I knew that I wanted to use fabric on this ninja mask so I started hunting around for the right choice. I was going through a bunch of fabric that we have here and found a bunch of fabric that was given to us by Great Grandma Clute. She passed away a few years back and we still talk about her homemade cinnamon rolls. We try to make them but they never taste as good as hers did. She lived in rural Michigan and was very self reliant. Before she passed away she left different things to all of us. This red cowboy fabric was one of the things that she left us. I can just see her in the 50's sewing a cowboy shirt out of it With that, here is the second ninja mask with awesome vintage fabric from Great Grandma Clute. (In her honor, the winner of this Ninja Mask will also receive her awesome Cinnamon Roll recipe.) ... Enjoy!

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It was the name that got me. "Strangers' Directory" This is actually from a 1930 travel guide of Boston. I can't help but think of the Boston tourist council sitting around a table trying to come up with this marketing campaign. "Well, what do we want to call these strangers coming in from out of town?" "How about strangers?" "That is a great idea!" "Strangers it is!" I could go on and on for all the other fun things surrounding the "Strangers Directory" but I think its best left up to your imagination. Have fun!...Enjoy!

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When she was growing up in the Upper Pennisula she had a pet chicken named Fred. I don't know many people, wait, I don't know anyone else that has had a pet chicken. Somehow, Fred just seems like the right name for a pet chicken. I have heard many stories about Fred over the years. The last story of Fred goes like this: Her mother gave Fred to the neighbor so her father wouldn't kill it for dinner. She went to the neighbors to see Fred and Fred wasn't there. The neighbor said the Rooster killed Fred and that is why he wasn't there. She still gets sad talking about Fred. Now that she is older she is pretty sure that Fred never went to neighbors house and got killed by the rooster. I always wanted to do a portrait of Fred because I know that we all have a Fred somewhere in our past, don't we? It doesn't have to be a pet but something that was very close to you that was taken away and you never forgot it. Well, here is to all those things and remembering them and moving on and always keeping them with you... Enjoy!

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A Mixed Bag from June 26, 2008

Well,it was a marathon today. A ton of work created. In between layers of paint, these three little buggers snuck out. 1.) The Bunny. (An homage to another painter, C). The color is called Jalapeno. 2.) Portrait on a color sample called "Mountain Air". (isnt that a common deodorant scent?) 3.) Keemo Monster. Many that have bought Keemos in the past have seen glimpses of the Keemo Monsters. I have been slipping these Keemo monsters into the envelopes before shipping. I thought it was time to post one. The color is called "Intellectual Gray". What kind of color is that? Intellectual Gray? Well, there is a mixed bag from today, June 26, 2008...Enjoy!

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I Meant To Pick Up Flowers On The Way Home From Work. 1938.

I meant to pick up flowers on the way home from work today. She loves flowers. (Who doesn't really?) The orchids that were on the kitchen table finally kicked the bucket. I tried to make time to stop on the way home today and pick up something to replace them. I was getting home earlier, so I thought it would be a nice suprise to have something in their place. Well, one thing lead to another, stuck in traffic, had to make last minute stop for something else and never made it to the flowershop. I'll try to do it tomorrow. Until then, here is some flowers for the ones I didn't get today. Shhhhhh... don't tell her though... it will still be suprise...Enjoy!

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The Devil Is In The Details. Part 2. 1958

Im fascinated by marketing. As much from the designer side of it as the consumer side of it. As I have mentioned many times before Im particularly fond of older commercial design. It's funny though how the message itself really hasn't changed that much over the years. The graphics got fancier but the underlying message is the same. I really can't find a better example than this advertisement from 1958. (This could probably apply to any of the weightloss products on the shelf right now.) One last thing, this is part 2 of 2. The devil shape in this one has been cut out of the advertisement that was used in Part 1. Well, with that...Enjoy!

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How Not To Draw A Person With One Breast. (or) Dust Off Your Heart, Youre Not The Only One Here. 1938.

I got an email recently that asked why alot of my pictures have a person with one breast. I wasn't sure what she was referring to so I responded, "I'm not sure what you are referring to? Do you mean the heart?"... "Oooooooooh, that is a heart!" came the reply. Yes, that is a heart. Most of us have one and I like to think that most of us try to use it when we make some of our decisions. Alot more of us wear it on our sleeve than we think and if you look hard enough you can see it bubbling underneath most people when you are talking to them. I like to keep thinking that most of us strive to have a good one. I know I forget about it, in there beating away, and these little paintings and stories remind me to bring it out and dust it off. I was asked in an interview last year year what my work is about. I wish I wasn't so nervous or I would have said something like..." it is about reminding us all to bring out our hearts and dust them off a bit and maybe even share them with someone nearby." Well, with all that said, I'm off to draw a person with one breast!...Enjoy!

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The Guitar Player

I have been playing guitar for many years. Please note, this should not, in any way, suggest that I am a good guitar player. I can play along with most things and fake most everything else. This may help explain the numerous guitar references. (I also picked up the drums a couple years ago but they are just not as much fun to draw. Sorry to all the drummers who are reading.) One of these days I'll figure out how to do it. Anyway, it really is just about the music, regardless of what you play, how you play it, who you play it with or even who you play it for. I guess that it is it...Enjoy! (now where is that pick?)

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This is #10 in the limited edition button series. This is the limited edition button of a painting from 2007 called Red King. (or Those Stripes On Charlie Brown's shirt) - (ACEO/ATC #303)

Story: I received an email this week from someone who said they really liked the King and Queen portraits. I too enjoy them. I like the crown heads because they remind me of the pattern on Charlie Brown's shirt. (I think even mentioning Charlie Brown may warrant a call from their lawyer. Well, I guess I'm living on the edge) Well, as those of you who follow my work know, I always try to take time to do portraits for people who take the time out of their lives to drop me a message. So, here is to the person who took the time to drop an email and share there thoughts with me and here is to the pattern on Charlie Browns shirt! (My phone is ringing... I bet its their lawyer...)...Enjoy!

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