Happy New Year

Jackie Collins

Bought a new Jackie Collins book today. A continuation of her Lucky
Santangelo series. How can a guy resist buying a book from such a
gorgeous author? Sexist?; probably so. She does have a unique style.

My favorite author died recently, and I have read all his books. Tony
Hillerman wrote murder mysteries about the Navajo Tribal Police, and
infuses a lot of the Navajo culture into the books. He will be missed,
and his cast of characters will be frozen in time.

Tahoe Sunset

We are traveling past the casinos in Lake Tahoe. California is ahead
at the stop light. Was a great day for us in Nevada today. Went to
Carson City to have a Sirrius radio installed in the Subaru. Love it.
It was "first come, first serve" at Best Buy's audio installation, so
it took a few hours (5). This gave us an opportunity to walk around
and help the economy. Buy stuff, take it back to the car, then head
out again.

Christmas Cards

Every year I prepare a limited edition holiday card, sometimes before Christmas, sometimes after. This was the art for this year's card, a limited edition of 125 plus 10 artists proofs. It is titled "My Little Chickadee", inspired by W.C. Fields. The Mountain Chickadee is often called the "Cheeseburger" bird by Tahoe locals, because it's whistle sounds like it's saying "cheese-bur-ger". Three notes, going up on the first, then descend on the other two. Though I consider myself a local, I just found out about this rare fact recently. No, I am not going insane with "cabin fever".

Christmas Day

Have a duck in the oven and waiting for the snow plow to come by. I
have the driveway plowed, but the plow will most likely leave a
massive berm since there is so much snow in the road. Seen at least
two vehicles get stuck in the snow trying to get up the hill. I don't
plan on going anywhere, though it's reassuring to know I can. I am
waiting with the snow blower for the berm.

Kitchen Paint Job

Here are some photos of a recent job in the Sac area. The job involved changing the cabinets to the brown wood finish, painting stones on the wall and painting the shelf scenes on the peninsula. The cabinets were originally a gold color, and the walls were a beige wallpaper.

The House

Here is a shot of the house with the big kitchen. My contribution has
been the verdigris finish on a variety of surfaces. Currently on
several wrought iron railings. Had to postpone the completion of the
job due to the fact it is outside and way too cold for both the paint
and the painter (me). Will return in January once the temperature
exceeds 55 degrees.

Big Kitchen

This is not the home I mentioned in an earlier post that would not let
me take pictures. This home is being built by a plastic surgeon who
does not cook, nor does his wife. This kitchen is larger than some
homes. He says it's primarily for the caterers. I'm doing some
verdigris faux finish in their home this week.

Time To Post

This is an old photo I found on my phone, but I like it. Working on a
job (phase three) in Roseville right now. I'll try to take some
pictures, though the client does not want any pictures taken. She
say's she is very private. I, however, have over three weeks invested
in the job and would like some documentation. I use pictures to get
business, but some clients not want any strangers to see there
project, even though they saw other's projects to decide on their's.
Strange.

Saturday Afternoon

Back from the farm down in Oakdale, the gateway to Yosemite. These
chickens are glad turkey is the traditional meal. No ATT signal down
on the farm, except way out on the north 40, so didn't have much of a
chance to communicate. Back in Tahoe with a cold.

Back At It

These photos are of a couple of murals I did last week. The Venetian scene is in the foyer with faux aged plaster walls and stones around the door ways. The movie stars are in the family room. Marilyn Monroe originally had her eyes partially closed, but I was requested to open them up. Fun project, with more to do (kid's rooms) after the holidays.

Forgot About This One

Did this small mural last week. Only took about eight hours.

Styling

Went out to capture the last of the fall colors today with the Stingray. It's all about the journey, and the 'vette gets you there with style. Not the North East, but still beautiful. Now to do some drawings and painting with the fall colors. Wish I could drive the 'vette more often, but really limited up here in snow country. Should sell it (been saying that for at least the last two years).

A Camping Icon

Actually, it still is possible to go into debt in these uncertain
times. We now have a 2007 Airstream Safari 27'. Great camper with lots
of bells and whistles, including a full-time queen size bed. Took
delivery on Friday morning at the Boomtown Casino near Reno, then
headed south to Walker River RV Resort for a shake down cruise. The
trailer had come up from Los Banos to Boomtown earlier that morning.
Taking possession in Nevada saves a lot of money.

