moon pie

The Moon Pie has some pretty sketchy lore ( It's like the Loch Ness monster of junk food). Apparently, Moon pie was "developed" by a construction worker framing his hands around the moon and saying, "Yeah, like about that big". Moon Pie was born in Chatta-Vegas, TN ( this was a term used by people I met in college from Chattanooga to point ot its lack of...whatever) around the turn of the century. The RC Cola / Moon Pie combo is in actual practice still to this day. I would advise anyone going to try this at home to pick up a shot of Insulin too.


moon pie, 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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I heard it through the vitis vinifera

Oddly, I resemble the little Fisher-Price girl as a child, and as an adult I resemble the bald boy ( or Ziggy, Charlie Brown, or basically any round object with a face on it).

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granny hemingray

I finally found something to do with these! I have a collection of about 100 or so of these glass insulators. I was at at local flea market and some guy had a whole table full. There were a lot of cool colorful ones in different shapes and sizes. I asked him what he'd take for all of them and he said, " Man, I'll give you $20.00 if you take them off my hands". I didn't realize at the time what I'd do with 500 lbs worth of colored glass, but...I knew i'd do something with them.
As you can see, they make excellent individual fruit holders ( that you can't at any point touch the fruit, glass, or thing supporting it).

granny hemingray, 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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"hey there...big boy"

I have some pretty good memories growing up. My Dad uprooted us from Cleveland to rural Georgia when I was three. Well, all of my extended family ( grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc...) still lived in Ohio so this meant a fifteen hour car car ride every holiday. Although that ride REALLY sucked, one of the many travel "bright spots" was stopping at Frisch's Big Boy on the way. You could determine that you were getting into Yankee territory when you started to see the signs on the highway.

Okay, not that the food was memorable in any way, but they always had Big Boy comics . This would give my sister and I something to fight over in the car for the remaining seven hours. Very important arguments like : Who got "the good one" without any grease stains. Now, my sister and I fought over a lot of important things over the years, but those comic book fights were some of the most impassioned. These fights ranking only second to who got more of the little plastic steak markers at the Western Steer ( you know the blue, red, and green plastic markers that said "WELL", "MEDIUM WELL", "RARE" to denote how the steak was cooked). By steak, I mean a piece of brownish meat with black "grill lines" printed on it. Actually, it just now occurs to me why my Mom got so mad at the fact that we would take those little stakes off of other people's plates after they had left their tables. It now also occurs to me how stupid I was as a little kid.

"hey there...big boy", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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pink toy elephant

In the days of old, when one "took to the spirits" a bit too much pink elephants somehow got thrown into the mix.

Speaking of elephants, there was an episode of The Adventures of Superman called "The Stolen Elephant" ( 1957) where some guys hold a baby elephant up for ransom. It was like an episode of CHiPs where ALL of the town's law enforcement resources are used to track down this elephant. Even worse, the bad guys ( one is actually named "Spike" ) hides the elephant in the barn of some kid who's having trouble adjusting to "country life". The kid bonds with the elephant ( who wouldn't?) and then the crooks come and take him back ( they have "papers").

The best part is when in order to find the missing elephant for the big night at the circus, the boy must recall a 17 digit number from the "papers" in order to find him. I think the magical memory powers of the elephant must have rubbed off on that kid.

Check out this!



pink toy elephant, 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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red zeppelin

My Mom is Estonian. Her parents escaped to the U.S. ( New York then to Cleveland, Oh) in the 40's to get away from Hitler and his boys when my Mom was a little girl. Three good little stories:

First, Mom wasn't allowed to wear anything red until she was in college ( fear of the "Comuuneest!!")

Second, My grandfather apparently was put to work by Nazis ( I don't think this was voluntary "position") as a bus driver. Right before they got out of the country, He is rumored to have driven a bus full of Nazi officers off a mountain cliff.

And third , My Mom really laid it on thick to my Sister and I ( as to how spoiled we were when we were kids) . We were often told of how she was so poor that as a child her only toys were potatoes.



red zeppelin, 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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scramble ( broken egg in bowl)

I often have the argument at home that if the yolk is broken at any point before eating...you toss it and start again. Gordon Ramsay ( super awesome chef/ philosopher/ business guru ) has the best quote about it. "Hey, What'ch you doin' mate? You can't serve that!! Its the customer's privilege to break the yolk you !@#$%!!"

