Day 8 August Photo Challenge - Selfie

A Girl Who Loves Her Shoes - Self- Portrait

Day 7 August Photo Challenge Skyline

 

 August Skyline in Illinois (definitely not in Chicago today)

Day 6 August Photo Challenge - Diagonals

 Diagonals

Day 4 August Photo Challenge - LOVE



August 2nd - Circles

Day 2 - Circles*

 

 

(*Photography suggestion from http://www.susannahconway.com/the-august-break-2013/)

Day 77 Advice on Love and Life from a Disco Cabbie (SOLD)

After yesterday's picture and today's gloomy weather, here's a gift of lightheartedness.

One of my favorite movies is 1999's, "200 Cigarettes" about a bunch of young things in NYC on a New Year's Eve in '81.  Do yourself a favor, and check it out.

Dave Chappelle is absolutely perfect as the "Disco Cabbie" who gives smooth-talkin' advice--both on love and life--to his passengers.  Chill, baby, chill, and enjoy the ride. (-:

 

How it started:

I used to have a great film clip of this scene, but now it's been removed from YouTube.  Bummer!  You can still buy it yourself on Amazon for under $5--such a value for a fantastic, quirky independent film, which actually, is full of great life advice. (-;  Take more advice from that cabbie:  "Say yes to your destiny...come on, mama, live, LIVE!"

Day 72. All Aboard the Love Train

I experienced a bit of delay posting the last 2 days of paintings due to a failed SD card. 

And now for a shot of soul from the O'Jays, Don Cornelius, and the Soul Train Dancers!  They got the looks, the clothes, and the moves!  Love it. (-:

I like how the colors turned out on this painting.

Here's a vertical shot:

How it started:

Where have these great moves and clothes gone?

Day 73. "Meet my new best friend, Nyquil®."

Last week we passed out items to 850 students, 200 of whom were sick (ha!, just kidding, but not quite).    One week later, I have a new best friend.  I love you, Nyquil®.

.

Day 71. Hold onto Your Spring Bonnet. This March Ain't No Lamb.(SOLD)

Hold onto your spring bonnet.  This March ain't no lamb.

******************************

I had a hard time getting a good shot of this one.  Remnants of an Anthropologie cup, metal flowers, wire, glitter, jewels, a lot going on, camera acting up, shadows creepin' in--the kind of craziness that's blowin' through the air in this blustery March.  (-;

Day 69. One Man & Two Views of His Bouffant

Oh!  I'm lovin' this larger painting I finished today. (-;

How it started:

Day 68. Ben Affleck - Getting Back Up

Can you believe the Academy Awards were just a week ago today?  It almost seems like a month ago.  Wait until I talk about the Grammys; you're going to think they took place last year.

I wanted to do this painting immediately the next day, but things happen, you know?  Maybe my delay was good, because it allowed a few more thoughts to go into it.  Here's the thing:  I was so impressed by Ben Affleck's emotional acceptance speech, I had tears running down my face.  I just watched it 2 more times before I wrote this post and was crying again.  This tearful reaction happens every year so I plan for it; in other words, I've got my popcorn in one hand, and my kleenex box in the other.  What I'm unprepared for is exactly when or for whom the floodgates will open.  Who will give that speech that touches your heart so tenderly you can barely contain yourself?

I remember one year, there was some obscure award for best editor on a short film documentary or something very close to that.  (I don't even think they televise that particular category anymore so as to truncate the show and keep our short-attention span tuned in.)  As I recall, it was a Chinese man who won.  He was seated so far back in the audience that by the time he finally made it to the stage, you could tell half the crowd had departed for a quick cocktail and a run to the bathroom.  I stayed riveted to the screen.  I thought to myself, they deserve my attention for their hard work--I want to listen.  And I remember this man moved me with his emotional words of perseverance.  It was the most brilliant speech of the night.

You don't get many of these speeches anymore.  I hate that the music kicks in while people are still talking or before a 2nd person on stage gets a chance to talk.  The winners can barely get any words out except some obligatory thanks.  And that's the other problem.  Most of the speeches are just politically correct thank yous.  I want to hear what they went through to make the movie or to even become an actor.  What inner drive got them to where they are at and/or through the movie?  Whether someone is getting a Tony, Emmy, Grammy, or Oscar, we are celebrating some of the pinnacles of musical/acting/writing achievements of the year.  Let's hear what it takes to reach these great heights of art.

