Sisters… who needs them
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Sisters… who needs them? I do, I do! My family means so much to me, and my sisters are no exception. I painted this painting for my sister that helps me so much with my parents and is there when I need her. Ever since my parents got there divorce when we were really young, all of the siblings have been extremely close and helped each other get thru several very ugly years of divorce. Because of this, we have a special bond that goes beyond most siblings relationships. To all my siblings far and near, thank you for your love and help thru troubled and wonderful times!
Whimsical Owl – watercolor and ink
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Just like the wisdom in life, this painting is incomplete. It’s amazing to me that although 50 years old, I am continually learning daily. Learning from what I have done wrong in the past, what I have done correct, and just flat-out learning things new to my life. I have started giving private art lessons, which is new to me, I am a father of young ladies venturing off into their own life and not just my little girls depending on me, and soon looking at retirement of a job that I have had for 26 years… Life has been and continues to be an adventure. I see things that I want to try, even if I started today doing them all, I’m pretty sure that I would run out of time before completing a lot of them. Where would I even start? Traveling, seeing and doing things in different places, Art, my goodness the creativity that I see now days just makes my head swim with ideas of my own, sports, wood working, archeology digs, repurposing objects into art and furniture, metal detecting, and that’s just a start. Now let’s include hunting, fishing, ocean walks, family, wife, my, daughters and yes, maybe even someday… grandchildren!
A wise old man once said “Life begins in a moment, and ends even Quicker” Okay an old man did say it, he’s not wise, but the old man knows because that old man is me!
My advice to young people, never put off things! Whether it’s work, play or family, get up, get out, and just do it, or you will miss out on so much and wished that you had a chance to do it all over someday. I see so much laziness from young and old now days wasting their time watching tv, computers, games, and other items that keeps people from growing. There is a place in this world for all of them, and I do use them daily, but I limit my time on each, and enjoy the outdoors, activities and people so much more than those items. Now get off the computer and find a passion that brings out the creativity, energy, emotion, or the help of others!
Nothing like a Longneck – watercolor
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This is one of three Wildlife mom and babe paintings that I will be doing for small notes and prints. I will be using various colors including greens, purples, reds and other colors to bring a little flair to each. These giraffes have purple, reds, orange and blues to make the spots and shading. I have a full schedule of shows and commissions, but I hope to maintain the blog the best that I can.
The parents and babe series came from the realization that my own children our becoming adults and how I miss them and the tender moments when they were little. They are still full of love, but are working, and going to college, so very little time to see us, but when they do, it’s truly a joy. When my parents warned me that time flies by even faster when you get older and I didn’t think that was possible, but I realize now… it’s true!
Going Old School – Watercolor
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I’m not sure which is older and in worse shape, this old school building or myself! This is a one room school building here in southern Indiana that a friend has located in her backyard. This 5″ x 7″ pen and ink, watercolor painting that I did was painted from a photo that she had taken earlier.
It’s funny to me, when I think of all the brilliant people who was taught in schools similar to this. Abraham Lincoln for one, actually grew up just miles from this school, and that’s not counting the great Philosophers, Engineers, Inventors, Astronomers, Physicist, etc. that we’re taught and excelled in classrooms similar to this. I hold education so important seeing that I wasted mine earlier in my life, but my question to you is why is it that we keep spending more and more money, millions upon billions on improving our schools and yet getting horrible results. A local high school has received millions and looks like the best of any small college in technology, and yet the graduation rate is less than 75% and minority rate is even much lower. Maybe it isn’t the money spent, but what has changed in the areas of discipline (in schools, but more importantly at home), pride of both the child and parents, the respect for elders, parents and teachers from a child, and hard work, and that flat-out means stop being lazy America, whether your a child or an adult. I think it’s time we stop using money as an excuse for our problems and start looking at ourselves for the answers. A new computer can’t teach life lessons to a child, like that of a person who loves them. Time to step-up, be the person that you were meant to be. Yes it’s hard work, time-consuming, and sometimes heart breaking, but like I have always told my daughters, most things that come easy aren’t worth having, and the rewards that are received after so much effort… is worth millions (or something like that).
Everyone have a great weekend, and let’s make a change for ourself and others that we touch this weekend!
