician.

Anonymous said...

David Apatoff:

Throughout history many quality artists have copied the works of others they admired.

As to make this effort is the greatest of flattery. In the case of Daniel Vancas, this all started as a result of having to deal with the then lost, missing, decayed B&B archives and images that he purchased with world exclusive rights from Brown & Bigelow...(Vancas/B&B Contract 1995 thr 2000/2001), painting replicas became the only solution to quickly solve a problem of the lost B&B art and archives. This effected a solution for publications, and helped to promote and preserve the art and name of Elvgren, even to the benefit of B&B. The demand for B&B Elvgren licensing continued to go up even after the B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order. So the presevation of the Vancas/Elvgren Trademark only proved to encourage and increase business. B&B reported 200 million in profits and 75% of licensing inquiries for Elvgren. (Chicago Trib. 2005 B&B interview)

On the way Daniel Vancas earned the right to trademark by use, hard work, promotion and investment. The Elvgren trademark became a required tool to support the rebuilding of this archive to finish the planned fine art limited editions. It became an I.P. authority to help support the art reproductions for the protection of the consumers who bought the value work, not only for today, but the years to come.

You see B&B did NOT inform Vancas when he first licensed (and paid them) with B&B, that their image files and archive were missing and they had lost, sold and thrown away ALL the Elvgren original paintings. So painting replicas and remastering the art was a REQUIRED BUSINESS SOLUTION to support an business already deeply invested.

This project started, not with a plan to remaster and repaint Elvgren's pinups, but as simple solution to fill in the lost Elvgren works that B&B nor Vancas, had access to at that time. Though Daniel Vancas is a master artist of his own original style, It was the collectors who requested that he continue his Elvgren painted replicas. Vancas paid over $264,000
in royalties for his first works and publication contracts to B&B. Then later with the arbitration Order and settlement Vancas was allowed use of a 130 image archive to develop on his own, and B&B exclusive retained use of Elvgren 292 images. In this was a settlement was effected. Much of the Vancas/Elvgren archive is the lost works of Elvgren.

As this is complex legal matter, scores of boxes with supporting files and testimony (cannot be heard on a blog,)This has all been heard and adjudicated in Federal Court, With the matter of the Elvgren Trademarks, to the favor of Vancas; and as you were NOT present, your opinions are still uneducated and reflect the bias of one who has not studied art and pinup history. For it is well known that even Alberto Vargas who created the Varga signature trademark, did not own it. It is the Hearst Corp. who owns Esquire, who invested and made Vargas/Varga famous with their promotions and publication of Alberto's work. They still retain this I.P. (intellectual property) today.

The Vargas trademark, never registered by Alberto, today is not owned by Vargas, but rather by a California partnership and used for plate signatures and art publications. This doesn't make the trademark any less valued, and the Vargas & Varga publications by San Fransisco Art Exchange and The former Vanguard Gallery and Daniel Vancas are still valued.

If the Elvgren trademark had no meaning, as Vancas adversaries claim on the Internet, then why did some have to threaten Mr. Vancas to give it up? Why did they cause a $500,000 Federal Court litigation, why falsely violate Fed Court orders and harassed Daniel with post settlement claims that were thrown out of court?

Most importantly why did they, these B&B licensee's, and PinUp Art Dealers, contradict and then FORCE THE SALE asking the COURT to ORDER VANCAS to sale the Elvgren trademarks to them for less than $18thousand ??? (After Daniel Vancas invested over a Million!)

If The Elvgren trademarks was meaningless and worthless... and all the prior arguments claim that it is invalid why NOW try and forse a sell out???? The Judge saw it for what it was and this too was DENIED and the Attorney's told to get out of the Court and not waste the time of the Court, to which the Judge Slammed his door.

As you have NOT invested time nor money as Vancas has, nor have you risked your life as Vancas has for the love of this Elvgren art and his rights, sadly you are only stooping to slanderous name calling and shock words that have no baring on the events and truth of the matter. Perhaps you are better suited as a blog author, or talk show host. This is not a challenge against your ego or smarts... There is a concern to the under laying moral struggle between the proven rights of one, while your blog suggests supporting angry and possibly dangerous adversaries, some of which have acted without moral and lawful regard.

Again you may want to understand, it was YOU that made some very crude and uneducated comments that amount to slander without facts against the artist Daniel Vancas and the ELVGREN TRADEMARKS. Again, Vancas does not channel spirits nor has a Ouija board. We is not the "Wako" David calls him.

If David did some research he would have discovered that BROWN & BIGELOW signed a FEDERAL COURT ORDER that gave the rights of OWNERSHIP of the Elvgren trademarks to Daniel Vancas; who was FIRST licensed to B&B, and who created the revival market for Elvgren art, and feasibility for the later books.

As there was about 40% of these pinups paintings lost and thrown away, and a very poor archive (at that time) and Elvgren's name only known to a few, Daniel Vancas was needed to paint Elvgren replicas to remaster the lost or missing art. This was not a plan, just a business solution.

He spent 15 years and $1,000,000 in promotional effort, opening 3 galleries and countless art shows across the country. This was BEFORE the later popular art books and art dealer who derived their feasibility from Daniel Vancas first effort and investments.

This effort included authorized and NEEDED recreations of the lost and missing paintings to support Daniel Vancas's world licensing contracts with B&B, of 1995 through 2000, & 2001. For which he paid over $264,000 to B&B.

When those of financial power then wished to push out Daniel Vancas from the pin-up & Elvgren market, this B&B contract and his trademarks were ONLY THEN in the way and in dispute. Many people believe this was merely to push him out, rather than BUY his interest Out. As during this time he was also harassed, threatened and ultimately hurt. He was often told in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, thr 2005 that if he didn't close his gallery and leave the pin-up world, give up the Elvgren trademarks, he would be hurt or killed. This is a matter of documented Court and Criminal record.

Though Daniel Vancas and B&B arbitrated and ended their disputes , sealed with Federal Court Orders, that provided that Vancas was to keep the Elvgren TM and have continued use of a large number (undisclosed) of Elvgren images. Several licensees, in violation of this Federal Court Order, continued to ignore The B&B/Vancas Binding Arbitration and Federal Court Order. It is their slander and misinformation that is still published on the web that may be the ONLY information David relied upon. These are same people that made the millions in the Elvgren market.

Additional questions we'd ask David: Daniel Vancas paid over $264,000 in Elvgren royalties, how much has David paid?

Daniel Vancas paid over $500,000 in legal fees to protect his Elvgren effort, investments, first propriety the Elvgren rights and the Elvgren TM. All of which were required to support his lawful fine art publications, paintings and business.

Daniel Vancas promoted Elvgren, at a $1 Million Dollar loss . It was the other art dealers, book publishers, B&B who took the benefit. The end result was an award, a Federal Court Order protecting his Elvgren trademarks but no profit.

