Day 255. Vernon Played His Saxophone SOLD

Vernon played his saxophone,

Sometimes for just he himself alone, 

A sound so smooth and sinuous,

It was almost too beautiful to share with the rest of us.

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

Day 254. Van Gogh & Picasso Go to Williams-Sonoma

No, the above title is not the beginning line of a joke.  That darn Project Runway--I had to watch it, and draw while I watched it. Tonight is my late night at work followed by a Friday early morning rise so I had to work while I could.  Here's some sketches of these great artists, two of my very favorite (I tried to draw them in their own artistic style) on a Williams-Sonoma bag.  Below is the olive oil that had come in it.  It was on sale, because it was soon to expire, but it's still mighty delicious.

Thanks, Williams-Sonoma, for the art paper supply. (-;

 Olive oil was the instrument of my drawing paper delivery.

Day 253. Stretch Armstrong Brain

Does anyone remember those "Stretch Armstrong" toys from the late '70's and early '80's?  You could pull his arms and legs for days and then he would spring back into shape.  His body had a heavy, doughy feel, and not unlike a rising loaf, you could press your finger into his chest, making an indentation, and it would slowly fill in back into place.  (My childhood neighbor, Shawn Flannery and his friend, once pulled it so far that his appendages did actually break off--not an easy thing to do.)

Anyway, that's what I need to do to my brain right now.  You see, I'm thinking about something, some thoughts of mine about Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Brittany Spears, and Miley Cyrus.  I don't have it completely thought out--I don't have my "brain" wrapped around exactly what I want to say or I haven't thought about it deeply enough yet.  That's why I need a "Stretch Armstrong" brain right now.  I need to pull it, stretch it around these thoughts so I can be clear.

I once told a friend from long ago, Lisa K., that I sometimes would just like the time to meditate on a single word or a single sentence.  To dive deeply into what something really means.  So maybe that's the case here--not just time to pull my hands around gray matter, but the time to do it.

Here's one of those fabulously cheesy commercials from way back when:  Stretch Armstrong and Stretch Monster!

Day 252. A Man's Face in Charcoal

Just drawing in charcoal with an acrylic wash in the background and listening to one of the most beautiful, mysterious, powerful soundtracks from the movie, "The Insider."  (Not to mention an incredible movie with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino.)  My favorite is the last track, "Meltdown," by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke.  Gorgeous music, cool night breeze, the charcoal, rough and smooth against the grain of the paper, all senses pulling you into a floating meditation.

Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke:  "Meltdown" from the soundtrack of "The Insider"

Day 251. Exena Blew That Solar System

Exena had a dream, and she was going to follow it.  Her ambition was too big to be restricted by her current solar system.  She wanted to take over the entire universe.

She was impossibly creative and made unbelievably beautiful jewelry with the intergalactic matter floating around her.  Certain that no one was or could duplicate her creations, Exena was determined to take over NYC.  She would blow Vogue headquarters away;  Anna Wintour herself would be wearing her choker necklaces after seeing the one beautifully displayed on her own swan-like, alien neck.  Perhaps she would create an alliance with J.Crew, the way Dana Lorenz of Fenton Fallon had done a few years back.  It would be a launchpad for her own line.  The possibilities were endless, and she, a cosmic princess, would pursue them all.

It's hard to see straight on, but there's meteoric shards on the top and both sides.  Hopefully these pics show that a little bit better.

How did this start?  Well, I once again have to thank the paint spills on my desk.

See those white little spots?  That's from me eating "Turkish Delight" with hazelnuts covered with powdered sugar.  Mmm.  So yummy--it's just sugar, hazelnuts, cornstarch, and citric acid.  Doesn't sound like much, but it's addictive.  Anyway, they made it into the painting.

Day 250. Feeling Pensive with Pi and Marty Glickman

I'm tired today.  I didn't sleep well--didn't go to bed until 2 a.m. to boot--and my allergies are kicking in.  In this stupor, I drank my coffee watching an HBO documentary on legendary sports announcer and former track and field star, Marty Glickman.  Right after it ended, Ang Lee's, "Life of Pi" came on.  I hadn't seen it at the movies.  I could tell it would be a heartwretching experience, and sometimes on the big screen, it's too overwhelming for me.  In the safety of my home, though, I can cry and sob without the least amount of shame.  And so, I watched this movie, one of the most magical and moving that I've ever seen.  With Marty Glickman's pursuit of excellence, generosity, and fairness still in my mind, I was now compounding it with thoughts of God, the meaning of life, our tenuous relationship with nature and animals, Pi's incredible will to survive and our human capacity for love.