I couldn't agree more. I know its wasteful ( 9 cents? ), but you have to draw a line in the sand somewhere.


scramble, 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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Hershey's Kiss

I buy candy all the time for the "home" ( my niece comes over every other day, Mom stops by, etc..). Its good to have treats around for all. I bought a bag of Hershey's Kisses, and as I was putting them into the candy bowl-thingy I noticed something. At first glance, one of the kisses appeared to have "F*** You" on the little paper attached to it. Certainly the good people at Hershey's weren't going full-on FOX TV?

No as it turns out, It said "You Rock" ( yeah, I know...), and the piece was ripped off at the "ck" and the "you" followed. A dirty optical illusion! I showed this thing to everyone, and most of the people I showed it to thought I had made the little paper.

Nice. Like I would put that much time and energy into such a adolescent joke!



hershey's kiss ( "you rock" or...), 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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cherries

Cherries are perfect! They are like tasty little sculptures ( I'm sure a good psychologist would have a field day with that...). when I was a kid, I once swallowed a cherry pit and my Grandfather told me that " a cherry tree is going to grow in your belly...heh!".

This was truly frightening to me. A tree growing inside of me like the Alien. Just waiting inside for me to eat spaghetti with Tom Skerritt and Yaphet Kotto before bursting out? No thanks! This was some off-shoot lie variation of the "you're eyes will stay like that if you keep crossing them" or " you'll go blind if you continue to...".

I never found out the "mystical penalty" for lying to children.


cherries, 2008

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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Pink Telephone 12 inch

I spend a lot of time on the phone ( usually while I'm working). I REALLY prefer a phone call vs. email. To me, email is really a means to get phone numbers of people you want to talk to ( or to give numbers to people who want to talk to you). I tried sending my Mom an email a couple of times, but it seemed really weird. Too impersonal (and this was like giving movie times or something...). My feeling is that if you're going to take time to email a friend or your family, pick up that phone.

Well, I kinda understand people who email me instead of calling. I might tend to ramble...a little.

I put a small reserve ( 1/3 of gallery price) on this painting due to the larger size. I have to play ball with my galleries...a little.

pink telephone, 2008

12" x 12", oil on gessoed panel

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Evolution or Mr. Potato Head...Nude

The Kool-aid man gets pants but not Mr. Potato Head? Does Mr. Potato Head not pose the same "threat" to our children? A pitcher of powdered fruit drink has genitals? Invisible genitals? Does Mr. Potato Head have these as well?

Fun Fact:

The use of a food item in conjunction with the word "head" is always a great insult.

food + "head" = funny

Examples like:

"Okay, let's go talk to this meat-head..."

"Hey, banana-head...look what you're doing!"

"Hold on a sec', I have to call this potato-head back to see where my check "disappeared" to..."

I actually had to modify this Mr. Potato Head to accomodate the third arm. The past version had the arms already attached ( pre-'83). I have a 50's and 70's version of Mr. Potato Head, but to be honest ( and this is rarely the case), the current sculp is the most iconic looking. The previous guys also had a cool little pipe ( no more of that...). The current basic version comes with a moustache, glasses, different mouth, and...no pants.

On evolution:

If a meteor had not struck the earth millions of years ago, does that mean I would slide down the back of a Brontosaurus when I got off work?


evolution, 2008

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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"when I take my sugar to tea..."

"I never take her where the gang goes..."? Sinatra was a Crip?

I wondered about "offending" people with a nude ( I always thought the word "nude" sounded a little pervy, but...) in one of my paintings. My favorite example of people having trouble with this is...Attorney General John Ashcroft. He spent $8000 of tax payer money to have Lady Justice draped for "aethetic reasons". That's good government!

Now I'm no activist for any pro-nudity special interest group ( to be fair, they've never contacted me either) , but I really don't understand people who have a problem with the naked body. I'm not saying to let your four-year old watch Deep Throat or anything, but I'm pretty sure that any "normal" person who looked at Lady Justice ( pre-drape) never went into any rapist frenzy.

Oh, if anyone is actually offended by my painting...I'll totally drape it for them.


"when I take my sugar to tea...", 2008

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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an apple for the (bad) teacher

I've had some bad experiences with teachers over the years ( particularly with math related subjects).

Presenter: "...and the Academy Award goes to...Otto Lange!"

Announcer: This award goes to Mr. Lange for best use of crying to get out of being caught for cheating on an Algebra II test in 10th grade

Yeah, its true. I got full-on caught for looking at some girl's paper in the 10th grade. I wasn't even really cheating. Man, I was so lost in that class. I was just trying to see what the work should look like just so the teacher wouldn't think I was totally retarded. The teacher, we'll call her Ms. Bullock ( because that was her name...) was a total "Margaret Hamilton" about it too! "I have you now Mr.-makes-fun-of-my-hair-that-looks-as-hard-as-granite-because-I-use-way-too-much-hairspray! Who's sassy now?"

