Strawberry Pop Tarts

Pop Tarts ( and ONLY Kelloggs...you know what I'm talking about when I say the store brands need to stay in the store) were one of the first foods that I can remember making by myself. I'm sure my parents were so proud ( "that's our little prodigy!"). The few hours after school consisted of SpaghettiO's ( for my sister) and Pop Tarts for me. We would watch "The Adventures of Superman" followed by "The Brady Bunch" on WTBS ( this was before Ted Turner's "Superstation" had taken over cable and it was an Atlanta channel...channel 17, actually).

Oh, and I hate the term "latch-key kid". It implies that leaving your kid at home after school for a couple of hours is some horrible form of neglect. I mean if the kid doesn't see the parents for a week and is subsisting on Snicker's and Captain Crunch, then there might be a problem. On the other hand, a few hours alone at home isn't really anything worth crying on Dr. Phil's shoulder.

Strawberry Pop Tarts, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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don't cry over spilled Chicklets

Here's something funny. The ad for Chicklets in 1919 said that in a child's dreamland that "Chicklets hold the throne of glory!", and that they were "the crowning delight of childhood joy". Who were they marketing this to?





don't cry over spilled Chicklets, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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pink wind-up car

Along with all the things that I loved growing up, I've also been instilled with a love for all of the things my Dad loved. I grew up with Mego action figures, Paul McCartney & Wings, and the Super Friends. My Dad gave me a love for Hope and Crosby ( radio and movies), The Marx Bros., and Buck Rogers ( I remember watching those as kid on the Betamax!), and lots of cool tin toys. Incidentally, I remember being at Perimeter Mall in Atlanta watching my Dad trying to convince my Mom that a $2500.00 Betamax was a "good investment".

I keep wondering when I'm going to become a "grown-up"! I still love all the stuff that I always did. I do also remember as little kid thinking that you were "grown-up" when you owned a briefcase. You know like Oscar Goldman from the Six Million Dollar Man.

I've been asked to list some larger pieces for auction, so we'll see. I'm finishing up some "big pieces" for shows in the upcoming year that I'll post soon.

pink wind-up car, 2007

12" x 12", oil on gessoed panel

private collection Pin It Now!

ring pops

My wife hipped me to one of the most disturbing things that has been brought to my attention in a while. They actually make a deep-fried macaroni and cheese nugget! Here's a sample description from the Sonic website:

"Today I'd like to introduce the term "unrestricted eating." It refers to eating whatever you want, whenever you want it. Like macaroni & cheese, for example. Typically, you'd need a bowl, spoon and both hands to enjoy this quintessentially American dish. Lucky for you, SONIC® invented Mac & Cheese Snacks—a cheesy favorite packed into crunchy bite-size morsels. It's portable and pop-able. Which means you can now have Mac & Cheese anytime, anywhere. So like I said, it's "unrestricted eating." Got it?"

Could this be why the rest of the world hates us?


ring pops, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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honey

I have two "honey" stories:

First, my wife and I were eating at a Waffle House one time ( incidentally, I saw my sixth grade science teacher working there a few years back...turns out she didn't have a teaching degree. This is why I now cannot get a job at NASA!). The waitress kept calling me "Hoh-neh" in a passive-aggressive manner which I determined to be her version of "Honey". This is a sample:

Me: "Can I get some more coffee?"

Waffle House waitress: "Sure, Hoh-neh!"

Me: "Well...thank you...Hoh-neh!" ( with a lot of extra HOH-NEEHH ).

Waffle House waitress: "Be right back...Hoh-heh"

She never got it. Kept right on calling me and everyone else in the place "hoh-neh". The interesting thing was that she spoke very plainly for every word except "honey". I still call people "Hoh-neh!", but nobody really knows why.