Whew!  Sorry for the soapbox.  I'm just about done with that bar of soap, but not quite.  So the next morning I'm still thinking about Ben's speech and how I want to do a painting of him, and what do I find on the internet?  About a zillion entries on what Ben said about his marriage to Jennifer Garner; i.e., what his words meant about the state of their marriage and how people criticized him for their perceived inappropriateness of what he said.  I couldn't believe it!  This was the focus of winning an Oscar for producing (and let's face it, directing) the best picture of the year?

In case you missed it, here was the marriage bit:
 
I want to thank my wife who I don't usually associate with Iran. I want to thank you for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It's good. It is work, but it's the best kind of work and there's no one I'd rather work with.

So I guess because he didn't say:

"You're the light of my life" or 

"You're my reason for waking up each day" or 

"You're my Battlestar Galactica with whipped cream on top," 

their marriage is over.  I'd take his honesty over any of those other utterances.  Marriage is hard work, and that's the truth of it.  How brave to admit it and what an ultimate honor to the partner to say, "even so, there's no one I'd rather do it with."  That's love.

Well, about this time, I've lost all of you and you're out getting a quick cocktail and taking a run to the bathroom.  Here's my point--(she still hasn't made it? God, help me!). HERE'S the part I was sobbing over, and I THOUGHT everyone else would be cheering over as well.  The part that celebrates what's finest and most triumphant in being a human being.  The fight of hard work; the fight of getting pushed down and going on; the fight--just like that Chinese film editor--of perseverance.

"And I'd just like to say, I was here 15 years ago or something and I had no idea what I was doing. I stood out here in front of you all and really just a kid. I went out and I never thought I would be back here. And I am, because of so many of you who are here tonight, because of this Academy, because of so many wonderful people who extended themselves to me when they had nothing to benefit from it in Hollywood. You know what I mean, I couldn't get them a job. 

I want to thank them and I want to thank what they taught me, which is that you have to work harder than you think you possibly can. You can't hold grudges. It's hard but you can't hold grudges. And it doesn't matter how you get knocked down in life because that's going to happen. All that matters is you gotta get up. Violet, Sam and Sera, this is for you."

Here's the full, emotional speech:

Day 68. Hairstyle Repeat and a Golden Barrette

If you remember on Day 62 ("Idle hands Plus Scissors Equals Disaster"), I chopped off my bangs.  They are a little crazy looking, let me tell you.  I have tried to convince myself that they have a "mod" look to them, and besides, everyone is getting the heavy bang look right now.  However, as I was driving along in my bug, I looked up into the rearview mirror, and suddenly I had a horrible realization.  I have the exact same hairstyle that I had in my 4th grade school picture.  The one with me wearing a little jumper with an apple appliqued on the front (made by my mom).  OMG, my face is aging, yet my hair is regressing.  Will I ultimately be 85 years old with a pixie haircut circa age 2?!  Will I only have a partial "Benjamin Button" experience?

Contemplating those old school pictures and my creativity with my hair, I must tell you this little story.  In 2nd grade, again in a cute little number sewn by the madre, I headed off to school with a headful of Shirley Temple banana curls.  My mom was a beautician and had painstakingly rolled up my hair the night before --does anyone remember those pink spongy baby curlers with a plastic clip--so I would look all adorable.  And I did.  Cute as a little curly-headed dumpling.  We were all standing in line in the hallway, waiting for our turn to be called into the little room to get our picture taken.  I started to get impatient.  Those curls kept falling into my eyes, and they were driving me CRAZY.  I pushed them out of my eyes one final time, and then I took a big plastic yellow barrette out of my pocket--why did I have it--and shoved it smack dab into the middle of my forehead.  Ah, finally relief!  With that, my name was called, and I happily sat down and got snapped.

My mom, of course, had no idea of this transpiring.  That is, until a month later when we got our little packets of pictures, and I took them home.  Listen, my mom was not happy to say the least (she laughs now)!   Oh well, I always have been a little impulsive--with hair and otherwise. (-; 

3rd set of 21 days - 9 weeks

I forgot to post my 3rd set of 21 days of drawings (Days 43-63).  I had sold a couple of paintings before I took the overall picture, and I had a few more to go after this pic was taken.  So, here you go:

Day 43 and 45 (sold before large picture taken)

Days 44 and 46-61

Days 62 and 63

Day 66. Cowboy Boots - Old Gringo Style (SOLD)

I love cowboy boots.  You put on a pair of worn-in cowboy boots, and your feet just take on a confident gait of comfort.  I'd rather wear cowboy boots over a pair of heels any day!  In college, I had a great palomino pair of Nine West boots that I wore so much, I had to get them resoled twice.  Luckily I was in Austin at the time, the land of boots and repair.  Poor little beauties, I wore those babies into the ground!

