Additional information
by Cj Cook (Author), Michael Ashley (Author)
Gold Medal Winner: IBPA Book Award for Best Biography, 2022
Iconoclast, contrarian, pugilist, artist--Edgar Leeteg is unforgettable.
Considered the "American Gaugin," the rakish ladies' man originated the modern technique of oil painting on black velvet, a style made famous by the Tiki art craze of the twentieth century.
With just a few paint brushes and oils, Leeteg left California in 1933 for the South Pacific. His home in Tahiti allowed him to paint, drink, and party, earning a reputation as a brilliant, if antagonistic, fixture of the South Pacific art scene. Tourists would seek him out for his generosity of wine, women, and song, while critics found themselves targets of his pen.
Leeteg's story is vivid and gripping, with both humor and suspense characterizing his rebellious life. What can the artist teach us about what it means to create and love without fear?
Leeteg: Babes, Bars, Beaches, and Black Velvet Art tells the story of this larger-than-life creative, from his early days in California to his legacy as a pioneer of black velvet art.
Author Biography
Author and historian, CJ Cook has long held an interest in the history of the South Pacific. His first book, Tyree, Artist of the South Pacific (2017) was a wonderful success, winning two Gold Awards for Best Cover and also for Best Biography from the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) in April 2018. Cook is a lifelong manuscript collector who has a special interest in art, poetry, and the South Pacific. He also is a collector of art and artists of the South Pacific. Some of the paintings and many of the photos in this book come from his collection.
A former Disney screenwriter, Michael Ashley owns the creative content company Ink Wordsmiths. He is a Forbes columnist and the author of twenty-six books, including four bestsellers. Michael specializes in turning his clients into thought leaders via ghostwriting books, articles, blogs, and websites, as well as consulting businesses on storytelling. A former newspaper reporter and current professional public speaker, Michael's writing has appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, the National Examiner, Orange County Business Journal, Newsbase, & Orange County Register.
