"TOP GUN, ARNI"

Thius is the No. 91 painting of my 365/2010 series
Title: TOP GUN, ARNI"
Size: 22X30 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches 100% rag paper.
So, "OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER" a favorite song of all Air Force men to sing. This was a demonstration painting for one of my 6Th grade classes. When question and answer time came, one of the little smarties spoke up and said, Mr. Anderson have you really been up in a jet like that? I said no, He said, But I thought you told us that you never painted anything that you haven't experienced. He did deserve to know how this one came about. I told the class that during Spring break 2 weeks ago i took my grandson's on a trip to Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas and we visited the Columbus Air Force base in Columbus Mississippi. When I saw this plane sitting on low pedestal at the entrance of the base. I thought about how this class of all boys would enjoy seeing me paint an airplane for their upcomming demonstration. So I got on top of the car and too a photo of it like I was in a plane above it looking down at it in a chase. "TOP GUN, ARNI. That's how I experienced this plane. I took the plane off it's pedestal and put it back in the air. Artistic licence, you know......

"CELEBRATING VAN GOGH'S 157TH. BIRTHDAY"

This is the No. 90Th painting in my 365/2010 series.

You are looking at one painting from four different sides.

Title: "CELEBRATING VAN GOGH'S 157TH. BIRTHDAY"

Size: 36X48 inches, (3 feetX4feet)

Medium: Acrylics, salt and denatured alcohol

Please look at the painting first but then PLEASE read about Van Gogh.

In the top picture, find the SILVER (grayish) lines and follow it to see a rendition of "THE BEDROOM AT ARLES"

In the 2ND. picture, find the GOLD lines and follow them to reveal a rendition of "THE NIGHT CAFE.

In the 3rd. picture find the white (brightest) lines and follow them to see my version of one of

Vincent's self portraits. one without his ear.

and in the last picture find the black line and follow it to reaveal a portrait of Van Gogh with his ear.

Vincent Wellen Van Gogh was born (the second time) March 30, 1853 in Zundurt, Holland and died July 29, in 1890, at the age of 37 from an infection from a gunshot would 2 months earlier. Van Gogh is at the top of my list of 10 favorite artist. Perhaps in the top three.

Read yesterday's post about his birth. Van Gogh produced about 900 painting, drawings, sk etches and general art pieces during his short life. He worked as a store clerk, art dealer and preacher before dedicating his life to art. Most of what is known about his "Lust for Life" is taken from a collection of letters to and from his brother Theo. Theo was Vincents best friend, supporter and encourager. Vincent sold only one painting while living and that was at Theo's encouragement. Van Gogh didn't think art was ready for the public. I could write volumes of what I've learned and believe about Van Gogh but then thats already been done and as much of it is as fictitious or conjecture as it is truth. Want to know more about Van Gogh. Read the collection of letters to and from Theo. also rent and watch "LUST FOR LIFE" the academy award winning film (Kirk Douglas won best actor for his portrait of Vincent)and rent 'DEAR THEO" a two hour soliloquy by Lennard Niemoid. It's fantastic.

I do hope you like what I do.

Comments and/or remarks are encouraged and welcomed.

"ON THE EVE OF VINCENT'S FIRST BIRTH"

This is the No. 89 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Please read all the information shown.
Title: "ON THE EVE OF VINCENT'S FIRST BIRTH"
Size: 22X30 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches 100%rag paper.
Yes, I did say FIRST BIRTH, Vincent Willem Van Gogh was really born TWICE. Vincent Willem Van Gogh was actually born on March, 30, 1853, BUT exactly one year to the day in 1852 the Van Gogh family experience the birth of a child that was born dead. They named him Vincent Willem Van Gogh and buried him in the church cemetery where Mr. Van Gogh was the preacher.
On the same day , March 30, 1853 The child that would grow up to be one of the world's greatest artist was born and given the same name, Vincent Willem Van Gogh. This was not an uncommonpractice during those times.
Many have speculated as to the what the traumatic effect of walking past his own grave stone in his early years might have had on his mental faculties later in his life. There is no historic or scientific evidence to support any damage to him from the event.
This painting also pays respect to Don McLean who wrote the #1 song of the year in 1963 simply calling it "VINCENT". It is commonly called "Starry Starry Night. This song was his tribute to the master, painter, artist.
"Starry, Starry night, paint your palette blue and green...."
BE SURE to look for tomorrow painting.
I do hope you enjoy what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"SYKES-EVANS, HOMESTEAD" 1852

