The Art Of Ricky Carralero
(2002 - SQP (Sal Quartuccio Publications))

THE ART OF RICKY CARRALERO seems to be the same book as ART PREMIERE 1 and ART PREMIERE DELUXE 1. There are 48 pages of which only six pages are text, title, indicia, index and ads. What remains are pin-up images, the female form isolated in white space, but there are a few that do instead get a full-bleed background. One double-page spread is o.k., but another two allow the book's gutter to cut that particular female form in half and finally a last one does the same and is turned sideways to boot. The works are not captioned, but there is a single index page that provides for each piece its title, creation-year, size, medium and frequently a model's name. A number of the paintings are renditions of Bettie Page and the others run the gamut from nude to fully lingeried or fantasy-costumed. The figures of both comic characters Lady Death and Vampirella make an appearance. There also appear to be re-interpretations of a couple of classic pin-up paintings of yesteryear. I'd say 'innocence' is in short supply here and a substantial portion of the work might be chalked up as raunchy or a bit salacious, but it walks that fine line and I don't see enough questionability to hide it away. I've read a bit of web-chatter about whether these works are correctly attributed, but I will withhold further comment about that until I'm more certain about the matter.