And even though the sun is shining hotly outside, my eyes, through heavy lids and damp lashes, are seeing shadows in our blessedly cool house.  I am feeling very pensive, and I can't get that Bengal tiger out of my mind and swirling thoughts.

Day 249. Through the Smoky Haze at Cafe Silencio

Serge thought he was the last person to leave Cafe Silencio that night.  Noctural amblings in Parisian nightclubs had become his practice.  He was in a foul mood, warding off several advances from those that had offered them.  Now he regretted it.  Some company at 4 a.m. wouldn't have been so bad.  Alors, off he started to go.

Suddenly, he heard the scratch of chair legs against the floor.  Someone else was here?  How could that be?  Although, how could it not, it was so smoky in here, he could barely see a thing.  And then, a husky female voice said, "Got a light?"  Serge hurriedly struck a match, to oblige, yes; but more so, to illuminate the body from whence the request came.  He was not disappointed.  Even shrouded in a nicotine cloud of darkness, he could see her dangerous beauty.  In his head, he heard another voice--one that warned, "Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu" (where there's smoke there's fire).  He hesitated briefly, enough so that he could comprehend the surrealism of the situation.  Perilous femme fatale in a club created by David Lynch himself...he could be entering into a scene from "Blue Velvet."  And yet, he couldn't stop himself...so tantalizing, the danger of lust. 

Day 248. Cricket Goo in My Shoe (SOLD)

A few nights ago, I was--what else--walking my dog Ebert right before bed.  It was dark out, and he was pulling me along.  Suddenly I felt something cold and wet on the underside of one of my feet.  We were just walking past a huge pine tree, and as you may now, a lot of times loamy material starts to form under the shade and debris of those big coniferous creatures.  I wasn't too concerned, until the streetlight shined above us, and I thought, I've got to get a good look at what I'm a feelin'.

And, eeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww!  A squished cricket was sticking to my sole and my shoe!  I looked around and there were all sorts of these little guys jumping around on the sidewalk, out for a moonlight stroll, or hop, as if were.  Geez, I really did feel bad for the one I had squished--he had accidentally jumped into my pathway of rising foot/gaping shoe at just the wrong time.  )-:  I'm sorry cricket man.  I probably would have mourned you even more if my stomach hadn't been churning, and I hadn't been rushing toward a patch of grass for goo removal.

Day 247. Fall Is Creeping In

Oh, red-hot summer.  She's still lounging around like she's in a hammock of endless days.  Summer has really been roasting us this past week, giving us a reminder that she's still in control, capable of making us miserable and forcing us to run into the nearest air-conditioned oasis of cool.

But, this chili pepper of a season is slowing being seduced by fall.  He's creeping in without our gal truly realizing she's losing her power.  He's a gentle fellow.  I've seen his presence at the tippy top of our neighbor's maple true.  Hidden among the green leaves, there he is--just a few leaves turning scarlet orange--already!  In August!  And I've spotted other tell-tale signs of his dalliances.  Buckeyes, still in their round, green casings, hitting the ground.  Crabapples and black walnuts beginning to fall to the earth, and an oversized catalpa leaf, golden bown, almost looking like a supple piece of leather.  There they all are, letting us know a change is near.

Keep burning bright, summer girl.  You're starting to fall into a deep nap...not quite yet...but soon.

 Fall creeping in on summer - soon, the world will be more brown than green.

So beautiful--leaf as leather.

Day 246. Calamari Cravings

To her husband's exasperation, Juliette constantly had seafood cravings after their kitchen renovation.

Just an aside--Suddenly I'm thinking of this childhood movie, "Bedknobs and Broomsticks."  I remember I used to sing this song when I went swimming in our local public pool.  I'd hold my breath, and "bop" along the bottom of the pool.  Crazy memories! (-:

Day 245. Hummingbird Surprise (SOLD)

Sunday I made my husband sit out on our front steps, eat breakfast, and soak up the lazy summer day.  We were talking, and all of a sudden, a moment of magic!  I could barely believe what I was seeing.  Just a few feet from our heads flitted a hummingbird.  And, it just stopped right there in the air, furiously pumping its little wings, but levitating perfectly in place like a toy helicopter.  I could only utter one word, it almost catching in my throat, "Hummingbird," as I simultaneously pointed my finger.  We both stared at it in disbelief.  It then zipped over to some half-opened blossoms of our magnolia tree, again, hung briefly in place, and then zoomed off into nowhere.

I felt sprinkled with stardust or a glittering of day dust.  What an enchanting gift from nature, unasked for, unsuspected, but given anyway.

Day 244. Bleeding Lips - The New Sexy? SOLD

O.K., Myrtle thought, she may be old, but she had granddaughters, and she knew that these days, vampires were in.  She had even let the girls talk her into watching a few episodes of "True Blood" and my goodness, there sure were some hotties on there, although she could do without some of that tearing of flesh.  She had to turn her head at that gruesomeness.

But the day she looked into the mirror and saw her rose red lipstick bleeding into the lines at the corners of her mouth and traveling up into those crevices above her upper lip, she looked anything but attractive!  What's a gal to do?  She had run out of her Estee Lauder Perfectionist Correcting Concentrate for Lip Lines.  That's it!  Tomorrow she was off to the cosmetic counter.  After all, it's not always a good thing to have bleeding lips, even in these days.

Here's how I was trying to figure out how I wanted to draw a swivel lipstick tube:

Day 243. She Knew Her Face Said Crankerella

The man belched at the bar, and she could feel her forehead furrow.  She knew that her face said, "Crankerella," but truly, are there no manners left?

Her distaste grew, but now she turned it upon herself.  There was something, about this neanderthal...something sexy...  Ugh!  She could feel herself falling for the wrong man again.

Day 242. Wrecked By Wild-Caught Sardines in Olive Oil (Part 2 of 2)

...until...10 minutes later when I opened a can of wild-caught sardines in olive oil.  J.Crew outfit completely wrecked--I even had olive oil on my shoe!   Splatter, splatter, splatter, shadoobie!

These are the type of things that happen to me all the time--preventing from achieving complete, pulled-together status!

SHATTERED

Day 241. Lookin' Cute and Summery (Part 1 of 2)

Hair turned out well, sporty little J.Crew number on with matching sandals...I was looking cute and summery...

Day 240. Turning Into A Broccoli Stalk

Just because Ron talked out of one side of his mouth and behind his hand, people could still hear him.  When he complained, "there are so many broccoli stalks in this soup I'm becoming one," we cringed at his rudeness.  Luckily the cafeteria lady was quite deaf; she had gone to a lot of Jefferson Airplane concerts in her youth.  Plus, Ronnie was funny, had perfectly aligned teeth in his lopsided mouth, and he quipped without true malice.  He did look like he was turning a little green, too.

We forgave him.

Day 239. She Was One Fierce Cocoa Mama - SOLD

She Was One Fierce Cocoa Mama

Day 238. He Mourned The Loss of Summer

He mourned the loss of summer just like any child.  No more cotton candy, corn dogs, or raspberry- blue snow cones. The end of fairs, festivals, burning heat, and red sunburned skin aching for shade.
His sorrow was deeper, of course, because there was more carnival food behind him than ahead.  The carousel's song had whirled through his ears more times than he could remember, and he was starting to lose the sound. 

Then, again, he was still here.  He still had time for another ride on a rickety roller coaster ratcheted together by dentally-challenged men.  He still had time for another funnel cake...perhaps next year.

Day 237. You're Never Too Old..."

You're never too old to discover the treasure that you are.  Keep searching.

 

 

(Acrylic, Ink, Magnifying glass, Charm, Gemstone)

Day 236. Marabou Black Saltlakrits

My Spanish student, Morgan, went to Norway and Sweden this summer, and she thoughtfully brought we back this candy bar.