Polar Express Train – Watercolor
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This is my watercolor of the French Lick Train that they use for a Polar Express train ride and dinner in French Lick, Indiana. French Lick has a magnificent Inn and the West Baden Hotel that was considered on of the wonders of the world at one time and is absolutely beautiful. I will be at an art show there this weekend. West Baden was once a hotel for the rich and hollywood famous, and after a complete remodel, should still be considered one of the best. I hope to do more private showings soon, and possibly some travels in the near future. Have a great Christmas and Holidays!
Prints available
8″ x 11″ Image size = $20.00 + SH
11″ x 14″ Premium Suede Matted print = $35.00 + SH
Contact me at ryanhayes.art@gmail.com
St. Paul church in Santa Claus Indiana
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I will be at a arts and craft show in near by Santa Claus, Indiana this weekend and this is a small church that was going to be demolished but the owners of Holiday World Amusement Park saved it by moving it near the park. Hopefully I will be able to make cards or prints of it before the show. I have been extremely busy and haven’t had a lot of time for blogging, but I hope that my blog friends will keep in touch and hang in there with me. Happy Holidays and God Bless you all!
Santa Sleigh – Watercolor
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Ho Ho Ho, with a frost-bitten toe. His face is red, and he’s been way over fed. But still delivering the goods, whether you live in the city or in the woods. Okay, I know, that’s enough of that, so I’ll stop. But what I was getting to is each year some of us receives gifts for Christmas and I was wondering what have been some of your favorites Christmas gifts in the past. This is my Santa print for 2012 and will be available soon.
Some of my favorites;
1. Red Rider BB gun, that’s right just like in the movie. With red rider on the side and a leather strap hanging from a ring… loved it!
2. My first official nice stereo with high-speed dubbing cassette recording, with speaker past the hips in height… that’s right, the bigger the better in those days.
3. Anything hunting and fishing
What are some of your favorites?
Christmas and Lace – Watercolor
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Ryan, painting lace, I know and yes it’s true, of course I wanted to add some camo to it, but fought the urge. This Christmas still life is a 8″ x 11″ watercolor image, framed in a 11″ x 14″ antiqued frame. I know it’s early for Christmas and winter paintings, but I’m actually running late on them for upcoming shows. Prints are yet to come back from the printer and originals still need to be painted. I wanted a lot of lace and white cloth contrasting with the dark background, and most of the color high on the paintings edge. Please leave a comment letting me know what you think or what you would have done different.
Price: Original 8″ x 11″ watercolor, 11″ x 14″ frame $225.00 plus SH
God’s gift was given
A Gift was Given
So many people pray, whether whispered, spoken aloud, or maybe a simple quiet thought. I’m not sure if a prayer was answered or just given to me with-out prayer. We forget as our life passes by, the prayers that have been given with-out being ask for. It was almost eighty years ago, long before I was born, I was graced by God without being prayed for. You see my Mother-in-law was born in a small (really small town) in southern Indiana. Along with her twin brother and several other sisters and brothers, they grew up knowing a simple life, but a Christian life. That young girl as pretty as her middle name (Rose) would eventually marry a man who I admired and loved, and still do even today after his death twenty-three years ago. God graced me, and so many others by allowing us to know, their love and become a part of their family. I have been with the family for thirty-three years, and married to their beautiful gift from God for twenty-seven years.
We lost my father-in-law twenty-three years ago, and now my mother-in-law last week. I’ll miss them both forever, but I find comfort in knowing that they are once again together. I realize now that a gift was given, and with that gift families were given even more gifts. Gifts from the Lord will always be there, we just have to accept them and love each and every one of them.
Ryan’s Prayer
Thank you Lord
for the Rose that was gifted,
Its beauty and life,
the reason our hearts, will always be lifted.
A rose that brought love and sunshine
with her loving delicate touch,
a love that will never be forgotten,
and always be missed, so very much.
So bring her into heaven,
and please give her a special place,
place her soul in the heaven’s bouquet,
allowing her and Gene to once again embrace.
The beauty in our heaven
has never been so bright,
two souls joined once again,
making a single, loving, brilliant light.
Allow their light to shine downward
upon us who keep them near to our heart,
for someday will be together again,
eternally never to part.
Lord I ask thee,
for this I pray,
keep them near your heart,
until we’re all together again one day.
Amen
Night-time winter barn – watercolor
I’m not sure that there is a more peaceful moment than taking a night-time stroll, while the ground is covered with brilliantly white snow. The really cool thing is, that a flashlight or any other form of light isn’t needed, because the snow and moon creates its own illumination. The only few sounds that are heard, is the crunching of the packing snow under your feet, and the whispers of the wind blowing through the trees. I also think that you feel a little more alive, when you can feel the freshness and the crisp air entering your lung, and the visual of life, when you exhale. I think this is important now days because we seem to be just living life, not appreciating being alive! I have a wonderful friend, with a wonderful family, that just lost a wonderful brother. He was young, but cancer didn’t care, and took his life just this weekend. He found out about his cancer less than a year ago, has battled strongly, but lost that battle Sunday. So the next time that you see your kids, parents, siblings and friends, squeeze a little harder on the hugs, grab their necks and wrap your arm around them a little more, and feel the love between your touch and their heart. And this winter if you are in an area that receives a white winters blanket, breath in and feel life entering your lungs, and breath out and see the air that God has given us, to enjoy the time that we have on the Earth.
This painting is dedicated to the memory of Larry, a brother of a friend, a son, father, husband, outdoorsman and a friend. Prayers for Larry’s family, and prayers for those who are still battling this awful disease.
A long walk to no where!
It’s a freezing cold night, with the brisk cold air leaking from every crack and seems of both the windows and the floor. The wood furnace cranked up so hot, that the wood stove itself is red hot, and will take the skin right off of you, if touched. But that stove is several rooms away, and although 80 degrees in that room, it’s only 40 in your bedroom. The only thing keeping you from freezing, is being sunk down about 2 feet in a feather bed, with three grandma made quilts on top of you. But that’s when it hits you! All that ice tea that was sweetened with 5 scoops of sugar, is now weighing hard on the old bladder and you need to visit the John, Mrs. Jones, Privy, Outhouse, or for you younger kids… the bathroom or toilet! Now, I’m only 49, but both of my grandparents had an outhouse when I was younger, barely old enough to remember, but I do remember them. You know how hard it is to get up from underneath those warm blankets in the winter now and walk a few feet to a inside, heated bathroom, just think when there was very little heat and the bathroom was outside and a mile away! Okay, maybe not a mile, but it seemed like it. First you would have to determine whether or not you could hold it until the morning, but if not, then you would have determine whether or not you were able to climb out of a mountain of a feather bed around you. Once you have worn yourself out lifting the 100 pounds of quilts off, and climbing over the feather bed, putting all your clothes on, grabbing a flashlight and head out the back door for the long trek to the shack. My grandparents lived in the country, so the night was as dark as you can get, so before entering the shack, you would peak in with your light making sure that there isn’t any wild critters such as raccoons, possums, snakes or wasp (in the summer), rats and spiders or other crawly creatures. Once determined all is clear, you would go in with hopes that all goes well, and you’re out of there quickly. Now, my grandparents were rich… because they had toilet paper awaiting, instead of the Sears catalog or news paper, sorry, not everyone can be so privileged. Now that “the deed is done” as we would say, you would sprint back as fast as possible because of the fear from all the noises that you heard around you while sitting there, and the freezing cold. Running in, throwing your clothes back off and diving back under those wonderfully thick heavy quilts and on top of that wonderfully sinking down two foot deep feather bed! Those were the GOOD OL’DAYS!
or option 2: Use the large metal pot with a lid underneath the bed! Gross!
This is a 10″ x 10″ watercolor that I painted while waiting in a hotel room in West Virginia. My brother and I visited Gettysburg and other battle fields and I hope to post some paintings of those sites later this week or next. Have a safe fourth of July! And thank you all that is fighting now, in the future, and in the past for our freedom!