Nowadays, my very favorite brand of cowboy boots is Old Gringo.  They are pricey, baby, which is why you have to hunt and hunt and hunt for them to get a bargain--and when they're gone, they're gone.  Here's a pair I wished I could have gotten:  the cross boot--does it say "the Old West" or what?  I do have a great pair, however; if you take a look at these babies, you can tell I've been wearing them for years.

Day 63. Adrien Brody

I'm working on a magazine submission so it has taken all my time today.  Still (I want to say "todavía" in Spanish), here's my drawing for the day.  A quick sketch of the beautiful Adrien Brody.  Well, I think he's beautiful!.  Oscar winner (Best Actor) for "The Pianist"; kisser of Halle Berry at the Oscars (isn't this great that I'm tying it all in with past Oscar shows since it was on yesterday--more on THAT tomorrow!); great as Salvador Dalí in "Midnight in Paris"; nasty (mmm hmmm) in 2001's "Love the Hard Way."  Heck, he even makes a Gillette razor commercial too hot to handle.  Ha!  O.k., here ya' go.

Day 61. Flummoxed

This chic tells me she's flummoxed, perplexed...

Or making a judgement--that pinched mouth!

That's what I felt when I was creating it and that was my story behind it.  But then her thoughts started to waver, and I could see her flitting between emotions.  Maybe her judgement wasn't as secure as she had thought; maybe she was questioning prior views.  Maybe she was...

At a turning point.

Day 60. Tied Up in Cerulean Blue $25

Well, I had 2 canvases I prepped for tonight.  As I waited for them to dry, I made myself a nice cup of hot tea.  I carried the tea in one hand and a glass of water for my paints in the other.  Now, I keep my beagle, Ebert, out of my art room, because it can only come to no good.  However, my two hands were full, and I couldn't keep my boy from running in.  No problem yet.  I tried to cajole him out.  He came forward and retreated--he's smart--and apparently good at the fox trot...step forward and step back.  Suddenly he stopped the dance and started rubbing his neck on...something.  What was it?  I look, and then I freeze.

Nooooooooo!  He had somehow dislodged the top off of a paint tube.  And not just some watery, easily removable paint.  Only the best paint for my dog.  Winsor & Newton Galeria Cerulean Blue Hue.  Nice, thick acrylic paint all over.  I took a quick picture of the tube, but it looked so innocent, like it was a tiny squish of paint.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of it was all over Ebert.  His white chest was now bright blue.  Blue paw prints trotted out my art room and down the hall.  I managed to grab him and got him into the bathroom.  My orange pants, purple top, boots, bathtub, and wall now covered with blue paint, too.  Luckily the hat that I was wearing for some reason remained unscathed.  Forty-five minutes later, I collapsed back in my chair, took a sip of now, ice cold tea, and started painting my Friday night.  Oh, Ebert!

Day 59 Two Tears in a Bucket...the point of making art (SOLD)

I read an article today about why people might not like your art.  One of the points was that it wasn't "in style."

Oh boy.  (That's putting it nicely.)

I hate rules.  Not the rules that are put in place to protect people, like driving on the correct side of the road.  I actually wish there were rules that said you should say "please" and "thank you."  Be kind.  That would be a nice one for people to adhere to in a day.

What I mean to say is, I hate rules that say you should wear this and not that.  You should feel this and not that or at least don't feel it all too deeply.  You should live your life this way and not that. You should make this kind of art in order to be fashionable or profitable or to be famous or to stick to one style.  Pleeeeease don't tell me how to live my one and only life.

Well, listen.  I'd love to sell all my work. I'd love to be famous.  But I wouldn't love to curtail what I'm feeling so I make sure that I fit in with the current mindset of society.  I mean, what's the point of that?  Maybe if you're just aiming for world domination.  I guess that might seal it, while you simultaneously feel like a fake or dead inside for not expressing how you really feel.

One of my favorite sayings of "getting on with it" comes from the book and movie of the same name, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."  When the hormone-treatment-taking transvestite, Lady Chablis, says to John Cusack (John Kelso), "It's like my mama always said:  'Two tears in a bucket, mother fuck it.'"  (That's not putting it nicely.)

I already know that my style of art is not everyone's cup of tea, and that's o.k.  I do hope that some people like it--I even secretly wish someone would love it.  But in the grand scheme of things and in the quest of living life with some kind of truthfulness, I hope I like my art most of all.

Day 58 Violets, Tootsie Pops, Innocence & Kurt Cobain (SOLD)

This morning I was flipping through an art book and came across a page of small-boxed colors.  The first one that caught my eye was "violet."  When I read that word and saw that color, I took myself out of this frigid February and suddenly found myself walking home with my elementary school friends.

