RV PAINTER

Good Evening Blog Buddies

2012-03-09T18:35:00.000-08:00

Yo,

Well today was sort of a lost day. We sat around most of the morning checking email and other blogs etc etc. Mid morning we went for a nice walk - it started snowing which even tho I do not like snow it was lots of fun taking a nice walk in the snow!

We stopped off at our favorite coffee bistro ECCO - I got a medium mocha with 2 shots and Melissa only wanted a coffee.

We came home and napped most of the afternoon away!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!

One of the Yoga instructors at the studio where Melissa works and teaches was in a very bad auto accident a couple of days ago. She went up to the Sangre de Christo mountains last week on a really warm beautiful day to take a hike with her dog. The whole story is not fully known, but her water bottle fell onto the floor of the car and she bent down to pick it up.

Well in that brief moment the car went off the road and down into a ravine!!!! She was very badly injured - with 5 broken ribs and damage to her back. Her dog was severely injured as well.

Melissa is giving a 2 hour Yoga class tomorrow for donations with all money donated to go to the injured Yoga teacher - Jenise. The Yoga studio has started a campaign to raise $10,000 to help pay the rent and other incidentals. Jenise has no medical insurance and the medical costs are estimated to be astronomical - that of course is another entirely separate issue. She was having an operation on her back this afternoon and in a day or two they plan on putting steel plates onto her ribs.

Jenise makes her living by teaching Yoga - making and selling jewelry and massage therapy.

One brief moment of a lack of concentration and her whole life has changed.

Melissa hopes to raise several hundreds of dollars with donations tomorrow.

Say a prayer for Jenise - she will need all the prayers she can get - she has a long struggle ahead of her.

Stay safe my friends and count your blessings.

JR :>)

Good Almost Noon Time

2012-03-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Yo,

Well, not much going on today! Brought some STUFF down to the STORAGE BUNKERS this morning. My DW is at the Yoga Studio and should be calling soon for me to come pick her up.

We hope to go for a nice long brisk walk in the Plaza area before we head home to our TINY UNIT. :>)

Most likely I will not get any painting in today - it's just one of those days that seems like it will be over before I get started - which is OK with me - I need a rest!!!

It's starting to cloud up a bit - they predicted 1-3 inches of snow for overnight - but that did not happen. The weather forecasters in NM are either completely wrong 99% of the time or they are 2-3 days early with their forecast. In either case one is better off just waiting to see what the weather does.

Our Tiny Unit is starting to look bare - as we move more and more STUFF into the STORAGE BUNKERS! This Saturday 4 paintings come down off the walls and will be installed on the walls of a YOGINI friend of my DW. She owns a business and has offered to display some of my paintings and offer them FOR SALE. This was a really nice thing for her to offer!

Well - I assume my DW will be calling any moment so I best get me skates on and be ready to roll when she calls.

Have a great day, and fantastic week-end and stay HAPPY!

JR :>)

DECISIONS-DECISIONS-DECISIONS

2012-03-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well some decisions are hard to make - however - some decisions are necessary. I've prolonged the packing away of all my painting gear long enough! With our upcoming move from our TINY UNIT it is time to choose a PACK-UP DATE - bite the bullet and JUST DO IT!!!!

So with that said and I just said it - Thursday 3/15 all my painting "THINGS" will be packed up and taken down to the STORAGE BUNKER! :>(

These are tears !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From the 15th of March and for the next 2 months we will be busy moving and learning HOW TO RV!!! So I most likely will not paint again until mid May when we arrive in S. Carolina.

I will however continue to BLOG - most of which will be RV related.

Anyhoooooooo I did the food shopping this morning and then some dumb errands - that had to be done but none the less they were dumb!

Sooooooo I finished up the SEED POT painting this morning and now I shall step you thru the process.

Seed pots come in all sizes - the bigger the pot the bigger the opening in the top. These are small seed pots most likely used for the smaller size vegetable and edible flower seeds. As you can see, a mouse or rat or snake would not be able to invade the pot.

I jumped right into this piece - as I say this was going to be a QUICK piece perhaps
15 - 20 degrees this side of SLOPPY - HOWEVER my MIND & HAND had other ideas and took over the process of doing this piece. The more I got into it the less it became a QUICK - LOOSE piece.

I started out with 3 free hand shapes - at this point I want to mention that the older the seed pot - the more RUSTICITY it has. This is not CERAMICS 101!!!!! The older pots and many of the newer ones are HAND made - with coiled clay - not electric potter wheels to turn them - these are the REAL DEAL!!! Therefore realize that this type are not perfect little circles - they have character and although they sit flat they do not have PERFECTION in their shape and I tried my best to present that wonderful RUSTICITY. This once again is done in a MONOCHROMATIC presentation.

Some adjustments made in color - shape - shadows. The light is coming from the right

Some additional adjustments in all 3 pots

OK - FORWARD----------------------------------

Time to throw in some FG and to do that magical TWEAKING that I do behind closed doors so all my secrets STAY secrets!!! :>)

Now for some BG and SECRET TWEAKING!!!

B A M

WE HAVE COMPLETION!!!!

Now for a closeup for my ATTENTIVE blog buddies

HOW HE DO DAT???????

The seed pot I have in my collection is BLACK - I love BLACK pottery a lot and in this area it is a speciality of the Santa Clara Pueblo.

Pretty much each Pueblo has their speciality - some use clay with MICA in it as this is what is in the ground on their Pueblo.

Most if not all of the clay used is hand dug from the grounds of the Pueblo where the artist resides

I hope you enjoyed this demo - it is sort of a dedication of my appreciation and love for the Hand Coiled Native American Pottery

Until next time and with 3/15 being the PACK UP DATE - we won't have many more painting demos until mid May. :>(

SEED POTS

2012-03-06T11:35:00.001-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

I have a very nice collection of Native American pottery. Most of it was collected from various Pueblos in Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico.

How many Blog Buddies out there know what a SEED POT IS????

A Native American see pot is a pot of various sizes with a smaller than normal hole centered in the top of the pot.

The definition of a seed pot is:

"containers that protected the seeds of agricultural plants on which people's lives depended."

The Native Americans as part of their extensive pottery making made seed pots and the smaller the opening in the top the less chance that animals and bugs could invade the contents of the pot and eat up the seeds being saved for next planting.

I bought a very nice hand engraved seed pot made by an 18 year old Indian girl on the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico - I bought it at the 2010 Indian Market which takes place every August here in Santa Fe. Many, many Pueblos throughout the USA exhibit in this show. All artist are juried into the show with a very extensive jury process which assures only the best Native American artists are presented.

My collection is now in the BIG STORAGE BUNKER :>( as it would not travel very well in the RV.

I started a painting this morning after the laundry and housekeeping and I had every intention of it being QUICK - LOOSE AND 10 DEGREES THIS SIDE OF SLOPPY! However that said - and I just said it - once I got started I got lost in the process and found my self being very careful and I hate to say ANAL over its creation! My mind and hand wanted to produce something well removed form
QUICK - LOOSE - AND 10 DEGREES THIS SIDE OF SLOPPY!!! Being part Native American I have a very strong calling to Native American culture.

Sometimes my mind and painting hand team up and do something that I'm not part of!!!

Tomorrow I shall show you the generation of:

"HAND COILED NATIVE AMERICAN SEED POT"

12 X 9 ON HEAVY LINEN PAPER

Til tomorrow -

JR :>)

QUICK-QUICK-QUICK

2012-03-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

If you read the title real fast - you might think I'm imitating a DUCK!!!! It is QUICK - not QUACK!!!!!!

The QUICK refers to the current painting - it is one of those QUICK - LOOSE - paintings that is done without any pre-planning or concern for absolute accuracy in shape. This one I would say is 15 - 20 degrees removed from SLOPPY.

Before I start - today being Tuesday is Laundry day and TINY UNIT cleaning day!

Talking about laundry-----well as we all know by now ---- there is not much room in a 31' RV. When I do the laundry - every Tuesday - there of course are certain articles of clothing that really should not be run thru a DRYER - DRYERS RUIN CLOTHES!!

So between me and my DW we end up with several pairs of pants ( 5 - 6 ) that can't go thru the DRYER or they will shrink!!!!! Also between us I end up with 15 - 20 shirts that can't go thru the DRYER - YEP - RIGHT - SHRINKAGE!!!!!

My DW uses a lot of YOGA clothes during a week as she works in a YOGA STUDIO - she has pointed out some of the YOGA clothes that can go thru the DRYER - I on the other hand have seen the price tags on these YOGINI clothes and AIN'T NO WAY I'M PUTTING THEM THRU THE DRYER!!!!!!

After doing the laundry each week I end up with on average 6 pairs of pants hanging over the shower rod and various other places as well as 12 - 16 shirt thingies hanging on coat hangers off of every door knob in our TINY UNIT.

WE DO NOT HAVE DOORS OR DOOR KNOBS IN OUR RV - there in lies the problem!!!

We'll put our heads together and figger it out!!!!!

I digressed - I do that sometimes - I try not to as I know how annoying it can be so I really try not to go off into left field and try to do my best to stay on subject. WHOOPS I digressed again!!! :>)

OK - back to the point of this posting!!!

This painting will be 12 x 9 on Heavy Linen paper done with expression - emotion - spontaneity - wet into wet with little regard or concern for shape or form - it is QUICK & LOOSE & FUN! :>) What's new JR?????? DUH!!!!!

"TURNED WOODEN VESSEL"

No sketching was done - I just start out with a round brush and get a shape down onto the Linen paper.

QUICK - LOOSE AND A TAD SLOPPY

Some "wood" COLOR

OK the rest will go quickly as I'm using my biggest brush and I can cover a lot of real estate so a few swipes of this BAD BOY and we are done!!!!

BAM

As I said - a few swipes :>)

The vessel looks like it is leaning a tad - that is due to the cheap point - shoot - pray camera I have. I think I forgot to pray!!! :>(

Just tilt your head to the opposite side of the tilt and it will look perfect!!!

Some closeups for my ~~"ANAL"~~ WHOOPS "ATTENTIVE" BLOG BUDDIES!!

HOW HE DO DAT????

Well - I hope you enjoyed this little demo - not brain surgery - just a quick little fun painting - to sort of pass the time - loosen up a bit and enjoy the JOY OF BEING A TAD SLOPPY!

Until next post - had a great day and enjoy life.

JR :>)

GOOD MORNING BLOG BUDDIES

2012-03-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

WELL -------- 4 weeks to go!!!

Time will start to FLY by now - 4 weeks is not a long time and pretty soon each and every day will require some type of MOVING or RV action to be taken.

Many things are left to do:

. cancel the electricity effective 4/1

.cancel the WiFi and Direct TV and phone service effective 4/1

.set up a furniture pickup by the Salvation Army

.set up the rental of a small U-Haul truck

.pack up more STUFF for the RV

.pack up more STUFF for long term storage

.sell our 32" HDTV

That's just to name the more important items.

The management of the apartment complex comes in to inspect the apartment - that's no problem as I'm a very good house keeper!!! :>)

Soooooo as I say the next 4 weeks will go by quickly!!!!!

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Please excuse us but JR gave us his OK to jump in here and say something.

We bought one of JR's ocean/dune scenes and we just wanted to let his blog buddies know how excited and happy we are with our purchase. We bought one of the larger 18 x 24 scenes and it just lights up our living room.

Living in S. Carolina we can certainly appreciate JR's treatment of the dunes and the ocean!

Thank you for letting us take a minute of your time.

Ed & Marion Johnson

Charleston, SC

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Thanks Ed & Marion - when Melissa and I get to S. Carolina in mid May we'll stop in and say YO!

OK - this morning I decided to do a quick big brush and palette knife painting. The subject is Late Autumn. Why?????? - Hell I don't know - I just kind of woke up this morning feeling sort of autumn-ie!!! :>)

The Sangre de Christo mountains here in Santa Fe are very beautiful and will be one of the things I will fondly remember. My DW and I have spent many hours up in those mountains - painting - picnicking - hiking and just sitting in the forest reading. We love it up there.

So this is on heavy linen paper done mostly with my MAC my palette knife and some brush work in the background.

12 x 9

This was painted with emotion - expression - gusto and a touch of semi-abstract

First I throw in the tree trunks using my palette knife and blobs and globs of thick juicy paint - lots & lots of it!!

Next using a big brush I throw in the BG and FG as well as slight indications of tree trunks in the far BG. The BG is dark as the forest up in the Sangre de Christos is very, very thick with tree growth.

This painting will go very quickly as I'm using a big brush for the BG and when combined with MAC the palette knife - a lot of paint goes on very quickly.

Additionally this is done wet into wet so I really don't have time to stop for progress photos.

BAM

WOW --- that was quick wasn't it!!!

:>)

I do have some closeup photos.

HOW HE DO DAT??????

Closeup of palette knife bark - as I said lots & lots of thick juicy paint

Closeup of "ground clutter"

Well - hope you enjoyed this demo and wasn't it nice of the Johnsons to stop by and say YO Blob Buddies!!!

Until next posting - take care - stay safe and if Y'all get a chance go out a paint a scene!!

JR :>)

CONVERGING ON SPRING DUNES

2012-03-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Buddies,

Well, I did a painting this morning - a quick one wet into wet on 11 x 14 gallery wrapped canvas - painted out onto all 4 sides - therefore no framing is necessary.

This was done with emotion - expression and a tad of gusto in the wave action.

Big brush used for all but the dune grasses which I used my trusty FAN BRUSH which gives great texture and motion to the grasses.

"Converging on Spring Dunes"

11 x 14

I first - as is normal start out with a blank canvas and quickly put in some horizontal guide lines for the horizon and the dune area

Next I throw in the beginning of the sky with my big brush and lots of paint.

Not rocket science yet is it!!! :>)

Next I put in the horizon line with the distant "end of the ocean" distinguishing the parting line (horizon) from the sky and ocean. I also put in some indications of nice distant clouds above the horizon - this adds to the illusion of depth of the piece.