I had no choice. Try to explain my situation, and have her not believe me ( and get in A LOT of trouble). Or...do the soap opera cry ( you know, close you're eyes real tight, bite your lip, and turn away).

Hey, sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta.


"an apple for the (bad) teacher", 2008

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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Boing Boing

Hey! This is pretty cool...I got mentioned in something I actually read! Boing Boing!

Okay, and even more cool...the link next to mine has the Superfriends! Pin It Now!

pep-o-mints

I usually never take the little mints and candies they have at the register ( or on the way out of a restaurant), but I saw these and had to get them ( to paint). The problem was that I saw them and then went back into the restaurant after we had paid ( and left the building). I know I must have looked cool going back in when the manager guy asked if I had forgotten something and I awkwardly said..."No...I'll just ...hmmm...I'll take a few of these...okay...Thanks".


pep-o-mints, 2008

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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12 inch Brown-knee

I wanted to do this one a little larger in order to noodle around with a little more detail. I really gave my tiny brushes a work out this time. The "real" gesso as opposed to the acrylic stuff is WAY more gentle on an expensive brush.

Okay, more importantly is the release of Hawaii Five-0 Season three on Tuesday. Five-0 is GREAT T.V.!! You've got super-cool Steve McGarrett who constantly fires off a staccato rhythm of self righteous mini-speeches every episode ( he's like the love child of Elvis Presley and Jack Webb). The opening credit sequence tells it all ( the camera zooming in from the coast to a penthouse where Steve just happens to spin around just to give us a little 5 second "taste" of his cool). Awesome!!

Seriously, the whole premise is a task force who answers only to the Govenor? Are the FBI, state and local police not enough? No! We need Steve!

The best is when Steve goes undercover as some kind of jewel thief or "box man" ( they like to throw this term around to let us feel like we're getting a little "peek" inside real police jargon...oh, its a safecracker). The awesome part is that he goes into, shall we say...character when he's "under". Lot's of "evil" grins and sinister looks.

There's actualy a Five-0 drinking game where you drink every time someone says "McGarrett"( you'd get sloshed on this alone); someone from Five-0 shoots an unarmed man ( every episode); or anytime someone answers the phone "Yes, Steve" without being told its McGarrett.

"brown-knee, 1955, 2008

12" x 12", oil on gessoed panel

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uncle dave...and some guy, 1937

When you look through your family photo albums is there always some guy that pops up that NOBODY KNOWS? There's this guy that is a recurrent character in all of our family photos that is referred to as "Phil or something". Its like on the ABC show Lost where every week there's some new hot chick or guy that shows up for some group shot. "Hey Man, Ethan's not on the manifest". Were there like 900 people on that plane?

uncle dave...and some guy, 1937, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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dubble bubble

Here's a cool little piece of Georgia lore. The heir to the Dubble Bubble dynasty has one of the coolest collections of microcars in the world. This warehouse is like a half-hour from my house tucked away on a two-lane country road ( its REALLY out in the sticks...). The only way you would find it is if you were looking for it ( there's a tiny sign that reads "Dubble Bubble Acres"). Check THIS out!

I mean really, a giant museum of the coolest antique foreign cars in the world? In the middle of nowhere? This is one of the reasons why I love living here!

dubble bubble, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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Viewmasters...again

I have two items here:

First, I'm wrong about this particular Viewmaster...kinda. The one I painted is from 1976 ( the bi-centennial model...red and blue), but this model spanned from the the late 50's to the late 70's.

Second, ebay pulled this listing because I said that I accept "cash" in the little payment instruction thingy. I've used this same since I started, but apparently I'm not supposed to accept cash. I've relisted this painting again in a 5 day auction, and I'm sorry for the confusion.

Oh, HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Pin It Now!

hi - def, 1970

Most of the things I watch on TV will NEVER be released in "hi-def" or look right on a widescreen television. TV shows need to be viewed in the correct original aspect ratio, but movies should NEVER be watched in "Full Screen" ( these have been edited by a studio employee and usually NOT the actual director of the movie). Shows like The Incredible Hulk ( my favorite "bad" show...Bixby is priceless), Hawaii 5-0 ( season three comes out on the 22nd!!), Space 1999 ( Landau's comb-over...), and The Equalizer ( super awesome!! Edward Woodward as a super cool British version of Charley Bronson...and Stewart Copeland's music...Fantastic) will never get the high defintion treatment.

