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

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