When I put in the darker ocean color at the horizon, I drag down some of that color to soften that horizon line so it is not a "HARD" line - that also adds to the illusion of depth.

I also introduce another shade of blue in a more "WATERY" fashion

I'm giving away a lot of secrets here but HEY I really like you guys!!

Next I start to develop the ocean in the middle ground and introduce another shade for the ocean - that being - Bright Aqua Green. This is the color of the ocean in the dune areas of S. Carolina and the closer the ocean gets to the land area and to the viewer eyes, the LIGHTER it becomes. WHY you ask???

Because the light colored sand reflects upward and the sun shines down through the shallow water and the results is a lighter-brighter ocean color.

Most importantly I start to build two waves that determined the title of this piece as these two waves are "CONVERGING" onto the dune shore line.

GEZZZZZZZ more secrets given away!!! :>)

Look at that awesome "wave foam" I generated - that is a secret I will never give up!!

OK - this baby is going to get wrapped up as I'm just giving away too many of my many secrets and pretty soon you guys will be painting your own ocean scenes and will drop me like a HOT POTATO!!!!

I start to develop the dune grasses with my FAN brush in quick upward strokes using a dry brush technique with emotion in my strokes - when you paint you have to have emotion otherwise BORING!!!!!!

The shading of the grasses and the reflected shadows of the grasses onto the sand I am not going to show you how that is accomplished - I just can't show you everything!!!

You need to figure out somethings by yourselves!!!!

As "they" say --- always keep them guessing and coming back for more!!!

:>)

BAM!!!!!!

WE HAVE COMPLETION!!!

For my ATTENTIVE blog buddies

HOW HE DO DAT????

Well - I hope you enjoyed this demo as much as I enjoyed doing it - this is but a preview of some of the scenes I will be doing plein air in places like

S. Carolina - Nova Scotia - Quebec Canada - Cape Cod - Florida

I will also be giving MINI WORKSHOPS for those who wish to watch me paint and perhaps learn some of my techniques - no charge for the MINI WORKSHOPS. There will be a jar that has a sign:

DONATIONS - IF YOU ENJOYED - FEEL FREE TO DONATE - IF YOU DID NOT ENJOY - TAKE A DOLLAR OUT

:>)

All painters have their own techniques and mine are perhaps more unorthodox then most but HEY - I'M ME!!!

LATER DUDES

JR :>)

ANOTHER OFFER FOR HELP IN TEXAS

2012-03-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well, in addition to Jeb (the TX cowboy) another Blog Buddy from San Antonio TX has offered to help us setup the RV and give us some training in the use of all the RV systems if needed. Boy I have to tell Ya - I have Blog Buddies in every State and while some of them are not RV-er's they certainly are friendly!

An excerpt from the email I got:

Yo JR,

I see you and your DW Melissa are headed for San Antonio Texas come this May - if Y'all need any help setting up your RV ( I read your blog where y'all said it was your first one,) I have some friends who are in the RV biz and will give y'all some free instruction.

Just let me know.

Melody
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Now I have to say that Texans are real neighborly - my DW thought Jeb was real kind to help us if needed - she thought he was a real cute cowboy - I didn't see it - but that's just my opinion. :>)

OK - onto the serious projects of the day:

Being Sunday, we will take things slow - do some computer work in the morning over coffee and toasted sourdough bread with low sugar strawberry jam - Ya gotta love it!
Later this morning I will at least start a painting and see how far it progresses.
The weatherman last night said the wind would die down and the temps would rise substantially to spring like weather.

Welllllll - at 8 am it is 23 degrees and the gusts of wind are what I would call unacceptable! So much for the value of all these weather satellites up there mucking up our universe!

We hope to go for a nice long brisk walk today and stop by Canyon Road (art district) and go in and out of the galleries - one of the Plaza galleries a favorite of mine just relocated to Canyon Road and has opened after renovating the space. I'd like to check that one out to see the changes.

So until I post next - which I hope will be a completed painting - stay warm if you live in the "frigid wilds" as we do and keep a smile on your face and pleasant thoughts in your heart and today will be a great day.

JR :>)

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

2012-03-03T18:28:00.000-08:00

Yo,

Well, we got some more STUFF packed into the BIG STORAGE BUNKER for long term storage and some RV STUFF packed into the SMALL STORAGE BUNKER which will be loaded into our RV upon our return to Santa Fe.

I pride myself on doing good research online but alas I think I goofed a tad on one of the researches I did regarding "Discounted RV parks." There is a "CLUB" called PASSPORT AMERICA which offers a 50% discount on many RV parks. We joined it and I think it was a mistake. Once we PAID the membership fee and got the information and RV Park catalog in the mail we quickly realized that on average the discounts are indeed about 50% off, BUT most of the parks can only be used in the OFF SEASON and many, many you can only stay ONE NIGHT and most all of them will only take CASH PAYMENT!!!! Way too many restrictions that are not presented in the literature UNTIL you join and get ALL the INFO!! Deceptive advertising in my book.

Passport America does not fit in with our style of RV-ing which is not stopping for one night and drive all day the next day and then stop for one night ............................ This I call CRAZY RV-ING!!!

We will be staying in one area for at least 7 nights and more often than not for at least 14 - 21 nights. We want to experience and SEE the areas we stop in and SEEING it does not mean from the windshield at 55 MPH day after day after day.....................

We will I'm sure have some ONE NIGHT STAYS when going from one Park to another so I'm sure we will at least get our membership fee back plus some - but I can't see us re-joining next year - not our cup of tea.

We joined KOA as well and they offer 10% off PERIOD!!!!! We will be staying in a KOA here in Santa Fe for 2 weeks when we return with our RV and got our membership fee PLUS back with this very first reservation. NOW that is a discount!~!

When we start our westward journey in the late spring of 2013 we will also join HARVEST HOSTS - they have a list of Wineries and Farms where you can stay ( space available ) for FREE. These places do not have hookups (water-electricity-sewer) - this is called BOONDOCKING. however our RV is self-contained with a generator - fresh water supply - septic tank and propane - so NO PROBLEM!!

Live and learn - PASSPORT AMERICA OUT FOR 2013 --- KOA and HARVEST HOSTS IN FOR 2013.

Well it is suppose to warm up on Sunday - THAT I LIKE :>)

Until next time my friends.

JR :>)

YO MY FRIENDS

2012-03-03T10:11:00.000-08:00

It is a very cold day here in Santa Fe. When I got up at 5:30 this morning it was 15 degrees!!! :>( At present - 10:30am it is 21 degrees and there is a very stiff wind out there - so my guess is with a wind chill factor it feels like about 12 degrees out there! DOUBLE :>( :>(

One of the biggest factors I do not like about Santa Fe is the wind!!!! Last year the winds started on April 1 and did not stop until mid July - it is like "water-torture" it just keeps blowing and you don't even want to go outside! You can't open your windows as dirt is blowing around. I won't miss the winds!!! :>)

We are packing more STUFF up today to put into storage - both long term and for the RV. We'll bring this STUFF down to the Big and Small STORAGE BUNKERS today. I need a couple of pairs of new jeans and will stop at JC Penny as I like their "Arizona Jeans" - they seem to last forever - I hope they still sell them.

Yesterday on the news I heard about the tornadoes in Indiana - I immediately contacted our RV Manufacturer and made sure our new HOME was safe and sound inside a strong structure!!!! WHEW - it was inside - safe and sound!!!!

The VP of the company NEXUS ( www.nexusrv.com ) told me it would be 1 -2 more weeks before completely finished and it would remain inside in the show room until we come to pick it up on 4/5. WOO-HOO!!!!

He said the very large decal of our DREAMCATCHER LOGO has been applied to the back of the RV and looks SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!! I've requested that he DOES NOT send me a photo of the LOGO as I want my first sight of that to be in person on 4/5!!
I designed this and we had a shop in Albuquerque print up some T-shirts and sweatshirts with this logo on the backs. I've gotten quite a few compliments on the design and just received an email from a Blog follower over in England and she asked my permission to use the dreamcatcher as a visual in some research she is doing on dreamcatchers! She will notate credit to me for the design - how COOL is that!!!

Things will start moving very quickly now as we start the WEEK 4 count down on Monday - lots of last minute things to do - to pack - more stuff to donate and a few more things to try and sell. We are going to donate our mattress & box spring & bed frame to the Salvation Army. It is a nice pillow top mattress and not all that old but takes up too much room in a STORAGE BUNKER - so someone in a shelter will have a comfortable bed to sleep on. The last 2 nights of March we will sleep on air mattresses in our TINY UNIT and then move into a nice Best Western for April 1,2,3.

So as I say a lot to do and thinking of more things each day - least we forget something!

Several of my paintings that I really do not want to store in the BIG STORAGE BUNKER are going to be displayed (for sale) in the place of business that a YOGINI friend of Melissa's has generously offered to do for us - such as nice thing to offer!!!
Most Yogini folks I've met are very kind people. Ya gotta LOVE EM!!!!!!

Sooooooo no painting today as we are in RV PREPARATION MODE today - soooooo perhaps tomorrow - TWT!!!!!

Until next time - have a great weekend Remember what they say..........................

Well - I hope you remember because I have no idea what they say - I don't even know who they are!!!!!!

JR :>)

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!!!!

2012-03-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!!!!!!

Can you believe that Martina McBride wrote to JR and that they are "good buds!!!"
He calls her his "GIRL-BUD"

He sure is one lucky DUDE!!!

Hi Blog Buddies - this is JR and I have to say that country & western music is my favorite and concerts by the music stars of today are but just one side adventure we will be making on various legs of our journey. Nashville is one of the many stops planned for our 2012 journey and I've always wanted to "ride the mechanical bull" a Gilley's!!

From what I understand Gilley's is now located in Dallas and I've heard the mechanical bull has been retired!!!!!

Oh well - we can do some "2 STEPPIN'!"

http://gilleysdallas.com/

We also love rodeos and we will take in a few of these as well!

Yesterday, Thursday we went down to the storage facility and moved all the RV items stored from the BIG STORAGE BUNKER into the LITTLE STORAGE BUNKER. We still have a few more things to move over as well as a few things from our TINY UNIT to move into both of our STORAGE BUNKERS.

After all our re-arranging, we will have plenty of room in both BUNKERS to store everything we need to store. The LITTLE STORAGE BUNKER is temporary to be used only for March & April as everything in there will either go into the RV or back into the BIG STORAGE BUNKER and stay there with the rest of the STUFF until...............................................................................................

Today is a lazy day - got some RV administrative things to take care of and perhaps start a painting TWT.

Until next time - have a great day and a wonderful upcoming weekend!

JR :>)

Hi JR

2012-03-01T07:23:00.001-08:00

Hello JR - long time no see!!!!

Hey JR this is Martina McBride I've been on the road so I have not been able to keep up with your blog. We are heading to Phoenix and I'll be giving a concert at the Good Sam RV Rally - hope you can make it.

I'll send you a copy of my concert schedule and I sure hope you can stop in for one of them. Of course back stage passes will be waiting for you as usual.

Your RV adventure sounds wonderful and once you get my schedule please plan a trip in my direction.

Miss you and your DW Melissa - I got a copy of her book and I just loved it!!!

Everyone should read The Christmas Village!

I also noticed a couple of your paintings that I want for my tour bus - so we can talk about that next time I see you.

XOX - Martina

DAY OFF

2012-02-29T11:30:00.002-08:00

Yo my friends,

Well, today is Wednesday - food shooping day - errands to run etc. I started by taking my DW Melissa to the Yoga studio and then went food shopping - came home - put the stuff away and then went on my way to complete many errands. Most of which were RV related other than my stop at Sam's Club for my weekly donation for OVERSIZED items!!!!

So I just got home and I've decided to take the day off - no painting - no NOTHING!!!!

I'll pick up my DW about 3:00 and I hope we can go for a nice long brisk walk down around the Plaza (center) of Santa Fe. We love it down there and the walking is great - lots of sidewalks and a maze of side streets off the one Main street. None of the buldings are allowed to be over 3 or 4 stories and most of them in the Plaza area are very old adobe buildings with a lot of character.

I may not get much painting in tomorrow as we are going down to the STORAGE BUNKER and move the RV related items out of the BIG STORAGE BUNKER into the temporary (2-month rental) TINY STORAGE BUNKER!

Make things easy - keep thing simple --- two of our mantras we try to live by and we have a couple of others like ---- get things free - no rushing!!! It's really amazing how many "free" things there are out there - just look for them and they show up. Lots of tourist spots around here are free - such as the Bataan Museum we went to last weekend. One of our favorite things to do although not free - but for the price of a cup of coffee - we go to ECCO our farovite Coffee Bistro and SIP & WATCH!! Santa Fe is filled with some very ODD acting - dressed - people and you can spend a couple of hours people watching. Also sitting on the park benches around the Plaza - you can see some pretty weird sights as well as weird tourists. Lots of FUN!!!!

Spell check is still not working - sooooooo spelling errors are not my fault!!!!

Until next time..........................................................

JR :>)

I'M BACK AGAIN - AGAIN

2012-02-28T11:51:00.000-08:00

Yo Dudes,

When I finish a painting, I sit it in a corner and on occasion I look at it to see what needs to be corrected/tweaked. Well sometimes I decide that I do not like the painting at all and that gives me some choices:

1. Tear it up
2. Paint over it
3. Salvage parts of it and change the entire concept of the piece

After looking at the painting I did this morning - I decided I did not like it at all!!!!!!

Sooooooo i said to myself - "Self - which option will you select to correct this piece?"

I decided on #3! This will be a good demo lesson for my blog buddies in the correction and tweaking and actual revamping of a ~~completed~~ piece.

What didn't I like about the original - EVERYTHING!!!!!

OK - let's begin. This is the original piece as done.

After close examination - I found the wave to be too big and it just did not give the visual effect of the thought I woke up with this morning - that being:
A monochromatic painting with a splash of color.