This is the No. 88 painting in the 365/2010 series. and I'm listing it early.
Title: "SYKES-EVANS, HOMESTEAD" 1852
Size: 22X30 inch
Medium: Watercolor on 140 lb DeArches water color paper.
This is another Demonstrations painting, meaning that it was painted in about 30 minutes in front of a very critical audience.
This house is located on Commerce (main) street in Aberdeen, Mississippi.
The house was built in 1852 with the owner Dr. George Augustus Sykes being given credit as the Architect. The house has also been called the Julina T. Evans house. And ha for many years generally been called The Old Homestead. This is the East side of the house and I believe was the original entrance to the house. There is an inscription found in the concrete on the east side of the house with the word SYKES on it. Consider also that there were very few houses close to this one when it was built giving it a clear view, considering it's elevation, of the river about a mile from the house.
Many stories about this house including the one about Jefferson Davis camping on the grounds.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comment and/or remarks are welcomed and appreciated.

"OKLAHOME CITY BOMBING MEMORIAL"

This is the No. 87 painting in my 65/2010 series.
Title:OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING MEMORIAL"
Size: 22X30 inches.
Medium: Watercolors on 140lb. DeArches watercolor paper.
This view of the National Bombing Memorial in Oklahoma City is inside the memorial looking across the reflection pond to the other end. If you have never been to the Memorial and you ever get close to it, make sure you see it. I had live here for 14 years after the bombing, driven by it for years and had never visited the grounds till last years when friends from Huntsville came and I took them there. Because of other involvement with the bombing experienced I had i just never felt like that I wanted to get any closer. Sorry for that. Although memories of the terrible event were suppressed, the most melancholy and wonderful feeling overcame me that made me feel like I had experienced one of the most unnatural disastrous events in history from a God way of looking at what really did happen that day.
What ALL happened that day most people will never know. A statistic that the governor of Oklahoma revealed at a small dinner event I attended about three months after the event put the best perspective on it that I have heard to this day. And that static I have never seen in print. After listing the 168, (some believe as I, that it was 169), DEAD as many ways to make it sound as bad as possible, and how many people lost love ones or a parent, you've never seen this one. He told us at that meeting that over 300 children had been left complete orphans.
The implications of that one static stuck with me more than all I've ever read about the bombing.
Bring it home now, This painting was done yesterday in front of 21 six graders. Not a single one of them knew anything about the bombing or had ever visited the memorial. They had heard of a bombing in Oklahoma City and that was all.
What are those 300 doing after 15 years? Who cares now? How did they survive?
OK ,I'm done roaming. If you ever get near the Memorial, walk on the site where all this happened, It will make you FEEL GOOD.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"DUCKS ON A LOG"

This is the no. 86 painting in my 365/2010 series.

Title: "DUCKS ON A LOG"

Size: 22X30 inches.

Medium: Watercolors on 140lb. DeArches rag paper.

This is a demonstration painting, meaning that it was done in about 35-40 minutes in front of a scrutinizing audience.

I love the colors on bird feathers and the pattern of the lights and darks you can find on all birds.

I love to find ducks like this out close to the waters edge that are just as curious about you and you are about them. I know I've got a subject when you start to inch toward them and they in turn will inch their way to you.

They will let you know when you're close enough.

I do hope you enjoy what I do. Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"WHERE THE ABERDEEN CREAMERY WAS LOCATED"

This is the No.85 painting in my 365/2010 series.

