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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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strawberry cupcake

The great thing about working from life is that there are times when you have to make a little sacrifice for your art. Example: if one wanted to paint a strawberry cupcake, one would have to manipulate ( i.e. eat) many of them in order to get the "money shot". Sometimes you might have to eat seven or eight in one sitting to get that perfect ratio of bite to frosting to cake exposure. What's awesome is when you're making a total pig out of yourself and someone comes in the room and says" Hey, you're making a total pig out of yourself". You can boldly say ( with your mouth full of cake) "Hey, I'm workin' here!"

If its important, you go the distance!

"Strawberry Cupcake", 2006

6" x 6", oil on Masonite panel

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cool, cool water

H2O, nature's cocktail, and "Hey, who's that tall drink of water?". Yeah, I know...

Actually, it was the straw that sparked this one. I have total electric in my house, and I'll tell you...electric heat blows! It makes the house too dry. I feel like Nosferatu every morning.

So, I've got plants, humidifiers, and ...I drink a lot of water. Usually, I just have a gallon jug by my easel ( classy...I know) , but this time I had the glass ...and the ice and... the straw. Cool twisty-light-bending-straw!

Oh, this is also the title of one of my favorite Beach Boys songs ( from the album Sunflower, 1970 ...also, the year I was born).

"Cool, Cool Water", 2006

6" x 6", oil on Masonite panel

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Cinnibon in the Pink

This is the ONLY reason I go to "the mall"...

"Cinnibon in the Pink", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Why these three?

This is like the Sesame Street game "which of these three is not like the other?".

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Bartlett on the Green

I've been reading/looking at the Itten book The Elements of Color and started mixing a lot of paint. Sometimes I will look at my palette and then wander around the house to see if I can make something out of some really cool color I've mixed. The science of art was really my initial attraction to painting in the first place. There was some article in Scientific American ( which is usually pretty dry stuff) that talked about certain colors can actually influence human behavior in a direct way. Its like in music when they talk about the "black chord" ( you know listening to some Rush song can make some people take off their clothes and wriggle around on the salad bar at Wendy's).

"Bartlett on the Green", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Bing on Blue

Bing on Blue is like the name of a great late 50's Bing Crosby jazz album. There's a real one called Bing Sings whilst Bregman Swings that is fantastic. Buddy Bregman had a real crash-boom-swingy arrangement and Bing did his thing. The best on this album ( and one of my favorite "Der Bingle" songs ever is his cover of Johnny Mercer's classic Jeepers Creepers .

Okay, a word on Bing Crosby. I love Bing...a lot. There's a scene in Road to Morocco where he's looking for Bob Hope ( who he sold for food money...), and he's singing his way through the streets of Morocco as he does it. The best part is...He's wearing a fez and...He looks really cool in it!


"Bing on Blue", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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When Life Gives You Lemons...

...Make lemonade? Or how about..."when life gives you lemons...throw them back...really hard!"? I prefer the latter. The "making lemonade" approach implies that you take what is given to you and then "ah, let's just make the best of it".
Here's an example of "making lemonade" : Someone ( we'll call him Bob) says something crappy to you, and you then say "Well, Bob's just having a bad day" or " Hey, thanks Bob, you've always been a keen observer, and you're valuable information has greatly improved my life".
Okay, now here's my approach to dealing with life "giving me lemons": "Blow it out your ass Bob!". See, my way is active; it makes you feel really good; and...Bob learns a little about how he should keep some of his "wisdom" to himself. This approach works best if Bob isn't your boss or an officer of the law.

"When Life Gives You Lemons...", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Jawbreakers No.2

"Jawbreakers No.2", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Apple Core

The last batch of apples I bought were super tiny, but also had one the most brilliant red colors I'd ever seen ( in my fruit...). These almost didn't even look real. It was like they were made for painting.Here's a funny. I was actually criticized on how I eat an apple. "Don't you know you're 'sposed to eat an apple from side to side? Not up and down!". Yeah, there are people who put thought into this.

I've been working on a lot of commissions for Christmas over the last few weeks, but I'm together now ( everyone waits till the last minute...).

"Apple Core", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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!

Powerlines

I actually almost wreck my car looking up at the skies sometimes. I'm usually looking for really neat cloud formations, but powerlines always seem to corrupt the image. I've decided to stop trying to fight "city hall" and do a series of these as well. I love nature and all, but we are a part of the environment now. I'm sure that there isn't any comittee on the aesthetic integration of powerlines into the natural landscape, but...there should be.

"Powerlines", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Chattering Teeth

These are actually called "Yakity-Yak". The box ( from 1949 and a little tattered) says the following..."they walk, they talk, THEY'RE ALIVE". This also has little cartoon people staring in amazement at this novelty marvel ( mouths are open).

I lost the key to these so you have to wind them with a little effort. They do "walk" a little ( if walking is shaking uncontrollably in a little circle). They do not talk, and I'm pretty sure they're not "ALIVE". I think "ALIVE" has a lot of impact ( its like the box is screaming at me " Hey Man, THEY'RE ALIVE!!!"). When people email you in all cap's are they screaming?

Hey, these are cool for a different reason. I'm pretty on top of my dental hygene, and I know all of my teeth. These "Yakity-Yak"s are pretty accurate from an anotomical standpoint ( okay...if we all had 28 teeth...). There was some care in this toy when they carved the molars.

"Chattering Teeth", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Apple Jack No.1

I've been going to Kroger ( a big grocery chain in GA) to buy my fruits and vegetables. They have this "marketplace" thing going, and I must say that they have absolutely fantastic specimens of produce sometimes. This apple is actual size relative to the jack and its huge ( the apple). Are we better farmers? Or...you think there's a little extra additive? Man, I hope so! Maybe, all these chemicals will give me some sort of super-powers! Like the ability to injest any poison ( Poison Drinker-Man?), or the ability to squirt fruit jelly of any flavor out of my elbow ( "Hold on! Don't eat that english muffin plain!").

This is also the first in a series of super-produce that I'll be working on.

"Apple Jack No.1", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Ain't Love Grand

This from a "novelty item" from 1959. These plastic figures have a little magnet in them and when they get close together...look out! The back actually has instructions for use. No.1- a picture of two hands holding each doll with a "?" by each one. No.2 -a picture of the hands slamming the two figures together. And No.3-a picture of the two dolls together with some red "action lines" above their heads...

The box has these little phrases on the sides enclosed in little hearts with things like: "George love Margaret","Harry Daisy 12-6-1959", and my favorite "Greetings from New York".

"Ain't Love Grand", 2006

6" x 6", oil on cradled Masonite

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Big Red Lifesaver

This is the first in a series of five of these that I'll be doing ( anyone want to guess what the others will be?). Actually, I have to clarify that I feel any flavors other than cherry, orange, lemon, grape, and ...green( ?) are not "pure" Lifesavers. This "wacky tropical" and "blueberry bonanza" stuff is pandering. Stick with the tried and true five!

"Big Red Lifesaver", 2006

12" x 12", oil on cradled Masonite

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