Though David may not really know the facts, nor the deeper history of pinup, Calling Daniel Vancas a "Wacko", David will need to do better research, and better "channeling" with his Ouija board.

Daniel Vancas painted over 340 recreations of Elvgren pin-ups, owns derivative copyrights and still owns the trademarks. This is still the fact today.

THE TRADEMARK OFFICE RE-ISSUED THE TM BACK TO DANIEL VANCAS WITH NEW NUMBERS - AFTER 5 YEAR FILING PAPERS WERE LOST WHEN SOMEONE ILLEGALLY removed filing forms and court documents, resulting in the the improperly dropped first registration (5 year filing called a section 8) & a challenge that violates the first B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order.

This is now a matter of a Multi state Police and FBI investigation. (RICO) Because this action was concurrent with current and past threats and intimidation's against Daniel Vancas and his legal business trade, over these same trademarks. Even his clients, consignors and customers were intimidated and threatened over the years! (This was and is documented in several Federal Court Records and Police files).

Today, it is the historic preservation and promotion of Elvgren as an artist that ELVGREN'S pin-up art has come to mean so much to those who enjoy both the original vintage painting by Elvgren and the hand painted replicas of Elvgren work, as well as the many books in print.

Who better to own the Elvgren easel, that was once given up and sold by the family that no longer wished not to own it and all the Elvgreb pin-up photos and even his paint brushes???

As Elvgren also sold all his rights, including the right to this trademark to B&B in decades past, (Elvgren was a very well paid artist) therefore, it could only be B&B (NOT some art dealer or book publisher, who's after all are just a licensee), who could have properly contested against an already adjudicated Trademarks protected by Federal Court Orders.

Again, B&B did agree and signed the Federal Court Order that authorizes and ORDERS the OWNERSHIP of the ELVGREN TM TO DANIEL VANCAS.

With all the slander, and misunderstanding created by just a couple unhappy art dealers and licensees and copy pirates. This amounts to illegal post settlement harassment's. It was some of these mean spirited, adversarial art dealers, who took VERBAL pot shots, as well as used threats, intimidation and business interference against Daniel Vancas, his clients and business partners.

Because of this, today the trademarks have a reduced value, and may only have meaning to those who collect Daniel Vancas replica paintings and prints and the artist Daniel Vancas himself. Your rude comments, further seek to devalue a legitimate property, already supported by Federal Court Order and even B&B.

Is it the bully principle, That made Vancas fight so hard against all odds. Maybe the core issue is that people like David can only see is bigger meaner business people pushing out the smaller business man,who had the idea in the first place... that is still ruling the internet despite the facts.

David, "might, doesn't make right"!

Daniel Vancas held a lot of Elvgren firsts, including the development wide market appeal & rediscovery of the name and art of Elvgren and the first ever Elvgren pin-up web sites! The first to paint Elvgren replicas for the public. The first to publish Elvgren fine art limited editions. The highest prices paint for Elvgren Originals... And the first to be physically threatened to be forced out of the Elvgren and pin-up market he helped create.

Daniel Vancas, more than earned the right for the Elvgren art trademarks, he proved his need for it. Then defended it all costs, including his own safety. (He was threatened NOT to file in Federal Court or be killed, his attornies intimadated, and after leaving the Federal Court that day was hit by a hit and run driver.)

His Federal Court Order, and what it took to preserve it demands reasonable respect for his effort, good intentions, 15 years of work, 240 painting made and One Million investment, against some rather nasty adversaries and very ill informed slander PROVES DANIEL VANCAS UNDYING LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ELVGREN WORK, LIKE NO OTHER!

Bottom line is that it is a matter of signed, accepted record that became Federal Court Order; that Daniel Vancas shall own the Elvgren art Trademarks. The matter is over, Those in power made their money, Vancas lost the market, suffered injury, but kept the Elvgren trademarks which has little value to anyone due to the continual slander against the trademarks.

Please don't use your blog as a means to devalue the work, effort, investment, Intellectual Property and Trademarks owned by others, and as approved and upheld in Federal Court.

I know that Daniel Vancas only wanted free trade without slander, lies and business disruptions... He follows the spirit and conditions of the arbitration, though he can't speak for his adversaries...and as evident on the Internet, he is NOT slandering or disrupting the business of his adversaries.

To keep all this nasty nonsense alive hurts all truly care about this art. Forget the past, let there be just and fair trade and stop all this infighting about Elvgren and Daniel Vancas's trademarks and just enjoy the art!

Anonymous said...

FACT: Women are inferior to men in every way.

Anonymous said...

As I am well aware that it has been some time since you posted this blog, I was still a bit distubed by it and wanted to voice my opinion. I find that you altogether dicount the talent of any other pin-up artist. I do agree that Petty is talented but you can't disregard the talent of Billy Devorss, Edward Runci, or Zoe Mozert. They all produce faithful artwork, stunningly realistic works. Aside from that, you only really focus on the hands of Petty which to me dont look all that real to me anyway. Rather you should become a hand model critic than a pin-up critic?

Anonymous said...

Daniel Vancas didn't revitalize nor bring Elvgren's artwork from the dark dungeons of yesterday's past as he so claims. Indeed Elvgren's original artwork was archived and put on a leash, but it's popularity has never declined. Most of what we appreciate from Elvgren was published in magazines and calendars decades ago and to own a piece of vintage Elvgren is scarce due in part to B&B's marketing of Elvgren or lack thereof. Enter Daniel Vancas. He (obviously Vancas is the other "anonymous" writer who responded to David with the drooling rant) claims to have thrown so much money into the fire of his efforts and for the good of human-kind. What most of us have figured out is, it's truly a SMALL investment. His SMALL investment will surmount to tens of millions of dollars in short time as I'm sure he'll start marketing products of Elvgren toilet paper to Elvgren fruitcakes. What he has done to claim "preservation" is no more than a golden opportunity to take advantage of pristine circumstances; there's relatively no Elvgren art to sell to consumers and what can an artist with no talent do? Answer: reproduce paintings of rarity from a popular pin-up artist and start selling bulk posters, prints, etc around the world. Brilliant. One of Vancas' claims is that he paints Elvgren works that have been "lost". How can one paint something from nothing? Vancas can now paint Hillary Clinton on canvas and claim it's from a "lost" Elvgren painting and put the "Elvgren" trademark signature on the painting, then sell it as a reproduced Elvgren original. Vancas' "preservation" theory has left smoke still coming out of my A#s. In short, B&B didn't market Elvgren as it should have. Vancas realizing that B&B basically didn't care about Elvgren's artwork nor the copyright violators of Elvgren's work, decided to take matters into his own hands and capitilized on this huge diamond on top of the rough. Vancas is a talentless artist and disgrace, but a smart businessman. Vancas can keep claiming his efforts are for the "preservation" of Elvgren's artworks and for the good of human-kind and it's future generations. He continues to make these statements with tongue-in-cheek and LOADS of money-in-pocket. Usually when someone states they are preserving a painting from a Great Artist they admire, they do so by completing the one painting, NOT finishing the painting then selling hundreds of thousands of posters, prints and merchandise across the world. Vancas has said he has put a statement on the prints that he sells, which reads that YOU the owner can NOT resell your print. Vancas wants one to buy his print and hang it on one's vault never to be resold by the buyer again. What world is this guy living in?

No, I agree Vancas does use a ouija board. The board told him he's a talentless hack and no one's going to buy his painting of a broken tail-light on a blue car. The board also told him the way to make money is for him to paint artworks from the dead and great artist Elvgren.

Vancas, when will we see your Elvgren rendition of Hillary Clinton?

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Anonymous:

Your anger about Vancas rights and Elvgren tm, supported by B&B's signature and Federal Court Orders is laced with adgenda, supported only by flowery prose, exposing dark motives, and not based in any facts.

First of all if B&B and even Dow calendars truly cared about Elvgren art they would NOT have thrown away as many as 30-40% of the Original paintings, the rest were sold at public yard sales for as little as $10 a piece, as recent as the 1960's and 70's. This was recounted by first hand witnesses, who were there and told Daniel Vancas.

This sad mistake in history was then exploted ONLY by a couple of art dealers.

As Vancas was later licensed with B&B, and the archives flawed, lost and decayed, Vancas had nothing to work with for his Elvgren fine art prints, worse, some art dealers who were squirreling up many Elvgren originals (at that time) refuse to allow B&B access to the paintings to renew the archive, while threatening Daniel Vancas to give up his Elvgren rights, contracts and TM.

This is the ONLY reason that required Vancas to start painting replicas AND making public show of this art WITH Vintage Elvgren originals offered for the highest offer.

Seconedly, the market values of Elvgren original paintings were $1500 to $5000 at the time Vancas started promoting Elvgren. After ONLY 2 years, several art shows around the country, and 3 gallery openings, and the first to promote Elvgren on the internet, He brought the values up to $25,000 to $30,000, That is more than 500% in 2 years. all this BEFORE the popular Elvgren Books were released. While a small collector group was still trying to buy up the remaining CHEAP Elvgren originals to corner the Elvgren market and control the physical archive, to the frustration of B&B, and Vancas, licensed to B&B at the time. Eventually, at a cost including the abandoning the Vancas/B&B contract, B&B made some deal to aquire the Vintage archive. The Vancas painted solution wasn't needed and all then turned against Vancas and the Elvgren TM. He was now expendable, when he dug in his heels, he was threatened and even hurt while trying to defend his first rights and TM. This is why there was a binding arbitration and Federal Court order in 2001. That is were this should all have ended, and everyone go on with their piece of the Elvgren market share. The facts remain Vancas took financial loss and other made many millions in publishing Elvgren. Some B&B licensee and others who did were NOT content just to let the Fed. Court Order stand and let Vancas work in peace, with these agreements, without continually harrassing and threatening him. This was a direct violation of the B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order, as well as some anti-racketeering laws.

AGE OLD HONORED TRADITION OF COPYSTS:

There is no real moral deference between printing a copy for a book, a calendar, and art print or painting a replica by hand...

The facts always remain that throughout history many quality artists have copied the works of others they admired, for skill and profit.

As to make this effort is the greatest of flattery. In the case of Daniel Vancas, this all started as a result of having to deal with the then lost, missing, decayed B&B archives and images that he purchased with world exclusive rights from Brown & Bigelow...(Vancas/B&B Contract 1995 thr 2000/2001), painting replicas became the only solution to quickly solve a problem of the lost B&B art and archives. This effected a solution for publications, and helped to promote and preserve the art and name of Elvgren, even to the benefit of B&B. The demand for B&B Elvgren licensing continued to go up even after the B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order. So the presevation of the Vancas/Elvgren Trademark only proved to encourage and increase business. B&B reported 200 million in profits and 75% of licensing inquiries for Elvgren. (Chicago Trib. 2005 B&B interview)

On the way Daniel Vancas earned the right to trademark by use, hard work, promotion and investment. The Elvgren trademark became a required tool to support the rebuilding of this archive to finish the planned fine art limited editions. It became an I.P. authority to help support the art reproductions for the protection of the consumers who bought the value work, not only for today, but the years to come.

You see B&B did NOT inform Vancas when he first licensed (and paid them) with B&B, that their image files and archive were missing and they had lost, sold and thrown away ALL the Elvgren original paintings. So painting replicas and remastering the art was a REQUIRED BUSINESS SOLUTION to support an business already deeply invested.

This project started, not with a plan to remaster and repaint Elvgren's pinups, but as simple solution to fill in the lost Elvgren works that B&B nor Vancas, had access to at that time. Though Daniel Vancas is a master artist of his own original style, It was the collectors who requested that he continue his Elvgren painted replicas. Vancas paid over $264,000
in royalties for his first works and publication contracts to B&B. Then later with the arbitration Order and settlement Vancas was allowed use of a 130 image archive to develop on his own, and B&B exclusive retained use of Elvgren 292 images. In this was a settlement was effected. Much of the Vancas/Elvgren archive is the lost works of Elvgren.

As this is complex legal matter, scores of boxes with supporting files and testimony (cannot be heard on a blog,)This has all been heard and adjudicated in Federal Court, With the matter of the Elvgren Trademarks, to the favor of Vancas; and as you were NOT present, your opinions are still uneducated and reflect the bias of one who has not studied art and pinup history. For it is well known that even Alberto Vargas who created the Varga signature trademark, did not own it. It is the Hearst Corp. who owns Esquire, who invested and made Vargas/Varga famous with their promotions and publication of Alberto's work. They still retain this I.P. (intellectual property) today.

The Vargas trademark, never registered by Alberto, today is not owned by Vargas, but rather by a California partnership and used for plate signatures and art publications. This doesn't make the trademark any less valued, and the Vargas & Varga publications by San Fransisco Art Exchange and The former Vanguard Gallery and Daniel Vancas are still valued.

If the Elvgren trademark had no meaning, as Vancas adversaries claim on the Internet, then why did some have to threaten Mr. Vancas to give it up? Why did they cause a $500,000 Federal Court litigation, why falsely violate Fed Court orders and harassed Daniel with post settlement claims that were thrown out of court?

WANTED TO BUY THE ELVGREN TM???

Most importantly why did they, these B&B licensee's, and PinUp Art Dealers, contradict and then FORCE THE SALE asking the COURT to ORDER VANCAS to sale the Elvgren trademarks to them for less than $18thousand ??? (After Daniel Vancas invested over a Million!)

