This is the second set in this series. The first set was with penny rolls but I figured that since things to appear to only be getting worse I thought I would up the ante a bit and move on to nickles. Thats right. Nickles. The way things are going, it sounds like it is going to be necessary to move up to the dimes. Don't even get me going on the quarters. Well, with that... Enjoy!

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I often think that life is made up of small moments that exist independently from the moment before or after them. My paintings are always about these brief moments. However, all of us know that this is really not the truth. Moments are really strung together with other moments almost like christmas tree lights. Let me try to explain using my life last night. It is important to understand that there was a number of things that had to get done last night. (I'll save explaining why) Anyway, there was lot that needed to get done. So, in my typical fashion I started working on something that wasn't on the "need to get done" list and started on the "want to get done" list. So, I started with replacing the clutch lever on my motorcycle. It was getting cold out in the garage, so I was hurrying. It wasn't working out like I had planned. The thing stalls when I kick into first gear. Ugh.. So, that ends up taking longer than I had planned and now I am behind on getting the other stuff done. So, I hurriedly, go about other things on the list. Then I reach the item on the list that reads "pick up bed from moms house". So, my daughter volunteers to drive and I'm still hurrying around. She goes and starts the truck. Its dark and cold and rainy now. So, I see that the garage door is still open. So, I hit the garage door and it starts to close. Just then I think. "I should probably bring some tools to take the bed apart. So, I hit the garage door button again, stopping the door just about face level. I duck under the half open garage door and rush into the garage gathering up my tools that were all spread around from working on my motorcycle earlier. (Did I mention it is cold and rainy and I am hurrying?) So, I gather up the tools I need, turn and make a beeline out of the garage, looking down at the tools in my hand and completely forgetting that the garage door is not open all the way. With a fast paced walk, I walked directly into the lowhanging garage door with it catching me right across the eyebrows and forehead. It literally knocked me right to the ground. I got up still in a hurry and went to the truck only to see my daughter laughing hysterically (I mean hysterically) because she thougth I was joking around. We proceeded to get the bed and now my forehead has some nice scratches directly between my eyes. As I was riding along in the truck, feeling the ache in my skull and feeling a little dizzy, I couldnt help to think how all the moments prior to hitting my head, were actually leading me directly to that moment. So, with that very, very long story, here is a portait of the scratches on my forehead and a portrait of life when you try to fit more into a day than you have time to do so... Enjoy! (Sidenote: My daughter told me later that I was laying on the ground for about one minute. I thought it was 5 seconds. Yikes!)

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I am tired. It was one of those long days. My eyes are a bit dark and a bit swollen and I am feeling like I just want to go to sleep. I got home late. The house is already quiet. I grabbed a Leinenkugel out of the fridge, opened it, and took a swig. I walked up to the desk and looked at the half finished paintings spread out and turned to my right and put some music on. (The Postal Service if you are wondering) It was perfect. I grabbed a new sheet of paper and worked on this painting. The Leinenkugel went down well and the songs ended and started and ended and started and the work for today is finally complete. It's time to turn off the lights and go upstairs... Enjoy!

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I was standing in line at the polls this morning daydreaming and I was thinking about what I was going to paint tonight. The two people who were in front of me in line were perfect portrait candiates but that will have to wait until later. Then the person behind me commented on my ninja button I was wearing. (The first Keemo Ninja button Series 1 - Button #1. Sorry had to keep that one for myself.) So, we started talking about painting and art and she said I should do an election day painting. So, I have been thinking about it on and off all day and decided it was best to do an Election Day Ninja.(Im not one for painting flags, candidates, start and stripes, bald eagles all that jazz. It not that Im not necessarily patriotic. Im just not one to paint it). Now, while the Ninja doesnt show its colors while lurking around in the dark unnoticed you can bet that underneath that black outfit are his true colors reflecting in the stainless steel of his throwing stars... I have a feeling that tonight he will celebrate... With that... Enjoy!

