Day 296. Built-In Marshmallow Toaster

Kudos to a co-worker of mine, "T", who was having a hot flash today and said, "I feel like I could toast marshmallows on my cheeks and ears."

What?!  Brilliant!!!  I grabbed my pad of yellow post-its and wrote:

Menopausal Benefit--Built-In Marshmallow Toaster

Here you have it.  Thanks for the inspiration, T. (-:

Watercolor and Ink

Day 295. Pumpkin Spice Latte on a Budget - SOLD

Maggie, trying to stick to a budget, read about a technique Martha Stewart used to create a less expensive pumpkin spice latte than that of a popular chain.  "Why, this is brilliant," Maggie thought.  "Martha is never wrong!"  Plus, both their names started with the same letter so that had to mean something.

Maggie assembled all her ingredients and got to work.  Unfortunately, her boyfriend, Walter came in and cast doubt on the process.  Maggie was convinced that his negativity made her experiment go wrong.

Walter:  "I really don't think that's going to work."

Maggie: "Martha Stewart says as long as I use a "pie" pumpkin, this will taste just like a pumpkin spice latte at a fraction of the cost."

Walter (to himself):   "Some things really shouldn't be economized."

Day 294. She Saw the World Through Rose-Colored Roses (SOLD)

She Saw the World Through Rose-Colored Roses

Day. 293. Wrapped in Indecision

About the 3rd week in August, I was struggling with a decision that I was somehow incapable of settling within myself.  Ugh.  I wrestled back and forth with something, and I found myself finally sitting down with a canvas and, in frustration, came up with what you see below.

Well, actually, I only got so far, and in keeping with the theme of the painting, couldn't bring myself to complete it until now.

As for me, the decision was made for me by my indecision.  You know how it goes...life is just full of lessons.  I went the practical route instead of the impractical--my usual modus operandi--and regretted it.  I'll apply that hard-earned knowledge the next time around and keep to the action that doesn't make sense.

 

 

Day 292. Too Many Skittles

Too Many Skittles

Day 291. She Liked Her Square Jaw and Ladybugs

Basking in an early autumn sunny day, Violet felt happy to be alive.  She was grateful for the sun on her face, the beautiful breezes, her pronounced square jaw, and ladybugs, preferably pink.

It was a gorgeous day Friday.  We got out of work early, because a water main had broken.  It was about 80 F, mild, windy, beautiful.  I sat out of my steps reading, drawing, and watching ladybugs fly around which is how this picture developed.  Later my friend Cindy and I had dinner out on the sidewalk, café style (-;.  She had French Onion soup and a snickers martini.  I had a Cabernet and decaf coffee.  We split pâté, bruschetta with mozzarella and prosciutto, Sap Sago cheese with dried fruit and salted Marcona almonds, and a slice of marzipan crème cake.  Such a wonderful summery, fall day in life.

Day 290. Extra, Extrasensory Hearing

One would think having EXTRA, extrasensory hearing--even if it were just in one ear--would be a good thing, but sometimes you just don't want to know what people are saying.

 On the plus side, Rodolfo never did have to shell out money for a Halloween costume.

Day 289. Start Kissing Those Frogs

Here's a larger painting I've been working on for an upcoming show.  I'll hopefully be posting more of those in the next week or so.

 

Acrylic and assorted mixed media

12" x 12" Artist Panel

Day 288. Yearnin' for a Katz's Reuben (with Al Green) (SOLD)

Yearnin' for a Katz's Reuben

Since this dude is sportin' a Brooklyn retro-vibe, my playlist went retro.

1) Al Green.

Here's the ne plus ultra (ultimate) version of "Tired of Being Alone."  SOUL SCHOOL--sign me up! 

Just look at those shoes, those powder-blue polyester pants and that matching vest. 

Listen to those unmatchable vocals! 

He's one cool, soul-singing man.

2)  Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There" -
Ah, memories - dancing to this after shots of tequila and beer chasers (never to be repeated).  Well it was just one tequila and one beer chaser.  I'm not that crazy! 