If The Elvgren trademarks was meaningless and worthless... and all the prior arguments claim that it is invalid why NOW try and forse a sell out???? The Judge saw it for what it was and this too was DENIED and the Attorney's told to get out of the Court and not waste the time of the Court, to which the Judge Slammed his door.

As you have NOT invested time nor money as Vancas has, nor have you risked your life as Vancas has for the love of this Elvgren art and his rights, sadly you are only stooping to slanderous name calling and shock words that have no baring on the events and truth of the matter. Perhaps you are better suited as a blog author, or talk show host. This is not a challenge against your ego or smarts... There is a concern to the under laying moral struggle between the proven rights of one, while your blog suggests supporting angry and possibly dangerous adversaries, some of which have acted without moral and lawful regard.

Again you may want to understand, it was YOU that made some very crude and uneducated comments that amount to slander without facts against the artist Daniel Vancas and the ELVGREN TRADEMARKS. Again, Vancas does not channel spirits nor has a Ouija board. HE is not the "Wako" David calls him.

If anyone did some research he would have discovered that BROWN & BIGELOW signed a FEDERAL COURT ORDER that gave the rights of OWNERSHIP of the Elvgren trademarks to Daniel Vancas; who was FIRST licensed to B&B, and who created the revival market for Elvgren art, and feasibility for the later books.

As there was about 40% of these pinups paintings lost and thrown away, and a very poor archive (at that time) and Elvgren's name only known to a few, Daniel Vancas was needed to paint Elvgren replicas to remaster the lost or missing art. This was not a plan, just a business solution.

He spent 15 years and $1,000,000 in promotional effort, opening 3 galleries and countless art shows across the country. This was BEFORE the later popular art books and art dealer who derived their feasibility from Daniel Vancas first effort and investments.

This effort included authorized and NEEDED recreations of the lost and missing paintings to support Daniel Vancas's world licensing contracts with B&B, of 1995 through 2000, & 2001. For which he paid over $264,000 to B&B.

When those of financial power then wished to push out Daniel Vancas from the pin-up & Elvgren market, this B&B contract and his trademarks were ONLY THEN in the way and in dispute. Many people believe this was merely to push him out, rather than BUY his interest Out. As during this time he was also harassed, threatened and ultimately hurt. He was often told in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, thr 2005 that if he didn't close his gallery and leave the pin-up world, give up the Elvgren trademarks, he would be hurt or killed. This is a matter of documented Court and Criminal record.

Though Daniel Vancas and B&B arbitrated and ended their disputes , sealed with Federal Court Orders, that provided that Vancas was to keep the Elvgren TM and have continued use of a large number (undisclosed) of Elvgren images. Several licensees, in violation of this Federal Court Order, continued to ignore The B&B/Vancas Binding Arbitration and Federal Court Order. It is their slander and misinformation that is still published on the web that may be the ONLY information David relied upon. These are same people that made the millions in the Elvgren market.

Additional questions we'd ask D Daniel Vancas paid over $264,000 in Elvgren royalties, how much has any author on this blog paid?
Daniel Vancas paid over $500,000 in legal fees to protect his Elvgren effort, investments, first propriety the Elvgren rights and the Elvgren TM. All of which were required to support his lawful fine art publications, paintings and business.
How much has any author on this Blog paid to support and promote Elvgren?

Daniel Vancas promoted Elvgren, at a $1 Million Dollar loss . It was the other art dealers, book publishers, B&B who took the benefit. The end result was an award, a Federal Court Order protecting his Elvgren trademarks but no profit.

Though many may not really know the facts, (confused by slander about Daniel Vancas role), nor the deeper history of pinup, Calling Daniel Vancas a "Wacko", many will need to do better research.

Daniel Vancas painted over 240 recreations of Elvgren pin-ups, owns derivative copyrights and still owns the trademarks. This is still the fact today.

THE TRADEMARK OFFICE RE-ISSUED THE TM BACK TO DANIEL VANCAS WITH NEW NUMBERS - AFTER 5 YEAR FILING PAPERS WERE LOST WHEN SOMEONE ILLEGALLY removed filing forms and court documents, resulting in the the improperly dropped first registration (5 year filing called a section 8) & a challenge that violates the first B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order.

This is now a matter of a Multi state Police and FBI investigation. (RICO) Because this action was concurrent with current and past threats and intimidation's against Daniel Vancas and his legal business trade, over these same trademarks. Even his clients, consignors and customers were intimidated and threatened over the years! (This was and is documented in several Federal Court Records and Police files).

Today, it is the historic preservation and promotion of Elvgren as an artist that ELVGREN'S pin-up art has come to mean so much to those who enjoy both the original vintage painting by Elvgren and the hand painted replicas of Elvgren work, as well as the many books in print.

Who better to own the Elvgren easel, that was once given up and sold by the family that no longer wished not to own it and all the Elvgren pin-up photos and even his paint brushes???

As Elvgren also sold all his rights, including the right to this trademark to B&B in decades past, (Elvgren was a very well paid artist) therefore, it could only be B&B (NOT some art dealer or book publisher, who's after all are just a licensee), who could have properly contested against an already adjudicated Trademarks protected by Federal Court Orders.

Again, B&B did agree and signed the Federal Court Order that authorizes and ORDERS the OWNERSHIP of the ELVGREN TM TO DANIEL VANCAS.

With all the slander, and misunderstanding created by just a couple unhappy art dealers and licensees and copy pirates. This amounts to illegal post settlement harassment's. It was some of these mean spirited, adversarial art dealers, who took VERBAL pot shots, as well as used threats, intimidation and business interference against Daniel Vancas, his clients and business partners.

It is still the truth that no one person has, worked harder, suffered so much, nor expended so much effort without profit, and then risked so much for the single vision to revive Elvgren the art and artist as Daniel Vancas.

These mean spirited Elvgren art dealers said that Vancas/Elvgren paintings were wreck the market, the Elvgren TM would ruin values.
Since the 2001 Federal Court Order and agreements between B&B/Vancas preserving the Vancas Elvgren TM and rights:


ELVGREN ORIGINAL PAINTINGS CONTINUE TO GROW IN VALUE:
Today the values of better Elvgren originals are $75,000 to over $125,000. The growth and demand continues. Vancas/Elvgren replicas has NOT hurt the Elvgren original art value.

ELVGREN LICENSING VALUE CONTINUE TO GROW IN 2004 & 2005:

The demand for B&B Elvgren licensing continued to go up even after the B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order. So the presevation of the Vancas/Elvgren Trademark only proved to encourage and increase business. B&B reported 200 million in profits and 75% of licensing inquiries for Elvgren. (Chicago Trib. 2005 B&B interview)

THE UGLY AND DARK HISTORY OF THE ELVGREN ADVERSARIES

When those of financial power then wished to push out Daniel Vancas from the pin-up & Elvgren market, this B&B contract and his trademarks were ONLY THEN in the way and in dispute. Many people believe this was merely to push him out, rather than BUY his interest Out. As during this time he was also harassed, threatened and ultimately hurt.