Title: "WHERE THE ABERDEEN CREAMERY WAS LOCATED"
Size: 11X14 inches
Medium: watercolors on 140lb. DeArches 100% rag paper.
I'm am posting this painting tonight the 24Th instead of tomorrow's regular post. hope that's ok.
This building is located at the east end of Commerce Street (main street) in Aberdeen, Mississippi. This is the building that housed the Aberdeen Creamery many many years ago.
At the time of this photo which was given to me by Miss Lucile Peacock, there were two restaurants operating in the upstairs of the building.
When I moved to Aberdeen in 1964 and was going to school At IJC, i worked for the Almond Printing Company that was occupying the building.
Until recently, before a new sign was painted on the building you could see some very faint paint and still read the part about "A BATH -DAILY".
The large sign had a picture of some of the products in the circle to the left and the name across the top was in the larger letters.
Below that reads "PROSPERITY FOLLOWS HE DAIRY COW". the other writing advertised. DRY SKIM MILK, DRY BUTTER MILK, WHILE MILK, SWEET AND SOUR CREAM, POULTRY AND EGGS, AND PRODUCE.
The bottom lines read, FOR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS A BOTTLE OF MILK AND A BATH-DAILY".
In the corner restaurant was THE LUNCH ROOM, On the windows were the words CAFE
in the smaller printing was Complete Dinners, Hamburgers and Fries and Sandwiches. I could not make out the name of the restaurant next door to the east but on the windows was written "CATFISH AND OYSTER HOUSE" and below that was "SEA FOODS-FISH AND OYSTERS. and below the far window was a sign that said NORTHEASTERN EXPRESS.
I have several old photos that Miss Peacock gave me that i intend to use for some of my paintings where their influence is important to my life and the way I experienced them. I do hope you enjoy what I do.
Comment and/or remarks are appreciated.

"STORMY NIGHT AT THE ABERDEEN DAM:

This is the n.84 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: STORMY NIGHT AT THE ABERDEEN DAM"
Size: 9x11 inches
Medium: watercolor on handmade, 100% rag German paper.
I love to go to the Dam on stormy, rainy nights and just listen to the rhythm of the rain and watch the lightning display.
There's something about the show on water that magnifies the power of God.
I have seen some amazing displays of his powers. I got hooked on doing this when I was traveling a lot to Aberdeen while taking care of my Mother-in-law when she was very sick and in the Assisted living facility. One night when I couldn't sleep and stressed out I got up and drove out to the dam in the storm. It was an amazing feeling and so relaxing. It seemed that every time I had to go to Aberdeen for something, that God would just say "This shows for you.", and there would be this terrific storm. I bet this happened this at least 10 times. Thanks you God.
If you people in Aberdeen ever get the chance to do this, please do and let me know what you think.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"AN AMERICAN ICON"

This is the No.83 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "AN AMERICAN ICON"
Size: 22x30 inches
Medium: watercolors on 140lb DeArches watercolor paper.
This is an American Icon still standing somewhere in Northeast Alabama.
These old barn are disappearing very rapidly.
The fist of these barn started appearing in 1938 across the"snowbird" route from the north to the south in order to attract tourist to the Rock City attraction in Southeast Tennessee near Chattanooga. Clark Byers was a self taught painter/artist that was contracted by the owners of the site to travel the routs and find places to paint the advertisements for the Park.
He was to offer the people who owned the barns trinkets, yardsticks thermometers, key chains, etc. for the rights to paint the barns and of course all the paint and people were told that when it was painted with this paint it wouldn't have to be painted again for years. and that was true.
Those who didn't want the trinkets were given the big sum of $3.00 for the privilege.
Clark Byers and his crew painted several thousand of these barns, sometimes as many as three a day, till his retirement in 1969. When he retired there were only 900 barns still remaining. He died in 2004. At his death a young artist Jerry Cannon took over and is still maintaining the remainder of the barns today.
I do hope you like what I am trying to do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING IN OKLAHOMA CITY"

This is the No. 82 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING IN OKLAHOMA CITY"
Size: 11x14 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 100% rag paper.
Yes that is snow on the pretty little pansies. They looked so dead and the the life has been frozen out of most of the blooms.
I went for coffee last Sat. morning, The first day of spring in about 29 degree temperature and these little blooms at McDonald's were mostly covered completely, but a few like this one was peeping out.
Just wanted to share what the weather can do in Oklahoma.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"SUNSET BEHIND A NEW ENGLANS LIGHTHOUSE"

This is the No. 81 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "SUNSET BEHIND A NEW ENGLAND LIGHTHOUSE"
Size: 22x30 inches
Medium: Watercolors on 140lb. DeArches watercolor paper.
This is one of many lighthouses we experienced along the New England coastline on one of our vacation up to that area of the country.
I love the tall structures protruding out of the landscape and I love to paint their starkness against dramatic background.
You will probably see more of them.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are greatly appreciated. would also appreciate you sharing my blog series with all your friends, Please.
Thank you.