The other story is when I was about 13 years old, my Uncle and his girlfriend and I stopped by his house on the way to the movies. He was checking his mailbox and and had received a giant container of honey from a friend with a note that said " You two ENJOY!". My uncle and his girlfriend exchanged some sort of giggly look, and I can remeber saying "Wow, you guys must really like honey!". At the age of 13, let's just say I was a little slow on the uptake.

honey, 2007
6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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oh pear

Have you seen Supernanny? I'm pretty sure that my parents would have been too embarassed to display their ignorance about parenting on national television ( had that been the case...). I love the scenes where the kids on the show run around and scream and say " I HATE you Mom and DAD!". The parents say "here's some toys and candy...we love you Throckmorton", and then they look around with some confused expression as to WHY the kids are bad.

I'm also pretty sure that if my parents had brought in some hot British nanny to "discipline" me...I would have "straightened" up pretty quick ( the accent goes a long way).

Why does everything I say come out sounding adolescent and dirty?

oh pear, 2007
6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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magic no.2: hold your fire

Steve Martin is another hero of mine in many respects. His comedy albums shaped my "sense of funny" early in my childhood ( my Dad was pretty cool about that stuff, OR...he didn't care enough to screen what his children were exposed to...Either way, I win!). He's a great writer. Steve ( I call him Steve...) has one of the most important art collections in the world. And..., most importantly, Steve Martin is a great juggler! A true "Renaissance Man"!

-magic no.2: hold your fire, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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Diptych : Lifesavers

I've been noodling around with this for a month or so. I'm working on some "long" works ( "Lange" in German is "long"! Don't think I haven't used that line a few times... ).

I went through a few rolls of these to get the composition I wanted. I ate all except that weird yellowish one...

FUN FACT: If you leave a roll of Lifesaver's candies out on a surface in a semi-connected row for a month, the humidity will cause the candies to bond into a sort of multi-colored gooey stick. This requires a chisel to remove from your table.


-Diptych : Lifesavers, 2007

two 8" x 8" ( or... 8" x 16") , oil on gessoed panel

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Magic No.1: Songbird

I've been meaning to talk about one of my heroes...Ricky Jay. He is a brilliant writer, actor ( He was born to do David Mamet), poker player, and master magician. He's the king of "slight of hand" which means...he's THE KING OF HANDS! He has an absolute mastery of getting his hands to do what he wants them to do ( a constant battle for me...). I really encourage everyone to go to Ricky Jay's website and explore. You should also listen to his radio show about "Hands".

I thought I would channel a little Caravaggio into my series of "magic hands".

-magic no.1: songbird, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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Apple Pi

This is the second of my "Pi paintings". I'm working on a larger version and a little movie of my next one right now. I actually used ALL of the colors on my palette for this painting.

I actually use Pi pretty regularly. Perhaps I put a little too much energy into making a newspaper crown for my dog, but...

if you're gonna do something, you should really give it your all!


-apple pi, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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lolli, lolli, lolli...

Who doesn't like candy on a stick? Caramel apples, corn ( at any good state fair), cotton candy ( stick is paper, but it still counts), kabobs of any variety, and of course popcicles and ice cream ( yum a dum dum!). This leads me to this equation:

Good thing + stick = REALLY good thing!


-lolli, lolli, lolli, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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My new name is...

There was a nice little article about Aron Packer in NewCity Chicago profiling him and talking about his current show. Here's a little excerpt from it:

"The anniversary show, which runs through October 13, also includes single works by many of the twenty or so core artists Packer represents—some emerging, others now mid-career. There’s a hilarious big pastel self-portrait by Otto Lange South as Flash Gordon brandishing a Wonder Bread instead of a ray gun. Renee McGinnis surreally places a London power plant amid luscious topiary. The sculpture "Shark Girl" by Casey Reardon Millard, which reared her ludicrous head at Art Chicago, is back, along with a smattering of folk pieces reminiscent of Packer’s beginnings twenty years ago."

From now on, I will only answer to...

Otto Lange South ( when I'm in the South)

When in Canada, I will only answer to...

Otto Lange North

When in London or France, I will be called...

Otto Lange Europe

I hope that this new plan will go smoothly for everyone and not cause too much confusion.