Not far from our grade school was a huge hill that would magically become covered with inky purple violets in the spring.  We used to pick all these pretty flowers in our chubby little kid hands and take them home to our moms and/or grandmas.  We would clutch them as we walked down the hill, over a creek, and down and up a huge, black-topped hospital parking lot.  Those poor little wilted bundles of purpleness were gasping for vases of water waiting at home.

The other constant I remember was unpeeling the wrapper from a Tootsie Pop.  Seemed like we always had one as an afternoon treat on our way home--victory after wading through new spelling words, cursive writing, and complex "greater than" and "less than" math problems.  Freedom was marked by these sweet treats.  And we'd always re-enact the Tootsie Pop commercial.  Anyone remember it?

"How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?".

Isn't it just so innocent?

Things did seem so much more innocent when I was a kid.  And, I know I'm not the only one who thinks that.  I think something good was going on in births in the mid- to late- '60's.  See, look at the big four vocalists from that era.

Kurt Cobain - Nirvana               2/20/67 - 4/5/94
Chris Cornell - Soundgarden      7/20/64       
Layne Staley - Alice in Chains    8/22/67 - 4/5/02
Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam          12/23/64

And please don't forget other huge "grunge"/alt lead vocalists:
Mark Arm - Mudhoney                                              2/21/62
Mark Lanegan  - Screaming Trees                            11/25/64
J Mascis - Dinosaur Jr.                                             12/10/65
Buzz Osborne - Melvins                                             3/24/64
Andrew Wood - Mother Love Bone/Malfunkshun      1/8/66 - 3/19/90

ANYWAY, I remember Kurt Cobain saying the following in AJ Schnack's 2006 documentary, "About a Son":

"I've always felt like my generation was the very last innocent generation, ya' know.  When there was television that wasn't violent.  We didn't have cable, we had "Sesame Street," and "Speed Racer," and "H.R. Puff 'n' Stuff" and that's it.  Everything was a total fantasy.  Everything was just very basic and just medieval compared to things nowadays.  Kids are just so advanced and expected to be so much more advanced than they are."

My friend Shelley's husband, Dan, says that when we were kids, everyone would watch the same t.v. shows.  He's right.  I remember when we would all come to class and everyone would talk about "Laverne and Shirley" and what happened on "Happy Days" and Jimmie Walker saying "Dy-no-mite" on "Good Times." We all watched the same shows and all related to them together.  So many choices now...Dan says that the only thing remotely resembling that bonding in school the next day is when kids ask, "Did you see such and such on YouTube?"

O.K., sorry for this long stroll down memory lane.  I just find myself tasting a cherry Tootsie Pop and smelling the lingering scent of violets.  They stayed with me longer than I thought.

Kurt Cobain - About A Son

Day 57. Say Hello to My Little Knitting Friend SOLD

This is my friend, Yvonne Glasch.  In the last year, we've probably been at 5 art shows together.  She is a knitting dynamo.  I mean, the woman simultaneously knits standing up while talking to people and walking around.  One night she went home, studied some knitting pattern on the computer, and the next day had 6 long boot socks made within about a 1/2 an hour of the show's second-day opening.  Hats, scarves, mittens, boot cuffs, berets, you name it, she's got it.  She was a hairdresser for over 30 years and now she's accessorizing hairdos.  And one final thing, Yvonne is a real broad.  A fabulous woman who knows what she wants and has "things she wants to do."

I mean, I just couldn't figure out how she could fly through all these skeins of yarn and whip out high-quality product with the speed she does.  THAT IS, UNTIL the following little exchange occurred:

I said, "Yvonne, let me take your picture."  

And she replied, "Oh, let me wipe this powdered sugar from my cookie off of my nose."

WHAT!?!?!?!?!  Where was this so-called cookie?! Powdered sugar, eh?  Speedy hands of knitting wonder finally explained!  (-; 

Ha! ha!  Just kiddin' folks. As far as I know, the only lines Yvonne did were knitting lines. (-;  And she's such a good sport--she agreed to this story for the sake of art.  See what a grand dame she is?  I'm still going to call her Antonia Montana.  (Surely you know, Tony Montana from "Scarface.")

P.S.  The little Tool Close-Up circle holds Yvonne's weapon of choice.  Bamboo knitting needles that knit in a circular pattern.  Now, I know nothing about knitting, but I think it is so cool how every field--knitting, painting, drawing, jewelry-making, hydraulics, etc--how everything has tools and vocabulary and it's own world associated with it.  Isn't that so neat?  (-: