Bullwinkle

I'm Back

2009-12-04T22:07:00.000-08:00

Been over on FaceBook for awhile. Here is a painting mounted behind a
window frame. The frame was supplied by the client.

Mt. Tallac

2009-09-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

Did this seriagraph years ago as part of a commissioned series, then forgot about them. Recently brought them out for reconsideration and have sold several. Think I might get back to the "old-school" seriagraphs. The commissioned ones are framed and found in several lake side lodging units on Lake Tahoe. I made the edition large enough for many extras.

Burning Man 2009

2009-09-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

Back from another Burning Man. Lots of great art, crazy people and good times. Painted some breasts, also a bald spot on a guy, consumed a lot of beer. Wednesday was a beautiful day, the other days had their moments of sand and wind. Still worth it.

Bright Art

2009-08-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

Did this landscape on the iPhone while flying between Houston and
Charlotte. I was thinking of an old friend, Elton Bennett, an artist
from Hoquiam, WA. This is similar to his style from the 60's and early
70's.

iPhone Art Nude

2009-08-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

I started with a photo of one of my pastel nudes, then added the other
elements. Fun to modify your art without actually touching it. Guess
you can also do it in Photoshop, but easier and quicker on the phone.

More Tech Art

2009-07-31T17:01:00.001-07:00

This piece I am send straight from the iPhone without an additional
computer involved. Love this tech s--t.

Another Little Picture

2009-07-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

This one was also done on the iPhone, but I started with a photo of the rooster that was on canvas (see: Rt. 66 art), then added the sketchy stuff (new art term).

Art on The Go

2009-07-27T20:26:00.004-07:00

Just did this little painting using my finger and the Brushes app on the iPhone. Fun. I call it "Lake Tahoe at My Fingertip". What?

Rooster

2009-07-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Kinda fun by himself.

New Painting

2009-07-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Just finished this painting I started last weekend during the open
studio tour. This particular canvas was one of two that was on the
back of my truck as a temporary tonneau cover for a couple of months.
Seemed only fitting to continue the "road" theme.

This painting depicts the automobile, the rural life (rooster), the
deteriorating road, the roadhouses (neon), and the highway itself. Was
fun to paint. Reminds me of the graphic paintings of the 60's. This is
also a summary of my recent Rt. 66 trip.

Outside the studio

2009-07-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

More Open Studio shots

2009-07-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

2009-07-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

Open Studio Tour

So I finally opened my studio to the general public. Seems most of the
visitors are visiting artists. Fun, not profitable (wasn't expecting
it to be). Still two more days, plus the rest of today (Friday).

Time To Post

2009-06-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's way past time to get something on the boards
here. Here's a quickie I did yesterday in 1.5 hours. About a third of
that was setting up and taking down. Cute little Tuscan scene above
the sink.

Been feeling poorly lately. Down last week for about four days with
something, then got back to work only to get a sore throat last night.
Have to keep working, though. I will try to take it easy.

Have a studio tour scheduled for next month. Been cleaning and
straightening for the occasion. Hard to part with some stuff.

Route 66: Retrospective

2009-05-12T20:04:00.000-07:00

It was a great trip! Pulling the Airstream was a breeze, despite several days of wind. Mountain passes were a challenge as well. All in all, it was an informative, adventurous trip.

Retracing Route 66 is also a bit of a challenge today, as much of it has either been replaced by the interstate highway system, or renamed and renumbered by subsequent state highways. However, much of the old "Mother Road" is still out there. Many states and communities have once again embraced the importance of this highway. Our trip was a combination of Route 66 and the various interstates, especially when Route 66 paralleled the faster interstate and was visible from the faster highway. But when going through the little towns along the way, getting off the interstates was the only way.

Watching videos and reading books in advance, as well as having Susanne read as we went through a section of the highway and towns, made the discovery more enjoyable. Looking for the significant landmarks along the way made the trip complete. Sometimes it meant backtracking when you got lost (not fun with a trailer behind you). We did not go through St. Louis (at rush hour) so we missed Ted Dewe's Frozen Custard. However, our friends in Missouri treated us to Randy's Frozen Custard in Lake Ozark. Actually, we went there twice, both for the Ozark Turtle. Fantastic. Now I'm on a search for local frozen custard stands. If you have never tried frozen custard, you're missing out on an experience. It makes ice cream pale by comparison.

The food along this trip has also been a treat. The Big Texan in Amarillo, TX has the best steak we have ever had. This place has been feeding locals and tourists for decades. It has been featured on food and travel programs on television, as well as in magazines. Noted for it's FREE 72 oz. steak (if you can finish it and the side dishes in 30 minutes), it is a steak mecca. The Chicago style hot dogs were a treat, as well as the deep dish, corn meal crusted Chicago pizza. We had buffalo burgers, elk burgers, fried chicken and many meals in the Airstream. Susanne bought maple sirup (spelled right) in Funk Grove.

Aside from the food and landmarks were the people. The people we met along the way were the best. The vendors were, for the most part, friendly and courteous. Our fellow travelers were also the best. In particular was Re. Met her at the campground in Carlock (near Bloomington, IL). She had also just recently purchased an RV and was experiencing similar events as we were. She was from the Chicago area, so gave us some pointers on what to do in the city. In Amarillo I was talking with a workcamper (Steve) who was soon heading for a summer gig in Hill City, SD. He told me about the campground he was going to, and as it turned out, Re was also going to the same campground at about the same time as we were. She first had to go to WI and MN. We kept in touch after leaving Carlock, and reconnected at the campground in Hill City (near Mt. Rushmore). We camped together in SD, and toured Custer State Park together. Great gal! She is now workcamping in Casper, WY. Also ran into Steve again on our last day in Hill City.

Workcamping is an interested alternative to just running around in your RV. In exchange for a certain number of hours of work per week, the workcamper has a free hookup in a great area for exploring. After the trade hours, the workcamper is eligible to receive pay for additional hours. It's a vagabond type lifestyle, but very intriquing. In fact, most full-time RV'ers we talked with were workcampers. Some would return to certain campgrounds for the season, others sought new experiences.

The dogs were exceptional during this experience. Always stayed near the trailer when not on leash (probably afraid they would be left behind). Traveled well in the car. Got to learn how to run on leash while we were on the bikes. They were great travel companions. Barking at other dogs walking by outside the trailer was annoying, but all dogs do that.

Pulling a travel trailer requires a lot of quick decisions on where and when to pull into a driveway. This is a problem with just about any RV. Will I be able to get out of here with out having to back up? It requires circling through parking lots, being sure not to turn to sharp. A couple of times I ended up in a driveway without an outlet. Not a good idea. Fortunately, Susanne would jump out to make sure I didn't wipe out any parked cars.

Setting up in a campground for the night became quicker and easier as time went by. Level side to side, disconnect from hitch (receiver), level fore and aft, drop the corner jacks, hook up water, electricity and the sewer hose, open up the tank valves, connect the tv cable (when available) or raise the antenna and autoprogram the tv for the available channels are the chores of hookup. Then repeat all this when leaving. Not as tedious as it sounds, but necessary for "wet camping". However, "dry camping" requires just parking, as we did the one night in the noisy Walmart parking lot in Chandler, OK. Talked with other people and found out most Walmart parking lots are the same. You get what you pay for.

Regretted dead-heading it back to Tahoe from Hill City, but had to get back to work. Would like to see more of Colorado and Utah. Think southern Utah might be the next trip. Park at one location and venture out in the truck for day trips, coming back to base camp at night. All in all, it was worth the time and expense. Try it yourself sometime.

Hwy. 50: Day 26

2009-05-11T21:04:00.001-07:00

Home At Last

Finished Hwy. 50 through Nevada today. Actually, it's known as "The
Lonliest Road", not highway as previously mentioned. It's only "The
Lonliest Road" in Nevada. That way commercialization is easier, as in
T-Shirts, bumper stickers, etc.

The lonliest road is certainly not a flat road as I had imagined.
Between Ely and Fallon, there are at least eight mountain passes.
Normally not an issue, but when you're pulling an extra 7000 plus
pounds, it's a bit trying. Then going downhill with 7000 plus pounds
pushing you...well, you get the picture.

Not much going on out there except the occasional coyote, but a pretty
road nonetheless. Some traffic, but not much. Tried listening to an
audio book by John Grisham about a washed up NFL quarterback playing
with the Parma Panthers in Parma, Italy. Lot of commentary about
Italian food and wine. Boring story that was making us very hungry.

Brought the trailer up to my studio in Tahoe for cleaning and
straightening tomorrow, then will take it back to Carson City for
storage until the next adventure.

Tomorrow's blog will be a retrospective about the trip. Be sure to
tune in.

Hwy. 50: The Lonliest Highway

2009-05-10T20:43:00.000-07:00

The Return Trip

Thought I would change the title since we are on another significant
roadway. After leaving Grand Junction this morning, we were on both
I-70 and Hwy. 50 through Utah. We left the interstate at Sidalia, UT,
and followed Hwy. 50 across the rest of Utah and in to Nevada. We are
spending the night in Ely, NV.

South of Ely, way back in the foothills, are the Ward Charcoal Kilns,
a series of six kilns used to produce charcoal for the nearby iron ore
smelters. They were built in 1870, and are the finest of their type.
Italian masons built them, and the artistry is beautiful. Each kiln
held 6 to 8 acres of trees. Needless to say, there was not many trees
left by the time they swithed to coke brought out by the railroad. The
doorway is about 6 feet tall.

Saw a gorgeous elk near the highway coming up the pass into Ely, so
for dinner we ate at a local restaurant and had an elk burger. What?

Tomorrow is the final leg back to Tahoe along the Lonliest Highway
some more.

Route 66: Day 24

2009-05-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

The Return Trip

Travelled through Colorado today. Stopped in Georgetown to taste some
wine from a vineyard in Palisades, near the Utah border. Seems the
owner has homes in both places. Georgetown is in a windy gorge, not a
place for wine grapes. In fact, one of the other customers was a
couple from Napa.

The picture is from Glenwood Canyon. The highway goes through this
12.5 mile gorge along with the Colorado River, train tracks and a
paved bike trail that is part of the highway (I-70) system. Quite an
engineering marvel, and a beautiful place.

Spent the night in Grand Junction. Had a bit of a problem finding a
park to stay in. Seems there are a rodeo, car show and dog show in
town this weekend. Busy place.

Route 66: Day 23

2009-05-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

The Return Trip

Not much going on today but driving. We left Hill City, SD this
morning and headed south.

Last night was dinner at the Alpine Cafe in Hill City. Unique place as
they only serve filet mignon dinner, either 6 oz. or 10 oz. Forget
anything else. Was very good, by the way.

Took this picture today with the iPhone. It is in Colorado, just
across the border from Cheyenne, WY. The object on the hill top is a
large cut-out of a buffalo. We are at a KOA near Ft. Collins for the
evening. Been windy all day, but really bad here in northern Colorado.
Got tired of fighting it, so taking a break for the night.

Route 66: Day 22

2009-05-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

The Return Trip
Spent the day driving through Custer State Park. Beautiful place, and
large. There is a wildlife loop that is over 30 miles long and
includes buffalo roaming free, as well as burros and deer. Before the
park is the Needle Highway with many great granite spires reaching
into the sky.

After the park we stopped by the Crazy Horse statue, still very much a
work in progress.

Spent some time in the afternoon biking on the Mickelson trail which
goes by the rv park. All so very gorgeous here.

Planning on pulling out in the morning and heading south towards
Colorado by way of Wyoming.

Route 66: Day 21

2009-05-07T05:24:00.000-07:00

The Return Trip
This is a shot of Mt. Rushmore at night. We also came during the day.
Starting on Memorial Day, they have a ceremony for the lighting of the
monument, which is suppose to be very emotional. Fantastic work of art.

Visited the Praire Berry Winery during the day and bought a variety of
vino. Fun place with some unique names for their wines.

A friend of ours, Re, who we met at an RV park near Bloomington, IL,
hooked up with us again yesterday. We're all going to check out more
of this area today.

Route 66: Day 20

2009-05-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

The Return Trip

This is Susanne's butt framing a scene in an old west town in the
middle of South Dakota. It is an 1880 scene, frozen in time. Fun place
with many props used from the film, "Dancing With Wolves".

Earlier we visited the Corn Palace in Mitchell. It is a building with
many murals going all around two sides. The murals are changed every
year in the summer. A local art teacher at the college will do a
sketch based on ideas from a selection committee. They are outlined on
black roofing paper, attached to the walls and ears of corn are nailed
to the wall. They are cut in half first, and come in a variety of
hues. This process has been going on since 1892.