Following is the painting as changed, which is pretty much a complete change other than leaving the sky and the horizon line of the original piece untouched.

What I did accomplish was a complete COVERING UP of the wave and the design and implementation of some dune foliage ( I love dunes ) in the FG and then for the touch of color a small but very bright and obvious wave in the middle ground.

BAM

The first painting as completed has been altered and IMHO transformed into a much better painting which in fact depicts the thought I woke up with this morning in my sick little mind!!! :>)

Now I'm HAPPY

"DISTANT WAVE"

8 x 10 on Heavy Linen Paper

Some closeups for my ~~ANAL~~ WHOOPS "ATTENTIVE" blog buddies

HOW HE DO DAT??????

I hope you enjoyed my demo on how to fix a CRAPPY PAINTING! :>)

THIS MY FRIENDS IS HOW WE & I LEARN - IT IS A NEVER ENDING PROCESS

JR :>)

I'm Baaaaaacccccckkkkkkkk

2012-02-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

Hello Again,

Well - laundry is all folded and I put together a loose and quick painting - trying to incorporate the thought that I woke up with this morning.

You know those TV commercials that are in black & white but yet there is a spot of color within all that black & white? Well my wake up thought this morning was a MONOCHROMATIC painting with some color introduced.

I choose an ocean scene as they are fast and easy to do - so Let's begin!

I must once again apologize as I did not take many progression photos - I did this one so fast there really was not time to stop and take many photos.

I first of course start with a blank surface and merely put in a horizon line - making sure it is less than or more than the half way measurement of the height of the surface. WHY??? CORRECT!!!!! A painting cut exactly in half will look like crappola!!!!

Not exactly rocket science is it!!!!!

Next, using a big brush and blobs and globs of color I throw in the sky - using 3 or 4 different colors - dark at the top and lighter at the bottom. WHY???? Because that is the way skies are!!!

OK - not much of an explanation was it!!!! Mainly it is painted dark to light (top to bottom) as the dark part represents the part that is sort of closest to you and the lighter part at the horizon line is the furthest from you - so dark to light gives the painting DIMENSION!!!

A close up of the GRADATION used in developing this DIMENSION.

"GRADATION" is artist lingo!!!! :>)

I do not talk in artist lingo very often - cause I think it's SILLY!

I'm just a normal guy and talk normal - like:

HEY DUDE WHAT'S HAPPENIN'

OK - the rest is the part that I neglected to take progress photos so I need you to help with a little bit of imagination!

BAM

We have MONOCHROMATIC WITH A TOUCH OF COLOR

8 x 10 on Heavy Linen Paper

"OCEAN SPLASH"

For my "ATTENTIVE" blog buddies--

HOW HE DO DAT??????

Sky and horizon line

The Wave

Those of you having famililarity with the ocean and its wave action I'm sure will remember the "splashing action" that takes place when the wave comes down onto the shore. It is this "splashing action" that I have tried to freeze in time within this painting - thus the title - "OCEAN SPLASH."

Well, that was fun - it was quick and it is semi loose - a style which I enjoy the most.

I've decided that I will hang onto my painting supplies for a while rather then pack them all up and move them to storage. I've got realistically a couple more weeks that I can paint and I'm not a barrel of laughs when I'm NOT PAINTING!!!!

My DW suggested this as she KNOWS ME !!!!!

However that said - and I just said it -- I'm going to concentrate on

MONOCHROMATICE pieces until the time I'm FORCED to pack up my painting supplies!!!

Sooooooo I hope you enjoyed this demo which incorporated the very first waking thought in my sick little mind this morning.

Take care my friends and if you have a chance give someone a helping hand today - if the chance does not just happen - make it happen - it will make you smile and we all know:

IT TAKES LESS FACIAL MUSCLES TO SMILE THAN FROWN!!! :>(

Spell check on google blog is not working today so I accept no responsibility for mis-spelled words!!

JR :>)

Good Morning

2012-02-28T07:53:00.000-08:00

Yo my Blog Buddies,

Well - today is Tuesday and for those of you who follow me often must realize by now that Tuesday is laundry day and house cleaning day!!!! :>(

As I've pointed out in the past - when we sold our home almost 6 months ago, we vacated about 1,700 sq ft and moved into our TINY UNIT which consists of 850 s ft. In 5 weeks we will move into our RV and that consists of approximately 250 sq ft!!!!! YIKES!!!!!

Living for the past 5 months in our TINY UNIT, we have learned how to live in much less space and how to eliminate those things that really are not needed - but nice to have laying around for the occasional once or twice a year use.

We are minimalists ---- having trimmed down our STUFF when we moved from Arizona to New Mexico 5 years ago and once we arrived here, we trimmed down our STUFF again as we unpacked. We trimmed down our STUFF once again when moving into our TINY UNIT - in preparation for our RV. We donated a tremendous amount of STUFF and we also sold some STUFF. Of course we have a LARGE STORAGE BUNKER full of STUFF that we just can't get rid of and it will stay in the LARGE STORAGE BUNKER until...............................

Any hoooooooooo the house is all cleaned and the laundry is all washed and in the dryers. In about 15 minutes the stove buzzer will go off and it will be time for me to head down into the bowels of our building - into the dark dingy laundry room and get the dried laundry.

After folding all the STUFF - I will start a painting.

A thought came to me when I woke up this morning - my mind is always working - I'm surprised I have not worn it out!!!! I shall try and incorporate that awakening idea into the painting I do this morning!

I shall finish this blog post once the painting is done - so I'm off to complete my assigned tasks - back in a while------------------------------------------------------------------
.................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
................... :>)

YO MY GOOD FRIENDS

2012-02-27T10:09:00.001-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

During the past week I heard via email from 2 cousins, Marjorie and Donna. I have not had contact with them for quite a long time - for all the stupid reasons - people get busy, people move to different parts of the country, people just don't have the time and all the other stupid stuff!!!!! :>(

Their mother and father - my Auntie Kay and Uncle Donald were my most favorite people when growing up. My dad was kind of a stick in the mud - nice guy but way too serious and just did not know how to have a good time. HOWEVER------ that said and I just said it - Auntie Kay & Uncle Donald just could not seem to NOT HAVE A GOOD TIME. I used to visit them and I would stay the whole summer (if I could), it depended on my grumpy dad!!! I absolutely loved going to stay with them and every visit be it for a week or two or just an afternoon - are indeed some of my fondest memories growing up. Auntie Kay was my mother's sister.

So - a family connection was re-established and it feels good!

OK - I had some RV administrative duties to perform this morning and after that I decided to do a MONOCHROMATIC OCEAN scene. Perhaps a strange choice, but this whole MONOCHROMATIC thing has my interest as I used to love those OLD WEST sepia photographs you could get taken - you know those ones where you put on the old time dusty - smelly outfits and had some SEPIA photos taken!

Sooooo anyhoooooo - MONOCHROMATIC work my not be to the liking of everyone but as I like to say "IT'S MY BLOG AND I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT!" :>)

I did not take progress photos as I do most of the time as I've got 4,271 things on my mind with the moving-the packing-the RV-the increasing gas prices-the laundry-the food shopping-the............................................ well - you get the idea. Sooooooo taking progress photos totally escaped my overloaded mind!!

This presentation will be quick - the painting was done with a large brush - wet into wet - very quickly - with emotion - expression of stroke and a shot of gusto for good measure!

"A shot of gusto" - that makes me smile JR!!!!! You one funny guy!!!!

Well - I try!!!!

OK back to business - the first thing I do is throw and I mean THROW in the sky

You buddies know me - when I work quickly - WATCH OUT!!!

8 x 10 "MONOCHROMATIC OCEAN"

ON HEAVY LINEN PAPER

The lady in the third row - 4th seat from the left just whispered to her friend "a sky should not be brown!"

OH MAN------- I will say it one more time and one more time only this is a

MONOCHROMATIC PAINTING!!!

Excuse me lady-------------- did you just ask me what a

MONOCHROMATIC PAINTING IS???!!!???

Would the security guard please escort this lady and her sidekick OUT!!!!

OK - WHEW - I will have to beef up security again at the front door! :>)

OK - as I mentioned I did not take progress photos I did however take some close ups!

BAM - DONE!!!!!!

Now for my ~~ANAL~~ WHOOPS my "ATTENTIVE" buddies

HOW HE DO DAT?????

Well -I hope you enjoyed this demo I had fun doing it and I have to say that I'm still liking the MONOCHROMATIC style so I may do a few more before I get it out of my system and then perhaps later I'll go back to it again.

I will be teaching very, very informal SHORT PAINTING DEMOS while going from place to place on our RV journey and I'm thinking this MONOCHROMATIC approach might be good for this as the first thing people who are learning ask is

"What colors should I use?"

MONOCHROMATIC sure would limit their choices and make my job easier too!!

I think I mentioned that the name of our RV is DREAMCATCHERS

I designed a logo and this logo in a format of L-31 x W 15 will be on the back of our RV - dead center and we also had some T-shirts and sweat shirts made up with the logo on the back. How COOL is that!!!!!!

OUR LOGO

If you are behind us - TOOT - we'll stop and let you buy us LUNCH!!!!

JR :>)

COUNT DOWN BEGINS!!!!!

2012-02-26T11:05:00.003-08:00

Hello Blog Buddies,

Well we are in COUNT DOWN MODE!!!!

ONLY 5 MORE WEEKS BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR ELKHART INDIANA TO PICK UP OUR NEW HOME - OUR 31 FOOT SELF CONTAINED MOTOR HOME!!!!!

WOO-HOO!!!!!!

ARE YOU SURE YOU COUNTED RIGHT?????

I THINK YOU ARE OFF BY A COUPLE OF WEEKS!!!!

YES!!!!!!! ONLY 5 MORE WEEKS TO GO DUDE!!!

We went down to the STORAGE BUNKER today and tried to move things around to see if we can fit in the remaining items to be stored when we move out of our TINY UNIT on 4/1.

There are quite a few packed boxes in the STORAGE BUNKER A.K.A.

THE BUNKER which are slated to go into the RV - however we can't put this stuff into the RV until we return to Santa Fe with the RV!!!!! DUH!!!!!

Therefore we determined we need to rent A TINY STORAGE BUNKER perhaps 5x5 for the month of March and April.

This will "MAKE THINGS EASY AND KEEP THINGS SIMPLE!!"

Two Mantras we live by!!!! :>)

Soooo we shall rent this TINY STORAGE BUNKER, move all the RV related "STUFF" in, as well as all my painting gear and supplies - thereby leaving enough space for the items from our TINY UNIT to fit into the long term STORAGE BUNKER!

END OF PROBLEM!!!

:>)

Our DUCKS are all starting to line up in a row now - a few do stray off now and then - however it won't be long and they will be standing straight - still and tall - awaiting marching instructions!

Have a nice day my friends and remember as you go through life---------------------------

HE WHO HESITATES IS IN DOUBT

If you have something to do - JUST DO IT - AND SMILE!!!

Until next time-----------------------------------------------------

JR :>)

Good Morning Blog Buddies

2012-02-24T11:03:00.000-08:00

YO my friends,

Google Blog seems to be still working - so I shall stick with this Blog until and only if Google Blog becomes a PITA!!! The Word Press Blog I have been playing around with will only become a reality if and when Google Blog becomes no more fun to use any longer. Soooooooooo Stay with my RVPAINTER Blog until notified otherwise.

I worked up a 2nd "MONOCHROMATIC" painting the other day - I'm finding these very interesting to do as well as a lot of fun - to my eyes it gives a totally new perspective to the various scenes - sort of like those sepia photos of long ago! (when I was just a wee little child! :>)

Sooooo here is "MONOCHROMATIC NO. II"

10 x 8 on heavy Linen paper

A quick sketch with a round brush to give me a road map to work with

I drop in some more color - this painting is being done with a big brush

OK - I drop in some shadow color cast onto the surface upon which the objects sit as well as the cast shadows caused by the light from the left

Time for some FG and BG and tweaks here and there - this is the "TOP SECRET" part which I do not show all of my secrets!

OK - pretty close - just some more tweaks - I'll be back in a moment as I don't want any one to peak at what I do to get to the finish painting - that's the real SECRET part!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK - I'M BACK!!!

Well, this was fun and I may do an ocean/dune scene in the MONOCHROMATIC style just to see how it appears - I think I will make it more in line with the sepia tones

TWT

OK my friends I hope the day and the weekend is good to Y'all. We are going to breakfast tomorrow with some friends Donna & John - real nice folks and then we are going to the Bataan Museum which is on our list of things to do before we leave Santa Fe

LATER DUDES

JR :>)

I'm back on Google Blog

2012-02-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hi Blog Buddies,

Well Google - or my computer has started working again!!!! Will wonders never cease?

I will still develop a Blog on Word Press and see if that proves to be a better alternative than Google. Google is old software that Google does not support or enhance.

However that said - one of the last paintings I did I found fault with it as to the two vases the same size - one on the left and one on the right. So I thought I would lengthen the vase on the left - however I decided to add another vase being the vase on the left.

This did two things - eliminate the vases of same size and it added one more element to the painting - both of these IMHO improved the painting.

This is where it ended up the other day - you can see the right and left vases are the same height which to my eye creates a stagnant vision. Stagnant in the sense that the eye does not know where to look - left or right - so the eye goes to the middle and stays there! MY BAD!!!!!

Now this is the adjusted painting - which I think you will agree is more interesting and the eye is allowed to move around the painting.

Can you see the improvement?

OK - how long will Google Blog continue to work - ?????????

Until next time my friends

JR :>)

I'm Moving Blog

2012-02-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

You know how over in the UK they say, "I'm moving house"? Well, I'm moving blog, or at least I'm attempting it - I have to figure out a whole new program. Geez. Does it never end????

I'm trying out Wordpress, which some people seem to like better than blogger. We'll see. Anyway, to read today's post, please go HERE!