Hoping to use it on a regular basis during winter by heading south.
Will schedule in a lot of vacation time since biz is slow anyway.
Looking to do Route 66 in the spring. Lots of plein aire painting and
drawing. Drives like a dream compared go the boxy trailers. The air
simply flows across the unit without building up a vacuum behind it to
drag on the tow vehicle

The Ocean

The last few times I've been down in San Diego, I did not see the
ocean, or it was dark. This time I made a concerted effort to get to
the ocean during the day. First was Ocean Beach, a small true beach
community that has not changed much since I first came there many,
many years ago while I was in the navy. Though they have fought the
fast food invasion over the years, there is a Starbucks on Newport
Avenue down by the beach. Afterwards, I met up with Scott in Pacific
Beach for lunch. The Crystal Pier (in the photo) has changed. For many
years the cottages were available for off season rental for very cheap
monthly rates. Guess some yuppies must have bought it, because now it
rents for $200 to over $300 per night year around. So much for the
"good old days". However, most of Pacific Beach has changed. It's
almost like the young people that I hung out with in the 70's never
left, though I know this is a new crop. The ones I hung out with now
are in Suburbia with subprime loans on the verge of foreclosure. Okay,
enough of reality. Back to the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Another Home Show

Just finished another three day home show in Auburn. Lots of good
response. Hopefully the economy holds so folks don't change their
minds before I can set up appointments. Heading for a job in San Diego
tomorrow. Will be back in about a week.

On The Road Again

Just got back from a business trip to San Diego. When I travel down to there, I prefer to go by way of Highway 395. This road is full of beautiful vistas, including both mountains and desert. The area along the way is known as "California's backbone". In Owens Valley, between Big Pine and Independence, there are some grazing pastures that the owner has opened for nearby herds of elk to graze in. Always a treat to see them along the highway. First saw them back in the early 90's when only a few were grazing, but now the herds seem to total over 100. Going south, I did not stop for pictures and a couple of herds were right next to the highway. Decided to stop going north, but alas, they were further away from the road.

Also shot a picture of the highest point in the continental US; Mt. Whitney. Behind me, about 100 miles to the east, is the lowest point in Death Valley at about -200 feet. The road you see in the picture is Mt. Whitney Portal which goes to the base of the mountain from Lone Pine. More about Lone Pine later.

More Burning Man Images

It was challenging, but like they say, "the worst day at Burning Man is still better than the best day in the office". This is a paraphrase, and assumes I work in an office (I don't). Still...

Back From Burning Man

It was a bit challenging this year. First, Susanne get some stomach thing and we leave a day late. Then Wednesday evening I drink something I thought was fresh and realize later it was probably sitting around all day, so Thursday I was sick (all day). Friday was good, but Saturday morning the winds started blowing sand round quite fiercely, and after seven hours of this, I had enough. So we put everything away while wearing goggles and masks, and left with minimum to zero visibility out to the highway. Took about an hour to go only a few miles on flat ground. Later they had to close the exit gate because a several fender benders. Had to be fun to find those people and help them out. Usually the sand storms only last for a short time, then clear up. Not on Saturday. The burning of the man was postponed because of the winds.

Still, it was great. Great art and good friends.

Bad Salsa

Thought we were going to Burning Man this morning, but my girl friend ate some bad salsa yesterday and paid for it all through the night. Hoping to leave tomorrow (Wednesday) morning now. Otherwise, anyone want a ticket to Burning Man?

Side Street in Barcelona

So this is the most popular image so far.

Arte de Espana

Started the two day mini show today. Actually did pretty good. Going
for a better location tomorrow. Little boring in the morning, but then
the action picked up. Looks like a fun program. Might consider doing
it myself next summer. Over 600 people enrolled from all over the
west. Very resonable fee. They pretty much take over the whole
college. Spanish is encouraged to be spoken everywhere, even in the
bathrooms (that is, if you talk to anyone in the bathrooms). The
favorite image that I sold was a side street scene of Barcelona. I'll
put it on the next post. I'm using the iPhone now. Adiós para ahora.
Haste luego.

Going to do a mini show Thursday and Friday at the Lake Tahoe Community College. They are having a intensive Spanish language course this week, and people from all over, usually teachers, come to brush up on their language skills. They have an area set up for vendors. I will sell 8 x 10 prints and greeting cards of several drawings I did on a few trips to Spain. Should be interesting.

More Burning Man

Allow me to continue with my support of the Burning Man experience.
There is a line on one of Jimmy Buffett's songs that goes "I'd rather
die while living' than live while I'm dead". Pretty much sums it up.
Feel the burn.

Cherries

Speaking of cherries (see last post), Burning Man is less than a month
away and I have replenished my inventory of body paints. I use
theatrical water-based paints only, no latex.