Made it to Hill City where we are in a campground south of town. I'm
amazed at the terrian, as it look like it could be part of Tahoe. Not
at all what I expected. I was thinking it would look more like a beige
Sedona. Going to check out Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse tomorrow.

Route 66: Day 19 (2nd picture)

2009-05-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

The pets seem to be travelling well and adapting to a constantly
changing environment.

Route 66: Day 19

2009-05-04T15:29:00.001-07:00

The Return Trip
Made it to Souix Falls, SD today. Easy drive today. We're about 6 to 8
hours from the Mt. Rushmore area. Got in early to do some laundry this
evening.

The rolling hills through Wisconsin and Minnesota are really
beautiful. The pristine farms with their silos are seen everywhere.
Suprisingly, there are also tall hills and valleys, unlike the
Mississippi Valley which is as flat as a board. Going to be
interesting to see how South Dakota changes my previous conception
(misconception). I have always thought of it as a dry, barren state.
However, the tourist guide book I picked up from the office here is
showing a lot of trees in the state.

Hoping to check out the Corn Palace in Mitchell tomorrow as we drive
to Hill City. Understand the Black Hills are because of the dense
forest. I always thought it was from lava or some other geological
event. Fun to learn.

Route 66: Day 18

2009-05-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

Left Chicago after a leisure morning at Leisure Lake resort and hit
the road. Headed west on I-80, then north on I-39 until we hooked up
with I-90 in northern Illinois. Then through Wisconsin with stop in
Madison at Camping World for a few things.

After crossing the Mississippi River in La Crosse, WI, we started
looking for a place to stay for the night. The interstate directory
said there was a Money Creek Haven park at an exit up ahead. It didn't
say it was 8 miles south, but what the heck. Cute place, office
closed, so we found a site for the night (see pic) and settled in.
Took care of the money matters in the morning.

Route 66: Day 17

2009-05-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, didn't make it to the Hancock Center yesterday, but did today.
This is a view from the Signature Lounge on the 95th floor. Stunning.

Had another Chicago hot dog at a different place (Mr. J's). Couldn't
tell the difference though I think they used the Vienna Beef Brand
frank. Suppose to be the best, but the bun was not a poppyseed. Two
hot dogs in two days is pretty much our limit for the year.

Continuing with the gastronomical theme, dinner will be at the White
Fence Farm for the world's greatest chicken (their claim). Tomorrow
will be a day of dieting.

We are leaving in the morning for Wisconsin and Minnesota. Hope to
make it to Hill City, SD by Monday evening for Mt. Rushmore. More on
that later.

Route 66: Day 16

2009-05-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

End of the road (or the beginning). Visited Jackson Blvd. and Lake
Shore Drive where the old Route 66 started. Went to Navy Pier and took
an architectural boat tour of the city. Great buildings. Had a Chicago
style hot dog (see pic). Waiting for a Chicago Deep Dish pizza at
Gino's East. Going over to the Hancock Building for a scenic drink
after pizza.

Route 66: Day 15

2009-04-30T16:23:00.001-07:00

Finally made it to the Chicago area. We are camped near Joliet at the
intersection of I-55 and I-80. Thlnking about going into Chicago
tonight to get the lay of the land. Really windy today while driving.
Want to go to the corner of Jackson Blvd. and Lakeshore Drive. This
was the end (or beginning) of Route 66. It will mark the end of the
segment of the trip. Will visit the "Windy City" for a few days, then
start the return segment.

The restored gas station in the photo is in Dwight, IL. It is one of
several that have been restored along Route 66 in Illinois.

Route 66: Day 14

2009-04-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

Spent the morning biking over the Mississippi River on the Chain of
Rocks bridge. Kind of fun biking over the river.

Stopped at the "Lady of the Highway" statue in Raymond. This was
installed by a Catholic Youth Group in 1962 on Frances Marten's farm
on Rt. 66. He and his wife maintained the property, and his offsprings
continue today. The statue is visible from I-55 as well.

Later we stopped at Funk's Grove Maple Sirup farm (spelling in
intentional). Great sirup (syrup).