Spring Break – Watercolor
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Just got back from Spring Break, and a break was needed. Between health issues and the craziness of my work place, a little R&R was appreciated. We went with some wonderful friends, which we have been best of friends now for at least ten years. Their kids were in the same classes as ours, so that works out perfectly and their kids (now young adults) have wonderful values and ethics. They are one of only a few couples that I would even consider staying in the same place for that many days. Dr. Frank and myself have a lot in common. He loves to read… I don’t, He’s a doctor… I’m not, O.K. so we have some differences, but he loves the outdoors, hunting, fishing, hiking… and so do I. Our wives, well they have talking in common, and they do it well! LOL
This year was our youngest girls high school senior year, so we let them pick on where they wanted to go. A lot of their friends were going to Panama City Beach Florida, so that’s where we went. Being about a 11 hour drive from our house, it wasn’t to bad of a drive, I’m just not sure why Florida hasn’t figured out the direct route idea. We zoom down to Montegomery, Alabama, but then it’s back road and stop lights from there to Panama City. Hello! can anyone say direct interstate or major highway to Panama City! You have hundreds of thousands of northern white legs each year trying to get to Panama City to spend millions of dollars, and you can’t build a direct highway. Anyway, we had a great time and enjoyed every minute of a week of beautiful weather.
I didn’t have a lot of painting time but the watercolor above was one that I painted while laying on the white sands of Florida. I hope you enjoy and don’t forget to visit my Gallery at the top of the blog.
Sweet Jane – Watercolor
Set a float, with very little worries. Sun warming your skin, and a cooling mist of salty spray reaching over the bow.
The flash of emerald-green and blues from the heaven above mirroring off each ripple and wave.
Gentle motion of the rocking sea, holds and cradles you like a mother’s arms while putting a baby asleep.
The hypnotic rhythm of the sea crashing into the side of the boat and along the shore, as though an orchestra of wind and water plays as one instrument.
My heart slows, my mind calms, my body becomes one with the ocean, and all rhythms and sounds becomes my soul as my soul becomes one with the ocean.
I had mentioned my favorite artist in past post that I have always admired, but as I travel, I admire only one as the greatest artist of all… that would be God. Whether you believe in God or not, the Earth has such wonders, as small as the road map of life on an autumn leaf, or as large as the sculpted stone mountains and the deepest blue of oceans. I just find it hard to believe that just evolution would have had such an artistic touch in producing such life. To me, evolution would have produced a more duplicating canvas. At one point supposedly all creatures were the same, from the same region, if this is so, why would some grow limbs to leave the oceans to survive, wouldn’t they all? And those who merged from the oceans, why would some grow teeth, wings, claws, larger brains, some with hair, some without? IF they are still in the same region and climates, would they have all not gained the same evolutionary benefits? I may be a fool for believing in a higher creator of life, but my soul as a Christian and as an artist, tells me otherwise. Even if your beliefs aren’t with God, take time to stop and appreciate each of what has been given.
I painted the watercolor above last night while watching t.v. and thinking of Spring Break just around the corner. It is a 12″ x 16″ watercolor on 140lb coldpress paper. I hope you enjoy the painting and thanks for putting up with my thoughts!
Santa – Limited Edition Prints
Hot off the press, My first Limited Edition, numbered, signed, 4 color digital litho Prints of my “Santa’s Wink” watercolor. The print has an image size of 12″ x 16″, and printed on a Heavy Acid Free 80lb cover stock, that can be easily matted and framed in a standard 16″ x 20″ frame. I’m sure this would make a wonderful gift for that person who have everything, collects Santas or just to fill a spot with a holiday touch. I appreciate all of you, and I hope that you will help me out and do some marketing for me.
The specs:
Limited Edition (500, and only 500) Digital 4 color Litho Print
Signed and numbered by the artist
12 3/4″ x 17″ sheet size / 12″ x 16″ Image size
80lb Heavy Cover Stock Acid Free Paper
$35.00 + SH
Thank you again!
Why? God – watercolor
Questions, life is full of questions. I’m not talking about those questions that have definite answers, you know, the ones asked in school, although I didn’t have answers for very many for those either, But they did have answers. The questions that I’m talking about are those in our past that made us stop and either wonder why, or possibly cry, because we questioned. One of my most tearful questions for years, was my mom divorcing my dad. I was nine, and I can tell you that this tore major holes in my heart, so I questioned why. The loss of my grandparents that were the most religious and God-loving people, and yet taken by cancer, I questioned why. The meeting of my wife in high school, her being so good, and I was a waste, but she still found love with me, I questioned how I deserve this. The birth of my two brilliantly smart and absolutely beautiful both physically and within their hearts, I questioned how did I deserve them. There were times that I questioned my faith, and just wanted to scream to the Lord above, WHY! Why would you take such wonderful, God-loving people, that were some of the purist of Christian love so early in life. I didn’t just question, but I was angry. How could the Lord take a young child and allow cancer to eat their bodies away until death, and yet allow, what could be a healthy person, kill their bodies with drugs and alcohol. But I do know, after months, or years after I questioned why on these occasions, there always seemed to be an answer given. Unfortunately, so many people and especially young kids, question, but don’t allow enough time to go by to see the answer. My wife’s cousin, and a good high school friend of mine both questioned, but took their lives before they could receive and answer. The sad thing is, if they would have given it a day, or weeks, I’m sure that both would have been living a good life today with children and a wife, but sadly they’re gone.
What I wanted to show in this painting was pain being felt, but a prayer bringing a glimpse of hope into this young girls heart and eyes. Watching my girls grow, and go through high school, I have seen a lot of pain in their hearts, and I remember having that pain myself as a child and young adult, where you weren’t sure if your heart can take anymore pain, and whether it was all worth it. I can tell you, it is worth it, be strong, work hard at everything you do, and most importantly, have Faith, have Faith in yourself, friends, family and most importantly in God. Don’t hold things in, it’s not worth it, talk to your friends and family about things that bother you, but most importantly, close your eyes, open your heart, and pray. As you grow in faith, you will grow in confidence, friendships, and the love of life.
The painting is a 9″ x 9″ watercolor on 140lb cold press paper. I did this one, and another ATC last night while watching football. This is a first of this style for me as a portrait, and it’s a must for you to try.
Tying one on
It’s been a long, long time since I had tied one on (a lure), but hopefully soon that will all change. I love to fish as most of you know, not just to get fish, but for all the reasons that come with it. I have so many memories of my dad and I going fishing when I was young. So along with my quick painting, I wrote a little diddy about those memories.
It was the night before the trip, and sleep was what I was needing. For you see before the sunrise, I was to be awaken and the words let’s go, would ring through the air. I would shut my eyes in hopes of falling fast asleep, but that didn’t work because the excitement of fishing was racing through my head in the hopes of out fishing my dad, or catching the biggest one. Finally after what seemed like forever, I would fall asleep. After, what seemed like 10 minutes of sleep, my dad would come into the room and try to stir me out of bed, before he could say let’s go, I was up, throwing clothes on and headed for the door. My Uncle that went with us a lot, had an old truck and the boat, so we would meet him at his house. We loaded up and headed out, but first was a stop at the local gas station to get in a glass bottle… yes kids that’s right, glass, ice-cold glass bottle of yahoo chocolate milk for me, and soda for them, along with a few sweet snacks… breakfast of champions! The old soda machine was the type that you opened a chest like top, put your money in, and then slid your bottle (ice-cold) along a maze like track till it reached the end and came out. We ere now on our way and by this time the sun has just begun to bring its brilliance to the horizon. We would finally reach the lake, but the lakes always seemed to be way out in the middle of a weedy pasture, so we would drive as far out as possible and then my dad and uncle would carry the boat the rest of the way. I would trail behind carrying rods, boxes and drinks, and wearing shorts (important later), very seldom did I wear shirt or shoes, and always shorts (important later). We then would reach the quick sand like mud at the edge of the lake, you know the type of knee-deep mud that sucks your feet down, and won’t let go of your shoes or boots. Finally we are in the boat ready to cast for bass, blue gill or anything else that might tug at our line. About noon we would get our sandwiches that my mom would make that had been floating in a bag back and forth in the water at the bottom of the boat, a little soggy, but good after fishing all morning. Once we got our stringer full or it was late we would head back to the truck. Of course on the way home I would fall asleep because of the all day sun and getting up before sunrise, and the only thing that would awaken me was the constant clank of the yahoo and soft drink bottles (Glass) rolling back and forth on the pickups floor. My dad and uncle would clean the fish, and then it was off to go back home, bath, and go to bed. With the memories of the one that got away, or the big one that was now in our freezer, or how great the yahoo tasted that morning, just a full day of great memories. Something I will take with me to my grave. Thank you dad for taking the time, and for scraping enough money together to buy those ice-cold (in the bottle) drinks, and also my uncle that had the boat, truck, and the time to go with us.