Thanks,

Otto Lange South - Midwestern ( I'm on the phone with my Uncle in Ohio...) Pin It Now!

banana

FUN FACT: Did you know that after you've peeled a banana, if you push your finger into the very tip of the end...it will split into three identical slices.

-banana, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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batman '66

See? Even as a child I knew that if you had a bunch of money and were super smart...it could totally happen!



-batman '66, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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Also, check out my little movie of this painting.

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acorn & b-corn

I have a wonderfully wicked little niece named Lilli. She has spent the weekend with us every week since she has been born ( my sister and I live within 4 miles of each other). To be honest, I can relate to her better than just about anyone. The immediate needs and the unwillingness to let a joke DIE!

Lilli: "Hey, what are these?"

Me: "they're acorns."

Lilli: "Why are they green?"

Me: : "Well, those are different. They're B-corns"

Lilli: "Hey, I'm seven...not stupid!"

Awesome! However, I do miss the ability to "engage in mis-information" with her.

-conjunction junction, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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self-portrait with Mickey & cherries

I paint with the Mickey Mouse shirt a lot. I think I consider it a "painting shirt". the funny this is that I NEVER get any paint on it. The other funny thing is that I ALWAYS get paint on my clothes when I don't put on my "painting shirt". I went to bed the other night, and when I went to brush my teeth I realized that I had Mars Black all over my face. I looked like Dick Van Dyke. Well, I suppose there are worse "looks" ( Gavin McLeod, Marvin Hamlish...)

-self-portrait with Mickey & cherries, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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conjunction junction

I sing involuntarily. Grocery store, cutting grass, funerals... whenever. George Carlin makes the distinction that some people are "musically talented" and some people are "musical". This often being pointed out by those who are "musically talented". His description of those who are musical:

" If you hit me in the head with a lead pipe...I make a noise!"

"Conjunction Junction" is a biggie for me. Although it goes through some "changes" on occasion, I try to stay faithful to the spirit of the thing.

-conjunction junction, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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Entertainment Weekly and me...kinda

My buddy Benjamin Holcomb out in L.A. has written a wonderful book about my favorite toys! This book is Mego 8" Super-Heroes: World's Greatest Toys! , and I have had the distinct privilege of contributing my paintings of these toys to this book. This week's Entertainment Weekly ( aug 31, 2007, #951) has a feature about Benjamin and his book.

I cannot say enough about the amount of effort and artistry ( and time...he's been working on this for over 4 years) that has gone into the creation of this book. This will become the hallmark of what other collectible books will be measured by. Here are some of the comments of praise about this book:

"...a stunning visual experience that will leave you weeping like a nine-year old who just misplaced Robin's removable mask."
— Chip Kidd, author of Batman Collected

"I've waited thirty years for this magical, beautiful book. And now, Benjamin Holcomb has given it to us."
— Brad Meltzer, author of NY Times Best-Selling The Book of Fate and
DC's Justice League of America

"This book, so full of fond memories both personal and professional, could be improved only if it included footy pajamas and a Christmas tree."
— Ken Abrams, son of Marty Abrams and
grandson of Mego founder D. David Abrams

I loved these toys as a kid. I love them now as a semi-adult, and I am immensely proud to be a part of this project. This book is available for pre-sale at Amazon and I would encourage everyone to check it out.




This is a portion of one of the paintings included in this book. Pin It Now!

peaches records and tapes

I grew up in two cities. Cleveland, Oh and Atlanta, GA. All growing up there was an emphasis in my home on music and...the pursuit of records. The super rare soundtrack to Bullitt ( Japanese pressing) or some really cool Elvis outtakes or...

Either way, both cities had a great record store chain called Peaches Records and Tapes. Cleveland had one in Parma up until the early 90's I think. Atlanta had really cool ones in the 70's and 80's that were multi-leveled and filled with huge crates of great albums. I remember that most new albums ( you know like Yes' 90125...new stuff) were $6.99.

Opening the shinkwrap on a new record isn't the same as a CD. The 12" gatefold with some kind of poster or insert made it feel like you were getting more. Size matters...when it comes to music formats.