Needless to say, our side excursions put us further south that
intended. We are camping in a park in Carlock, IL. Yes, Carlock. Guess
it was some guy's name.

Tomorrow hoping to get to Joliet, then downtown to Chicago.

Route 66: Day 13

2009-04-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Finally back on the road. Visited the Meramec Caverns in Stanton, MO
(west of St. Louis). Very impressive place. Privately owned since the
'30's after Route 66 opened. Lots of stalagmites and stalactites.
Remember, the "tites" are "tightly holding on to the ceiling", and the
"mites" "might be on the floor. Or is it the other way around. No, I'm
right.

I'll post some other pics when I get online again in the morning with
a new code from the KOA here in Granite City, IL.

We're going to head towards Chicago in the morning after we bike over
to the old Chain of Rocks Bridge from the RV park. The bridge was the
original way across the Mississippi River, later replaced by I-270.
Probably going into Chicago on Thursday.

Route 66: Day 12

2009-04-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Severe weather warnings this morning caused us to hold up for another
day before hitting the road, though later I realized we probably would
have been fine. The Weather Channel said 58 mph winds with 3/4" hail
and thunder showers, but we didn't see any of that here. In
retrospect, I think the worst weather was down in Texas. Of course, it
will probably be up here tomorrow.

The beautiful dogwood trees are very common around these parts. There
are both white and pink varieties. This whole area is very pretty, but
the shoreline seems to be mostly private ownership. Not a lot of
public access. There is about 1200 miles of shoreline since the lake
has many "finger" inlets lining it. The lake itself is serpentine
shaped.

Route 66: Day 11

2009-04-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to get back on the road tomorrow. Very relaxing day.
Wind has been blowing out of the south since we've been here. Weather
shows overcast skies ahead, maybe some rain.

Route 66: Day 10

2009-04-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

Still in Missouri visiting and relaxing. Picture of a local eatery.
We're heading to a frozen custard shop after having a great dinner at
a country club. The specialty at the custard shop is an Ozark Turtle:
frozen custard with hot fudge, caramel, pecans and whipped cream. Yummy.

Route 66: Day 9

2009-04-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

Left Joplin this morning and continued on the trip. Turned off the
route at Lebanon, MO to visit with some friends living next to the
Lake of the Ozarks. We'll hang out here for a few days before getting
back on the trip. They have a washing machine and dryer. It's that time.

Route 66: Day 8

2009-04-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

The photo is of the famous Blue Whale north east of Tulsa, half way to
the Kansas line.

Left WalMart in Chandler, OK this morning. Stay in their parking lot
was okay, but it seems the locals have a lot of pickups with modified
mufflers, so of course they had to use them during the evening to
entertain us.

Stayed on Historic 66 all day to visit the little towns. Went through
Kansas for about 15 miles in the south east corner of the state
(Baxter Springs, Riverton and Galena). Then through Joplin, MO. We're
now east of Joplin at a campground. Tomorrow we go to Lebanon, MO,
then north to the Lake of the Ozarks to visit some friends for a few
days. Probably back on the Sunday.

Gas! Filled up back in Needles, CA, for $2.48 per gallon. Filled up
today in OK for $1.78 per gallon. What gives? Keeps getting cheaper as
we drive along.

Back to the Blue Whale. It was built right before they closed Route
66, and had fallen into disrepair. Some folks fixed it up a while
back, but it has not come back as a tourist destination. The dogs went
in for a swim and came out covered with mud. It is stocked with some
fish ( perch, bass and catfish).

Route 66: Day 7 (second post)

2009-04-22T18:50:00.001-07:00

Route 66: Day 7

2009-04-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

Tonight is in the WalMart parking lot in Chandler, OK right on Route
66. Hopefully a quite Route 66 later tonight. Visited the "Devil's
Rope" museum in Maclean, TX this morning. Never knew much about barbed
wire before.

Saw the largest cross in the Western Hemishere in Groom, TX this
morning. Pictures of it have appreared on the Internet many times.
I'll put a photo on after this posting (can only do one pic at a time
on the iPhone).

Coming in towards OK City the temperature was 93 degrees. We're
heading towards Tulsa in the morning.
The stretch between Oklahoma City and Tulsa is supposed to be the best
representation of Route 66.

