Back To Syd's World

This morning was pay day, and as I was leaving to take the key back, Syd reminded me that he is ready to get back to his painting.  I saw the mural in completion yesterday, but wanted to spend more time tweaking it.  It looked pretty good yesterday afternoon as I was limping home:)

Syd Inspects The New Borrowed Tool

I am so grateful for friends who have tools I can barrow for a minute.  Syd is my customs inspector...Columbo type cat.  Nothing comes in, or out this place without him having to check it out.  In order to hang Old School, we had to drill into a concrete block.  It looks good right next to the Pepsi cooler.

Grand Reopening Postponed

Old School got hung yesterday and can be seen at the entrance of Don &Sues Pizza right by the Pepsi cooler.  There have been some delays and the opening has been rescheduled for January 5th.

The Wire

The Longaberger Basket is in my sights this morning.  It goes along the Licking River next to Blackhand Gorge, and before Mound City Ball Park.  I am moving as fast as I possibly can given my arthritis.  I am down to the wire on time as Don & Sues are scheduled to open in 3 days.  I have not downloaded yesterdays photos yet, so stay tuned dear readership for the completion of my mural of The Land Of Legends.

Feathers Scatterd Throughout The World

My cousin Kerry O'Flaherty purchased one of my feathers to take with him to Afghanistan in 2012.  He told me when he bought it from me that he was going to wear it through his tour along with his cross and dog tag.  At Grandmothers funeral I saw Kerry and he told me a story of how my feather was probably floating around Afghanistan in 2014.  He had been showering, removed the necklace and hung it on a hook for only a few minutes.  When he went to dry off, dress, and finish up, the necklace was gone.   That probably was one of our own that took that from him.  I marvel at how far out some of my feathers have traveled.  
And even though I am against these endless wars that we have been involved in my entire life, I am proud of my cousin Kerry who served both in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He made the military his carer, got his education on the GI Bill, and he is not a war monger by any means.  I told him to stop by and I would replace his feather at no cost.  I am proud of the man he has become.  Merry Christmas family, and friends.  I will be working on my mural today, tomorrow, and possibly finishing up the day after tomorrow.

Thirsty Jake's Logo

In addition to the mounds on my mural will be the two businesses.  I need the graphic.

Merry ;Christmas From Robert Earl Keene

Robert must have known my family:)

Solstice Bells

From 1976 Jethro Tull Solstice Bells.  This is my all time favorite "Christmas" tune.

Solstice 2014

During calling hours for Grandma Sue O'Flaherty I slipped out and put air in my rear truck tires.  I had been curious about what state my other Grandmothers house might be.  So on my way back from the gas station, I took a little detour and drove by Grandma Joy Hendershot Dove's last home...before her stay at the nursing home.  I didn't want the new owners to become paranoid that someone was parked in front of their house snapping pictures, so I quietly stopped long enough to snap one picture, and then made a beeline back to the funeral home.  As you can see it was a bleak winter day.  Grandma Joys old house still stands and they even had electric candles in the two picture windows.  I lived there for a year while I was attending OSU Newark campus.  So this would be one of several of my homes before this one on Eddy Street.  I try to keep a photo file of the places I have lived in my nomadic life.  This morning I will be working on the mural at Don & Sue's Pizza, and knock off a little early as I have a drum performance tonight in Columbus.  The Columbus Women's Drum Chorus will be performing at the Solstice ceremony at 7pm tonight 16 On Summit Church.  It will be the only Christmas event I have been invited to.  My family did not bother to inform me of my Grandmothers death, or the funeral.  Lucky for me, I have friends who get the paper, and told me Tuesday.  My grief over Grandmas passing can not be conveyed here, and some of my family members were civil towards me.  I hope they all have a merry Christmas this year and Syd and I will be working on Syd's world and the mural.  My Grandmothers loved me unconditionally, and now they are all gone from this earth.  I know they would be proud of me in spite of the collective indifference from my family.  Perhaps my picture is in the dictionary next to the word Black Sheep.  Maybe someday, some of them will want to bury the hatchet....hopefully not in my back.

It Will Be A Very Long Day

When I saw Grandma Sue late May, I wanted to take a picture of her hands.  These are the hands that made us fine Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.  These are the hands that changed my dirty diapers 55 years ago.  I was amazed that someone in Hospice painted her fingernails that day.  She was dressed as if she were going to go out.  She had wonderful gourmet meals prepared for her.  Thank you Hospice for taking care of my dear Grandmother until her next transformation.  Her favorite color was red, and she is probably in heaven baking cookies for the angels today.  RIP Grandma Sue.

RIP Grandma Sue

November 12 1917-December 15 2007

Five Feet Per Day

This morning I started painting the mural for Don & Sue's Pizza.  I am working on a deadline, and working with ongoing arthritis  My best time is morning and with medication I believe I can paint 5 feet a day. 

