HBO GIRLS Season 1, Episode 6 The Return

Goodbye HBO GIRLS

I'm pretty bummed that HBO's series, Girls, will be ending soon.  The final season begins next month, and in anticipation of that bittersweet event, I've decided to do a drawing of each episode.  It's my way of honoring Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow's witty, biting, touching creation.  I'm just going to put down my favorite parts, because, you know, my sheet of paper is only so big!

Chris Cornell "Stay With Me Baby" [Official Audio]

O.K., as I posted earlier this week, after hearing the first stanzas of this song on the closing credits of Episode 9 (of 10) of HBO's series "Vinyl," the fantastic version of Chris Cornell singing "Stay with Me, Baby" (Better Midler sang it in the Janis Joplin biopic, "The Rose" back in the early '80's) has finally been released today on YouTube, Spotify, and itunes.  Enjoy!

HBO's Vinyl and Chris Cornell

Have all of you been watching HBO's series, "Vinyl"?  Produced by Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger (you all know that the Rolling Stones are my favorite group of all, all, all time, right?), it's a snapshot of the changing music world around 1973.  Tonight is episode 9 - only one more episode left.  SOB!  You can watch it all on HBO Demand, if you have it, and also HERE on the HBO Vinyl home page. There have been a few lagging moments, but truly, it has been a great journey through that time period with flashbacks to Neko, Lou Reed, Bo Diddley, etc.  You get imaginary run-ins with John Lennon, Andy Warhol, the New York Dolls, etc.

Anyway, tonight in the closing credits they featured a song ("Stay with Me") by Chris Cornell.  I've seen Chris once with Soundgarden and 4 times solo.  Hopefully when I see him again this summer, he'll be singing this one...and HBO will be putting him on a soundtrack for the series.  I think I read that he will be on an EP, but I also saw a listing for Volume 1 of a soundtrack and did not see his name listed.  I will pursue this conundrum further, peeps, for those of you who care. (-;

I have a love of music that makes life worth living! ha!  Perhaps you will then understand my ramblings of excitement here.  I wish the "Vinyl" series could go on forever...

Check it out for yourselves.

By the way, Bette Midler originally sang this song in the Janis Joplin biopic, "The Rose."  I love both versions.  Chris is the king of reinventing these older songs (the best was Michael Jackson's, "Billie Jean" in my humble opinion--but "I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston/Dolly Parton) was really good).

Bette Midler "Stay with Me"

Generation Gap at the Movies

About a month ago, I was re-watching the HBO Documentary, "Banksy Does New York" in which the elusive British street/graffiti artist, Banksy, made a new work of art each day for a month in October 2013.  At times, people actually removed his artwork from it's location or covered it up and made people pay money in order to see it and take a picture of it.  I think my favorite part is when he had an old man in the park sell original Banksy paintings for $60 each, and people just walked on by.  The few who did buy some of his artwork found out later that each of their pieces was worth 10's of 1,000's of dollars--such irony.

Flash foward to this past week, and I began drawing over this speckled watercolor sheet I had.  An elongated blob on the left side of the page looked like a man to me, or a shadow, and I pulled the ink out to form him more.  Anyway, that's how my modern day theater developed.

For more on Banky check out his website http://banksy.co.uk/. If you have amazonPRIME, you can watch his 2010 film, "Exit Through the Gift Shop" for free.  People say it's about Banksy himself, Banksy says it not.  Whether tongue-in-cheek or not, it's great and an insightful look at the drive to be an artist/filmmaker and what an artist is.

Cash in Angles, 4 Colors, and Glitter - SOLD

HBO has been rerunning, "Walk the Line" this past week.  That movie is so fantastic--I had forgotten how much so.  It's one of those (like "The Godfather") that once you start watching, you can't pull yourself away from it.  I always was amazed that Joaquin Phoenix didn't receive the Academy Award for his incredible portrayal.