Let me know what you think!

I'M TOO OLD FOR THIS!!!

JR :>)

YO BLOG BUDDIES

2012-02-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

Welllllllll - we moved into our TINY UNIT at the end of September 2011 with a 6 month lease. 6 months seemed soooooo long and now there is only 6 weeks remaining on our lease! WOW!!! Time has gone by fast - it's been a pleasant stay - the UNIT is comfortable - TINY - but comfortable. It is a very quiet UNIT on the 3rd floor (top floor) of a complex with most of the residents seeming to work during the day and not a lot of kids which accounts for the quietness.

The TINY UNIT is about 1/2 the size of the house we sold and this worked out well as it gave us a chance to live in smaller space which will be of benefit when we get our RV as the RV will be LESS THEN HALF THE SIZE OF THIS TINY UNIT. We will be living in about 300 sq ft. (or LESS) in our RV - nice and COMFY & COZY!!!

Soooooo with that said and I just said it --- we shall begin today's demo.

These are very small paintings - I was cleaning up my area - getting ready to pack stuff up and I found these 2 canvas panels - don't know where they came from but I'll make use of them!!! They are 4 x 6 - as I say they are SMALL.

Soooooo let's begin - I've decided to do a couple of ocean/dune scenes as when we reach S. Carolina in mid May for a weeks stay I plan on painting plein air at the ocean pretty much every day and they will be ocean/dune scenes which S. Carolina is well know for.

You can get a sense of the smallness based on the Q-tips I've placed at the side and bottom of the canvas panel.

I'm using someone elses computer to try and finish this post as Google Blog no longer works on my computer.
The short of it is I have a cheap little ACER netbook computer. ACER NETBOOKS are a piece of CRAP! Never ever buy any ACER product - CHEAP CRAP!!!! Google Blog is also CRAP - it is very awkward to use and 50% of the time does not run correctly - couple that with a CRAP WiFi provider Century Link who get worse every day!

I will start posting again as soon as I can figure out a way to do so - short of buying a new computer as that AIN"T in the budget right now.

So hang tight and I shall return ------ sometime.

JR :>(

Hello Blog Buddies

2012-02-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is another Monday and we have about 6 more weeks before we leave for Elkhart Indiana to pick up our new home! WOO-HOO!!!

This means I'VE got 6 - 7 more laundries to do and 6 - 7 more times to clean the TINY UNIT!! DOUBLE WOO-HOO

OK - time to compete the painting I started the other day B4 I took a couple of days off. This is the point where we stopped the other day.

This painting will be the complete opposite of the MONOCHROMATIC painting I did earlier this morning. I don't know what got into me buT my brain and my painting arm wanted to do its own THANG!!!!

This piece "MY COMPLIMENTS" will be completed in my QUICK/SLOPPY style and I would say that this one is about 2 degrees from this side of SLOPPY and I consider it to be SEMI-ABSTRACT - no bout a doubt it!!! :>)

We ended up at this point the other day:

OK - I'm going to finish this piece off with my trusty palette knife MAC!!!

With a touch here and there with my largest brush.

For some reason my brain is not working today as once again I did not take any progress photos - working wet into wet with MAC requires a small amount of concentration - a small amount is about all I'm capable of!!! :>)

BAM - WE ARE DONE!!!

DAMN GOOD JOB JR!!!!!

THUMBS UP BABIE!!!!

THANKS - THAT MEANS A LOT ELVIRA

( SHE WAS MY FIRST ART TEACHER - JUST KIDDING - I DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS WOMAN!!!!)

Some how she hacked into my blog!!!!!! :>(

A critique if I may. I will most likely go into the painting and add some height to the blue vase on the left as the painting is

TOO BALANCED" with the left and right vases being the same height!

MY BAD!!!

OK now for some close ups for my "ATTENTIVE" blog buddies;

HOW HE DO DAT????

99% MAC the palette knife using bright-bold-sassy- color with total freedom of stroke and lots of emotion - expression - gusto and in this piece ATTITUDE!!!!!

Enjoy the day my friends.

JR :>)

MONOCHROMATIC STUDY

2012-02-20T09:11:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Started a new painting this morning before finishing up the one I started a couple of days ago. I woke up this morning with the word MONOCHROMATIC in my mind.
WHY??? HELL I have no idea!!!

First off I had to box up a painting that I'm shipping to N. Carolina for an RV couple that I met on an RV blog and they follow my RVPAINTER BLOG.

I have to say that I got so involved in this MONOCHROMATIC painting that I totally neglected to take any progress photos!!! DUH!!!!

To be honest I was so mesmerized as to how the painting was progressing that I was engulfed into it!

This started out as a QUICK/SLOPPY ( maybe 10 degrees this side of SLOPPY ) and for some reason I became totally involved in the texture and the shading of the monochromatic color scheme. I rarely get that involved with any painting - most of the time my hand is moving and dipping but my strange little mind is out in left field some place!!

I did a free hand sketch using a neutral color and a round brush - no pre-sketching with pencil and no pre-thought out design - JUST PAINT IT!!!!

I started to inject DETAIL ( I don't use that word very often!!) into the painting and for my current state of QUICK/SLOPPY this piece is 80 degrees this side of that style. WHY DID I DO THAT - HELL I DON'T KNOW!!!!

9 x 12 on a single sheet of primed canvas - using 3 colors

Titan Buff (light color)
Bronze Yellow (darker color)
Titanium White (for highlight only)

Some close ups for my ~~ANAL~~ WHOOPS "ATTENTIVE" blog buddies

Hope you enjoyed this demo - I can honestly say that I fully enjoyed doing it.

A departure from my current pathway of painting progression but yet a very enjoyable departure.

GOOD JOB - YOU DA MAN JR

JR :>)

Good Morning

2012-02-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well, I'm taking another day off today - the last one felt so good I decided on another!

My DW and I took a real long brisk walk this morning a good hour long, all around the Plaza area downtown Santa Fe. Walking briskly is the best exercise for me - coupled with watching my diet very carefully - it sure does take off the pounds. Since starting this (latest) diet about 6 months ago, I've lost about 25 pounds. Feels good - it should also help with the BP and I'm back down to a 34 waist.

Good news today - got up - weighed myself - 149 1/2 I WON HE WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE!!!!!!

As my prize I've chosen breakfast at one of our most favorite restaurants - and I will get my favorite breakfast burrito!!!!

I will continue to diet right up until April 1 and then relax and just try to maintain the 150 weight but I figure if I can drop another 5 pounds I can have a real fun time putting it back on!!!!! Going out to Elkhart Indiana - spending 5 days out there and then 4 days to return to Santa Fe with the RV, we will be eating out a lot so I really feel the need to drop another 5-7 pounds in preparation for our trip!

There is a nice restaurant in Elkhart called the Chubby Trout - great food - and woderful dessets but I will hold off on the desserts and concentrate on the fish!!!
We found another great restaurant - I forget the name - sort of a PUB and I had the best crab cakes there that I've ever had and I've had a lot of crab cakes!!! Which is way I may be so crabby!!!!!

We, my friends take care and remember as you go through life--------------------------

THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM THE SECOND MOUSE GETS THE CHEESE!!!!!!

JR :>)

MY COMPLIMENTS

2012-02-18T09:04:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

My DW has gone off to do some Yoga so I decided to play with another QUICK/SLOPPY. Not sure if I will finish it today but TWT

The title refers to the paints used - COMPLIMENTS

Red & Green are compliments
Blue & Orange are compliments

Using complimentary colors presents the opportunity to make these colors stand out as they COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER!!! In this piece, the red vase will tend to compliment the larger green vase (due to size) so the green vase will appear to stand out as brighter - the same case happens with the blue and orange vase.

They brighten and enliven one another!

I of course started with a blank canvas! I'm using brushes for this piece however that said - and I just said it - I'm using the brushes in a "palette knife" manner in that I put blobs and globs of paint onto the brush and apply it as with a palette knife. My brushes have very long handles on them so I stand about 3-4 feet away from my palette and painting surface - this gives me better vision and it allows me to SHOOSH with VIGOR!!! Using the brushes in a palette knife fashion gives a tremendous amount of texture and also with a light touch of hand - it allows for "surface blending" of colors without creating the "DREADED MUD."

BAM!

A few close-ups so the texture and blending can be seen - beside which it will give my "ATTENTIVE BUDDIES" a few goose bumps :>)

The BG & FG will be the hardest part of this piece - especially since I have no idea of what they will be or how they will look!!! :>(

Some times painting from the HIP (no pre-planning) can be a detriment to the painting process - in which case - when that happens - it is time for a break!!! :>)

When my DW comes home for Yoga we are going for a nice long - brisk walk. The lunch we had Thursday was very nice - however it is our favorite restaurant and they specialize in the most wonderful deserts - influenced by the FRENCH!

They were SINFUL and WEIGHTFUL!!!!!

My diet efforts were damaged so now instead of only one pound to lose to reach my goal - i have 2 pounds to lose!!! :>(

MY BAD!!!

I will now have a 100 calorie no fat yogurt for lunch and that's all I'll have!!!

I've just got to win this weight loss contest I have with my DW!!!!

Guess what????????

If I win, I want to be taken to breakfast!!!!!

Geeeezzzzzzzz I'll never learn!! :>)

Well, until I return to finish this piece - have a wonderful week-end and ENJOY LIFE!

JR :>)

MAC & BART

2012-02-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Buddies,

I've decided that until March 1st or better stated - up until the time I pack away my painting gear I will concentrate on very quickly executed still life and landscape pieces.

These will be done with both brush and palette knife individually and collectively with each instrument of my trade! (That's painter talk!) :>)

The plein air painting I will be doing when we start our RV life, will be the perfect setting to work on perfecting a style that I consider to be my current path to follow. As we know, that style most of the time will be LOOSE done with - EMOTION - EXPRESSION - SPONTANEITY - GUSTO done within varying degrees of this side of:

SLOPPY

The other day I came across an artist who describes his painting style and to me it describes what I am trying to accomplish in my walk down the current path of working on a LOOSE style. Following is a portion of his quote which pertains to my quest:

Thomas Kitts "When people view my work I want them to see a painting, not a photograph. I want them to experience a surface rife with color, texture, and movement, yet also connect to the reality that gave birth to the art. Up close, I want my surfaces to explode. From a distance, to reassemble back into a whole...................................."

I will never be a detailed - photo realistic paint nor do I want to be. My enjoyment is having FUN while painting and to that end - the LOOSER the better.

This piece is done in that regard.

"MAC & BART"

12 X 9 on a single primed canvas sheet

As part of the "LOOSE" adventure I will also adopt a beginning of free hand sketching with a small round brush -I feel this process will "establish" the ground work for the boundaries of "LOOSENESS" within each piece.

Soooooooo - enough of the BS and OFF WE GO ------------------

First the free hand quick sketch - QUICK is the the operative word from now on - all process of painting will be QUICK!!!

This is but a "base" color used for the sketching process. Are the shapes perfect? NO! Do the shapes have to be perfect? HOLY CRAP --- I hope not!!! Perfection or close to it is not LOOSE or QUICK!!!!!

Those metal objects on the right are "bulldog clips" which is how I hold my canvas (single sheets) on the easel - I also have wax paper taped on behind the canvas as I'm SLOPPY and I use a lot of arm movement and QUICK strokes with a "follow-through" that takes the painting instrument right off the canvas!!!!!

Soooooo we have a BEGINNING!

Next I throw in some color for my road map and when I say THROW - I meant THROW!

I'm using a big brush for this piece and I load it up with blobs & globs of color and apply it to the canvas with LOOSENESS in my mind!

OK - more blobs & globs of color!

As a side note, the shiny surface you see on the right is a reflection of the lighting on the very wet/thick blobs & globs of paint.

A close up just to tease the "ATTENTIVE" BUDS

OK --- now to finish this up!

We need to do some tweaking some softening of edges, some BG and some FG

and DIS & DAT!!

Need to define the direction of the light source - from the left

Also I'll throw in some FG while I'm at it!

This is a good time to slap in the BG and the cast shadows from the pears (BART)

I also need to put a stem on that apple - it looks NAKID!!!!

I think this will just about finish this puppy up!

BAM

WE ARE FINISHED!!

OK - now for some "ATTENTIVE" buddy close ups

HOW HE DO DAT??????

Well my friends, QUICK - LOOSE - EXPRESSIVE - EMOTION

SPONTANEITY - GUSTO

SEMI-ABSTRACT

A FEW DEGREES THIS SIDE OF SLOPPY

This is the path I'm going down - not that I won't venture off it on occasion but for the most part this is where I'm finding my painting enjoyment.

Hope you enjoyed the demo.

Until next time - it's Friday so I hope all you Buddies have a wonderful weekend.

JR :>)

A DAY OFF

2012-02-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well, today is going to be a day off from painting. I don't do that very often but today I will.

I have to deliver a painting today that I sold a couple of weeks ago - it is H-48 x W-30
a big one - one of my favorites. The $'s received will go into the "RV Fund."

I'm getting a little nervous regarding all the predictions of increasing gas prices that in some cities could approach $5.00 a gallon. When you figure most likely our 10 cyl 6.8 Engine, 13,500 LB 31' RV - towing a 2,800 LB car will get about 8 miles per gallon, high gas prices are YIKES - scary at best!!!! I'll let you do the math to figure out cost per mile driven - 8 miles per gallon and let's assume $4.25 per gallon - - - HOLY CRAP!!!

In 1961- 1962 I lived in San Antonio Texas and if my memory serves me gas was around 28 - 30 cents a gallon.

There are ways to compensate for increases in gas prices and perhaps the most effective way is to stay longer at each RV park and not use as much gas. We I'm sure will start staying a minimum of 2 weeks and when possible we'll stay a month. In conjunction with this, driving shorter distances between stops is another way to cut costs down. There is so much to see across the United States!

After delivering the painting, my DW and I are going out to lunch. Once in a while you need to forget the diet for a day and ENJOY. The other thing is your body gets use to dieting and shuts down and says "I'm not going to lose anymore weight until you eat something!!"

So y'all enjoy your day and perhaps come Friday I'll be in front of the easel once again.

LATER DUDES

JR :>)

I'M BACK!!!!

2012-02-15T11:32:00.000-08:00

Good Afternoon Blog Buddies,

Well I finished up the painting I started yesterday. I had a title all picked out for this painting - which WAS - "The Sentries" Woke up this morning to some snow - I do not like snow - as we all know, I'm allergic to it!!!! :>(

My DW insists I'm not allergic to snow - she say I'm just a sissy!!! :>(

(That HURTS!!!)

Anyhoooooooo upon seeing the "WHITE STUFF" this morning and after having to go out in it to buy some groceries - I decided to change the title of the painting!!!

It is now titled "Rumor has it he saw his shadow"

This was painted 98% with my trusty palette knife MAC and a few stray brush strokes here and there. It is done with caution thrown to the wind and is a loose border-line semi-abstract piece done with lots of expression - emotion - spontaneity and perhaps 10 degrees this side of SLOPPY!

This is where we left off yesterday.

The finish will happen quickly as we all know lots of paint gets applied very quickly with MAC my knife so here we GO

In goes the undercoat for the background - we'll add to and adjust it as we progress

Some darkening was added for several reasons:

1. added depth of field

2. visual forward movement of the trees

3. more contrast

Now the BG needs to be finished - adding the indications of other trees in the distance as well as a snowy appearance into the woods

Additionally the FG needs to be added to augment the presence of snow as well as the cast shadows of the FG trees.

BAM - BAM - BAM

WE ARE DONE!!

Some close ups for the ~~ANAL~~ whoops - the ATTENTIVE CROWD

HOW HE DO DAT???

Well my friends - I hope you enjoyed this demo - I had lots of fun with it as I very much enjoy working with MAC - my knife - and I love this loose style that MAC can produce.

If you look closely, there are sections that he produces a "marbleized effect to the blending of paints."

HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!

JR :>)

HOWDY

2012-02-15T09:20:00.000-08:00

Howdy Y'all,

JR wanted me to welcome you guys this morning as he is out doing the food shopping and running some errands.

I'm JEB - I'm going to be showing JR and his DW around the RV Resort that they will be staying at for a week in early May here in San Antonio TX.

I think they will need some help with the RV as this is the first one they ever done had!!!! The first thing they will need help with is backing that 31 foot RV onto their site pad. I'm going to let JR try it and if I'm not laughing too hard I may help him :>) After I let him struggle a bit!!!! Ya see - here in TEXAS y'all need to know how to fend for yourselves cause this ain't no sissy state!!!

I'll jump in and help - just before he starts cussing or crying!! Backing up a 31' RV is no piece of cake. JR has a rear camera - that just might stop ya from running over someone or hitting a tree or fence! I know JR's DW Melissa will be outside the RV using a walkie talkie to try and guide and assist him - let's hope she can do it! I understand JR can get his lefts and rights mixed up! :>) However I'll make sure they finally get settled in!

The next fun thing will be the first time they have to empty their black water tank - the equivalent of a septic tank in a home. Now that should be one of the funniest things I'll most likely see during their week here in San Antonio. I sure am going to have some fun! I just love watching a NEWBIE try to do RV things!!! :>)

I know - I know - he has been studying and watching RV videos, but that book learning stuff just ain't the REAL THING!!!

OK - he should be home soon - Sooooooooo let's keep our conversation private just between us'ins!!!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Blog Buddies,

I'm back from my grocery shopping - we got some snow last night - just a dusting+ but then it froze and the going was quite slippery and slow.

I had my GOOD FRIEND JEB from San Antonio fill in for me as I knew I would be late getting back home this morning. ISN'T HE A COOL GUY - AND SO HELPFUL!!!!

I met him on an RV blog and when he found out we were coming to San Antonio for a week at the beginning of May - he told me that he lives in San Antonio and would give us a helping hand getting settled as this is our very first RV! Now that is a pretty friendly and kind thing to do.

Well, I'm going to try a finish up the painting I started yesterday of the aspens & pines and then perhaps start another one as I only have about 15 more days to paint as all my painting "STUFF" needs to get packed up come the first week of March!

March will be busy - getting ready to move out of our TINY UNIT as well as trying to fit everything into our STORAGE BUNKER. Additionally I want to bone up on all my RV videos and articles I've accumulated over the past year. Of great importance will be the driving videos as I'm still a bit concerned about tooling down the road in a 31 foot RV with a 10 foot long car in tow. YIKES - HOLY CRAP!!!!!

Plus I don't want JEB to think that I'm just a dumb old NEWBIE ------ I'm sure he won't!!!!!

Well I may return later today with a finished painting TWT :>)

Enjoy your day and make it a nice day for others - open a door for someone - say YO to someone - so easy to do and when that person smiles - you'll be happy.

JR :>)

DEFINITIONS

2012-02-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

I have said many times that my style is gravitating to a very looser style - bordering on semi-abstract and just 3 degrees this side of SLOPPY.

I found a quote today by an artist who sees his paintings taking a road similar to my road - one that may not be travelled by as many as go down other roads but yet a road that brings pleasure to both the artist and the viewers. Not all viewers like "LOOSE" paintings which is why there are many styles of painting. The bottom line --- the painter needs to be comfortable in their process and of course results. In line with that famous saying:

"PAINT A PICTURE AND THEY WILL COME"

Weeeellll it was something like that!!!! :>)

OH yes - the saying by another artist I found today - how easily I forget!!!

Thomas Kitts "When people view my work I want them to see a painting, not a photograph. I want them to experience a surface rife with color, texture, and movement, yet also connect to the reality that gave birth to the art. Up close, I want my surfaces to explode. From a distance, to reassemble back into a whole...................................."
HOLY CRAP!!!! This guy read my mind!!!!!

OK - onward and forward my soldiers.

Today I decided to do a palette knife painting of TREES! YEP - TREES.

As most of you folks know, I love aspen and pine trunks and perhaps I paint too many of them - I also love pears and perhaps I paint too many of these - but you know what they say!!!!! At least I hope you know what they say - because I have no friggin IDEA!!!!

This is just the beginning and I may finish this later - after MY NAP!!!!

12 x 9 on a single sheet of primed canvas done with my trusty palette knife -- MAC!!!!

This being another loose one without any pre-planning or sketching it will fall into the category of "JUST PAINT IT"

Very quickly I knife in some trunks - aspen & pine. You will notice there are 6 trunks - an EVEN number and we all know things should be presented in ODD numbers. Why? I'm told it just looks better which I must say I find ODD!!!! :>)

OK a few more swipes with MAC and it will be time for a cup of 100 calorie no fat yogurt and a NAPPY-POO

A few closeups to hold the interest of my "ATTENTIVE" BUDDIES

Well - until I return - enjoy the remainder of the day and

BE COOL!!

JR :>)

ANOTHER TUESDAY

2012-02-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

Yo my Blog Buddies,

Well another laundry - TINY UNIT cleaning day arrives. More importantly VALENTINE DAY has arrived - SOOOO don't say you were not informed!!!!!!!

The TINY UNIT is all cleaned - the laundry is washed and in 29 minutes I shall wander down to the bowels of our building and get the laundry out of the dryers - fold it - and put it away.

Today I have some more RV administrative duties to do. I told my DW last nite that I needed to get my ducks in a row for the desired early reservations to be made for the Keys.

I was informed that she does not want any DUCKS in our RV as they are not clean!!!!

Soooo NO DUCKS!!!! DAMN!!!!! :>)

Many RV-ers do not make reservations they sort of wander from place to place in a semi-vagabond style and stay where they can find a spot. My DW and I are PLANNERS!!!!! We pretty much know where we want to go and next winter from about November 1 thru March is going to be spent in various areas of Florida - including the Keys. Welllllllll NO BIG SURPRISE - RV PARKS IN FLORIDA FILL UP IN THE WINTER MONTHS DUH!! So we have reservations already made at various spots starting November 1, 2012 up to January 15, 2013. I will now start trying to get reservations at various Florida State Parks from 1/15/13 thru March 2013.
Most of the time it only requires a deposit so lots of $$$$$$$$ do not have to be put out in advance. The major advantages are, you are sure to get a spot, you can look at the layout of the park(s) online and PICK your spot thereby getting a better spot and you know you will be where you want to be at that point in time.

The disadvantages mainly consist of perhaps something happening that requires you cancel the reservation and if done in a reasonable time frame, you may lose one night's fee. The other possible happening could be that you get to the reserved space and do not like the space or the location of the park.

We tend to checkout the park B4 making a reservation and look online for feed back from folks who have stayed at these parks. Reviews are found on many sites on-line - so research is very important. Also some of the RV blogs I belong to you can ask the membership if anyone has been to "such a such" RV Park and ask them for a review.

This approach "floats our boat" ( NO DUCKS ALLOWED IN OUR BOAT EITHER!!!) so we'll continue with reservations as compared to "chancing it."

At times we will "chance it" as in the case of driving from one park to another and a one night stop is needed - we most likely would not make a reservation for one night but we would start looking for an RV park stop early in the day - around 2pm. Our hope is to not travel more than 200-250 miles maximum between RV parks and to stay in one place for at least a week.

With the increase in gas prices being tossed around on the news, I tend to think we will be staying in most locations for a minimum of 2 weeks - a month or perhaps longer.

We are retired - we are in no hurry to get to any one place (with the exception of some family commitments this May & June.)
Well, buzzer just buzzed - time to get the dried laundry - fold it and put it away.

Although today is VALENTINE DAY my DW and I decided to celebrate in the RV style and have hot dogs for supper - we love hot dogs!!! We get the uncured no preservatives dogs at Trader Joe's HOLY CRAP are they ever good. Toast up the buns, grill the dogs and dig in. One dog each!

We are both on diets with a race to see who could lose a certain # of pounds first - I have only 1 more pound to loose and I WIN!!!!! This would bring me to 150 pounds which is a good weight for me considering I've weighed in close to 200 pounds several times before in the past 6 - 7 years. When in the AF and living in Alaska I weighed 225 pounds - IT WAS GROSS!!!!! :>( YUK!!!!!

My DW bought a nice chocolate treat for both of us from Whole Foods bakery so that will be just perfect!

Later my friends.

JR :>)

THE START OF A NEW WEEK

2012-02-13T10:59:00.000-08:00

Yo my Blog Buddies,

Well, this week starts the 7 week count down - 7 weeks to go before we depart to Elkhart Indiana to pick up our new HOME! HOLY CRAP that is not very long.
Once February is over, time will go quickly as there will be a lot of last minute things to do! Of course moving out of our TINY UNIT will require some re-distribution of things in the off site storage. We are going to try and fit what we have in the TINY UNIT into the existing storage BUNKER!!! It will be close but as we all know my DW is a packing genius!!!! Just on the slight chance that all will not fit, we will need to find a small 5x5 or 5x7 storage BUNKER to use for a month or two. So time will tell TWT!!

I mentioned a while back that I hope to offer some small painting workshops at some of the RV parks that we will be staying in for longer than one week. I think I would enjoy doing this - again TWT!!!

Much of our initial first year of RV-ing will be very near the East Coast seaboard as well as into Nova Scotia and across into Old Quebec and on the St. Lawrence River , and down into Florida West Coast and the Keys. So I've been and will continue to bone up my skills with ocean scenes.

I feel rather sluggish today and the first part of the morning I did some RV administrative tasks as well as some more packing of STUFF for the storage BUNKER! I also needed to inquire about returning our DIRECT TV equipment. I had called and explained how we will be stopping the service come the end of March and of course the person on the other line had to go thru a 10 minute dissertation of how much they value our business and what a good customer we have been for the past 5 years! I explained - WE ARE GOING AWAY - FAR-FAR AWAY AND DO NOT NEED TV SERVICE ANY LONGER. He now suggested that we put our service on hold for maybe 6 months so IF we did need the service it would be easier to start up again.
"NO WE ARE GONG FAR-FAR AWAY - TO A PLACE TV SERVICE CANNOT BE GOTTEN!" For some really stupid reasoning he decided to ask if I would be interested in a SPORTS PACKAGE!!! Of course I had to ask "WHAT PART OF GOING FAR-FAR AWAY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?"
At this point he seemed to get on board and asked a whole bunch of info regarding the equipment I was asking about as to IF & HOW do I return it. Seems pretty easy!
Welllllllllll IT AIN'T EASY!!! He explained how he would send me return shipping boxes that I could pack the equipment into and mail it back to Direct TV. He proceeded to verify my address information and the pieces of equipment and their associated serial #'s. The #'s on the back of the units were so small I had to get my magnifying glass out! OK all serial #'s relayed! WHEW!!! He now said "Let me put you on hold for a minute I have to check something out." After THREE MINUTES he came back on the line and said "Mr. Secor this equipment we have talked about DOES NOT HAVE TO BE RETURNED!!!" Argggggggggggggggggggg!!!

This whole process from the time I dialed and hung up took 23 minutes!!!!!!!

CUSTOMER SERVICE NEEDS TO BE REDEFINED!

OK now for my quick - very, very quick ocean scene - not much to it - as I say I feel sluggish and not overly creative. However that said - and I just said it - one needs to paint something everyday - to keep the arm limbered up and the juices moving.

9 x 12 on Heavy Linen canvas paper- painted with the quickness of hand and the absence of pre-planning. For quickies like these, my slogan is JUST PAINT IT!!!!

Something like this could be demonstrated in an "informal" workshop in about 10 minutes and then those who attended it and wanted, would be able to try and duplicate it, with of course my help. I would venture to say that 1/2 of the folks who tried it would leave there with something in hand that they would be proud of and happy with.

"LOW - LOW TIDE"

BAM - throw in the sky!