But for the (important later) inserts, I’ll do a math like description:
Shorts – shirt – bugs spray of any kind + waist-high weeds = CHIGGERS!
From the belt line down, and I’m including some very important parts here, nothing but chiggers bites! I have counted 40-50 just in the waist line area (including some very important parts), and even more down the legs. Now for you that don’t know what chiggers are, they are flea like pest that bite and embed themselves in your skin and create an unbelievable itch. I can hear some of you laughing… and shame on you, and you know who you are, but this was serious stuff for days and days afterwards! Three words for you that find this funny… Very Important Parts!
Little House on the Prairie – Sunset watercolor
The Walton’s, Little House on the Prairie, Hee Haw, Hawaii Five-O (old version) and so many other shows that I hated and never wanted to watch, but guess what, I did, I had to. At my dad’s house, we had one t.v., no remote, and hooked to an antenna that we had to go outside to turn in the direction of one of three channels that we were able to get. That’s right kids, 3 channels, no remote, and no matter how cold or how much snow, you had to go outside and manually turn the antenna to receive channels. The only remote that we ever had… was me! My dad would tell me to get up and change the channel, I was my dad’s remote. I would have to brag that I was a professional channel changer, back then the channel knobs were dials, one dial was UHF and the other dial was VHF. I could spin those dials at high-speed and stop exactly on the right number, you know the feeling, it’s the same feeling you get when pumping gas at full speed, and stopping the pump exactly on the correct amount without slowing down at all, or going over. But my dad would throw a fit and tell me that I was going to rip the knobs off the t.v. I wonder how kids could make it today, 3 channels, no remote, no dvd, no color, and no choice or say in what they could watch. I see a vision of kids leaping out of first story windows in horror! That and the content of shows back then. The most you could expect (or in my case hope for) in nudity, was Farrah Faucet, bra-less, and that sent the censors screaming. Now days you pretty well see everything and everyone. Everything from Snooki on Jersey Shore, 16 and pregnant, and so many other shows, where there are no boundaries on censorship. Looking back now, maybe those shows weren’t so bad that I had to watch.
I couldn’t live without Discovery, History or the Outdoor channel though!
This is a watercolor and ink graphic, painting mix. I wished that I had used a bigger paper, but wasn’t sure what I was doing until the end. once again the scan does something funky to the color and the blacks, but hopefully you’ll get the idea. Thanks!
Windy – watercolor
I’m not sure what is going on around the rest of the world, but I know right here at my house, IT IS WINDY! It seems like this entire month has been blowing and blowing hard. We had straight line winds the other day sustaining at 45mph and others in the area were up to 95mph, not gust sustaining winds, it didn’t last long, but long enough to do a lot of damage. I know that most of the midwest and south, have been going through the same storms and winds, killing so many people. So, I starting painting last night, and all I had was a photo of purple flowers, but not wanting to do the same old purple flower painting, I decided to try to capture them in a stormy condition. The scanning isn’t the best, it washed out some of the background, but at least this will give you an idea of my attempt. I hope all stays safe this stormy season, and please take storms serious. A F3-F4 (210 mph winds) tornado came through no more than a 1/2 mile from where our new house sets (wasn’t built there yet) in 2005, and killing 25 people including kids. So, be safe, be smart, and take care!
Watercolor – 5″ x 5″– 140 lb coldpress paper
Peeping through the Window
Emptiness, how sad, cold, and soulless. So many places, once called home, whether in the city, suburbs or country, held so many wonderful families, and now set empty. How can a place filled with warmth and love, become just another structure once abandoned? Could this be where the saying “your home is where your heart is” comes from. What’s even more amazing, is that it doesn’t matter how big or lavish the structure is, it still is just a structure once abandoned. Our home of 3800 square feet, 1930 original wrought iron stairway and huge wrought iron gates in the hallway, 10″ mahogany crown molding and arched door passages and so much more, wasn’t a home because of the elegance, but because my wife and I, loved and raised our wonderful daughters there. Planning for early retirement, we now live in a 2400 square foot home, pretty plain Jane in style, with features for our elderly years, and is just as warm, and filled with love as our larger house. We left a structure 3 years ago, that once was our home, but we brought with us all the memories and the things that matter with us, and leaving it as just another structure. Just like the sunlight pouring into a window of a house, without a soul to warm upon touching, it’s just another wasted area of space, light, and no longer a home.