Anyway, I needed some Johnny today...something weird is happening in the atmosphere.  We're on the precipice of both a new moon and a looming snowstorm.  I have an obligation that I don't want to do, and I feel out-of-sorts.  Mother Nature, heavy with a still grayness, aligning with cosmic duty is causing me unrest.  I was going to draw that pic. of Johnny giving the finger to the camera, but I'm kind of tired of being misinterpreted so I didn't.  I like this one though.  I don't know if you can see it, but I ran scratches through the painting to give it a little edge--or maybe it was just to reflect my edginess.

Angling Cash

Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line 1958

And P.S., here's one of the best performances on the fall 2014 run of "The Voice."  Craig Wayne Boyd doing his version of Cash's classic.

Good luck tonight, Matthew McConaughey SOLD

Good luck tonight at the Oscars, Matthew McConaughey.  Your acting chops have dazzled in movies since 2011 (just saw your disturbing turn in "Killer Joe" last night).  You've been consistently amazing, soared in "Dallas Buyers Club" and have me completely mesmerized by your performance in HBO's "True Detective."

I watch every episode over and over, and think of how you have changed your entire career by--to quote your unrecognizable character, Rust Coehle--"start(ed) asking the right fucking questions."

 

14" x 17"

Coffee, acrylic, ink, charcoal

 Here's that quote in action:

Also, check out this great article in The New York Times, "Side Road to Success Wins Matthew McConaughey Admiration"

Face on a Stick

This baby came about while glued to episode 2 of HBO's, "True Detective."  It's not about anything in the show, I just had to make myself do something constructive during the time spent watching something I've already seen 4 times and it's only a week old.  This series is so phenomenal and Matthew McConaughey is so mesmerizing in his role, it's unbelievable.  I can't wait for episode 3 tonight.  Gotta watch the Grammys, too.  Rare, TV extravaganza night for me.

I love faces...wonder if you can tell.  Here's a face on a stick. ha!  I'm going to coin it with more to come.

Day 258. Marion Dougherty Upon First Seeing Al Pacino

HBO recently showed a wonderful documentary called "Casting By" which featured the importance and influence of casting directors on the film industry.  The grand dame of these crucial role players was Marion Dougherty.  It is a testament to this woman's incredible gut instincts, who in a very real way, shaped many of the greatest films ever to come out of Hollywood.  Someone who rarely got her due--no single card credit in a movie's acknowledgements of talent nor honorary Oscar for her influence by the Academy of Motion Pictures as spearheaded and petitioned by Clint Eastwood and other stars in 1991.  However, hopefully this documentary, full of wonderful film clips, interviews with our greatest film stars, and other prominent casting directors, will help rectify the lack of credit Dougherty received in the past.

At one point, Marion talks about my favorite star, Al Pacino, who she went to see off-broadway in 1968 in "The Indian Wants the Bronx."  She said, "that he was so good, that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up."  She added that that had only happened to her 3 or 4 times in her entire life.  Ah, Al Pacino.  I will champion your acting brilliance to my death!

Here's how I imagine Marion Dougherty seeing Al Pacino back in the late '60's--electrified, by his sizzling performance! (-:

Here's a little film clip of the documentary:
http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/casting-by/video/trailer.html

Here's the NY Times article on many of the casting directors in the film:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/movies/casting-directors-get-their-due-in-hbos-film-casting-by.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

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 32. Watching "The Birds" $30

Ah, Friday!  You've made it through another work week...freedom awaits!  Off to the bank and off to the grocery store.  At home, I unload everything and see that Alfred Hitchcock's, "The Birds" will soon be on t.v.  I really have never seen that show in its entirety. Plus, I keep catching pieces of HBO's "The Girl" with Sienna Miller, about Hitchcock's obsession with Tippi Hedren while filming "The Birds" and "Marnie."  So, my husband is working late, I'm intrigued, and this is a good way to huddle into the comfort of the weekend.  It only took the first bird attack to decide what the painting for the day will be!

Afterwards, I have a stomachache.  Wow, that movie really affected me...except then I realize it's because I went grocery shopping.  I had eaten some organic blueberries; a Green and Black's organic Almond Chocolate Bar; 3 pieces of Delusso's roasted turkey lunchmeat with mustard; some Hubert's Limeade; and an entire package (2 servings, 60 calories) of roasted Korean seaweed in sesame oil.  That Hitchcock was a genius! (-;