I love the employee at the electronics store who comes up and says," Hey Man, do you have the high defintion experience at home? You really need to get with the times." I always respond ," when The Six Million Dollar Man comes out in hi-def...then I'll get with the program...Man".

hi - def, 2007

8" x 8", oil on gessoed panel

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Merry Christmas

I love the Christmas parade in the small town where I grew up! This year I tried to help Santa start his car ( he was flooding it...and slumped over the steering wheel). Awesome! He bid all the kids farewell with a little flair and said that "Santa has to drive home now". Then, he sat there for a while. I think he fell asleep. Oh, and it was an instant sleep too ( you know, like that woman in the ad for "the Clapper"). My niece had determined earlier that Santa doesn't talk like a "hillbilly" or "smell" , and that you "can't drive to the North Pole" either.

She's seven. Double Awesome!!

I got in trouble by my Mom when I pointed out to my niece that this particular Santa had also pee'd in his pants ( sorry, in his "Santa suit").

We decided that the "real Santa" doesn't do that either. Awesome times three!!!

I know its been a good Christmas when I get scolded and have some big laughs with a little kid. Pin It Now!

silver spoons

silver spoons, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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Bing and Bob

I worked on Der Bingle a little more ( this was supposedly what the Germans called him during WWII, but I think they would have actually just called him by his NAME. There is no German translation for "Der Bingle"). I also finished Bob. I loved doing it.

FUN FACTS:


-"Thanks for the Memories" ( what became his theme song) was actually a B-side to "Penthouse Serenade" ( which isn't really very good). These songs were duets with Shirley Ross ( not Dorothy Lamour as most people think). Lamour sang the studio version of "My Favorite Brunette" ( one of his absolute best!!).

-Bob was the first to sing the Christmas song "Silver Bells" on screen in "The Lemon Drop Kid".

-There was talk in the late 40's and through the 50's of Bob running for President of the United States due to his immense popularity. He totally would have won, but he was born in England and was not eligible to run. There was also talk of attempting to change this law strictly for Bob to get in, but it was too soon after WWII and never pursued.

Bing, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

Bob, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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bing

Bing is the real "King". Okay, here's the quick history of popular music as I've learned it through my "learnin's":

-Bing

-Dean Martin ( often quoted as having the strong desire to mimic Crosby's style, and indeed did. Look for it in his manner and singing style. It's pure Bing!))

-Elvis Presley ( often quoted as wanting to mimic Dean Martin's style of singing. No real evidence of this ambition, but remember...It's still Bing)

-Everyone from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones. All of the British invasion and American Rock comes from Elvis and Blues. The Jazz ( primarily Dixieland, but also "experimental" as well) influence was brought into American households ( and parts of Europe) by, you guessed it, Bing! I know I'm over-simplifying, but the musicologists know the score.

Hey, it's important.

I made a movie showing the making of this painting ( I'm working on Bob Hope to go with Bing). I used all M.Graham products for this painting. The walnut oil in the paint and the medium are a super safe alternative to linseed oil/ turp methods. They also make a walnut oil for cleaning. You can eliminate petroleum from the oil painting process ( Leonardo didn't have them either). Walnut oil also doesn't yellow over time like linseed oil.

I also mixed the neutral grey ( gray?) from color. Using a black/white ( or worse, straight out of the tube Payne's grey) mixture doesn't have the same "vibrato" as a neutral mixed from complementary colors. You can play against your backround color that way.

Oh, incidentally, I took this from a "head shot" studio pic from 1942. This is my favorite period for Crosby's music, but he made some fantastic recordings up until the late 50's. My interest in his material ends in the 60's ( and don't get me started on that David Bowie "song").

Here's my new movie:

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granny lady

What's the one variety of insect that I won't break a $500.00 lamp to kill? The ladybug! I make every attempt to make the house and yard a bug-free zone, but the ladybug seems to slip through my net of Malathyon ( a super nasty neuro-toxin that works REALLY well! Oddly, we have no cats or birds around the house either...).

I was painting the other night and had a 45 minute "departure" just watching one moving around my palette. These little guys are all over the house, and I have absolutely no fear/gross-response at all. Is it because they're cute and they move in a neat little meandering way ( kind of like Groucho negotiating an office...)? Is this why Jessica Simpson ( or any one of "those"...) makes zillions of dollars to contribute basically nothing to the world of "entertainment"? Whatever happened to the triple-threat ( singer, dancer, actor...and you had to do them ALL well)? Now you can just be kind of generic and cute!

Hey, at least the ladybugs don't sing off-key!



granny lady, 2007

6" x 6", oil on gessoed panel

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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

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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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