BAM THROW IN THE:

HORIZON LINE

SOME LOW TIDE OCEAN

SOME LOW TIDE WET SAND

NOW THAT DID NOT TAKE LONG AT ALL!!!

OK NOW FOR MY "ATTENTIVE" BUDDIES

HOW HE DO DAT?????

SKY & HORIZON LINE

CENTER SECTION WITH CLOUD REFLECTIONS

Well my sluggish-ness is getting SLUGGIER!!! Time for a rest and perhaps a nap.

Sooooo my friends take care and until next time - be good to yourself and others!

REMEMBER

VALENTINE DAY IS VERY CLOSE!!

JR :>)

DAY OF REST

2012-02-12T14:45:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well today being Sunday, we both were quite lazy and just relaxed! We did however go for a nice brisk walk around the Plaza area - it was a tad chilly but very invigorating none the less.

We have been discussing the possibility of replacing our couch in our new RV with Lane Theater seats. Nice leather ones that are against the wall recliners. Of course we would not do that right away but its on a list of "Possible changes." These can go about an inch or two from the wall and recline OUTWARDS!!! How cool is that!!!!!

It's funny how the mind works, we have not even picked it up yet but we are thinking of changes to the interior!!!! food for thought at this point.

We hope to get some more photos as the construction progresses - I would guess that it will be completed some time before the end of February or very early in March. Once completed, it will be kept inside - in the heated show room that NEXUS has - and I'm sure potential customers can look at it.

Yesterday I spent most of the day looking at maps and searching for state parks in Florida. The net result was the planning of a trip up and down the lower WEST coast of Florida as well as the Keys. I've found 6 State parks that we will try to stay at from the period of January 15, 2013 to March 13, 2013. These places fill up very quickly!!!
Reservations cannot be made until 11 months prior to your requested arrival and you can only stay a maximum of 14 nights. So we'll have to watch dates very closely and make sure we call exactly 11 months prior to our requested stay at these 6 Florida State Parks. First call will be on February 15th! YIKES that is next week!!!!

Well, take care and until we talk again next week - stay happy and healthy my friends.

JR :>)

Good Morning Blog Buddies

2012-02-11T07:52:00.000-08:00

Well today will be a rest from blogging and painting. My DW and I will be off doing some errands and perhaps a nice coffee and treat at our favorite Coffee Bistro ECCO right off the Plaza.

One of our first stops on the beginning of our RV Journey is San Antonio TX. I lived there for a year back in 1961-1962 and I just loved it there. We will be staying for a week in an RV resort that is very close to the famed Riverwalk.

In doing some research, San Antonio is also a city rich in the ARTS and that we all know is of interest to me. Soooooooo some of my time will be spent in the true spirit of MY BLOG RVPAINTER and I will be found walking around the RV resort looking at RVs and of course in the CITY looking at ART!

No doubt I'll be saying:

"HOW HE DO DAT?????"

JR :>)

PHOTOS OF RV

2012-02-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Buddies

Well, I have a treat for you folks - we got some progress photos today from NEXUS the manufacturer of our RV - DREAMCATCHERS!!!!

As mentioned in the past, this is a 31 foot Class C self contained RV with a living room slide out 10' x 2'

Some of the photos:

The entry door to our new home

Driver's side with the living room slide out

Back of RV - this is where our DREAMCATCHERS LOGO will go

Large storage compartment at rear - also doors on each side of it for pass through access - this will double as "Guest Quarters' :>)

I'll be doing dishes here pretty soon - Cherry Wood residential cabinets

Head board of queen bed still to be installed

One piece fiberglass residential shower with sky light and there will be a curved glass door

Some storage cabinets over the dinette and couch - Cherry wood residential construction made by local Amish cabinet makers

NEXUS LOGO on cab over which will contain our entertainment center with 32" HDTV - DVD player and surround sound. As well as some storage.

WWW.NEXUSRV.COM

WOO-HOO !!!!!!!!

JR :>)

GRANNIES WITH ROSES

2012-02-09T10:04:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well, we are getting our ducks in a row relative to the DRAMA of the Santa Fe Natiional Cemetary. The response we got from a representative of the office of the National Cemeteries that I posted yesterday MADE NO FRIGGIN SENSE WHAT SO EVER!!
Sooooooo we shall be contacting the news media to get a reaction from them and we have also re-contacted the ACLU. This is just the beginning and we fully intend on taking this as far as we possibly can. We will not be here that much longer but that does not matter as we will continue while we are on the road. We will also stop at every National Cemetery in the USA (I think there are 133 of them) and we walk through and pay our respects to the heros of our Nation. I'm betting we will not be refuse entrance.
The Dictator of the SFNC seems to have made this is own private place and wants no one to enter. We live across the street from the SFNC and other than services being held - sometime 2 a day, the gun salutes and the playing of TAPS, you rarely see anyone walking in there - it is deserted - hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of identical bone white head stones in perfect alingment with one another. The only thing missing to explain this LACK OF RESPECT is a BIG SIGN SAYING:

STAY OUT PER ORDER OF THE SFNC DICTATOR

The SFNC DICTATOR has made THE SFNC HIS PRIVATE ISLAND!!!!!
SINFUL-SINFUL-SINFUL is what it is!!!

I am heart-sickened over this.

My DW and I will be taking our "WALKS OF GRATITUDE AND RESPECT" very soon again and if necessary we will put signs on our backs saying:

WE ARE NOT EXERCISING - WE ARE WALKING THESE GROUNDS TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE AND RESPECT TO THE HEROS OF OUR FREE NATION.

OK - more on this as it develops!

I finished the painting that I started the other day I think I called it:

"Roses & Grannie Smiths" Welllllll I've changed it to:

"GRANNIES AND ROSES"

I finished it up without taking many photos, as there was really only tweaking left to do and to be honest, I was just too lazy to take photos! :>( My BAD!!!

Soooooooo here we are ----- Grannies & Roses 12 x 9 palette knife and brush application on a single sheet of canvas.

I did take some close-ups for my "ATTENTIVE BUDDIES"

HOW HE DO DAT?????

Well - I hope you enjoyed the finish of this piece.

Remember if you believe in something - STANDUP FOR IT!!!!

Don't let anyone put you down or bully you into retreating!

I do have to say that I'm some what surprised that only perhaps one or two of my blog followers have so much as commented on the issue of the SFNC. I find it hard to believe that it is not a topic - and an issue of interest that cannot be denied as a possibe violation the civil rights.

SPEACH IS FREE MY FRIENDS - THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

I have to say I'm not looking for you to agree with me - feel free to disagree but for goodness sake take two minutes and SPEAK UP!

I do have to say IMHO one of the biggest problems with our country today is

NOT MANY PEOPLE GIVE A CRAP

JR :>(

A BUMP IN THE ROAD

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well it seems we have hit a bump in the road with regards to the Santa Fe National Cemetery. This is but a mere BUMP - not a road block. Following is a reply we got from "some person" with in the area or National Cemeteries. We still plan on pursuing this as we feel the response is BS!!! It appears to be merely CYA political CRAP - that said, in reading it, I believe it gives us permission to casually stroll along the various roads within the cemetery and AS WE DO NOW - stop at various graves and reflect on the stories told on the stone. We of course would also AS WE DO NOW stop and straighten flowers the the wind has blown over as well as the occasional piece of trash the no one else seems to care about! The SF National Cemetery is quite hilly and even with a casual stroll, one cannot help get exercise - moving the body at any pace can be considered exercise. It appears the Dictator of the SFNC feels he is some sort of "physical trainer" and can distinguish between "speed walking" - "walking for the sole purpose of exercise" as compared to walking through the cemetery to pay respects to our fallen heroes and being a veteran, paying respects to my fallen comrades.

As I say "A bump in the road - not a road block!" We will continue to fight this and I want to test this latest wording from the government and see if walking at a walking pace and stopping at several various graves, kneeling - saying a prayer in a true demonstration of respect will cause the Dictator of the SFNC to have me sited and fined $50. We plan on talking to some "LOCAL" media folks about this as well as others in State and Federal Government.

No Mr. Dictator of the SFNC we are not GONE we are merely REGROUPING WITH MORE REINFORCEMENTS. This is America!!

FOLLOWING IS THE RESPONSE - HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SUCH CYA BS???

Dear Mr. Secor,

This is in response to your inquiry about walking on the grounds of Santa Fe National Cemetery. First, thank you for your service to our country and for the interest you have expressed for those who are interred at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Visitation of VA’s 131 National Cemeteries throughout the country is encouraged as a way for all citizens to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our country’s Veterans. All visitors are expected to observe proper standards of decorum while on VA property. Authority is given to the cemetery director, as head of the facility, under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations to enforce rules and regulations. 38 CFR 1.218, paragraph (a)(14) states: “Jogging, bicycling, sledding and other forms of physical recreation on cemetery grounds is prohibited.” The regulation also states that an individual found guilty of violating this rule is subject to a $50 fine. The standards of conduct are established to preserve the sanctity of the final resting places of our Nation’s heroes. The prohibition extends to all types of recreational or physical activity including speed walking, recreational walking, roller skating and picnicking. These recreational activities are not compatible with the purpose of a national shrine. Therefore, if a visitor walks onto a national cemetery with the purpose to pay respect and reflect upon the service of those interred at a national cemetery, then such activity is allowed and encouraged. Engaging in recreational walking, speed walking or similar activity is not allowed when the main purpose is to obtain exercise. The intent of this regulation is to preserve the dignity and serenity of America’s national shrines in honor of those who have served and sacrificed on our behalf. Thank you for your inquiry, and for your interest in America’s veterans.

2 ROSES WITH GRANNIE SMITHS

2012-02-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

Yo My Friends,

Well, I decided to start a painting before watching my RV videos. My DW goes to chanting classes after work today so she will not be home til about 6. I'll need something to keep me busy this afternoon - so that will be my RV video time!

I have to admit I do not DRAW VERY WELL- I don't like to draw - I find it boring and unnecessary --- I LIKE TO PAINT. I've really never tried to put time into learning to draw. I like - as you know - loose - emotional - expressive paintings - so to me drawing skills are not necessary. Most painters would completely disagree - most painters believe drawing skills are fundamental and an absolute MUST. Too that I say PHOOEY!!!! I am not nor do I ever want to be a photo realist - to me that would take the imagination and fun out of painting. IMHO painting should not be duplication - that is why we have copier machines and cameras.

However I will say that my hat is tipped to those who can draw with any degree of perfection and it works for them which is GREAT but for ME - NOPE -------- I like to be 3 degrees this side of SLOPPY! :>)

However that said - and I just said it - I draw what I call rough sketches - sort of a road map for my painting trip. Lately I have been "sketching" my road map using grey paint and a medium size round brush. So this is how this painting will start out. This will be 12 x 9 on a single piece of primed canvas, using both a brush and a palette knife.

OK - OFF WE GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

First a sketch of what I envision - done as I say with a medium size round brush and some grey paint, with not a lot of regard for perfection - it's not needed. I also throw some green down for the apples.

Next I blend in various shades of blue onto the vase and do some tweaking to the "LEAD APPLE" The light is coming from the left.

Some more tweaking to the vase and apples

OK - time for the palette knife work (Ya gotta love the palette knife) put in some foliage and also it's time to drop in the stars of the show----

THE ROSES!!!!

To hold the attention of my ~~ANAL~~ WHOOPS MY "ATTENTIVE BUDDIES"

I'll put in one close up of the stars.

HOW HE DO DAT??????

Well ---- this will do it for today as my back is starting to hurt - it must be from all the MOLLY MAID chores I did earlier this morning - so I shall have a yogurt for lunch and take a well earned NAP!!!!

Until next time when I will finish this for youse guys - take life easy and enjoy every breath.

A bit of knowledge I came across and I'll pass on to my friends:

The HOPI American Indians are very peace loving people - very soft spoken, very mild mannered and can see positive benifits in most everything - they have a saying:

Don't worry - BE HOPI :>)

JR :>)

TUESDAY!!!!!!!!

2012-02-07T09:05:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well, another Tuesday - laundry and TINY UNIT cleaning day!!!! :>(

The TINY UNIT is all cleaned and the two loads of clothes are in the dryer!

We have 8 weeks left here before we move out of the TINY UNIT so 8 more laundry sessions and 8 more TINY UNIT cleaning sessions. Before we moved here for our 6 month stay waiting for our RV to be built, it had been at least 30 years since I had been to a Laundromat!!!! WOW have things changed!!!! I can remember having to bring $10 in quarters in order to do laundry - what a PAIN THAT WAS!!!! WELLLLLLLLLLL for those of you who do not know, our laundry facility has a CARD!!!! YES a CARD that you put into this MAGIC machine and tell it how much MONEY you want placed on your CARD!!!! WOW!!! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!! The only disappointing part is ---------- it transfers this money from YOUR BANK ACCOUNT to the CARD :>(

At first I thought WOW - free laundry!!! Put the card into the SLOT on the washer or dryer and it SUBTRACTS the amount from the card - FRIGGIN AMAZING!!!!

I do two loads in the washer and 2 loads (of course) in the dryer and this costs me
$6.00 in total. Not bad I guess. When you transfer YOUR money onto THEIR card, you can get $10 - $20 - $30 - $40. So the CHALLENGE will be to leave here with a zero balance OR a $6.00 balance. Why a $6.00 balance the lady in the first row - 3rd seat in from my left asks!!!!!

Welllllll - my dear - we will have about 4 days to hang around Santa Fe after moving out of our TINY UNIT before we take off for Elkhart Indiana to pick up DREAMCATCHERS - (the name of our RV.) So we will have some laundry to do before we fly out. Being familiar with this laundromat it would be nice to do up our laundry here before leaving. The planner in me really wants to try and leave here with all our laundry done and ZERO DOLLARS ON THEIR CARD!!!!! :>)

We will be in the Elkhart area for about 4 -5 days and then onto Iowa for 2 nights and then back to Santa Fe which will take 3 - 4 days and I'd rather not do laundry during this time period.