-peaches records and tapes, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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little chocolate donuts

"Little Chocolate Donuts. They taste good, and they've got the sugar I need to get me going in the morning. That's why Little Chocolate Donuts have been on my training table since I was a kid."

-little chocolate donuts, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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sky king

I used to ride this thing in my gramma's basement on the parkway in Parma Hts., OH. We had it repainted, but it has one wheel thats not completely round. Its better when something ( or someone for that matter) you really cherish has a flaw in it. That way when I ride my tricycle to the big rally in Sturgis, I'll know which one is mine.

-sky king, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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happy birthday to me... again

This is my 100th 6" x 6" painting! I love this size!

BY the way, I apologize for any additional notifications on this blog ( Blogger was acting screwy, but it seems okay now).


-happy birthday to me, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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Victor Cherry

Elvis used to use Dr. John Carpenter as his pseudonym when he checked into hotels and public places.

Fun Fact: Elvis' karate name was Tiger!

Okay, the Victor coffee cup is my favorite, but add cherries and...you have the perfect:

A. Bond villan name

B. Male lead adult film star

or C. Six Million Dollar Man Steve Austin's contact in Chile name

Either way...its a cool name.


-Victor Cherry, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

cherry glaze

Here's a painting for my Gallery Piquel in PA. Also, I made a little movie too.

cherry glaze, 2007

24" x 24", oil on gessoed panel

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slip

I've been listening to a fantastic book on tape ( yes, on tape...) by David Niven called "Bring on the Empty Horses". This book is read by Niven and is FANTASTIC! He tells the story of his career path in old Hollywood and the really big freinds that he made along the way. Fred Astaire, Bogart, Cary Grant, and Errol Flynn to name a few. He tells little cool stories about these stars and the impact they had on his life and career ( the Errol Flynn stuff is great).

One really good story is about Charlie Chaplin and an after-dinner drinks discussion about filming the famous banana-peel-fall-on-your-ass scene. The discussion was about how to make a tired and old bit funny. Chaplin's method was a scene-by-scene narrative of how this could play out effectively on film.

First, shot of large woman in high-heels carry a load of packages.

Second, shot of banana peel

Third, woman approaches banana peel...Walks around it...and falls into an open manhole.

-slip, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

watermelon and fork

I'm working to get some big work done for my gallery in PA ( I'll post some pics this weekend). I've been listening to some real "gems" too. Beach Boys "Sunflower", the new Rush album, and an old favorite Seals and Crofts "Greatest Hits". I get into a situation where I'll listen to a group of albums through a painting OVER and OVER again.

Here's the weird thing ( well two weird things). First, and I do this without really thinking about it, I'll keep many paintings going at once, but I'll only listen to a certain group of albums for each different painting. Weird! Like, I'll get up and change the album ( LP or CD...Hey, I can't be limited by availablity).

Second, when I hear certain songs I get a little touch of deja-vu of a particular painting ( I'll remember painting it or a portion of a painting). Also weird!

In the beginning of a painting, I'll be working along thinking that "Hummingbird" is AWESOME! Cut to day three, and I start to think ,"Man, this really sucks! Who is this mellow?"

Doesn't matter. I'll go back to Seals and Crofts eventually. I always do. It really is AWESOME...isn't it?

-watermelon & fork, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

Red Rock Rose

Tonight is for big fun! The second season of "The Incredible Hulk" come out. David Banner ( Bill Bixby) is actually the entertainment part of that show. It seems every week that David gets some REALLY crappy job ( or even better...they make up jobs just to make him lose his cool...poison taster...bullet catcher...whatever), and gets REALLY involved with the lives of his co-workers ( by "involved" I mean he meddles...). If I turned into a big green monster everytime I got mad, I would probably turn down the job of snake wrangler.

-red rock rose, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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Mom's toasters...

My Mom is a collector of many things. She has a HUGE collection of vintage chrome kitchen items. The great thing is that all of these cool things look and work like new. When we've been out on the prowl for things she ALWAYS gets the best stuff. She has got "the eye". What's funny is that it seems very normal growing up in a kitchen with 40+ chrome coffee makers that she used in a rotation style. There's one that I found ( and she bought) that is chrome with a glass body with LIGHTS INSIDE that show all the percolating action.