Though Daniel Vancas and B&B arbitrated and ended their disputes , sealed with Federal Court Orders, that provided that Vancas was to keep the Elvgren TM and have continued use of a large number (undisclosed) of Elvgren images. Several licensees, in violation of this Federal Court Order, continued to ignore The B&B/Vancas Binding Arbitration and Federal Court Order. It is their slander and misinformation that is still published on the web that may be the ONLY information MANY relied upon. These are same people that made the millions in the Elvgren market.

Daniel Vancas paid over $264,000 in Elvgren royalities, how much has ANONYMOUS paid?

Daniel Vancas paid over $500,000 in legal fees to protect his Elvgren effort, investments, first propriety the Elvgren rights and the Elvgren TM. All of which were required to support his lawful fine art publications, paintings and business.

Daniel Vancas promoted Elvgren, at a $1 Million Dollar loss . It was the other art dealers, book publishers, B&B who took the benefit. The end result was an award, a Federal Court Order protecting his Elvgren trademarks but no profit.

AS OF WEEK AGO THERE WAS >> 760 <<< ELVGREN COPY PAINTINGS OFFERED ON EBAY FOR $99 EACH PRODUCED BY A CHINESE ART MILL. THIS SELLER IS UNRESTRAINED BY THOSE WHO PROFESS THAT VANCAS ELVGREN REPLICAS ARE SO BAD FOR THE MARKET... NOT A WORD ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS...

IN THE PAST A PHONEY ARTIST CALLED "CHELESTE A NEW YORK ART STUDENT", WHO MANY BELIEVE WAS A FRONT FOR AN ART MILL, WAS SOLD UNRESTRAINED, BY SEVERAL ON EBAY. NO CELESTE ART STUDENT WAS EVER FOUND.

THESE INFRINGEMENTS WERE NEVER DISCREDITED AND THIS WORK NEVER THREATENED OR CHALLENGED.

WHY? ONLY TO CONFUSE THE PUBLIC AND DEVALUE THE AUTHORIZED VANCAS RIGHTS.

CURIOUS THAT THE THIS WRITER DOESN'T SPEND HIS TIME GOING AFTER CHEAPO CHINESE ART MILLS CRANKING OUT HUNDEREDS OF POOR VALUE COPY PAINTINGS WITH NO STATED AUTHORITY OR RIGHTS... WHO EVEN SIGN THE ART ELVGREN WITH NO OTHER MARKINGS OF COPY NOTICE... TO INFORMED THE CONSUMER AND COLLECTOR.

HARRASSING VANCAS WHEN THEY KNOW HE IS PAINTING ONE AT A TIME AND IS WINDING DOWN HIS LAST ELVGREN COMMISSIONS AND PLANNING A SHIFT TO OTHER ORIGINAL ART.

COULD IT BE THAT THOSE THAT HATE VANCAS AND PROFESS LOVE OF ELVGREN ART HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE ART MILLS AND "CHELESTE" PAINTINGS?

JUST A THOUGHT...
DOES ANYONE KNOW?
PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE.
PLEASE STOP UNAUTHORIZED PIRACY.

Unknown said...

Oh man, I though I had left the insanity that is Daniel Vancas behind when I stopped buying pinup from ebay years ago. He used to harrass people who sold or bought anything with Elvgren's name in the item listing, or on the item being sold. He's burned so many bridges in the antique and ebay world that no one will deal with him anymore.

In case you hadn't guessed... the anon postings with the ALL CAPS WORDS are from Daniel Vancas. It's his "signature" writing style. Heh.

He actually was awarded trademarks on something related to Elvgren's signature, but whatever he got does not extend to the rights he seems to *think* he has. In my non-professional opinion, the guy is a certifiable nutjob.

More info here: http://www.gilelvgren.com/GE/trademark.php

David Apatoff said...

Brenda, I can't figure out how my poor little posting on pin-up art became ground zero for a debate about Mr. Vancas. But if he is the author of these long screeds, he is even wackier than I suspected.

It is ironic that the purpose of trademark law is to prevent unscrupulous sellers from exploiting the quality brand established by another seller. Mr. Vancas apparently thinks he can use the trademark law to aid his exploitation. Thanks for sending along the link to a legal analysis.

Anonymous said...

Vancas has only worked and invested promotional $$ for 15 years and this increased the Elvgren market and value as a whole. It is ONLY others that took the profit, rewards and benefits.

EBAY IS FLOODED WITH UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTIONS...

The demand for B&B Elvgren licensing continued to go up even after the B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order of 2001 approving his Elvgren trademarks. So the preservation of the Vancas/Elvgren Trademark only proved to encourage and increase business. B&B reported 200 million in profits and 75% of licensing inquiries for Elvgren. (Chicago Trib. 2005 B&B interview)

THE UGLY AND DARK HISTORY OF THE ELVGREN ADVERSARIES

When those of financial power then wished to push out Daniel Vancas from the pin-up & Elvgren market, this B&B contract and his trademarks were ONLY THEN in the way and in dispute. Many people believe this was merely to push him out, rather than BUY his interest Out. As during this time he was also harassed, threatened and ultimately hurt.

Though Daniel Vancas and B&B arbitrated and ended their disputes , sealed with Federal Court Orders, that provided that Vancas was to keep the Elvgren TM and have continued use of a large number (undisclosed) of Elvgren images. Several licensees, in violation of this Federal Court Order, continued to ignore The B&B/Vancas Binding Arbitration and Federal Court Order. It is their slander and misinformation that is still published on the web that may be the ONLY information MANY relied upon. These are same people that made the millions in the Elvgren market.

Daniel Vancas paid over $264,000 in Elvgren royalties, how much has ANONYMOUS paid?

Daniel Vancas paid over $500,000 in legal fees to protect his Elvgren effort, investments, first propriety the Elvgren rights and the Elvgren TM. All of which were required to support his lawful fine art publications, paintings and business.

Daniel Vancas promoted Elvgren, at a $1 Million Dollar loss . It was the other art dealers, book publishers, B&B who took the benefit. The end result was an award, a Federal Court Order protecting his Elvgren trademarks but no profit.

AS OF 4 WEEK AGO THERE WAS >> 760 <<< ELVGREN COPY PAINTINGS OFFERED ON EBAY FOR $99 EACH PRODUCED BY AN UNAUTHORIZED CHINESE ART MILL. THIS SELLER IS UNRESTRAINED BY THOSE WHO PROFESS THAT VANCAS ELVGREN REPLICAS ARE SO BAD FOR THE MARKET... NOT A WORD ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS... AND SLANDERING ONLY VANCAS... WHY NOT THESE PIRATE ART MILLS??