"ELVIS' GRACELAND"

So I missed listing No. 77 of my 365/2010 series...SO here it is. and sorry.
Title: "ELVIS' GRACELAND"
Size: 11X14
Medium: Watercolor on 100% handmade rag paper.
This is the place Elvis bought in Memphis, for his mother. It is very near if not actually in Southhaven. I have been in the house three times and It is one of the GAUDIEST places i have ever seen. The decorations in some of the rooms is really ugly.
It is very small. The grounds are really beautiful. The area surrounding the area is very commercialized, actually too much so.
Seeing this was the only thing that me and my Grandsons did not get to do on our little spring break trip. We got alarmed about the snow storm and just headed on home.
We will catch it again though, I promised them.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and remarks are appreciated.

"RHODE ISLAND CAPE COD"

This is the No. 80 painting of my 365/2010 series.
Title: ROHDE ISLAND CAPE COD"
Size: 22x30 inches
Medium: Watercolors on 140 lb. DeArches cold press paper.
Well it's all the way from Aberdeen cape cod to Provence Town, Rhode Island cape cod.
This beautiful old homes on the coast of Rhode Island and these tremendous boulders are absolutely beautiful. The boulders are especially beautiful in a SQUALL. That's a BIG storm in case you're wondering. the first night we were there a very big one came rolling in and it was probably the most wonderful show of God's power over nature, that I have ever witnessed. The light show and thundering sounds with these big boulders being tossed around like tennis balls in the ocean, I could hardly believe God was actually letting me watch him play.
I do hope you enjoy what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated and welcomed.

"YET ANOTHER ABERDEEN CAPE COD"

This is the no. 79 painting in my 365/2010 series.

Title: "YET ANOTHER ABERDEEN CAPE COD"

Size: 7 1/2x9 1/2 inches.

Medium: watercolor on 140lb. DeArches cold press paper.

This is my favorite of this type house you will find on the west side of the lake in Aberdeen, Mississippi.

there are several house out on this little shore line of the river.

I am leaving Aberdeen to day to return to I hear several inches of snow in OKC. sure hope not but can't take any chances.

I hope you like what I do and please leave me comments and remarks . Thank you for looking

"ELVIS SLEPT HERE & SO DID ARNI"

This is the No. 78 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "ELVIS SLEPT HERE & SO DID ARNI"
Size: 11X14 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 100% hand made rag paper.
In the late 50 and early 60 when Elvis was still traveling by car, on his way out west to Vegas or California he always called ahead to this Motel in Clinton Oklahoma and reserve this room for himself and the two or three other room for his "boys".
Clinton is about 100 miles west of Oklahoma city on the old Route 66.
I heard about this room and got a tour of it about 5 years ago and when I went back to Clinton three years ago to judge the Clinton Arts Festival. I call to see if they would rent me that room and surprisingly they would. So that's how I got to sleep in the same bed that Elvis once slept.
You could tell that the place had run down a little but the "FEEL' was still there. Who knows that may be where he's hiding out.
It's on to GRACELAND tomorrow.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are greatly appreciated.

"ELVIS WITH FAMILY AND FRIEND"

This is the No. 76 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "ELVIS WITH FAMILY AND FRIEND"
Size: 7 1/2X9 1/2 inches
Medium: watercolor and ink. on 140lb De Arches watercolor paper.
I have an unpublished photo taken in Sept. of 1970 at the RX Motel in Tupelo, Mississippi. Tupelo is Elvis' home town. Elvis is IN the photo with his father, Vernon Presley, at that time the sherrif of Lee county and his wife and Janelle McComb and her husband. By 1970 Janelle was really Elvis' only true friend left in Tupelo that he trusted with his confindence and friendship.Janelle is the lady who wrote the poem from Elvis to Lisa when Lisa was born. I promised Janelle that I would never Sell or publish the photo or do anything with it that might cause her some difficulty with her friendship with Elvis. I kept that promise. I would still never sell or get rid of the photo. I have always wanted to do something "ARTY" with the photo so here it is. Picasso is my favorite aritst because of his simplistic and child like way of seeing the world and being able to represent it with minimal strokes. I tried to do so here with the simplest of watercolor washes for color and the pen and ink lines. I think is uccedded in getting the character of the three figures here with very few lines from the pen.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and /or remarks are greatly appreciated.