WHOOPS the buzzer on the stove just buzzed - time to go get the clothes out of the 2 dryers. I'll be back - hang loose!!!!!!!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK - dried clothes brought up to the TINY UNIT - folded and put away - back to Blog Business.

OK - well that is my story about doing laundry and due to modern technology not having to go to the bank for $10 in quarters everytime!!!!! In a way I do miss that, as the bank I used to go to gave out lollipops!!!!!! The tootsie pops with the ball of chocolate in the middle - COOL!!!! I always used to smile at the teller to try and get 2 lollipops :>)

Now that all of my MOLLY MAID chores are done, I may start a painting or I may look at some of my RV videos and refresh my mind as to how these things work!!!!

Sooooooo until I BLOG again, have a wonderful day and pick one person out today and so something nice for them - even if it's a stranger and you just smile and say "good afternoon - lovely day isn't it."

JR :>)

MORNING DUDES

2012-02-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Well - here we are again at the beginning of a new week!

Did some more packing this morning for "STUFF" to be taken to and stored long term in the storage unit, as well as some "STUFF" for the RV to be temporarily stored.

After this task I decided to finish up the painting I started the other day.

This is where we left off:

As a reminder, this painting will be done exclusively with my trusty palette knife!

If you can remember, I woke up the other morning with the word INCOMING embedding in my mind. WHY??? NO IDEA!!!! WHAT DOES IT MEAN??

NO IDEA!!!!!!

Sooooooo with a BLANK mind - which is my state of consciousness most of the time,

:>)

I shall develop a foreground based only by the title I attached to this painting, as well as emotion and expression.

This will go quickly since the painting is done with my trusty palette knife a tool that applies a lot of painting with minimum strokes.

BUDDA BING - BUDDA BOOM

DONE

The "INCOMING" I think has many meanings that the eyes of the viewer can interpret.

Is there an incoming storm?

Has the rough surf developed into a "RIP TIDE' ?

Is this the beginning of a storm surge?

For my "ATTENTIVE" Buddies I have a couple of close-ups so they can say:

HOW HE DO DAT????

Well - I really enjoy using a palette knife as it pretty much eliminates any inhibitions one might have and it sort of instills a sense of POWER over the canvas - in the sense that it puts the artist IN CHARGE!!!

Hope you enjoyed this demo and can see how although semi-abstract in style and lots of expression - emotion - spontaneity - the results can be very much as interesting as a very softly painted realistic style.

It's all in the eyes of the beholder.

JR :>)

HOWDIEEEEEEEEEE

2012-02-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

Top of the MORNING to Ya - me Buddies,

Well, today is Super Bowl Sunday - I'm not much of a football fan - gets boring after a while. I'm a native New Englander and have never been a Red Sox or Patriots fan - too many dissappointments to bother hangin in there!!

However my DW likes to watch football and is a die hard Red Sox and Patriot fan and a die hard New Englander. Soooooo we will watch the Super Bowl, have pizza and enjoy the afternoon. It starts at 4-ish here---- so my hope is that we turn on the TV around 3:59-ish :>)

In the mean time, and after the mean time, and we shall start with the "after the mean time" ----- we will take a nice long walk down in the Plaza area and up Canyon Road - mostly walking and window looking. I'd like to get in a good one hour+ very brisk walk. I'm trying to get down to 150 by April 1 and I'm down to 153 now! My DW and I have a bet as to who looses a certain # of pounds first - we are neck to neck at the moment but I want to win.

Now back to the beginning of "in the mean time."

I woke up with the words "INCOMING" in my tiny little mind this morning so I decided to do another palette knife piece - HOLY CRAP I LOVE MY PALETTE KNIFE!!!!!

This will be 9 x 12 on a single sheet of canvas - done very quickly in various steps as I am really using a large quantity of BLOBS & GLOBS of JUICY paint!!

I'm not quite sure what the "INCOMING" is so I will most likely leave that to the interpretation of the viewer.

So my Buddies - let's begin - CHARGE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First off I'll start with just a straight line to represent the approximate location of the horizon - although that could change as this will be another semi-abstract piece.

Once again, not BRAIN SURGERY!!!!!

OK - for my own edification, I counted the swooshes and swipes with my trusty palette knife - fully loaded with BLOBS & GLOBS of JUICY paint.

I made a total of 27 swooshes done in 11 minutes with lots of gusto-emotion-expression and of course the ever popular SPONTANEITY!!!! :>)

So without further explanation, here is the results:

I now have to let this rest and set at this point to let the paint set-up a bit as there is a lot of it and I would run the risk of making the DREADED MUD if I continued.
My services are needed else where as it is time for me to start my reading/editing of the first couple of chapters of the sequel to The Christmas Village. I've been looking forward to this!!!!!!! My DW Melissa and I have discussed and brain stormed before she started "fingers to keyboard" so now I get to see the results of those sessions!

WOO-HOO!!!!!!

I will most likely let the painting rest until tomorrow as between reading/editing/power walking and the ~~Stupid~~ WHOOPS Super Bowl I'm sure I will not have time to return to the easel.

Until next time my friends----------------------------------------------------------------------

JR :>)

VALENTINES DAY IS NEAR

2012-02-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well, my DW (Rv-er lingo for Darling Wife) Melissa is sitting in her very comfy chair working and writing away at the sequel to The Christmas Village. And I in my cap ----WHOOPS wrong story!!!! :>) I did some research this morning online for a Florida State Park that we want to stay in and I have a couple more to research before the day is over.

I have now decided that I wanted to throw some paint at my easel with vim - vigor - gusto - emotion - expression and tilt the style to the semi-abstract.

Just to give you guys a heads up, VALENTINES DAY is just around the corner!!!!!

This is 10 x 8 on a primed single sheet of canvas done 99% with my trusty PALETTE KNIFE - how I LOVE THE KNIFE!!!!!

"ROSES FOR VALENTINES DAY"

There will be no sketching or pre-drawing or any thought put into this piece before hand - just blobs & globs of paint applied with knife onto the surface - the shapes will be but quick swipes to generate the visual representation of a vase and roses.

STEP 1 - A VASE

STEP 2 SOME FOLIAGE

Some instructional material and artists say when using acrylics you should paint light to dark - OR - is it dark to light?????? I have to say I do not pay much attention to the rules - which most of them were established when Jesus was a little baby!

I put down what ever color be it light or dark that I feel like putting down. In this case, the source of light is coming from the left so I chose to put down the darker green first so that I get more of a "Layering" of color shades from left to right.

OK - now time to introduce some variation in color and light/dark - see how the lighter green is "ON TOP" of the darker green - if I had put the lighter green in first the darker green would be on top of the lighter green which makes no since to me based on the direction of the light source. Soooooo that is why I make up my own rules and do not listen to ancient history!!!! :>)

"Everybody is an artist!!"

OK - for those of you - (all 3 of you) who are avid followers of my blog - I'm sure you can remember me saying that painting with a palette knife especially on a small surface

8 x 10 is small, the painting will go quickly as the knife covers a lot of canvas in a short time.

Therefore - be it of no surprise to you that the rest of this painting will progress very quickly and I have to say working in my semi-abstract loose style I just do not have time to take progress photos - so hold on and here we GO

In less than 10 swoops of my knife we have roses and we have FG. When working this quickly wet into wet it is important to keep going so that all the elements can be BLENDED into one another and do not look like individual elements that have been cut out a pasted onto the surface.

See how the base of the vase is absorbed into the surface it is sitting on - no pasted on HARD lines here - the only hard line is the cast shadow of the vase onto the surface.

OK - now we ( I ) throw in the BG - some tweaks here and there and some highlights here and there. Putting the BG in last I find gives me more ability and latitude to "CUT INTO" the Objects d' Art to fine tune their shapes ( the foliage in this case ) and to even eliminate some of the foliage to be replaced with more BG. It comes down to the visual sense of the artist at this point.

BUDDA BING - BUDDA BOOM

WE HAVE ROSES FOR MY VALENTINE - MY DW MELISSA

Now - I have not forgotten my "ATTENTIVE BUDDIES"

HOW HE DO DAT?????

Well my good friends - hope you enjoyed this. Although it is on the verge of semi-abstract for some reason this is where my heart is taking me lately in my painting journey and I have to say that I'm really enjoying it - as I hope you folks are.

Take care - enjoy the day and the weekend. And remember:

HE WHO HESITATES IS IN DOUBT

JR :>)

CLAM FLATS

2012-02-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Buddies,

Well most of the snow that SHAT upon us was melted today! We had a good 4 - 5 inches and the sun in New Mexico is just amazing. It did not rise over 28 today yet 90% of the snow is melted!

I did a very, very quick painting today - sort of a pan-o-ramic view. When we lived on the rocky coast of Maine, at low-low tide the clam diggers would come out and start digging for clams - these areas are call the "CLAM FLATS."

First - some Buddies have asked me what my "studio setup" looks like - so I took a couple of shots. Be it safe to say it is just a small space as our TINY UNIT 6 month does not have much space over all and of course we will only be here for 2 more months. My "studio" is in a corner of what should be the dining area and consists of my "home made" easel and a side table where I keep all the tools of "my trade." It may not look neat, but trust me I know where everything is - and I like the fact that it is within arms reach. So here are a couple of photos of my 4 square foot "studio."

The "Clam Flats" is 4" x 16" on heavy linen canvas paper - done very, very quickly wet into wet with lots of gusto

First we put in the horizon line. This one being a high horizon as the painting will depict low, low tide - meaning the ocean will be well into the distance

First I put in the sky

Followed by the distant ocean

As you can see - not much ocean as low-low tide is very LOW :>)

OK - I'm going to throw in the "Clam Flats" all in one swoop as it sort of needs to be modeled and stopping to take progress photos is not possible as I have to work very quickly wet into wet.

DONE

Being only 4" high by 16" long, a close up photo is not possible so this should give you and idea of the Clam Flats. Following is a closeup of a portion of the painting to show some of the loose detail.

Hope you enjoyed this demo and until next time - play nice.

JR :>)

SNOW!!!!!

2012-02-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well - woke up this morning to about 4 - 5 inches of snow or as I call it SHAT, as in we were SHAT upon!

I do not like snow and as I just told my DW "I think I'm allergic to snow and need to spend the next 10 -15 years in a warm climate under palm trees to complete the study of my allergies to snow." Sounds like a plan to me!!!

Sooooo today will be an inside day - DW will be writing as she has started the sequel to The Christmas Village - being an "INSIDER" I can tell you the the start is very exciting and has already started with the goose bumps!!! Stay tuned - it will only get more interesting as time progresses.

I still feel like I have some pent up energy in me so I may do several very, very, very quick (3 degrees shy of SLOPPY) paintings and work closer to the looseness that I want to reach.

I sold a big painting yesterday H-48 x W-30 so I'm in a good mood. These $'s will go into our RV Journey account.

So enjoy the day and until next time.

JR :>)

LOW TIDE

2012-02-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well, as you can see by the above title I went with "LOW TIDE" for the title of the beginning of the painting I started yesterday. Having lived on the rocky coast of Maine for 20+ years, I can say that low tide is a very peaceful time of the day. One can walk pretty much the entire length of the beach and it for the most part is quiet and very peaceful.

That said - this will be very quickly completed as it is only 8 x 10 and I'm using a big brush wet into wet with emotion-expression and a lot of energy. For some reason this morning I feel full of energy and dont' expect the finish of this painting to take more than 10 minutes. Soooooooooo CHARGE!!!!

Yesterday we just had a sky - so I'm going to put in the horizon line identified by the darkness of the distant ocean. OK, that was easy - we now have some distinction between the sky and ocean. As you can see I have some guide lines sketched in for where I want the sandy portion of the beach to be.

OK - now for some ocean and distinction between the end of the ocean "creeping" just onto the "low tide line" of the beach. This is normally seen with just a slight swirling and minor splashing of the incoming water. I mean after all the water just can't SCREECH TO A STOP!!!! :>)

BUDDA BING - BUDDA BOOM

DONE!!!!

As I say, small painting surface 8x10 - big brush all adds up to a quick painting.

As usual for my ATTENTIVE BUDDIES a close-up so they can say:

HOW HE DO DAT?????

My DW went to see our Tax Accountant to get that process started - I hope we don't have to pay too much this year - yikes!!!! :>(

So I figured I would finish up the start of yesterday and then pack up a few things - we want to go to the storage unit and perhaps re-distribute things again and pack in some more stuff that will be going into the RV and some stuff that will stay in the storage unit.

Well my friends take life easy - slow down - as does the incoming ocean at low tide.

Be peaceful and good to yourself.

JR :>)

YO MY BUDDIES

2012-02-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it is almost noon time here in sunny Santa Fe NM - just starting to warm up at tad and has reached 39 degrees. We are blessed with an abundance of sunshine here in Santa Fe - approx. 320 days a year are sunny!!!!

Today was food shopping day and a quick stop at Sam's Club for gas and some coffee beans.

I decided to do another ocean scene today on a single piece of primed canvas 8 x 10. Not sure yet what the theme or content will be so I've merely thrown in the sky and I've decided to let that dry and see if I want to do anything crazy or just be normal today!!!!!! :>)

So here is a simple sky - nothing fancy - a tad darker at the top and lighter at the horizon line as that is what a sky does!

I feel lazy today so perhaps later this afternoon I will go in and do with the sky whatever I end up doing! No plans yet other than it needs to be lighter at the horizon line. I'm starting to get thoughts of "Low Tide" and "Clam Flats." Well I'm sure it will come to me - Time will tell.

Later dudes - time for a nap!!!

JR :>)

ROBUST ROSES

2012-01-31T11:08:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

OK - I just had to do something today with the paints. So I threw a shape of a vase onto the canvas with a round brush and some light grey paint. Once again not brain surgery!!!

This will be very quick as I'm using the largest brush I have and I am not the least be concerned or interested in color-shape- or presentation. This is meant to be a loose - semi-abstract painting done with vigor-emotion-expression-spontaneity, with no pre-planning or even a concept of what I will do!