3) One of my favorite 45's ever--Gwen McCrae's "Rockin' Chair."  Pure happiness! (-:

P.S.  This painting, after I initially smeared paint on it with my fingers, looked like a woman's breast with a nippity nip.  It actually was quite beautiful, and I was going to call it, "Lifegiver" or "La Leche Para El Mundo" (Milk for the World/World's Milk), but I figured I'd get all sorts of flack from Facebook, so off for a reuben sandwich it became.  One of these days when I get an official website done, I'll put a section of erotica.  Which really probably won't be erotic, but you know how some people are:  beautiful human body pieces equals a "you-are-a-freak" sentiment. 

Day 287. Hopscotching in Style

Hopscotching in Style

Day 286. Go Ahead, Stick Your Neck Out (SOLD)

If you've ever feared putting your work out into the world, whether it's your writing, your art, your graffiti or your new skateboard--whatever--here is some inspirational advice, courteous of Elizabeth Gilbert ("The Signature of All Things," "Eat, Pray, Love," etc.). 

Just in case you didn't see it, you need to.

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/do-not-self-reject-sweet-friends-ive-been-on-book-tour-for-almost-a-we/

Now, go ahead.  Stick your neck out, and send your creations packing into the cosmos.  They're strong.  They'll survive all the critiques, and eventually you will, too.

Day 285. Do You and Do You? We Do.

 

"Do You and Do You?" 

"We Do."

 

 

 

Someone asked me to describe my process, and sometimes, like with this painting, it's hard to describe.  This was supposed to be about my friend Cindy and me hanging out at Starbucks on Friday night after we had went out to eat.  I was telling her that I felt my "out-of-body me" was floating above us thinking, I'm having so much fun!  Instead, I smeared paint all over the canvas, and as often happens, I saw a face in the paint--it was the man.  I could see the eyes of the woman, too, but not her whole face.  The minister started as just a back of a head, and the wedding guests/parents/attendants/what-have-you, I completely drew in.  I didn't see it as a wedding party yet; rather, I saw it as a group of people...somewhere. 

 

By this point, Cindy and I had long been forgotten (I'll have to do that one another time.)  I wanted something on the bottom of the canvas so I drew the girl's hand.  But then I could see a shadow and space above it, and thought, he should be holding her hand.  At some point after that, they suddenly became newlyweds.  This development happens all the time, which makes it hard to describe or photograph, step 1, step 2, step 3.  Sometimes magic just happens on that canvas even when you start out with a plan.  (And sometimes it's hard to pull anything out of that stark whiteness, and that's when you despair and think you're completely depleted!  Anyway, that's not the case for this snapshot of marital bliss. (-;)

Day 284. Something in the Skies (No Longer Available)

Watch out, Midwesterners.  A big-time storm seems to be brewing out there--hail, strong winds, rain, and hopefully enough push to blow this extreme humidity outta here!

Several thoughts are going through my mind:

1)  I wanted to call this "Something Wicked This Way Comes"--don't you just LOVE that Ray Bradbury story?  And don't you just love Ray Bradbury?

2) There was an episode of "Ace of Cakes" from the Food Network a few years ago, and the star, Duff Goldman, was driving across the United States in a big RV for some reason--well, I'm sure to deliver a cake and meet up with his cohorts somewhere--and he was driving through the Midwest in the middle of summer, and there were these beautiful lightening storms illuminating the skies with a magic show.  He exclaimed, "Man I love the Midwest."  We just had one of those at dusk earlier this week as I was driving home from work.  Purple over here, pink over there, ominous yellowish-green and brown in the distance--that "unreal" ominous color you hope goes away.  Sudden razor-sharp bolts of lightening ripping through the sky and then leaving a glow of residue fading into darkness.  It actually is spectacular.  Nature's fireworks if you will.  On the other hand, that same mixture of humidity and heat and swirling rain coming through that makes corn reach unnatural heights also creates some terrifying, atmospheric moments.

3)  I like how this man's eyes turned out; liquid color dripping down and slowly seeping up into his sockets.  Do you remember the "X-Files" (I never missed a single episode!) and the stuff called "Black Oil" (also called "Purity" or "Black Cancer")?  It was an alien virus that survived in petroleum deposits that would invade humans with an alien life force.  That's what the eye color reminds me of--just technicolor instead of black.  Why are the very best shows--"X-Files" and "Lost" no longer running?  Where are their intelligent, thought-provoking replacements?  Anyway, the "black oil" first appeared in the episode "Piper Maru" and lastly in "Vienen."    Below is the best showing I could find of Black Oil on YouTube.