"EV

"ELVIS' BIRTHPLACE"

This is the No. 75 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "ELVIS' BIRTHPLACE"
Size: 14x18inches
Medium: Watercolors on 140lb. De Arches coldpress paper.
This is the home of Grace and Vernon Presley, in Tupelo, Mississippi. This is the house they were living in when Elvis was born. It is located in Northeast Tupelo and is well marked so it can easily be found. I lived in Tupelo for 4 years and watched this place go from a shack to a pretty nice little tribute to Elvis.
I will be in Tupelo tomorrow showing this place and several other interesting places to two of my grandsons.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are greatly appreciated.

"EV

"FEATHERED FLOWERS"

This is the No. 74 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "FEATHERED FLOWERS"
Size: 22x30 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches cold press paper.
This painting was painted with out the use of brushes.
It was painted using squeeze bottles, a credit card, ( actually it was a players card form Harrah's casino) and two feathers. I love doing this type of flower paintings experimenting with new painting tools. I thought this worked real well.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and remarks are appreciated.
I will be posting from the road tomorrow.

"DESTINED TO HAVE SUFFERED"

Title: "DESTINED TO HAVE SUFFERED"

Place: Edmond Church of Christ

Date: March 14, 2010

Preacher: Randy Roper

Text: I Thes. 3: 1-5

After a brief introduction including joking and a Thunder reference, Randy got right into Paul's writing and told how Paul was always telling people they would suffer persecutions of all kinds in order to follow The Lord Jesus Christ. Especially when Paul was with the Thessalonians and he himself was going through some persecutions himself. He finally left because of it.

Point was made that we always tend to look when we are suffering and find in our own minds that God is not there.

Illustration given about Gideon when he looked around and thought that God had left him alone.

Matt. 5 tell us that "Blessed are the persecuted for righteous sake for theirs is the kindom of

heaven. so so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you."

Embrace persecutions as a time for strengthen. ! Peter 1:6-7

Always act with integrity.

"WHITE ON BLACK OR BLACK ON WHITE'

This is the No. 73 painting of my 365/2010 series.
Title: "WHITE ON BLACKOR BLACK ON WHITE"
Size: 22x30 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches cold pressed paper.
ZEBRA-The most beautiful of all four legged animals. That is what I think. When god designed animals with this kind of patterns and colors (or lack of) I'm thinking he generally had camouflage in mind. But what's with the ZEBRA? What is it hiding from? How can it be hidden? Where would it hide? As an Artist I've always been intrigued with maximum contrast. The difference in darks and lights. and black and white like on the Zebra a great example of maximum contrast. The back ground here is just to emphasize the stripes. I'm not trying to hide the Zebra for sure.
Next week my blog will be on the road. Watch for post from Arkansas and Mississippi.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are greatly appreciated.

"JUDY IN THE JUNGLE"

This is the No. 72 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "JUDY IN THE JUNGLE"
Size: 22x30 inches
Medium: water color on DeArches 140lb., 100%rag paper.
Ok, Animals lovers get ready for some paintings of animals. This first one is of JUDY, Judy was one of the biggest attraction at the Oklahoma City Zoo for many years. I might add that the Oklahoma City Zoo is one of the tops in the nation. Judy died a few months back. I take my grandsons every year and we spend a whole day there looking and observing the animals. I don't like to see animals caged But I do understand the reason for zoos. Every time I saw Judy i couldn't picture her anywhere but in the bushes somewhere. Concrete was no place for her. So whether she ever got to see her "Place" or not, I think she would have liked it.
I do hope you enjoy what I do. Comments and remarks are greatly appreciated.