Route 66: Day 6

2009-04-21T15:39:00.001-07:00

Am spending the night outside of Amarillo. A limo will pick us up for
dinner at the Big Texan, famous for the free 72 oz. steak (if you eat
it and the fixin's in one half an hour. I'm not even going to try.

Picture is of the Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo. Celebrates Route 66
in a very symbolic way. Visited Tucumcari, NM on the way.

Route 66: Day 5

2009-04-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

Still at the rally. The photo shows about 10% of the participants.
Tons of RV's. After seeing a lot of the drivers of those big ass rigs,
I'm now a little weary about them. Lot of these folks have one foot in
the grave. Be careful when you pass.

Route 66: Day 4

2009-04-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Started the morning off with a guided tour of Acoma, the City in the
Sky. The oldest village in the US, Acoma is occupied only by Puebla
indians. Very interesting tour.

This evening will be entertainment by the Osmond Brothers.

We're on a bus heading back to Albuquerque right now. Probably be
naptime when we get back.

Route 66:Day 3

2009-04-18T20:51:00.000-07:00

Finally got a regular spot this morning, then went to the fairgrounds
and registered. Then the rv show and buying stuff.

Rita Coolidge performed tonight. Still looking and sounding great for
a 63 year old woman.

After the performance, there was seven ballons that lit up the sky
with their enormity. Fantastic scene. Would be fun to come back for
the ballon races and watch 700 to 800 of them.

Tomorrow is the "Sky City" tour to the west.

Route 66: Day 2

2009-04-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

Camped last night in Williams, AZ, the gateway to the Grand Canyon.
Nice, new RV park operated by the Grand Canyon Railway. Froze during
the night, so we had some issues. Stopped in Winslow, AZ to check out
the mural. Great looking mural. Almost ran out of gas as we approached
New Mexico, but made it on fumes tons gas station. Best part was that
the gas was $1.99 per gallon, the cheapest yet.

After we entered NM, Susanne read some of the Rally literature. Seems
we had to check in before 5pm. We arrived at 5:30 pm, so we are not
checked in, but dry camping in a vacant lot at the site. Will check in
tomorrow morning and finish the procedure.

Neil Sadaka is suppose to be performing tonight in a nearby tent, so
will see if we can get in. We will be here at the Rally until Tuesday
morning.

Route 66: Day 1

2009-04-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

Made it down to Lone Pine for the night. The view from down the road
in the RV park is of Mt. Whitney, at over 14,000 feet it is the
highest point of the contiguous states. Was hoping to make it to
Barstow yesterday, but the logistics of the trip required a stay in
Lone Pine instead. Today we should go through most of Arizona to stay
on schedule. The back of the truck was full of all the "stuff" for the
trailer which we reorganized last night. Later today, in Barstow, we
will officially be on Route 66.

Mini-Mural

2009-04-14T17:13:00.001-07:00

Finished and delivered a small mural painted on Masonite today that is
installed behind the stove and under the microwave. Came out pretty
nice.

The '49ers

2009-04-09T17:21:00.000-07:00

On the road today for business and decided to spend the night enroute
since it's raining and I won't be through with my appointment until
after 8pm. Staying in a Gold Rush era hotel (1851) in a little town
off the main road. Very quaint with a sign down the street that says
"parking for Harley-Davidson's only. Back to Lake Tahoe tomorrow. This
town really feels old. Makes me feel young. No shopping centers or
Statbucks. Bathroom is across the hall from the room. Will find out
about ghosts tonight.

Fantasy Fireplace

2009-04-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Finished another fireplace in Ell Dorado Hills yesterday. Came out pretty nice. The tile on the hearth is real, everything else is "faux-ny". They will be hanging a picture back up in the niche.

Designer Eggs

2009-03-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

So my girl friend says this morning, "John, would you pick up some eggs?". Sure, no problem. Except she usually buys expensive organic brown eggs, but I usually get the cheaper white eggs. So to appeaser her, I bought the white eggs and some Easter egg dye and made some brown eggs (and blue, etc.). Don't think I saved any money, but had fun. Got a great reaction from her when she found the eggs in the refrigerator. Now she does not want to break them. Yes, they are raw eggs.

Winter Camping

2009-03-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend at Topaz Lake, NV. Getting ready for the Route 66
trip in mid- April. Could have done without the snow. Still had fun,
except for the casino. Made a long list of stuff to gather before the
long trip. "Roadee", the Airstream, is a pleasure to tow compared to
the "white boxes".