This is a preliminary watercolor sketch for an oil or acrylic painting that is already sketched onto canvas, and hopefully will be started on this weekend. Not sure if I want to do a pure Black and white, or more of a warming color such as sepia. Leaning more to the sepia in color right now. What do you think? Leave me your suggestions on color.
Tsunami – Raping of the Land and it’s People
This graphic is something that I started, and really didn’t know how I felt about it, while drawing it. How can something so magnificent, powerful and really beautiful, be so destructive and killing. I was just out to sea, only about 20 miles off shore deep-sea fishing, and was absolutely amazed by the beauty of the ocean. The color, the creatures, the rhythm of the waves, I just stared in wonder. But then I remembered the horrible tragedy in Japan just a few weeks ago, and other places in the past. This liquid that can be se cleansing, so delicate to the touch of a finger, can instantly turn into a power like no other. As I thought more about it, I started thinking of my family basking on the beach just miles from me, the same as so many in Japan, and what was lost in just seconds. I guess with living, and I do want to live life to the fullest, there are always that chance of something horrible can happen. Fires, Storms, Human conflict and yes tsunamis, are something that can happen at any moment, but I can’t imagine not taking those chances, and live, while breathing. The amazing time that my family had on the beach, the amazing time that I had on the ocean, out counters the chance of catastrophe and not living life to its fullest. If anything the knowledge that life can be taken away at any moment, gives me even more motivation to live it, and appreciate it now.
I pray for the people of Japan, and I hope from all that was taken by this rape of their country, that they recover fully. The reason I say rape, is because this is something that could not have been stopped, or was caused by any neglect or any evil of Japan’s people. I hope and pray that the reactors and contamination is soon resolved, and I believe because of their respect for each other, and the way the Japanese people will give all for their country, they will soon be back as one of the most powerful countries in our world.
My art can do very little to show the hurt, the pain, the destruction of places that have been affected by a tsunamis, but I also wanted to show a slight beauty to the massive wave as well. Please don’t take this piece of art as anything but art, it’s not political, it’s not racist, and it’s not an indication or belief that anyone deserves any such as a tsunami… it’s just my art and thoughts! The blue wave (hand) represents the tsunami, taking the resources from the Land (the green hand) in a tug of war of give and take.
Sea Shell by the Sea Shore – Watercolor
Listen… can you hear it, years and years of families making memories. Can’t hear it yet, put the shell a little closer to your ear, and listen closely, now do you hear the kids laughing as they run back and forth, up and down the beach, avoiding the waves edge. Maybe the laughter as the dad throws his kids high in the air and catching them just before they land in the ocean waters or maybe the building of the first sand castle for some small kids and the amazement in their eyes when something so beautiful can be made from something so simple. Or maybe the teenagers playing games, hoping that they meet someone special to spend their Spring Break with. Or maybe that retired older couple that spends their days hand in hand walking the beach, remembering all those memories and still making more as they go. Can you hear it, can you hear it now? If not, maybe it’s because you haven’t experienced it yet, and just don’t know what it sounds like. Take my advice, and locate the nearest ocean and go, we drive 10-14 hours to get to one, and it’s all worth it! Sacrifice some unnecessary, material things, and take that special one, family or your kids, and go. I think you’ll find that it is all worth it in the end. And while your down there, buy a conch shell, they are only a few dollars, mark the date on the bottom of it, and put your ear close to its opening and listen every once in a while, I think then you hear all the memories that you had made. Thanks, and make some memories with your family!