IN THE PAST A PHONEY ARTIST CALLED "CHELESTE A NEW YORK ART STUDENT", WHO MANY BELIEVE WAS A FRONT FOR AN ART MILL, WAS SOLD UNRESTRAINED, BY SEVERAL ON EBAY. NO CELESTE ART STUDENT WAS EVER FOUND.

THESE INFRINGEMENTS WERE NEVER DISCREDITED AND THIS WORK NEVER THREATENED OR CHALLENGED.

WHY? ONLY TO CONFUSE THE PUBLIC AND DEVALUE THE AUTHORIZED VANCAS RIGHTS.

CURIOUS THAT THE THESE BLOG WRITERS DOESN'T SPEND TIME GOING AFTER CHEAPO CHINESE ART MILLS CRANKING OUT HUNDREDS OF POOR VALUE COPY PAINTINGS WITH NO STATED AUTHORITY OR RIGHTS... WHO EVEN SIGN THE ART ELVGREN WITH NO OTHER MARKINGS OF COPY NOTICE... TO INFORMED THE CONSUMER AND COLLECTOR.

HARASSING VANCAS WHEN THEY KNOW HE IS PAINTING ONE AT A TIME AND IS WINDING DOWN HIS LAST ELVGREN COMMISSIONS AND PLANNING A SHIFT TO OTHER ORIGINAL ART.

COULD IT BE THAT THOSE THAT HATE VANCAS AND PROFESS LOVE OF ELVGREN ART HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE ART MILLS AND "CHELESTE" PAINTINGS?

JUST A THOUGHT...
DOES ANYONE KNOW?
PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE.
PLEASE STOP UNAUTHORIZED PIRACY.

There is an open criminal investigation. Please contribute your criminal information directly to these police active and open files. (Piracy, racketeering, threats, harm, criminal harassment, file tampering.)

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I prefer the Vargas girls to George petty.

David Apatoff said...

Anonymous (Vancas)-- the activities you are describing have nothing to do with the creation of art. They have everything to do with the legal manipulation and commercial exploitation of a dead artist's work. But I stand by my comments.

Anonymous (second)-- why do you like Vargas better?

Anonymous said...

David, I am in full agreement in regards to your observation of Petty. Petty is my favorite artist over Vargas, Elvgren, etc. Petty "got it right" when art is labeled Pin-up. IMO Vargas seemed to use Petty's posing style early on. Once Petty left the art scene and Vargas went to Playboy, it appeared Vargas couldn't copy Petty's style anymore and it showed. Vargas' late Playboy works lost its romance, considering there was not much of it anyway.

I have to say I am a pin-up enthusiast and collector. Mr. Vancas has IMHO done considerable damage to Elvgren. At one time I used to collect Elvgren works. Now with the reproductions that he is selling I have ended my collecting of Elvgren. I am in agreement with other collectors that Mr. Vancas has devalued authentic Elvgren works and or Elvgren's name.

I also agree with the Anonymous writer that says Mr. Vancas is doing this only to make money for himself. Mr. Vancas states he has spent $1,000,000. I'm sure he'll recover that money with his reproduction artwork within a few short years. Indeed a great investment. I wasn't aware of the original Elvgren easel story... sounds like a great Alfred Hitchcock movie.

Mr. Vancas who is the other Anonymous user, please stop using your name in the 3rd person. Everyone knows it's you as you take the comments personally.

Hopefully Mr. Vancas will not start doing reproductions of Petty. I only have a small collection of Elvgren but have a considerable collection of Petty.

Mr. Vancas, stay away from George Petty. Please!

Unknown said...

There is way to much to be said about this so i will make a few points. Pinups while at the time where not considered art but smut. They have become a part of americana with a rich history. They did not try to depict reality but where about defying society, lust, and tells a lot about the "hidden culture" of the time and where we where morally as a nation. So pinup art may not evaluate physical forms but I would argue that it does evaluate a time and a deviant untalked about sub-culture. I would tempted to compare pinups to bosch's garden of earthlly delights because of there similarities i that they both describe vices of the times.

And as far as composition as a boring vertical stripe, where does that leave minimalists like rothko, mandrian. How about pop art? making one frame of a comic strip large apparently makes art so as far as i'm concerned you havent posed much of an argument here and happens to be a matter of taste.

You are correct that an artsist has to think about the elements and principles of design, but when an artist is creating many of the choices made are instinctual.

Anonymous said...

EBAY IS FLOODED WITH UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTIONS...

The demand for B&B Elvgren licensing continued to go up even after the B&B/Vancas Federal Court Order of 2001 approving his Elvgren trademarks. So the preservation of the Vancas/Elvgren Trademark only proved to encourage and increase business. B&B reported 200 million in profits and 75% of licensing inquiries for Elvgren. (Chicago Trib. 2005 B&B interview)

THE UGLY AND DARK HISTORY OF THE ELVGREN ADVERSARIES

When those of financial power then wished to push out Daniel Vancas from the pin-up & Elvgren market, this B&B contract and his trademarks were ONLY THEN in the way and in dispute. Many people believe this was merely to push him out, rather than BUY his interest Out. As during this time he was also harassed, threatened and ultimately hurt.

Though Daniel Vancas and B&B arbitrated and ended their disputes , sealed with Federal Court Orders, that provided that Vancas was to keep the Elvgren TM and have continued use of a large number (undisclosed) of Elvgren images. Several licensees, in violation of this Federal Court Order, continued to ignore The B&B/Vancas Binding Arbitration and Federal Court Order. It is their slander and misinformation that is still published on the web that may be the ONLY information MANY relied upon. These are same people that made the millions in the Elvgren market.

Daniel Vancas paid over $264,000 in Elvgren royalties, how much has ANONYMOUS paid?

Daniel Vancas paid over $500,000 in legal fees to protect his Elvgren effort, investments, first propriety the Elvgren rights and the Elvgren TM. All of which were required to support his lawful fine art publications, paintings and business.

Daniel Vancas promoted Elvgren, at a $1 Million Dollar loss . It was the other art dealers, book publishers, B&B who took the benefit. The end result was an award, a Federal Court Order protecting his Elvgren trademarks but no profit.

AS OF 4 WEEK AGO THERE WAS >> 760 <<< ELVGREN COPY PAINTINGS OFFERED ON EBAY FOR $99 EACH PRODUCED BY AN UNAUTHORIZED CHINESE ART MILL. THIS SELLER IS UNRESTRAINED BY THOSE WHO PROFESS THAT VANCAS ELVGREN REPLICAS ARE SO BAD FOR THE MARKET... NOT A WORD ABOUT THIS, AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS... AND SLANDERING ONLY VANCAS... WHY NOT THESE PIRATE ART MILLS??

IN THE PAST A PHONEY ARTIST CALLED "CHELESTE A NEW YORK ART STUDENT", WHO MANY BELIEVE WAS A FRONT FOR AN ART MILL, WAS SOLD UNRESTRAINED, BY SEVERAL ON EBAY. NO CELESTE ART STUDENT WAS EVER FOUND.

THESE INFRINGEMENTS WERE NEVER DISCREDITED AND THIS WORK NEVER THREATENED OR CHALLENGED.

WHY? ONLY TO CONFUSE THE PUBLIC AND DEVALUE THE AUTHORIZED VANCAS RIGHTS.

CURIOUS THAT THE THESE BLOG WRITERS DOESN'T SPEND TIME GOING AFTER CHEAPO CHINESE ART MILLS CRANKING OUT HUNDREDS OF POOR VALUE COPY PAINTINGS WITH NO STATED AUTHORITY OR RIGHTS... WHO EVEN SIGN THE ART ELVGREN WITH NO OTHER MARKINGS OF COPY NOTICE... TO INFORMED THE CONSUMER AND COLLECTOR.

HARASSING VANCAS WHEN THEY KNOW HE IS PAINTING ONE AT A TIME AND IS WINDING DOWN HIS LAST ELVGREN COMMISSIONS AND PLANNING A SHIFT TO OTHER ORIGINAL ART.

COULD IT BE THAT THOSE THAT HATE VANCAS AND PROFESS LOVE OF ELVGREN ART HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE ART MILLS AND "CHELESTE" PAINTINGS?

JUST A THOUGHT...
DOES ANYONE KNOW?
PLEASE LEAVE MESSAGE.
PLEASE STOP UNAUTHORIZED PIRACY.

There is an open criminal investigation. Please contribute your criminal information directly to these police active and open files. (Piracy, racketeering, threats, harm, criminal harassment, file tampering.)

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!
I am Ukrainian artist and my art is forbidden (underground) in Ukraine. I would like to invite you to my exhibition on the Internet: www.kolyada.com! You could see that I have very original style and technique as well (ball-point pen).
Thank you!
With kind regards,
Serhiy Kolyada

vän tstheorie said...

i agree that daniel vancas should be ashammed of him self for coping the arts of the artist Elvgren.

is daniel vancas not have the talents to create his own arts?

this displays daniel vancas has no career or arts talents with out brillent artist Elvgren.

daniel vancas is nothing with out Elvgren.

Anonymous said...

DANIEL VANCAS PAINTS ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

PART 1 OF 3

For more information and photos:

thevanguardgallery.com/artists

thevanguardgallery.com/elvgren_trademark_re-registered

elvgrenart.com/vancas_girls.htm


This last blogger, doesn't know that I DO paint original works, they have never met me or been in my galleries. If he did he would know I paint my own original art as well. The writer does not even know the real history of this new Elvgren revival. A revival started in the early 1990's that in the biggest way I helped to create ... long before any books on the subject came out.

THE REAL TRUTH IS...
Simply put there would be no Elvgren revival without me, my galleries and art shows, my money spent and my efforts!

There would ne no pinup revival without the 16 years of work, my first web sites in 1993, galleries opened and maintained, $1.5 million I spent, advertising, promotions and Most importantly the paintings. These Elvgren trademark paintings restored and the scores of LOST Elvgren paintings recreated by me, Daniel Vancas.

I educated the public, had the first Elvgren web sites, first publisher of Elvgren fine art editions, was the first to paint replicas, at first NOT for the public but for the lost B&B archives. NOT for public consumption! It was the public that demanded to purchase them, and over the years I painted over 230 Elvgren paintings on the original Elvgren easel.

Anonymous said...

DANIEL VANCAS PAINTS ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

part 2 of 3

I never planned to paint Elvgren replicas, it was a business solution.

The blogger doesn't know, that I was encouraged and given permission by B&B to recreate the missing and lost works of Elvgren, to preserve the work and make new Elvgren art archives. That was what these replica paintings were first created for.

The blogger didn't know that B&B had lost, gave away and threw away all of their 400 Elvgren original paintings when I was first licensed by them, the Elvgren art archive were almost gone! B&b did not even own one Elvgren original, and took my Elvgren replica paintings to licensing shows in New York as displays.

Many people don't know that DOW Calendars CLOSED in 1960 and threw away, and took to the dump, 10,000 paintings. Many Pinup paintings including Elvgren were in this 1960 throw out.

I know this as a fact, supported by my personal interviews with former employees and owners who were there at the time.

In the 1990's Replicas were a needed preservation tool and business solution to a problem created first by the throw out and lost Elvgren paintings, then again required for a time, because of controlling behaviors of two well know east coast art dealers, not by me. I just wanted to buy and sell, promote and do everything the right way and had gained a license and permission to do it!

This blogger didn't know that I was recreating to further the art promotions and solve a dilemma, as I didn't know the archive was mostly gone when I first licensed with B&B. I didn't know until later that there was a nasty fight between two notorious art dealers vs B&B. That these people were negotiating and withholding the original B&B Elvgren paintings from B&B, preventing B&B and me from the art archives we needed for my licensed publications.

That is why these art dealers, who I never had any dealing with, turned on me. Threatened me and intimadated my cleints. Why, because my painting skill in replicating Elvgren art archive was solving the missing and lost painting problem, upseting their negotiation power and plans as they were withholding access to their collection of Elvgren original pinups.

I simply and unknowingly got caught in the middle in a big squeeze. I was the little guy, now with world exclusives and a Elvgren trademark and my lifetime investment, being threatened to get out or else.

When the public compared original paintings in my gallery and watched what I was doing...( I openly paint in the gallery in front of the public.) Then it was the public, who wanted it and B&B granted me permission to continue to do what I do, and today I have a Permanent signed agreement with B&B on 100 separate images that they B&B do not own.

So selling Elvgren paintings only happened because the public requested them. Then others, unlicensed and often infringing, Chinese art mills with phoney made up names, started to copy what i was doing years later.

All My paintings have my signature on them, are stamped, and The Elvgren signature trademark has the tm or (r) logo. These are never meant to be anything but a great copy.

Anonymous said...

DANIEL VANCAS PAINT ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

PART 3

So what's the difference between a machine copying it or me as an artist? Because in a painting a life spirit of the living artist hand molds the work and adds life to the reproductions. Why does the public want them? Because I am the real deal the first, the original guy... I am the guy who preserved the work when no one cared about the lost art. I was the first to bring the art out of locked collections to the Public, both vintage originals and my replicas. The public could not buy many paintings then hoarded and kept from public view.

Don't blame me what happened, that was the fault of greedy people trying to control the market.

The public wanted art it couldn't have and I was the next best thing, I had a love for Elvgren's art, I was the right guy for the job!

I am the real deal, and for those that met me I was the guy that loved the art more than the money.
That is why the other guys got rich, and I haven't even made my money back. So when I and my contracts and my Elvgren trademarks got in the way of big money, power I was threatened and my business and my reputation was attacked. I was nearly killed twice.

Please understand, I also found many of the last missing Elvgren originals. I saved them, bought, restored and resold many Elvgren vintage original paintings. When piracy and infringements started to appear against my first rights and my first license contracts with B&B, I needed the Elvgren trademarks as support and added protection not only for me, but those who for years bought the licensed and legal Elvgren art prints and replica paintings that I made!

This is why I needed the Elvgren trademarks, why I was granted them..and why I was given permission from Brown & Bigelow to own them in a Permanent Binding Arbitration and Federal Court Order. (When alive, Elvgren, paid very well, sold all rights on much of the art to B&B, and it was B&B who needed to give the go a head on my trademark ownership.)

Later when Elvgren then grew to a $150 million a year market by mid 2000, I again was harassed, threatened and hurt by the same group of people. This was a violation to the Federal Court Protections and orders of 2001. This is why the Elvgren trademarks registration were reissued back to me in 2005.

By Federal Court Order, I own the trademark rights and use. The TM office is a registration office. My rights are preserved in a Permanent Binding Federal Court Order and rulings that state that I own the Elvgren trademarks. I was challenged because my adversaries do not want me to license or share in the millions made in licensing Elvgren. So the slander negative propaganda was pushed harder and false legal file that don't show what happened in court and what my protection orders are, are NOT shown by these slander sites.

DANIEL VANCAS WAS THREATENED AND NEARLY KILLED:

I have risked my very life and have been threatened and hurt several times defending my Elvgren rights against greedy and ignorant people!

A man puts his heart where his money and life is. I have proven myself with my money spent and my own blood!

Now, what has this Blogger or others spent to promote Elvgren... How many years have you worked day in and day out to promote Elvgren?? Who are you to the Elvgren art revival that started in the 1990's? have you fought legal battles and lost your life's savings, or a drop of your blood over this? The answer is no. No one has care so much, fought so hard nor promoted so much Elvgren work, than me.

After more than 230 Elvgren replica paintings, restroations and 16 years, No one has studied Elvgren paintings than me.
Who has sacraficed more than me?
Who then IS the real expert of Elvgren art?

Anonymous said...

DANIEL VANCAS PAINTS ORIGINAL PAINTINGS -

AND THE ELVGREN ART ARCHIVE

PART 4

So easy for bloggers to talk cheap, my words are backed by blood, sweat and tears.

I am an American, Elvgren pin-up art is a uniquely American art form, I grew up in the 1950's & 60's. This was the time of Elvgren. This art was my interest since my childhood. This Elvgren art is part of my popular American cultural experience.

I am the one the first cared and I am the one who made the effort and invested money, blood and pain.

This is also my passion and my personal living, which is a very modest one I might ad. Pin-Up and nudes are the hardest art to place in a home and the hardest to sell.

Learn more about someone before you slap some words on a blog! Or more importantly read and believe what ruthless adversaries and uneducated ignorant followers write in a blog before you believe it.

If you want to see, hear witness statements of the hell I have been through over this ask me and you will be dumbfounded by the criminal behavior as well as all the undeserved unprovoked threates, intimadation, attacks, slander and legal nonsense I was put through just to keep me down and from making money when the economy and the Elvgren market was huge and the Elvgren market hitting $150,000,000 per year world wide.

Slander can be effective because I barely make a living. But this is my joy and my passion and my paintings, wether they are my originals or even my fully authorized and legal Elvgren replicas, DO make people happy and bring pleasure to the world. I have preserved a art form and increased the values of Elvgren originals. Even my Elvgren replica paintings have gone up in value. So you can't keep good art or a good man down forever.

Fortunately my clients and customers and many of those that know what I do, know this history and say "Bravo! Keep it up!... we love your work!",
and nasty bloggers like these are a shrinking minority.

This blogger should find a passion that betters the world and not waste time being jealous of me.

Afterall, I am just one of many painters with a passion.

Daniel Vancas

Anonymous said...

DANIEL VANCAS PAINTS ORIGINAL PAINTINGS -

AND THE ELVGREN ART ARCHIVE

PART 4

So easy for bloggers to talk cheap, my words are backed by blood, sweat and tears.

I am an American, Elvgren pin-up art is a uniquely American art form, I grew up in the 1950's & 60's. This was the time of Elvgren. This art was my interest since my childhood. This Elvgren art is part of my popular American cultural experience.

I am the one the first cared and I am the one who made the effort and invested money, blood and pain.

This is also my passion and my personal living, which is a very modest one I might ad. Pin-Up and nudes are the hardest art to place in a home and the hardest to sell.

Learn more about someone before you slap some words on a blog! Or more importantly read and believe what ruthless adversaries and uneducated ignorant followers write in a blog before you believe it.

If you want to see, hear witness statements of the hell I have been through over this ask me and you will be dumbfounded by the criminal behavior as well as all the undeserved unprovoked threates, intimadation, attacks, slander and legal nonsense I was put through just to keep me down and from making money when the economy and the Elvgren market was huge and the Elvgren market hitting $150,000,000 per year world wide.

Slander can be effective because I barely make a living. But this is my joy and my passion and my paintings, wether they are my originals or even my fully authorized and legal Elvgren replicas, DO make people happy and bring pleasure to the world. I have preserved a art form and increased the values of Elvgren originals. Even my Elvgren replica paintings have gone up in value. So you can't keep good art or a good man down forever.

Fortunately my clients and customers and many of those that know what I do, know this history and say "Bravo! Keep it up!... we love your work!",
and nasty bloggers like these are a shrinking minority.

This blogger should find a passion that betters the world and not waste time being jealous of me.

Afterall, I am just one of many painters with a passion.

Daniel Vancas

Anonymous said...

hands.. great study material!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, that was certainly an interesting exchange, although there seemed to be an echo at times...

Anyway, I agree: Petty is at the top, not because of his graceful hands, not because of his perfect proportions, but because his lovely girls have a healthy, wholesome radiance that totally eludes the others: no smarmy, corny situations, no suggestive come-hither poses, no coy expressions. If people objected to the well-painted salaciousness of other pinup artists' work, no one could legitimately level that charge against George Petty. With his gorgeous girls, nudity isn't 'naughty', it's good clean fun. Who could object to that?

Belmont

Anonymous said...

As a fan of George Petty I concur with your positiveassessment of his art. I managed to buy in New Orleans a rare copy of the "Petty Portfolio from Esquire, 1933 thru 1936". I have also the clip where George Petty was the mystery guest in TV's "What's my line ?". If you are interested I can share this material with you, as a support for your excellent blog.