Sunshine Award Nomination – Honored

I am honored, absolutely honored to be nominated for this award by two very talented and creative artist http://dreamalittledesigns.wordpress.com/ and http://artiste7.wordpress.com/. When I started this blog, encouraged by my sister, I thought it might be a fun and serious way to express my family, political and artistic views on life. Never would I have ever imagined that it would grow into so many friends and kindness. I can only hope that my blog has helped, taught and encourage others as so many of your blogs have done for myself.

I am honored by this nomination and hope to pass the honor on to those whom have helped and encourage me in the past year.

1. http://metaphase.wordpress.com/ – My sister who has accomplished so much, two beautiful kids, one being adopted from Vietnam, marriage, church and wonderful photography.

2. http://lesliepaints.wordpress.com/ – What can I say about this amazing talent. I look upon her as a super talent, teacher and friend.

3. http://carolking.wordpress.com/ – A personality like no other, always fun and yet a very, very  talented artist.

4. http://jongsart.wordpress.com/ – A wonderfully talented artist, that I admire for his thoughts and his artistry.

5. http://inksplodge.wordpress.com/ – Sooooo talented, and you won’t find a friendlier person.

6. http://judifree.com/ – One of the original blogs that captured my interest and now a terrific parent.

7. http://2a24.wordpress.com/ – A  talented creator, collector and promoter of art, and just a sweetheart.

8. http://artbythepaintedbrush.wordpress.com/ – beautifully talented artist with always a kind word.

9. http://pencilscribbles.wordpress.com/ –  Beautiful talent of art.

10. http://aswirly.wordpress.com/ – A wonderful person with a amazing talent for photography.

11. http://www.recollections54.com/ – An incredible walk through the mastering of watercolors and art.

12. http://saaraspaintings.com/ – Always upbeat , takes simplicity and creates rich, beautiful art.

If you accept the nomination, please do the folowing:

* Put the logo on your blog above or below your post.

* Pass the award to 12 bloggers.

* Link the nominees within your post.

* Let the nominees know they have received the award by commenting on their blogs.

* Share the admiration and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I have left off the two which nominated me, not because that they aren’t just as talented as the list above, but that they were already nominated. They are both incredible writers and artist.

Well, these are just a few of so many talented writers, artist, photographers and friends, that I admire and learn from each and every visit to their blogs. The list order has nothing to do with talent, They are all talented, but the top has put up with me longer than my new friends towards the bottom. Please take time to visit each listed above, I’m pretty sure you’ll be glad that you did. Enjoy and thank you.

Lighthouse – watercolor

I have painted a few lighthouses, because of their uniqueness and the textures that are around them. Normally you have rocks, beaches, grass and of course the movement of the seas. Although my scans are always bad, this gives you an idea of what I mean. I tried to apply a goldish red touch to the rocks in the foreground to indicate a touch of sun reflecting off them and to bring them forward a bit. The size is 8″ x 8″ and is on hot pressed board. Hope you enjoy it!

Me and Mine

Well this is my valentine for the last 31 years, that’s right 31 years. We met in high school and have been together since. I was a bad student, did the things you’re not supposed to do, and she was just the opposite.  The only thing I did in high school constructive was swim on the swim team for four years. I weighed 138 pounds soak and wet, and was about 6′ tall, other than that I did art and partied. On the other hand, my wife made really excellent grades and did NO partying. So, how did we stay together… I grew up! that’s right, by time I was a junior I figured out that there are better things in life than getting drunk, and that included my wife. Although we have been married 25 years, I still have the love for her that I did in high school. Sure we have some disagreements (fights) every once in a while, but not very often. This post is mainly to show you when I speak of the love of my life, you can now put a face to whom I’m speaking of. Marriage is never easy… and you’re crazy if you think it will be, but like I have always said, anything that is worth so much, is never easy to get or to keep! I can only hope that some day we can celebrate our 50th anniversary, but if not, it has been the best 31 years a man could pray for.

It’s Freaking cold – watercolor

This is it, the last view of winter that I’m painting until next winter… unless commissioned! Most of you know I love beach and the heat, not cold and snow. The only thing white I want to see under my feet is the sugary white sands of Destin Florida. But we are expecting a little snow here and a lot of snow just south of us today and tomorrow. So, I decided to do this tribute watercolor last night for a fair well hope that winter is exiting and global warming is soon to take over! Sorry, I think global warming is a natural event in a natural cycle. Anyway, not to be political (Al Gore should give his Nobel prize back), this is a watercolor with acrylic white highlights for snow. For all you snow skiers have fun and be safe (watch for trees, they don’t move), and for the summer lovers, see you on the ocean or at the beach soon. I’ll be the one in the speedos that are two sizes to small… just kidding that would be really gross. I’ll be the one deep sea fishing or building sand sculptures. Oh, and don’t forget the sunblock!

Things you should take to the beach:

1. A book… no not to read, that’s just crazy, it’s to cover your face from the sun when napping.

2. Sandals, how else would you be able to flip the sand up into your crack while walking.

3. Sun glasses, to look without being caught looking… come on girls you do it too!

4. A shovel… no not to build sand castles, but to smack the guys looking at your daughters and wife!

5. Sunblock… to block the sun, wow, come on people work with me!

6. A hat… because your wife forgot hers. Do you smell something… yah, my bold head burning to a crisp because my wife forgot her hat!

and most important… ME don’t forget to take ME!