I quote from the Marabou website:  "In 2013, Nordic markets will benefit from a highly-differentiated new tablet offer from popular brand Marabou: Marabou Black Saltlakrits. A delicious blend of Marabou milk chocolate and salt liquorice pieces, this latest addition to the Marabou tablet portfolio delivers an exciting flavor combination that fits perfectly with the taste buds of the Nordic region. As a result, Marabou Black is certain to attract existing brand lovers and newcomers alike."

Here's my watercolor version with just a few slight color liberties:

Here's a close-up of the chocolate bar.  You can see all the pieces of licorice.  Please excuse the chipped nail polish.  Painting is tough on a manicure. (-;  The original wrapper is in the background.

Now normally, I'm not a black licorice gal, but this is really, really good.  It's such a subtle flavor, and the generous crunch of the sea salt against the licorice and milk chocolate hits it just right.  It actually is quite addictive!  Morgan tells me there's black licorice flavor everywhere--black licorice fudge, black licorice ice cream, etc.  It's so fun learning about different cultures.  I'm feeling a little Nordic with this generous gift. (-:

Day 235. Be Proud of What You've Got! (No Longer Available)

Helena had always been looked down upon for being a little bit "spicy."  She may not be a textbook beauty, but honey, she's got the 'tude that matters.  "Be proud of what you've got," has always been her mantra.  When the opportunity arose for her to be an artist's life model, she peeled off those layers of cotton, silk, and leather (shoes), and let her admirer use her for the muse that she was!

Day 234. Cool Night Drive with Van Morrison

I have a handful, maybe two, of all-time favorite singers.  Van Morrison is right up there at the top.  I'm sure I first was aware of him with "Gloria" and "Brown-Eyed Girl" listening to them on WLS out of Chicago.  I can remember seeing him on Wolfman Jack's "Midnight Special" tv show and singing "Domino" when I was a little kid.  I think I fell in love with him, though, in Martin Scorsese's 1978 rockumentary of The Band's final concert, "The Last Waltz" where he sang, "Caravan." I once read that he at times suffered from debilitating stage fright.  He seemed so romantic--this other-worldly voice filled with so much soul--he seemed to pull out his deepest emotions, lost almost in a trance, and grab you with him as you fell into an whirling hole of mysticism and smoldering magic. 

My uncle had grown up in the '60's, and he had given me all his albums when he moved to the west coast.  I had all the classics--original Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Small Faces, a.k.a The Faces, and Van Morrison.  I had 1968's "Astral Weeks,"  one of the most incredible, classic albums of all time.  I remember that Rolling Stone Magazine--back in its heyday--had published an Encyclopedia of Rock and had given "Astral Weeks" its highest rating--5 stars.  I used to listen to it over and over again in college--you have to understand, I was in love with that era musically--I always felt that I should have grown up in that time.

 

O.K., so fast forward to 2008 (released in 2009), Van the Man re-recorded that album as "Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl."  It's more uptempo with additional musicians.  Both versions are spectacular so please listen to both.  Where the h-e-double-toothpick am I going with this rock 'n' roll lesson?  Well, I'm going here:

I'm driving home tonight in the cool, night air.  I went out to dinner with a friend and then drove home.  It was dark out, with swirling puffs of night-time clouds.  And I was playing "AWLATHB."  And I was playing track 3, "Slim-Slow Slider/Stop Breaking Down."  Listen as he opens, "Slim-Slow Rider" and someone in the audience yells, "Yeaaaaaaaaaaah" at 00:18.  You know you're in for something great.  And really listen to what makes Van Morrison so special.  Listen to that phrasing at 1:01-1:05 and again at 1:16-1:19 when he sings, "the fruit grove this morning."  The timing, the melody.  God, I love it so much.  And I love it even more while sticking my hand out into the air through my sun roof and feeling the coolness swirling through my fingers--and more still while glancing my eyes quickly upward at the inky sky above me, so close that it's a part of me and I'm a part of it.  And the thing is, at that moment, I feel such joy--such a complete feeling of utter, utter happiness.  The music, Van Morrison, the air, the sky...a moment of immense joy for being alive and feeling all of it.

Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl - Slim Slow Slider/Stop Breaking Down