-toast, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

pin cushion ( home made)

Hey, when you need something...sometimes you need to make it yourself. I've not researched this, but where does the whole tomato-styled-pin-cushion-thing come from? Oh, and what is the deal with the little strawberry thingy attached to it. Why are there no apples with blueberry things attached? I'm sure this is some information that everyone but me knows.

-pin cushion ( home made), 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Click HERE to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

Rubik, Robert Evans ,and Patton Oswalt

One of the best comedy album's I've gotten in a while is Patton Oswalt's Feelin Kinda Patton. I had tickets to see him and David Cross ( also super awesome!) perform here in Athens at the world famous 40 Watt club a few years ago.

Well, through some mishaps I didn't get to go. I was a little mad, but...Okay, it turns out that the album Feelin' Kinda Patton was the ACTUAL RECORDING of the SHOW I MISSED!!The point is that there's a great bit about Robert Evans involving a Rubik's cube. I've had one since they hit the market, but I now can't look at one without thinking about that bit. I owe some thanks to Patton Oswalt.

Incidently, this was a color mixing feast!!"

Rubik's Cube No.2" , 2007

12" x 12" , oil on gessoed panel

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

I'm a Pepper

I have several things to say about this one. First, if you actually drank Dr. Pepper a 10:00, 2:00, and 4:00 you might not have any teeth or high level of kidney function after a while. Secondly, I have a relative ( who shall remain nameless) who actually had a brief "situation" with David Naughton ( the "I'm a Pepper" guy). I think she thought that he was going to take her away with him to Pepperland ( "we're in love and NO ONE will stop us!!").

Yeah, that never happened. I wonder what I'm going to call the second one of this series? Hmmm...

Incidently, there is no reserve on this one.

"I'm a Pepper" , 2007

14" x 14" , oil on gessoed panel

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

Some large stuff

Here are two paintings I did for Gallery Piquel in PA. These are on canvas ( the boards get to be REALLY heavy when you get over 30") and are 36" x 36" each. You can contact Gallery Piquel for purchase info on these. Here's the title info on them respectively:

-Redneck Slinky, 2007

36" x 36", oil on canvas

-Pep-O-mint, 2007

36" x 36", oil on canvas


I'm finishing up some more paintings for ebay this weekend of some of my antique silver and glass collection. My favorite venue for antiques is now gone in Atlanta so it looks like I'll have to find a new one ( there's an indoor one once a month but its not the same...). Pin It Now!

does anyone have a fork? I'm not good with tools...

This is a larger version of the Chinese rice carton ( 16" x 16"). I've been asked to do some larger works and here is one of the first of the batch ( group, series, ?...).

I put this one on with a reserve of $500.00.


does anyone have a fork? , 2007

16" x 16" , oil on gessoed panel

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info.

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Chinese rice

I guess angst is relative. I know that red hot anger when I drop, spill, break, ruin...anything. But...its really important to remember that things can be picked-up, cleaned, fixed, and reworked. Everytime I see E's True Hollywood Story I feel that things are gonna be okay.

I listen to a Frank Sinatra radio show from the mid 50's called Rocky Fortune. He's this drifter that gets into misadventure through his "employment agency" ( AKA the plot moving device). Well, in one episode he's applying to be a rocket test pilot ( yeah...I know...) and Rocky has to get a physical.

Doctor: "Is your health good?"

Rocky Fortune: " Nah, but I ignore it."


"chinese rice", 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed hardboard

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

a twist of Lemmon

One of my favorite performers is Jack Lemmon. His 1959 album A Twist of Lemmon is fantastic! His vocals are great ( it sounds like Jack Lemmon singing in tune) but his real strength is his piano playing. I think his son wrote a biography about him under the same title. Hey, where did the triple-threat actor/singer/dancer go? Gene Kelly was really the only one to pull it off with precision AND a little masculinity. He also has a great singing voice ( Our Love is Here to Stay... its wonderful...or should I say ...S'wonderful?)