In the shadows – Life drawing (nude)

I hope this doesn’t offend anyone, it shouldn’t because a human body is not only the most complexed form, but is also one of the most beautiful. I’m working on larger paintings at home, but until I finish those I did a quick ink wash of this beautiful form in the shadows. I might finish it with more details, but I’m not sure.

All a Board! – watercolor

This is a watercolor that I did years ago for my stepfather. My stepfather is a wonderful, loving man that took pride in everything he did. Born into a very very poor family, he was forced more or less into being a migrant worker while in grade school. He worked picking cotton out in the fields, when most kids were playing baseball or playing with trucks. They ate anything that crawled or flew, and had very few clothes. He had several jobs growing up up including shining shoes, barber, military and the railroad. His education only extended to the 8th grade but he is one of the most brilliant and intelligent person that I’ve known. He absorbed everything around him in both books and life. He began working on the L&N and CSX railroad in his thirties and retired from it years ago. Even though they are on the train most of the time it is a very hard and dirty job, but every time he got called in whether it was in the afternoon or middle of the night, he would always sharpen his knife to the point of being able to shave hair off your arms, shine his boots to perfection, iron his shirt and jeans. He taught us to respect and have pride in what we have, are jobs and most of all family. He is the one who always pushed me to be the artist I am, when everyone else seen it as a waste of time and I thank him for this.

He suffers from Ahlzeimers for about six years now and things are changing, but he still has a wonderful sense of humor  and still continues to love and hold his stepchildren and grandchildren close to his heart. So my love and my heart will always be with my stepdad, no matter what the future holds for him or myself.

Love Ya dad!

Magnolia – Acrylic

Nope, never seen the movie, but I did a painting. This is an old painting that I painted for my mom and step dad when they were leaving to move to Florida. It’s an acrylic on canvas and about 32″x48″ in size. It’s steel (play on words) one of my favorites because of he colors and depth.

I am currently working on an oil painting of my youngest daughter, all in black and white and hopefully will be posting it soon, but until then I have a few oldies that I will be posting in the next several days.

My floating Avatar Dirt Clods!

I went to Avatar this weekend, not expecting to be wowed, Wow! was I wowed. The effects were amazing and the computer art was beyond belief. So I did a quick sketch of my version of the floating mountain, only mine look more like floating dirt clods. But enjoyed goofing off with it.

I’m old and wrecked – watercolor

Wow! I’m 47 and I don’t even want to know what that is in dog years, but I’m sure what ever it would be, I would be chasing cats in heaven… oh wait there won’t be any cats in heaven. Just kidding all you cat lovers out there. To be honest with you, the years or age means very little to me. It doesn’t bother me that I’m 47 or 57 or 67, what bothers me is things are starting to fall apart on me, now that bothers me. I’ll give you an example: my arms have lengthened about 8-10 inches in the last year or so, the reason… I can’t see crap within two feet in front of me. So when I read a menu (this always happens) or a book (this never happens) I have to extend my arms as far as I can just to be able to read the words. What’s up with that? My eyes have always been strong, and my vision was perfect. Now, I have to look and act like a bobble head doll, constantly looking over my glasses, looking through my glasses, looking over my glasses… what the heck! What’s even stranger is that I can still see a fly sitting on a fence post at 200 yards, but yet if that same fly lands on my book (this will never happen) it would just look like a blurred black spot. So, long story short, stay young as long as you can, whether you’re 20, 30, 40 or 70, stay young as long as you can, and appreciate those simple things that you maybe taking for granted.

The painting above was a quick watercolor I did on break yesterday in order to show myself breaking down in age. I’m not beached yet, but things are starting to rust and fall apart.

A list of changes that I’ve noticed:

1. My hair is still thick and full in the back, as far as the front…. well the hair is still full and thick in the back!

2. No matter how ugly you are, if you’re within two feet of my eyes… I will never know!

3. I can still climb a tree in order to deer hunt… it just takes me longer at the bottom of the tree to talk myself into doing it!

4. The bags under my eyes are getting so bad, that when I fly on a airlines… they want to charge me extra for the extra baggage!

5. My muscles… oh, who’s kidding who… I have no muscle!

6. I remember when walking down the mall the girls would flirt with me… now they grab me by my arm and ask if I’m lost or need help! O.k. that hasn’t happened yet, but it’s coming!

7. Instead of six foot tall I’m now almost 5′ 11″… my daughter is taller than me!

8. mmmm, ummmmmm, forgot what I was going to write! What’s up with that!

9. I shake so bad that my paintings are becoming abstract paintings… I hate abstract! sorry!

10. Belt…. suspenders…. I need them both, because I have no #$%!

So, there you go, but what’s funny is that I’m just as happy and full of life than I ever was, even with all the new flaws! Does this mean I’m CRAZY too?

Saddle sore — Acrylic

This is my first painting of 2010, it’s a 11″ x 14″ acrylic. Although started on New Years Eve (Chaperoning daughters party), I finished it New years day, so it should be marked 2010, not 2009. I enjoyed doing this painting, although there wasn’t a lot of detail in the face which I normally enjoy doing, trying to get motion and height to the rider was a challenge. This will be on esty.com for sale on my etsy account (smalltownartistdad).

There is a scan line going across the image because my scanner isn’t big enough to scan the entire thing. I tried to cover it in photoshop, but it’s still visible in some areas. I hope you enjoy and hopefully many more to come in 2010!