Be safe!

Day 283. Pumpkinhead Wilson Out on the Town

Pumpkinhead Wilson* out on the town, 

spewing his seeds to everyone around,

his looks unpolished, unkempt, more like those of a crazed clown.

To some it didn't matter, because come next spring in the dirt there did appear, sweet and round,

numerous little baby pumpkin mounds.

Acrylic and Ink

140 lb. Watercolor Paper

*Apologies to Mark Twain (-;

("Pudd'nhead Wilson")

Day 282. Snorkeler Sans Snorkel

Snorkeler Sans Snorkel

Acrylic and Ink
on 140 lb. Watercolor Paper

Day 281. Tripping and Falling

Richard tried so hard to do the right thing and everything right, 

but sometimes, oftentimes, many times--

no matter how many times he wore lime--

 he found himself tripping and falling through life.

Acrylic and Ink

Day 280. Happy October!

The slight chill in the air made him feel like a kid.  

Happy October!

Acrylic, Ink, Watercolor
6" x 6"
140 lb. watercolor paper

Day 279. Enlightenment at the Stoplight SOLD

Who knows what it was.  Penelope had sat at this same stoplight hundreds of times.  For whatever reason--the temperature, the song on the radio, or maybe the piece of dust that made her rub her eye, blurring her vision momentarily and then clearing it--she had a revelation.   She could finally see what those three lights were telling her.

The most definite command to "Stop."

Then, the hazy glow of yellow saying, "Caution--slow down."

She felt a shift inside herself.  She gazed upward, her mouth dropped open in realization.  Her life didn't have to go this way anymore.  She didn't have to go this way anymore.

And then, a surge of fire grew within her as she said to herself, "Go."

Acrylic, ink, oil

Day 278. Gladys and Her Pink Eye

Devastated by the reaction to her pink eye at the euchre tournament, Gladys picked up her silver tray of English hothouse cucumbers on dark rye bread and limped out of the church's basement door. 

She had not asked for this pink eye which had now prevented her from becoming the euchre champion.  She let out a little sob as she slid into her car and quickly stuffed a cucumber morsel into her mouth.  My, they were good! And now, she had them all to herself.  As she pulled away from the curb, she brightened and suddenly felt like a winner after all.

Day 277. El Encierro - What A Bull Thinks

My internet connection went down today.  I was typing something and off everything went.  Terror ripped through me--no internet access, not again?!  Ah, we are so spoiled.  So while I called my IP, I grabbed a canvas that I had previously painted metallic red days before.

Why the running of the bulls?  It's not really the time of year for it.  It was the metallic, red color that brought it to mind.  I was just thinking, red equals blood equals people getting gouged by a bull in Spain, plus some beautiful, metallic matador's capote (jacket) floating through the air.  Back in July, I had read about some dude from Ohio who experienced a "rectal perforation" this year--actually several people really got it--23 injuries!  Ouch! Ah, here's the link for more information if you dare:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/13/spain-running-of-the-bulls-stampede_n_3591208.html

Maybe I am totally lame.  Yes, I'm sure that's true.  But I'll tell you what, I have COMPLETE respect for the indiscriminate whims of Mother Nature and animals.  I don't try to outsmart them, and I know my capabilities.  I am not a tri-athlete (or any kind of athlete!) nor a "bull-whisperer" so therefore you will never see me risking rear-end, entrail-tearing events such as that stated above and shown below!  Then I thought, can you imagine what the bull thinks?  "You idiots!  And then you'll be mad at me for hurting you."  I think they must be simultaneously angry and weary of it all at the same time!  O.K., so that's where this one started from...all triggered from the metallic, red color, my being on hold for 45 minutes, and my meandering mind. (-;

And here's how the bull thinks: 

 

"On this day, it's the same thing. The "running of the bulls" occurs in San Fermín and I, because I am a bull, try to kill people.  Don't blame me, it's my nature!  Fools!"

"En este día es todo lo mismo. "El Encierro" occure en San Fermín y yo, porque soy un toro, trato de morir las personas.  No me culpo por eso, es mi naturaleza.  ¡Los tontos!"

Day 276. Blueberry Cafe

Each morning he said, "I love blueberries."

She said, "Nobody loves blueberries that much."

He said, "You add sparkle to my day."

She said, "You're just seeing the glitter in the formica."