"YET ANOTHER ABERDEEN-MENNONITE HOME"

This is the No. 70 painting of my 365/2010 series.
Title:"YET ANOTHER ABERDEEN-MENNONITE HOME"
Size: 7 1/2X9 1/2inches
Medium: water color of 140lb. DeArches paper.
A part of Aberdeen where most people did not spend much time. Neither going there or learning about the other culture living in and among themselves. That being the Mennonite community. This house is one of the larger ones in the Mennonite community. It is located Northwest of center Aberdeen. Go north on old Highway 45 till the big curve out where Dr. Murphy lived. There was a grocery store there and the dirt road headed north somewhat parallel to 45 was what I called Mennonite road. At the time I lived In Aberdeen the families making up the community consisted mostly of the Lees, Millers and the Lukers, a few other but not many. When My Mother-in-law moved into the assisted living I had to have a lot of help in taking care of things pertaining to cleaning and breaking up the house and that's when I met Anna and Edna Lee, two young girls that I could not have gotten it all done over a period of about two years without their help. They since have married and have families of their own. Through them I learned quite a lot about the Mennonite culture and way of life. That community is still in Aberdeen but the community is not as large and as much a part of Aberdeen that it once was.

"ABERDEEN-3 STORIES?????"

This is the No. 70 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "ABERDEEN-3 STORIES?????"
Size: 7 1/2X 9/12
Medium: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches watercolor paper.
Ok, Aberdeen people, you just might not believe this one BUT. This house at the intersection of James and Monroe Street was probably at one time a three story home just like a lot of those you see on Silk Stocking Row. Yep! According to Miss Peacock there are several of these smaller houses, two more I know of that she showed me pictures of of Long Street, were at one time very large homes. This particular house I have seen painted solid white. Gray with white trim and solid gray. But the time I saw it painted this way. it really blew my mind because it was in these colors when I first saw the pictures that Miss peacock showed me. That is what she had described it as on the back of the photo. She also showed me pictures when the house had its first story removed.
Miss Peacock died with more knowledge about the first days of Aberdeen in her head than we will ever be able to retrieve. She didn't trust anyone. and I mean anyone, with her secret trove of pictures and written material. Where it went no one knows. After she died and the Library got new people involved, I went back to the library wanting to get to where she took me one day and it was completely GONE. asking about the things that use to be in the room, It was just trash, except for the photographs that were saved they told me, and it was all burned.
enough ranting about things GONE.
This little jewel has a name but I can't remember it. I'm going back to Aberdeen next week and all the places I've loved so long will be recorded again. For what reason, who knows or even cares. I DO.
I hope you do enjoy what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"CELEBRATING GWEN'S BIRTHDAY"

This is No. 69a painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "CELEBRATING GWEN'S BIRTHDAY"
Size: 16X20 inches.
Medium: Acrylics on canvas board.
This is to celebrate by wonderful Sister-in-law's Birthday. I won't tell you out right how old she is but you can find it in this painting. You can also find all her children and grandchildren names in the painting.
You can find an Apple for her work with the Timothy Hill Boy's Rance.
Also a strawberry for all the great times she has a child in the Strawberry capital of the world. You can also find $$$$$$ signs representing all her work in banking that she has done ever since I have known her.
You can also find the state she was born in .
Then there is the snake... Ask her about that adventure.
Also you will find Gwen's maiden name.
I sure hope you enjoy looking at Gwen's painting and that Gwen you have a great birthday.
I love you very much.
Comment and or remarks are appreciated.

"ABERDEEN-CAPE COD?"

This is the No. 69



This is the No. 69 painting of my 365/2010 series
Title: "ABERDEEN-CAPE COD?"
Size 7x9 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches paper
This is another on of those wonderful cape cod house tucked away in Aberdeen .
It is on the West side of the dam and when you are there you really do feel like old Aberdeen is FAR away. The feel and atmosphere is totally different from what you expect to see in the area.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"OLD ABERDEEN SAWMILL"

This is the No. 86 painting in my 365/2010 series
Title: "OLD ABERDEEN SAWMILL"
Size is 7 1/2X9 1/2 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches cold press paper.
This old saw mill, I think that's what it was used for, is very near to where I'm gonna eat Catfish next Thursday night. It is on the same road that the Catfish place is. It is on the south side of the road just before you get to the Friendship House. I wonder what kinds of conversations took place as the men worked to split and cut trees into lumber.
I do hope you enjoy what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are greatly appreciated.