"A twist of lemon", 2007


8" x 8", oil on gessoed hardboard


Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

blue oreo

"blue oreo", 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed hardboard

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info.

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Aron Packer Gallery

I have some of my larger works on display at the Packer Schopf Galleries in Chicago and Three Oaks, Michigan. Please feel free to contact them for info on purchasing larger works of mine. I'm in the process of finishing up a new body of paintings ranging from 6" x 6" to 36" x 36" and I'll be posting my progress regularly. Pin It Now!

pink kiss

I have a favorite joke.

Ham sandwich walks into a bar and orders a drink. Bartender looks at the ham sandwich with distaste and says, "I'm sorry...we don't serve food here!!"

I've been fooling around with my mediums and working process. I exclusively use Gamblin paint and mediums ( I HIGHLY recommend anyone interested in painting go to this site - its PACKED with information about how to use his products properly). I've been trying to make my mediums conform to MY working habits, and its a trial and error process.

I work in an indirect style of painting where I build up my surface in layers. This requires a lot of planning,but ultimately I feel I have more control over the finished piece. Over the course of the next few weeks I'm going to show a painting in progress from start to finish. I would love to exchange ideas and working methods with people.

"pink kiss", 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed hardboard

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

granny core

Okay, so I'm cutting some wood for the fireplace on my porch ( it's like 20 degrees here so...). I'm using a little hand held axe ( commonly referred to in the South as a "chop-axe"...Yeah, I know), and some guy comes up to me and says, " I see you're choppin' some wood there! I have some wood you could have, if you're interested". Okay, on my street there are like 20 or 30 people a day who walk up and down the sidewalk for exercise or whatever. My house is like 50 feet from the sidewalk , but anytime I'm in the yard people seem to deviate from their trip to say "Hello, "Howdy-do", or "Hey".

Okay, back to the guy. I just got a little puppy, and my Mom, wife and dog are sitting on the porch having a little coffee ( not the dog) watching me cut some wood and having a little chit-chat. I've had this puppy for about 2 weeks and it hasn't made a peep ( it sits by my feet while I paint...really), but as soon as guy walks up the barking starts. It turns out that guy doesn't want to give me wood...he wants to sell me some wood. Dog still barking through his wood pitch. I let her bark. Finally, guy says, "you know, you should really get that dog trained to be nice to people". I say ( which my Mom scolds me for later), "Yeah, we're on a program,but we haven't gotten to the part on dealing with roving wood peddlers". That guy still left me his card.

"granny core", 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed hardboard Pin It Now!

ceci n'est pas une pig

Todays toys are kind of crappy. Yeah, you've got the xbox 360 ( awesome !) and your Idog ( not awesome...at all), but whatever happened to Lincoln Logs? I know they still sell them, but they don't exactly fly off the shelves like Elmo TMX. I always ( even as a kid) examine toys like this little pig and kind of revere the unsung artistry of the sculpting. Some guy carved this pig really well, and we will never know his name.

Okay, maybe I'm reading a little too much into it, but when I was a kid I had a smaller amount of toys. I knew EVERY detail on every one. The nose on my Mego Joker ; the hair sculpting of my Stretch Armstrong; and, the underside of the head on my Rockem Sockem Robots ( sometimes they wouldn't come up and you had to monkey with them a little). Hey, its important!

Should I have used cochon instead of pig?

"ceci n'est pas une pig", 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed hardboard

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info.

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come fly with me

This was actually a TWA plane, but I like the fictional star logo better. Two things:

First, I love the Sinatra album come fly with me. I rank it roughly third behind songs for swingin' lovers and a swingin' affair. These albums are the best of the Capitol years ( right around the time Frank does the INCREDIBLE Rocky Fortune radio shows...24 episodes of pure gold!).