He said, "This place has the most eclectic style."

She said, "This place has a schizophrenic style, and if it weren't for the same blueberry ingredient in all the dishes, nothing here would be the same."

But she was wrong, because he was the same and she was the same.  

 He, ever yearning for this blueberry-tinged damsel; she, ever yearning for true-blue love from a rich romeo never stopping by this sticky joint.

Acrylic and Ink

Day 275. Something Sinister Caught in The Flash

The bloodied weapon still in his right hand, he had to reach awkwardly across his body with his left in order to make the mandatory call.  The job was done.

He was a hood for hire.  He moved stealthily at night, a shadow amongst shadows; even a black cat in the midnight hour was more visible than he.  A whiskey bottle was waiting for him in his room, and never one to dawdle, he moved swiftly to answer its call.

However, it was of the most unfortunate of circumstances on that cloudless night, that a naive photography student, Bernard Rexal, was experimenting with slow-sync flash.  Bernard had recently gotten a C- on a project for using only a frontal flash which captured his subject--Gabriella, a knockout co-ed forced into being his partner--but left her enveloped in a sea of stark, black background.  She scoffed at his results.  Not this time around, sister.  He had done his research and was trying out a "front-curtain" technique.  The flash should fire at the start of the shot when the shutter opened to illuminate his subject, a simple fire hydrant.  Next, the shutter was supposed to remain open for the remainder of the shot--long enough to capture everything in the background.  He would be redeemed! 

Disastrously, Bernard's technique caught the face of grim death.  A searing gaze burned through the night in the direction of his click and flash.  "He with no name" felt fury boil within himself.  Who was this Poindexter?  Rage flooded within him as the coming taste of alcohol moved further away.  He snarled into the phone, "I have one more job to do."

He  shoved the phone back into his overcoat pocket and turned purposefully.  Bernard saw him and felt his fury.  Blood drained from his face as the world started spinning.  Could this really be happening?  Lamentably, this was no surrealistic dream; his life was at stake.  Bernie had one chance of survival within him.  Never had he thought he would be thanking the bullies who had taunted him all his life, chasing him home from school.  His cultivated speed from all those years was his only hope for continued life...and the A+ that he would get from this photo...and the look of approval in gorgeous Gabriella's green eyes.  Run, legs, run!

Acrylic and vine charcoal

(Credit to www.picturecorrect.com for helping in the explanation of a "front-curtain" shot.)

Day 274. Extraño (Strange)

 Extraño 

(Strange)

Acrylic

Day 273. So Weary.SOLD

I'm so tired.  Sometimes this project is just kicking my arse.

Here's how I feel--"Sister Morphine" (one of the best songs ever made)--the slow chords...Mick's plaintive voice at the beginning.  Keep with it--sorry, that I feel compelled to constantly be some rock 'n' roll educator.  Why?  I don't know; maybe because I just read some survey that 80% of kids don't know who the Beatles are or that they thought only old people listen to the Stones.  Such a travesty.

Pay special attention and listen at 2:41/2:42 as Charlie Watts' drum kicks in and Keith's guitar right after.  Maybe I'm waking up.  ha!  Nope.  Back to weariness.  Peace out.  I have to go to bed...exhausted.

Day 272. Interactive Portrait

In the spirit of the world's obsession with reality t.v., I invite you to participate in figuring out what is occurring in this painting.  Is our subject:

1)  Finding it hard to wake up?
2)  Performing a form of interpretive, modern dance?
3)  Shielding her eyes at her uneven make-up application?
4)  Looking at the mustard stain on the back of her strapless gown?
5)  Realizing that her new deodorant is sorely amiss?

 Aha! ha! ha!  I could create a story for each, but I'll let you do that, dear, interactive reader.  

Maybe this will help.  Here's the music I was listening to while I drew and painted:

1) Jack White:  "Love Interruption" in honor of that 22-year-old/Pittsburgh Apple employee/fabulously wonderful nerdy-glass wearing/last singer on "The Voice" tonight.  Loved him!  What!  Yes, it's true--I was watching reality t.v.  And you know what?  I just want to be outside at this concert, smelling someone's exhaled cigarette smoke, or some kind of smoke, on the cold air.  (-;

Roskilde 2012

And this:

2) Amy Winehouse:  "Valerie"  Live