I'm Back

2009-03-16T21:06:00.000-07:00

Did this mural, as well as a faux finish on a fireplace, last week.
Thought the wall treatment around the stove was pretty unique. While
painting it, there was a sheet of hardboard and a drop cloth on the
stove. My paint sat on the drop. Thought a similar arrangement in the
studio would be nice (without the stove). Paint down front, canvas or
board on the wall, and shelves to the side for other stuff. Might even
be able to sit on a stool. Going to give it some thought.

Memorial Service

2009-03-04T21:09:00.001-08:00

Attended a memorial service this evening for "Big" Bob Tara, the Ski
Patrol Supervisor at Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe. Bob had
a heart attack last week after sitting down in a chair lift going up
the mountain. He was 58, a former linebacker with the Canadian
Football Leaque, and a huge man, both in stature and admiration. Ski
patrolers from many resorts were at the service, which started outside
with a flare ski by patrollers, then moved inside. Very emotional.

Climbing to new heights

2009-02-28T21:14:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, you need to stretch a little more. Here's a pic of the set
up I talked about in the last post. Little scary, but it worked. Just
made sure I didn't move around too much. This is such a glamorous
profession.

Back to Back Vineyards

2009-02-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

Just finished this job in Elk Grove, Ca. Fun job, sometimes challenging on getting to the clouds and sky. It was 18' to the peak, so I had to use a 12' stepladder with a 20' extension tied to it for some of the work. Could have rented a longer step ladder, but that would have been a hassle carrying and moving around. The smaller mural was exactly opposite the larger one. Fortunately I could walk around on the area above the television. The sky and clouds go all the way from one side to the other.

Tile Mural

2009-02-10T22:44:00.000-08:00

This is a mural painted on tile in a client's home in the Sacramento
area. It was installed about a month ago, but the tile setter
transposed two tiles (in the vineyard), so it looked kind of strange.
I went back to repaint the "strange" part. Came out pretty good. Hard
to tell it wasn't painted this way in the beginning.

Vagabond Artists

2009-02-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

Back in the colonial times, mural artists would travel from town to
town in their wagons full of paint and brushes, as well as a bed. Once
they hit town, word would spread they were there, and the townfolks
would schedule murals with them while they were in town.

Today I started another project with my travel trailer to stay in
while I'm working. That's it in the distance. Kind of feels like the
old-fashioned guys, except no one else knows I here. I was also
informed there is a mountain lion in the neighborhood. Bears and
coyotes I can handle, but a mountain lion, they're mean. Guess I won't
be wandering around outside at night.

End of Home Show

2009-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

Time for a little fun before taking everything down. Good turnout and
many leads. Now starts the fun of follow up. Back to Tahoe on Tuesday.

Home Show

2009-01-23T12:43:00.000-08:00

At another home and landscape show in Sacramento today. This year I
also put a mural on tumbled marble on display in the show. Will be
here all weekend. It's raining and chilly.

Racoons

2009-01-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a shot of a mural I did awhile back. Returned today to do some
touch-up on the faux finish. The tree on the right mirrors the real
tree outside.

2D

2009-01-13T16:06:00.001-08:00

Thought this was a fun Kodak (iPhone) moment. The orange cat is real,
the black is painted in a mural. Since the camera is two dimensional,
as is the mural, the combined effect is intriguing. Yes, it's one of
my murals.

I Resolve to...

2009-01-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

Clean up this studio! That's a custom mural on tile you see off to the left. It has been clear coated and is ready for delivery. Just cleaning that mess up will help a lot. But, there's more.

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T21:04:00.000-08:00

Jackie Collins

2008-12-27T18:40:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-27T18:28:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-25T16:04:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-18T14:49:00.001-08:00

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

2008-12-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-29T16:23:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-20T12:56:00.001-08:00

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

Styling

2008-10-19T17:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-05T17:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-01T15:33:00.001-07:00

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

2008-09-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-26T11:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

So this is the most popular image so far.