And second, I made a new pal! I happen to live within a couple miles of one of the finest art ground and support makers IN THE WORLD. Okay, I'm totally serious. The company is the Howard and Daniel Corp. ( realgesso.com ). They use the traditional gesso method with the rabbit skin glue, crushed marble ( not that gypsum crap...), and food-grade titanium oxide.

I went to the factory and saw his production. Super Cool! As soon as I listened to him talk about the mating seasons of rabbits affecting the quality of glue AND discussing the production quality in terms of microns...I knew this was my guy. I can now concentrate more on my painting and less on prep. This is why we have specialization!

"come fly with me", 2007

9" x 12", oil on gessoed hardboard

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

cheesecake

I live for dessert. I actually have kind of a bland palette when it comes to meals ( the dinner part...), but I LOVE dessert. The meal seems like the whole labor / reward philosophy. If you manage to make it through the broccoli and cube steak...you may have some sugar.

I once got into a fight ( well some pushing and a wrestling-fighty-thing) with a good friend over cube steak at work when I was in college ( the first time...the fun time). We'll call the friend "Steve" ( because his name was Steve...sorry, Steve!)

Me: "cube steak sucks...its always too dry!"

Steve: " No Man! Cube steak is awesome! My mom makes it and its great."

Me ( being a jerk, as I know this will have the effect that I want): " No Steve, cube steak is hamburger meat that poor people pretend is real steak."

Steve: " Oh yeah, well maybe your momma ( we're in Georgia) can't cook worth a damn, but mine can!!"

Me ( getting the response I wanted): "Well...you asked for it..."

Fighting ( or whatever?) insues, and this is kind of fun until he gets mad ( "Damn Man! that really hurt!!"). This was a third-shift stocking job, and there was a need to keep things lively at 4:00 in the morning. As they say, 22 year old boys will be boys.

"cheesecake", 2007

6" x 6", oil on Masonite panel

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

Red Rooster

There's two stories to this one. First, I wanted a cast iron rooster for my kitchen. A red one, too. We were shopping last year at the Atlanta Scott Antiques show ( this huge antiques market with tons of cool stuff), and I saw this red cast iron rooster. Well, after some debating, I didn't get it. Months later ( after searching and paying more than the first one I saw...the red one), I end up with a blue one. It is now red ( thank you, Mr. Krylon).

The second thing is that ( and I know this is somewhat childish) I wanted to call this painting "Big Red Cock". This has since been shot down by everyone I know over the age of 14. My Mom, wife , and I went to the malls after Christmas, and I asked many a clerk if they had any "cocks I could put in my kitchen". My family indulges me quite a bit when it comes to "bad behavior" or at least juvenile funny-time. Mother and wife agree that the only reason that I wanted a kitchen rooster was so that I could make my many "cock statements and remain totally within the law". Hey, these things really do bring good luck!

Listen, I don't get many of these opportunities to exercise my adolescent funny-bone. If you insist on making up these rules, I'm going to have to be forced to find the loopholes.

"Red Rooster", 2007

12" x 12", oil on Masonite panel

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info.

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A Great Pear No.2

I'm back from holiday fun ( sleeping, eating, movies, fighting with the family, avoiding fighting with the family, pretending to sleep instead of interacting with people...all that holiday fun). Actually, I got to spend a lot of time thinking about paintings I want to do.

I was going to go into a whole thing on pairs...

It was funnier in my head.

"A Great Pear No.2", 2006

7" x 5", oil on Masonite panel

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!

A Great Pear No.1

All good things come in pairs. This is part one of two ( a pair of pears...). Actually, I never liked them as a kid, but it has since become a replacement for a Snicker's bar. I have loads of bad habits, but I make an attempt at including a little nutrition into my day.

Also, there never seems to be any shortage of pears...at any time of the year. I have a naturaly addictive quality, and I don't like to get hooked on anything "seasonal".

"A Great Pear No.1", 2006

7" x 5", oil on Masonite panel

Click on the image to bid on this painting or to see my other work listed on ebay. You can get on my mailing list by subscribing to my google group above ( I send out a note when I list a new painting) . Also, check out ottolange.com to see more work and get more info. Pin It Now!