There is a nice corner in the entrance area that I can hang some of my paintings.  I had been looking for a gallery type opportunity and this one just fell in my lap.

Mural At Don And Sue's Pizza

For the next two weeks I will be painting a mural at Don and Sue's Pizza.  Stay tuned dear readership.  My plan is to highlight Licking County landmarks...both modern and ancient sites.

I Believe I Am Finally Done

Only minutes ago I finalized EIEIO.  At least that is what I believe.  This means this painting is officially for sale as of today.  My price is $400.  If it doesn't sell, then next year I may enter it into either the Friends Of The Library show in Columbus, or VSA 2016 Ohio Exhibition And Tour.  In the meantime, I can just enjoy the achievement.  I realize this is influenced by the writing of James Howard Kunstler who wrote The Geography Of Nowhere.  I read his book in the 90's, and everything else I could get my hands on since that book.  I think Jim would like this painting.  I was not conscious of this influence while I was in the first stages of this work.  In fact, I didn't become conscious until October of this year.  Jim does a podcast called The Kunstler Kast.  I feature this podcast on my daily blog.  Sometimes, I fall asleep to the Kunstler Kast, just as sometimes I would put a record on to lull me into sleep.  He affirms this thing that I have been noticing all my life.  My house is full of antique furniture and tools because I have been able to afford them.  Ironic that my antiques were acquired cheaper than big box stores sell the new items!  I need to just let this painting hang on my living room wall for a little while, till I am sure that it is indeed finished.

Two Paintings Today

As I add detail to my newest painting, I am ever mindful of EIEIO.  Today is the deadline for the VSA show, and that was the painting that I had originally thought should go to that show.  I can anticipate that EIEIO will be finished late this afternoon.  It still would not be done in time for the show, as the application and all that goes along with that would need to go through Christmas speed mail.  I sure hope no one that wanted to be in the show was prevented by the constraints I have been up against.  Amen.

Old Work Comes Alive Again!

In 1983, I made this photograph at 238 Granville Street.  It is called Bubble Bath.  There always seems to be a cat lurking around in the perimeters of my work LOL!  This cats name was Snow Blink, and it took a lot to set this photograph up.  I have had years to beat myself up over what I should have done to make this photo an A plus photo!  The concept was fantastic, and the execution was not so good.  Still though, I should be able to use it right?

So instead of a bubble blower, I have her holding a book.  Snow Blink is out of the running for this painting, but so many elements of that original photo will end up in the painting.  Maybe someday I will do a whole painting of that bathroom...but for now...I wanted something interesting behind the partially open door.  Who knows what may come next.  I assure you readership....I haven't a clue.  Maybe ice-cycles hanging off the tree in the window.

Columbus On My Mind

One of my favorite all time songs is Georgia On My Mind.  It doesn't matter who sings it, I just stop and almost tears come to my eye...as some folks feel about the National Anthem.  Not too many things, places, or people effect me like that.  I feel that way also about the Columbus skyline.  I added it to Syd's World today and used a quick silhouette sketch I had previously made in EIEIO.

This particular angle of The Columbus skyline is only visible for a split second when you are traveling towards downtown on State Rt. 70.  Photo wise, it is an impossible shot, and I have not ever attempted it as I keep my one eye on the road when I am driving.  Still though, I marvel each time it pops up for that instant.  Like Oz for Dorothy.  I added my Oz (Columbus Skyline) to both recent paintings as I plan on moving back to Columbus as soon as the opportunity permits.  I miss the capital city and my Columbus friends.  I miss the celebrated diversity.  I miss the artistic and musical opportunity's.  Perhaps it is a magical thing that I include Columbus skyline in my paintings...like any conjuring or list making.  Each time I paint the skyline, it comes a little closer and more distinct.

A Painitng Inside A Painting

I added Joselph Albers painting inside Syd's World this morning.  I was so happy to be able to get cobalt blue and a detailed brush yesterday.  I was delighted that the technique "trick" still works after all these years.

Art Supply Inspiration

This morning I went to Hobby Lobby in search of the smallest detail brush I could find, and cobalt blue.  I haven't had access to cobalt blue for several months and I will need it soon for several of my paintings.  Syd is in and out today as it is raining.  He likes to come in and go out in the rain because I dry him off in between his trips.  I think he knows he is the subject of this new painting....although I am not for sure about that.  It may just be that he likes to be on top of whatever I am paying attention to.

 

Interaction Of Color

My favorite college text book is, and was, The Interaction Of Color by Joseph Albers.  Color can be deceptive, and Albers shows us in his book and in his examples.  The cover of my old copy has this image which clearly proves that brown can look noticeably different depending on the surrounding colors.