My Country Sweetheart
Love is in the air! Do you remember your first crush on someone? That moment when you first looked at them, and you weren’t sure what was going on with your stomach. You kind of felt funny inside, sort of a tickling feeling, but a feeling you liked and you knew it was a good feeling. Now what do you do? Tell them, avoid them, or go the complete opposite and be mean to them, trying to hide your feelings, Oh, what the heart can do to a person. I had several of these in grade school, some were for married women, that’s right even in 2nd grade, I had a crush on a married woman, there was a little age difference, but you can’t let age get in the way of love. Even before that, I had a crush on a girl in the 1st grade, she wasn’t as mature (she was in the 1st grade), but I knew what I liked. I even wrote (changed) a song just for her, at that time here was a song that had lyrics “My baby does the Hanky Panky”, I, being the romantic type that I was, rewrote the lyrics to say “My Deanne does the Hanky Panky”, I know, I Know, Wow, who could resist that… she did, and broke my heart. You heartless women out there! After that I had several crushes on girls, but the hardest that I ever felt was in High School. Wow, as soon as this girl strolled into the room, with her arms holding her books against her chest, with arms crossed, her head tilted slightly down in a shy but cute way, and her walk… well I’ll leave that one alone. Bam Bam Bam, my heart started pounding, warmth shot through my body, what could or should I do? She’ll never go out with me, there’s no way. And then it happened, she looks up with her Icy blue eyes, and looks at me… oh my God, this is it, and then walked on by and set down. Damn it! I should have said something, anything, but I didn’t. I know what your thinking, this is the girl that I wonder about, what would have happened if I would have said something. Where is she now? I could have been happier with her possibly. Nope, non of the above, because I married her! We dated all through high school, and married when we were 22. We just had our 25th Anniversary last year, and I’m telling you, my heart still gets that funny feeling when I’m around her, but now its not just puppy love or a crush, it’s respect, admiration, and pride in what she was and what she has become. Not everyone can say this, a matter of fact very few can say this, but my biggest crush is still my wife. Happy Valentines Day! and don’t forget that feeling you had or having, respect it, enjoy it and grow old with it!
Who took my home – Homeless
As I lay on this cold wooden park bench, with very little to my name, and everything that I do own is in this single tattered plastic trash bag to keep it dry from the weather. People passing by in their cars, staring, talking, and wondering how someone could get to this place in life. I move from shelter to shelter during these cold winter nights, just hoping to find warmth for just a few hours or possibly all night, but that warmth doesn’t always come, and some nights are spent cuddled as close as possible to anything that will keep the winter winds off my broken and unhealthy body. Did I get here because of a war that I so bravely fought in, only to come home to no job, no family and what seems to be no way out. Maybe it was in high school when I was making good grades, athletic, but because it was popular, at a party decided to try weed for the first time, and that was the beginning of tearing down my pride and I moved to other drugs to make me forget what I had. Did I begin this journey at birth, with a mental disability, with nowhere to go after my parents passed away, and no one else wanting the responsibility. Or is it that I never took responsibility for myself from the very beginning, never wanting to work, and just wanting to get drunk or high every minute of the day. And is that because I had no confidence, or that I just never found something that I loved more than getting high. Maybe it was simply that everything fell apart at one time, lost my job, my family left me because I couldn’t give them what they wanted, and all the loans and credit cards, completely drained me of every dime I had. I’m not sure anymore how I got to be on this park bench, it’s all a blur and becoming even more of a blur as my life candle begins to burns near bottom. Do I wish things would have been different, could I have accomplished more in my life, if I had found something that I love more than getting drunk or high, could I put the drugs down and live for those I love. All I know is that this wooden park bench is cold, and the cold creeps to my bones, and the only warmth I get is found in this bottle that is my life.
I always wonder about things. When metal detecting and I unearth an old toy, or coins placed in a rotted bag, or a piece of civil war relic, I always wonder of its history, who and how it got there. And like this weekend with my daughter going through old abandoned homes out in the middle of the woods or fields, I wonder, who lived there, what kind of family were they, and the history of the happenings there in the last 120 years. This is the way my brain thinks, I don’t know why, but everything has a history and I love to explore those histories. I do the same with homeless people that I pass, I feel sorrow, aggravation, and wonder of what they have gone through to get to the place that they are. Like I said, everything has a history, but at one point, everything has no future on this earth. That’s why I hope that everyone will do what they can to make each today, tomorrows best history.
The 8″x 8″ watercolor was finished this weekend from a photo found on the net, because of a homeless man that I passed by, and made me wonder what his story was.
Santa Claus – Watercolor Final
Shhhh, I’m sneaking onto Ryan’s blog. He’s been naughty lately, so all he gets is lumps of coal, that’s if I have any left after visiting all the other naughty bloggers houses and you’ll know who you are! So, Merry Christmas, from New York to China, Oklahoma to Northern Indiana, Alabama to California, have a safe and joyful Holiday!