"RED INDIAN SUMMER MORNING"

This is the No. 67 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "RED INDIAN SUMMER MORNING"
Size: 22X30 inches
Medium: Transparent watercolor on 140 lb. DeArches cold press paper.
This to me looks like a very warn, calm, serene early morning in a place a long time ago where nothing around was stirring except maybe the animals in the nearby woods.
Indian Summer refers to just that type of day and time usually in the Northeast by the Native Americans who lived there decades ago virtually undisturbed. The term wasn't use by the natives but was first used in the late 1700.s by a writer describing that type of feeling in the early fall of the year.
I love to paint dramatic skies.
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"NEW ABERDEEN"

This is the No. 66 painting in my 365/2010 series
Title: "NEW ABERDEEN"
Size: 7 1/2X9 1/2 inches
Medium: watercolor on 140lb. DeArches cold press paper.
This little town in Northeast Mississippi, never ceases to amaze me.
From the first time I sat foot in this town, the summer of 1964, I fell in love with it. I was already in love with one of it's natives and had come to the place to convince her to marry me and go back to the Chicago are with me. Didn't Happen, I mean the going back home with me. BUT we did get married the next year. I did not return to my home till 5 years later. I got a room and stayed in Aberdeen.
You have seen a lot of the things and places that I have painted in this series of the OLD ABERDEEN. This Is the NEW Aberdeen. This scene is on the West side of the Dam. It is tucked back and a lot of the old timers don't even know it's there. Take "Little Matubby", North Meridian St. or Coon Tail Road, (by the way these are all the same street leading north out of downtown. When you get to the entrance into the Dam, go to the next turn to the right and it will take you about a mile around to where these lake dwelling are. There is some amazing looking Cape Cod type houses out there.
Many of them are just summer homes for people, who just like me came to Aberdeen, Many of them by boat, or to came at the campgrounds by the lake and decided to stay.
I will be visiting Aberdeen to explore it again with my two oldest grandsons next week.
Looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends, and that road out of town also leads to the Friendship House. That's my Catfish place. Meet me!
I do hope you like what I do.
Comments and or remarks are greatly appreciated.

"HONORING MICHELANGELO'S 535TH BIRTHDAY"

This is the No. 65 painting in my 365/2010 series,
Title: "HONORING MICHELANGELO'S 535TH. BIRTHDAY"
Size: 22X30 inches
Medium" Watercolor and ink on 140lb. DeArches cold press paper.
This is the 2ND of my series within a series paying tribute to those very famous artist that have had a big influence in what I do. This painting pays tribute to one of the greatest artist that ever has worked as an artist. Michelangelo Bunnarotti would have been 535 years old had he lived to this day. Undoubtedly the greatest sculptor ever, a great architect and one of the best painters ever. In this painting I try to pay tribute to his architecture in the dome he work on at St. Peter's in Rome, tribute to his sculpture is found in the David and the Pieta. and of course his painting in his creation scene from the Sistine Chapel.
This painting is done in Paynes Gray and Black. No brush was used in painting this picture. I used the spray nozzle from my kitchen sink and my work work and a spray bottle for re wetting. I used rubber cement and maskoid. eye droppers and q-tips to move the ink around.
The black and white and the textures, I wanted to use to reflect the stone quality of his major works. the fine lines in the picture are done with a quill pen.
I do hope you like my tributes to my favorite artists as well as all I'm trying to do.
Comments and/or remarks are greatly appreciated.

"NEBUCHADNEZZAR-2 KINGS"

This is the No. 64 painting in my 365/2010 series
Title: "NEBUCHADNEZZAR - 11 KINGS"
Size: image size 11X14 inches
Medium: Encaustic, Melted wax crayons.
This is the 7th piece in my Biblical series within a series. It from the book of 2 Kings in the Old Testament. It is the story of Nebuchadnezzar, This is when he first came into Jerusalem with his foes in 2 kings chapter 25. His accomplishments and defeats are all shadowed by, the handwriting on the wall.
You won't want to miss tomorrow post for several reasons, honoring perhaps one of the greatest biblical story telling artist of all times. Can you guess who?
I do hope you enjoy what I do.
Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"OAKDALE SCHOOL"

This is the No. 63 painting of my 365/2010 series.