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I remember when we were back in school and we were close friends. His mom had just died from cancer that year and his dad was deep, deep, deep into the drink. He was raising himself at that point. It didn't help matters that I didnt have much supervision either. We leaned on each other that is for sure. A painting could be made about every night from those years and every morning was cloudy and hazy and there were blocks of time missing and we would start it all over again and we would chase our painting and writing with drink and more drink and other stuff that puts people in jail and with no supervision it was a life that was equal parts Bukowski and Henry Miller and I'm not sure how we made out on the other side in one peice. Well, maybe not in one piece but we made out and here is to him and for still being there even though there are miles and years between us and those days... Enjoy!

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This is the third in the guitar chord series. I remember when I learned this chord (and all the other chords that require that you lay your finger across all the strings). I could barely do it. I would strum the chord and it sounded horrible. Those first few days I would strum and get to that last string and it would twang or thud or something. I must have been 14 or so and I think that at the age I was still driven by the idea I was going to be a rock star. The more I learned about the guitar and being in a band and gigs and MTV the less I believed my own illusion with myself as a musician. I was probably 17 or so. (I just don't have that "inner rockstar". It's not who I am) I am pretty sure that every kid who picks up a guitar at that age probably goes through the same progression. With that said, that was the best thing that I could have learned and I think about that often when I pick up the guitar and play it simple and easy with no big ideas and no big dreams and the notes fall off the strings like leaves and it just seem like the way music should be made. I'll leave the other stuff to the real rockstars. With that...Enjoy!

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This is the first painting in a new series called "At The Intersection of Money and Hope". This particular painting is on 100 shares of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company that was purchased in 1948. (Yes, this is are real shares) Lets take a quick look at what happened with the PRR: The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy," the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PRR was the largest railroad by traffic and revenue in the U.S. throughout the Twentieth Century and was at one time the largest publicly traded corporation in the world. At its peak, it controlled about 10,000 miles (16,000 km) of rail line. During its history, the PRR merged with or had an interest in at least 800 other rail lines and companies. The PRR corporation still holds the record for the longest continuous dividend history: it paid out annual dividends to shareholders for more than 100 years in a row. The budget for the PRR was larger than that of the U.S. government and they employed approximately 250,000 workers. In 1968, the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with its rival, the New York Central Railroad, to form Penn Central Transportation. The ICC required that the ailing New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad be added in 1969. A series of events including inflation, poor management, abnormally harsh weather and the withdrawal of a government-guaranteed 200-million-dollar operating loan forced the Penn Central to file for bankruptcy protection on June 21, 1970. The Penn Central rail lines were then divided between Conrail and Amtrak. Normally, I would put my own comment or story on these peices but I think this story speaks for itself and probably speaks to all us to some degree.... Enjoy!

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I don't make a habit of doing portraits of famous people. It's not really my thing I guess. I have only done a handful over the years. Well, after listening to some old Lenny Bruce recordings a couple weeks ago, I decided that a Lenny Bruce painting was in order. I won't go on about why I might consider a Lenny Bruce portrait to be necessary because he is the kind of person that speaks (spoke) for himself and nothing I paint or draw or say or write will really have any bearing on your impression of him whatsoever. (that is the trouble with portraits of famous people, I tell ya) Well, with that... Here's Lenny...Enjoy!

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We were talking last night and somehow the subject of mimes and clowns came up. ("you should paint a mime!" one of them said) I guess, I have always been kind of wierded out by mimes. The fact they dont talk makes me very edgy. I get the same way when I talk to people who are wearing big costumes, like at Disney World. I don't know, call me wierd. Anyway, I got thinking that I had never even tried to paint one, so I figured what the hay! Lets do a mime and see what happens... Enjoy! ( BTW, they still wierd me out) Oh hey, if any real mimes are reading this drop me a quick email and say hi. And also, if there any real mimes reading, no offense.

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