Arte de Espana

2008-08-14T16:40:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-08-11T18:35:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-07T18:33:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-02T10:05:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-02T09:56:00.001-07:00

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

2008-07-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-27T15:53:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Art Show

2008-07-27T15:34:00.001-07:00

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

Art Show Friday

2008-07-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

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

Art Show

2008-07-25T16:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-21T09:57:00.001-07:00

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

2008-07-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-13T12:27:00.001-07:00

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

2008-07-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Phoenix in Tahoe

2008-07-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

Found myself in a small neighborhood parade this morning. We were parading through part of the burn area from last year's Angora Fire here in Tahoe. Nearly every house you see in the photos is new, built or being built within the past year. It was very moving, as most the people in the parade lost their homes to the fire. As wildfires continue to rage throughout the state, it is inspiring to see beauty come from the ashes. Things were lost, lives were spared and hopes realized. We toured the new home of a friend and marveled how happy they were to be back in the neighborhood, now with a better view of the nearby mountains. A year ago, they had only a few minutes to get out of way of the approaching fire, being driven by high winds. Like the mythical Greek bird Phoenix, the area is once again alive and doing quite well.

Saturday in Tahoe

2008-06-29T22:01:00.001-07:00

Airfest 2008 in Tahoe this weekend. There was this remarkable young
lady of 24 who was one of the stunt pilots at the show. She is also a
base jumper, rock climber and skydiver. Check out www:sportsgal.com

The Lost Coast

2008-06-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

Spending the weekend in Shelter Cove, on California's lost coast. This is a remote resort with only one winding road coming from Highway 101 to the east. A friend from Tahoe also owns a home here on the cliff above the Pacific, and had a big abalone dinner last night. The abalone came out of the ocean that morning. Beautiful setting and a great place for a party. Many friends from Tahoe and other areas are here. There is an airstrip in Shelter Cove, so many flew in. We drove in. Staying here today (Sunday) as well. Leftover abalone for dinner tonight again tonight. Will do some hiking today to work off the party.

Saw an old friend from Tahoe who I hadn't seen for awhile at the party. He flew in yesterday, and out this morning going to Oregon. Former TWA pilot on 747's across the Pacific. We worked together when I was involved with the Civil Air Patrol a while back. Threw up in his plane once while on a training mission. Not feeling well that morning, steep bank to spot a "target", you get the picture. Retired from the airlines now, still flying his Mooney and racing Corvettes, Mustangs and Ferraris.

On Sunday, many of those that flew in were leaving, and one young pilot from Nevada treated us to a fly by. First, he flew direct over us above the tree, but we weren't ready with the cameras, so we radioed him to come back for another. This time he flew fast and low above the ocean for a nice fly by, though his wife was probably giving him hell.

The driftwood reminds me a lot of a Debra Butterfield driftwood/bronze horse. What do you think?

Ya Gotta Love Nature

2008-06-16T17:55:00.000-07:00

This morning I awoke to a small black bear in the back yard. Before the dogs caught site of him or her, I grabbed a camera and took some pics. Took a couple of shots to realize the autofocus was turned off. Once the dogs saw it, they barking scared it back over the fence. The irony is that the dogs are both about 15 pounds each, while the bear was probably about 200 pounds with sharp claws and teeth. We are visited regularly by nature (national forest land on the other side of the fence), but sometimes they are not wanted at all, i.e. coyotes. The Jack Russell terrier has been attacked twice in the past year, requiring several stitches. Once in the woods, last time (in March) in the backyard. The coyotes was hiding in the yard, and two more were waiting on the other side of the fence. They come back fairly regularly, but so far stay on the forest side of the fence. When the snow drifts are piled high, we're more likely to find them in the yard.

The one picture of the bear standing is cute in that a plywood cow is on the left and a plywood bull is on the right. Maybe I'll make a plywood bear next.

The Glamorous World of Faux Finishing

2008-06-13T19:39:00.000-07:00

We're going to be doing a lot of work inside this house when the walls are ready, but first the owner wanted the galvanized metal chimney guards to look like aged copper. It was 95 degrees on the roof Thursday afternoon when I primed them. Friday morning I got up there at 7 am, and finished at 10 am. It was 86 degrees when I finished. Lot of fun maneuvering around the piles of roof tiles. Turned out pretty good, though. Now, hopefully the stucco people will be kind when they do their work below the metal.

In case you're wondering, the home is owned by a plastic surgeon.