Title: "OAKDALE SCHOOL"

Size: 10 1/4x 13 inches

Medium: Watercolor on 90 lb. paper

This is the What I believe the second building built to house the Oakdale School. This is painted using a photo with the date 1915 underneath the name Oakdale and two other photos showing particial corner of the building known as Oakdale School. I say2nd. building because I have reference form an old newspaper article about the time of this building that say that Men are coming next week to take plow under the old building and take it away.

Anyway, there is not very much history about the Witcher-Oak-Dale school available. I have done a lot of research and I know there was a school here on the present site before statehood.

I believe there was someone operating a "conscription school" in this area as early as the late 1860's early 1870's. There is no date listed for the beginning of Oakdale anywhere, but I do have a copy of a 1891 class card. listing all the students at that time.

I do hope you like what I do.

Comments and/or remarks are appreciated.

"LUCILLE'S"

This is the No. 62 painting in my 365/2010 series.
Title: "LUCILLE'S"
Size: 9 1/2x13 1/2 inches
Medium: Watercolor on 100% rag paper.
Lucille's was one of the favorite rest stops on the Mother road, Route 66, all the way from Chicago to Los Angeles. It was definitely the most popular spot in route 66 in Oklahoma, especially with the truck drivers. It is located west of Oklahoma between El Reno and Weatherford at the little town Hydro. This is the wet side of the building looking toward the east. Many documentaries have been done about route 66 and they all include Lucille's. It was still opened in the late 70's. I was in it at least twice in the 78-79 time. I did get to meet Lucille.
I hope you enjoy what I do.
Comments and or remarks are appreciated.

"THE HIGGINS HOUSE"

This is the No. 61 painting in my 365/2010 series
Title: "THE HIGGINS HOUSE"
Size: 6 1/4x8 1/4
Mediun: Watercolor on 140lb. DeArches paper.
This is the Higgins's house at the end of cottage and Barrell Street in Lincoln Village in Huntsville, Alabama. Growing up I was only in this house twice and I can remember how clean and neat it was.
In the east side of this house, lived 7 people in three rooms. Mr and Mrs. Higgins and their 5 children. I remember all their names. They were all older than me. Cut Deep stands out in my mind, wonder why?
In the west side of the house, three rooms Mr and Mrs. Thompson and their two children lived. I just recently reconnected with Tony Thompson on Facebook, and I can hardly wait to see him again in June. I have fond memories of when he lived in the house.
Billy Higgins lived in the house until about 2 years ago, and a friend of mine bought the house. He and I went through the house after he bought it and the family had not cleaned out his belonging. The house was immaculate, just as it was when I was in it over 50 years ago. I remembered some of the trinkets that were there the first time i was in it. It is the prettiest house still standing in the.
The house to the west in the picture is where the Mance lived. They had a son whose name I never knew exactly what it was. I heard him called Whacker and Jay Bird all my time there.
There is movement to remodel, perhaps reconstruct some of the houses in the village, Many are gone and lots are in a sad state of condemnation.
I hope they do completely keep the integrity of Barrell and Bennett Street.
I hope you like what I do/
Comments and remarks are greatly appreciated.

"GEORGE "WOOGIE" WATCHETAKER"

This is the No. 60 painting in my 365/2010 series
Title: GEORGE "WOOGIE" WATCHETAKER"
Size: 9x14 inches
Medium: Transparent watercolor done on 100% handmade paper.
George Woogie Watchetaker is a full blooded Comanche Native American. I saw Woogie , the first time at the 1976 Oklahoma State fair and could tell immediately that he was very SPECIAL.
I met Woogie in 1988, I was doing a Residence in Blair, Oklahoma and on my way to Blair I saw a sign that said Medicine Park so I had to go there. I met several Native American Indians there and on of then started talking about dancing. I had seen Woogie dancing several years before and they knew him. I had him on my list of 18 native American Artist that I wanted to do portraits of and they told me where he lived in Apache, Oklahoma. Not far from Blair. I looked him up and met him and his wife Eva. This is the third time I have painted his picture. He was the best Fancy Dancer on the National Native American dancing circuit. He was several time National Champion. The first portrait of him, a 22x30 inch painting won three best of show and two first places awards the 2 years it was edible for competition.
Woogie means HIDE-REAL-GOOD
Woogie died in 1993. His wife followed in death 5 days later.
I do hope you enjoy what I do.
Comment and/or remarks are appreciated.