All artists owe it to themselves to go to Burning Man at least once.
This will be my 8th year. The art is fantastic, the lifestyle is
refreshing and the sensory experience is indescribable. However, it is
hot, sometimes dusting and certainly primitive. However, once you get
past all that, you'll have a blast. If you want sex, drugs and rock &
roll, you can have all that. If you want comraderie and an art
experience, it is available. You make the event fit your needs. No
pressure.

Find The Real Wood

This week was spent doing several faux finish projects at a home down
next to the lake. In the photo, the doors are cherry wood, whereas the
sections between them are metal that I painted to look like cherry. To
fool the eye.

Sunday Art Show

Getting ready to tear down the "store". So, so sales wise. Guess I
better stick to the murals and faux finishes. But it is fun, hanging
out and complaining about the economy with the other folks. And about
the customers and their characteristics.

My Shop on the Grass

Saturday's Art Show

Saturday was a good day for art sales. Great weather.

Art Show Friday

Here is today's picture; a view of Emerald Bay on Tahoe's south west
shore.

Art Show

Doing an art show in Tahoe this weekend. Going to paint or draw a
picture each day of the show. Here is a Tuscan scene from Thursday's
show.

Creeping Charlie

Ever think about something from your past, then become obsessed with
wanting to re-create it? Such is the case with my new Creeping
Charlie, a plant I fondly remember from the '70's. Use to feed it cold
coffee (pre-microwave days). Decided I wanted another one recently,
only to find out they are not as popular anymore, and difficult to buy.

I was in a home recently that was still living the '70's, and I knew
there was probably a Charlie somewhere. Sure enough, one was in the
bathroom along with a few other vintage friends. The owner gave me a
clipping after hearing my quest, and it appears to becoming along nicely.
I was ready to order one from eBay, which would have been shipped
directly to me. Since my studio is only a block from the Calif.
Agricultural Inspection station, I would have felt like a criminal had
I done that. This makes it all legal, and I can sleep soundly.

Interestingly, most of the online sites regarding Creeping Charlie's
is on how to kill them. They are actually a ground cover, and will
quickly take over if you let them. Mine will stay in a pot(s).

More Garden Animals

Great day here in Tahoe on Saturday.

Just heard from my wandering oldest son who is heading for Charlotte, NC to begin a new life. He is at Mt. Rushmore today. He had been living in Washington. You can follow along by checking www.rollingwaveproject.blogspot.com

Here are some more of the graden animals. If anyone has travelled through Spain, you will recognize the bull. A much larger (maybe 30') version is seen along the national highways, usually up on top of a high hill. It use to advertise brandy, but billboards were eliminated
along the highways. The populace wanted to keep the bulls as a symbol of national pride, but without any brand names on them. This is a small version I made several years ago. At times he has been buried up to his ears in snow.

Going to do some en plein aire pastels tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Purple Holstein

Not exactly a mural or work of art, but I like my previously black and
white cow with her new do. More original this way. Could have used DayGlo colors, but it would probably attract the bears. Nice up here in Tahoe this weekend, though there is still some smoke from the fires in Big Sur. Going to a Sierra Club function this afternoon up at Berkeley Camp near Echo Lake. Should be fun; it involves food and wine.

End of Weekend

Way too many M & M's this holiday. That would be Mojitos and
Margaritas. Had a great fireworks display down on the lake. Traffic
leaving town this morning was horrendous, as Tahoe was filled to the
max. Tried to stay away from the tourists as best I could.

Here is a shot of some iris growing in the backyard. I know, yards are
for trucks and buses, people have gardens. Just a habit, I guess.
Behind it is the mint for the mojitos. Nice to be prepared. If the
iris is still alive later in the week when I return, might try drawing
them.

Stairwells

Painting murals in stairwells is a bit of a challenge. First, access is difficult. Over the years I have come up with various devices to make using ladders practical in a stairwell, and in this case I had to use two different ladders. One was equipped with levelers; the other was supported on one of my homemade devices that spans three steps with a platform on top so the ladder will sit level. This device is made of wood, and always makes me a little nervous. Think I will modify it soon.

The next difficulty is perspective. Since stairs are at various heights from the ground floor, finding a vanishing point is the problem, as you want the scene viewable from all possible locations. Putting the brick wall (they have brick on the house) below helped to level out the view, but the perspective is still higher up than what I would have preferred. However, since the viewer travels up and down the stairs, the actual perspective and the viewers perspective is adjusted by the brain automatically (I hope).

This mural took four days, finishing Thursday (7/3/08). If it had been on a regular wall, three days would have been possible. For the first three days, it had a road leading off to the right, but after seeing a movie Wednesday night about Monet, I switched (with the client's blessing) to a garden path instead.