With blobs and globs of juicy thick paint I throw some greens on top of the grey - wet into wet - see how some of the grey stays visible?

Light source from the left - so I make the right side of the vase darker

OK - now the development of the roses will be perhaps 1 degree away from sloppy - however- remember I said some of my loose paintings will be just this side of sloppy. I call it semi-abstract and I'm sure there are those of you out there (you know who you are) that will consider this painting to be SLOPPY!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to throw in some thick juicy visual appearance of roses - these are blobs and globs on the canvas that are to represent the shapes of roses - I'll repeat -represent the shape of roses. The abstraction of the rose shape into a painterly representation.

WOW JR that is some pretty heavy verbiage!!!! :>)

It is difficult in photos to truly represent the semi-abstract as one really needs to stand back a good 6-8 feet from ANY painting to get a true representation of the subject - additionally the piece should be at standard eye level height.

Soooooooo if you can't see the visual of roses - it's not your fault. Although I can't imagine that you could not see IT!!! :>)

OK very quickly to the completion

BUDDA BING - BUDDA BOOM

DONE

Now for my "ATTENTIVE BUDDIES" some closeups so they can ask

HOW HE DO DAT?????

This piece took about 11 minutes - it is as I say just this side of sloppy - however it was a lot of fun to paint and IMHO is a very good representation of semi-abstract with a ton of emotion-expression-spontaneity and gusto.

I like to think I stopped just two or three strokes shy of SLOPPY! :>)

In person the viewer should be able to feel the emotion represented by very quick strokes of a big brush. The complimentary colors red/green intensify the emotion with a sort of tugging and pulling sensation - who will dominate - the roses - the impressionistic foliage - the vase????

My intent was to have the sort of single rose in the lower left (the lowest rose of all) to be the dominating visual attraction.

Later my friends

JR :>)

TUESDAY!!!!

2012-01-31T08:39:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well, today is Tuesday and that means laundry day and TINY UNIT cleaning day.
The TINY UNIT cleaning is done and 2 loads of laundry are washed and in the dryer. I have a 3rd load to wash and dry today as we are starting to wash items no longer needed for winter and will not be going into the RV. Sooooo once washed and dried they can be packed away and put into long term storage.

WATCH------ as soon as this is done, we'll get a FRIGGIN BLIZZARD!!!!

Some more STUFF has been packed up and this along with the above mention stuff will go down to the storage unit later this week. I think we will once again do some re-organizing as the last time I was there I moved some stuff up into a higher level and started another level with packed boxes. Soooooo, that being said - and I just said it ------- we just may be able to get some more furniture into this unit!!!! :>)

Soooooo much to think of!!!!

I woke up at 2:30 this morning in a panic -------- we have at least three 12 volt things that need to be plugged in at the same time in the cab of our RV!!! At 2:30 I found myself saying "HOLY CRAP - how will we plug in three 12 volt thingies at one time!!?

I came out into the living room and wrote a note HOW TO PLUG IN MULTIPLE 12V THINGIES.

When I got up this morning I googled "12v multiple plugs" BINGO!!!!!

I found one on Amazon that allows up to four 12 volt thingies to be plugged in at one time - it also has a USB port for the laptop!!!!! So that will be ordered post haste forth with!!!!

Buzzer went off - time to go downstairs into the bowels of the UNIT and take stuff out of the dryer and put the 3rd load into a washer.

I'll be back----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK - I'm back-----WHOOPS - I have to fold these dried clothes - DUH - I'll be back ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK now I'm back! Not sure if I will get in any time in front of the easel today - Time will tell!! :>)

I got some prices back on the insurance for the RV and our Honda Fit. Of two quotes returned thus far, one is more costly by almost $300 a year - sooooooo that one will mostly likely be OUT!!!! Still have 2 more to come in and then I need to do a matchup for apples to apples. There are also some NOT POINTED out factors - such as some insurance companies cover the RV awning and some do not - it's excluded in the very, very fine print. Things attached up on the roof - such as a vent cover for your exhaust fans - some cover this kind of thing and some do not. Also if you have 2 vehicles insured in a bundled package, let's say there is some damage done to both the RV and the tow vehicle some insurance companies will apply each deductible to each vehcile - others will only apply one deductible which will go towards BOTH vehciles. There are lots of other things I'm sure but far beyond my knowledge - Ya gotta 2nd guess insurance companies - they are not in business to pay out more then they take in!!!!!

Well, the buzzer is about to go off for the 3rd load of laundry - so time to get ready to go down into the bowels again and move the wet stuff into the dryer!!!!

Later my friends!!!!!

JR :>)

DIZZY DAZZIES

2012-01-30T11:38:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

LOOSEN UP DUDES!!!!!!

OK - as time progresses I become more and more in tune with loose-free flowing paintings just about 2 degrees shy of SLOPPY!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!

This "loosening up my style" piece took about 12 minutes - the big brush - the palette knife and the paint were all flying like complete crazzie-ness for "DIZZY DAZZIES"

Most of my work on our RV Journey will be plein air landscapes and still life and will consist of mostly this style - very expressionistic and just on the verge of semi-abstract.
This seems to be where my painting mind is taking me these days as described below:

"12 x 9 on primed single canvas sheet Chroma Interactive Acrylics wet into wet very, very quickly ( 13 minutes) with palette knife and large brush. This is what I call a "loosening of my style"of painting. Once on our RV Journey - I'll be doing mostly plein air landscapes and still life. For the most part these paintings will be done in this style - loose-free-caution to the wind with spontaneity of form and color done with expression and emotion and complete freedom of stroke."
OK - I did not take any progress photos as during this 13 minutes of painting there was no time to do so. Slam-Bam throw blobs and globs of paint around that have tons of emotion and expression attached.

I did not forget my "ATTENTIVE" buddies - a close up

HOW HE DO DAT???

I will say that I'm going to miss doing big paintings - when I say BIG I mean at least

30 x 48 gallery wrapped canvas. I would love to do some floral and landscapes of this BIG size, using plaster knifes/trowels for my palette knives and huge blobs and globs of paint - tube after tube after tube. The style would be even more so on the verge of semi-abstract - stopping just shy and imparting every ounce of energy-emotion-expression that I feel when I paint in this style.

We do have a couple of 1 month RV stops and I just may buy a couple of 30 x 48 gallery wrapped canvas and do a floral and a landscape. I think perhaps this might happen when in Nova Scotia or Old Quebec.

Once finished I could most likely never fit them into the RV - Maybe 1 could squeeze in one of them - or perhaps I'd donate them - have a drawing -

TIME WILL TELL!

Well, buddies - I called several insurance companies this morning and am awaiting insurance quotes for the RV and the Honda Fit.

In the meantime - as I am doing -

THINK BIG

Until next time

JR :>)

RV INSURANCE

2012-01-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well most likely no painting today! I've got to start looking for RV insurance in the form of a bundled package to include our car and our storage unit. I've got about 6 companies to call and check on prices. I'll make up a form to use so as to try and keep "apples to apples" and not end up with fruit salad!!!! :>)

We got a photo of what our overhead entertainment center (with surround sound) will look like. This is not ours, but ours will be identical. Cherry wood residential cabinets built by Amish cabinet makers, smoked glass in the windows and some nice storage. it is a 32" HDTV and a DVD player as well. This was an option that we chose instead of having a bed above the cab. The TV pulls out forward and moves side to side and also lifts up so the storage behind can be accessed. PRETTY SLICK!!!!!

This was our ONE - big optional interior update for our unit along with matching residential Cherry wood cabinets in the kitchen and bath. On the exterior our big optional update was "Automatic Levelers" At a push of a button this unit will automatically level the RV. It has four big feet that come down and via computerization it figures out the leveling needed - side to side - front to back. COOL!!!!! Our Dreamcatcher Logo would be the other exterior update.

Well -------- got to be getting my skates on and get busy!!!

Later my friends.

JR :>)

Nor'easter Approaching

2012-01-29T10:12:00.000-08:00

Hello Blog Buddies,

Well, it is sort of chilly out this morning - about 30 degrees and the wind has picked up so a walk around the Plaza again today may be out of the plans - time will tell! :>)

For some reason I'm in a mood to paint another ocean scene but I have thoughts of a brewing Nor'easter - sort of like The Perfect Storm.

So with that in mind I started out and very quickly worked wet into wet in a very gingerly manner so as to not end up with "The Dreaded MUD!!!!!!" The blending of colors directly on the "substrate" Hmmmmmm - a painting term - has to be done with a very delicate touch of the brush - sort of a "Kissing Stroke!" Otherwise if over worked when blending - one ends up with MUD instead of a crisp clear distinguishable visible hint of each color used. Ya --- I know ---- Blah-Blah-Blah!!!! :>)

Sooooooooo once again this is not rocket science - which is good because I don't
know crapolla about rocket science!!!! With this in mind I shall create the horizon line.

WOW!!!!!! Great job JR!!!!!!!

:>) - Big Deal!!!!!

This painting will be done on a 9 x 12 loose piece of primed canvas.

OK - now comes the part where we work wet into wet and do all our blending of colors directly on the surface of the canvas (substrate)

The delicate approach to this application of thick juicy blobs and globs of paint I think is best described as similar to powdering a baby's butt!!! Very softly and gently.

Excuse me ---- the lady in the last row 5th seat in from my right --- did you have a question or are you just talking out loud? EH?????

You are so very correct - this does not look like a baby's butt ----

You need to listen more carefully - I never said I was going to paint a baby's butt!!!!

Geeeezzzzzz :>(

OK - moving on ( I think I'd like to move OUT after that last interaction!! )

A close up to try and show you folks the many, many colors used in the blending of the storm sky ( I used about 7 different colors and blended them directly onto the substrate with the quickness yet smoothness of a Stealth Bomber - just kissing the surface with the soft bristles of my large brush. Damn I'm getting excited!!!!! :>)

George Clooney would have you know what in his pants if he had seen this storm approaching! :>)

OK - I need to let this sit a bit as the paint is really wet - and juicy. I also need to sit a bit as I can't take all this excitement standing up!

The lady in the last row - 5th seat in from my right - why don't you come down to the front row so you can hear me. :>)

(snicker-snicker)

Be back in a while folks.

OK - I'M BAAACCCCKKKKKK

Time to finish this puppy up by throwing in the "angry - stormy ocean"

BAM - WE HAVE AN ANGRY - STORMY OCEAN!!!!!!

Now - for some close ups so my "ATTENTIVE BUDDIES" can see

HOW HE DO DAT?????

WAVES

HORIZON & SKY

SURF AT SHORE LINE

Hope you guys enjoyed this demo - I had fun with it and there is no denying a Nor'easter is on its way!!!!!

Later Dudes!!

JR :>)

THE DAY GOT AWAY

2012-01-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

Good Evening Blog Buddies.

Well, today got away from me! We went to breakfast with 2 good friends Donna & John. This was a restaurant we have not been to before and it is their favorite breakfast restaurant. I have to say the food was wonderful! I had a breakfast burrito which is my favorite food for breakfast other than my DW's French toast!!!!!

After breakfast we went for a walk downtown around the entire Plaza area. After walking at a pretty good pace for about 40 - 45 minutes, we stopped at our favorite coffee shoppe ECCO and had a nice mocha (double shot!) Now we took a nice long (jitter induced) walk up the full length of Canyon Road which is the prime art district of Santa Fe - very famous for it's galleries and we stopped into about 10 galleries and checked out the art work.

Canyon Road is about 2+ miles long and we walk to the end at a fast pace and then stroll on the way back stopping into our favorite galleries.

Canyon Road will be one of the things I will miss when we move away from Santa Fe!

Soooooooo today we played tourist in Santa Fe which is something we try to do once a month - otherwise you really miss out on what Santa Fe is all about.
No painting today - perhaps tomorrwow

Next week I have some RV related administrative duties - the biggest is to start my search for insurance on the RV - driving - contents etc etc. I've got about 6 companies I'm going to call as all companies do not insure RVs - those that do have a wide range of what insurance will cost.

Now that the finalization of the construction of the RV is pretty much set in stone - we just wait for that process to be finished - which should be about the end of February. The manufacturer will keep our RV stored inside in their showroom and I'm sure use it as a model to show interested buyers - which is ok with us - that said I'm not sure how many potential customer will go to Elkhart Indiana in the winter :>)

So my friends perhaps some time in front of the easel tomorrow - My DW Melissa just said "I want to go for another long walk tomorrow." Time Will Tell.

We have not started to walk in the Santa Fe National Cemetery again as the Secretary of Veteran's Affairs ( member of the Governor's Cabinet ) has gotten involved and has asked us to hold steady until he can talk to the Dictator of the SFNC. The Cemetery is Federal property and its Dictator is a Federal employee. The secretary of Veteran's Affairs is a State employee - however he hopes to assist in this matter before we proceed with getting the news media and the ACLU involved.

Later Dudes---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JR :>)

RV LOGO

2012-01-27T10:24:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well this morning we had a conference call with the President and VP of NEXUS - the company in Elkhart Indiana (http://www.nexusrv.com/) who is manufacturing our 2012 - 31' RV.

We firmed up all the info, dotted the i's and crossed the t's and all seems well and ahead of schedule.

A while back in colaboration with a screen-printing company in Albuquerque I designed a logo for our RV and had them print up some T-shirts and sweatshirts with the logo on the back. Following is one on the T-shirts. Wellllllll - in working with the RV manufacturer and the graphics company they use for the decorative decals on the RV, I supplied my design, and this same design will be on the back of the RV. The back of the RV is off white fiberglass and the DREAMCATCHERS Logo will be in black - it will be 30 inches high and 14 3/4 inches wide at the widest point.

TAAAAA -DAAAAA

Try to envision this 30 inches top to bottom and 14 3/4 inches at the widest point.

WOW---HOLY CRAP HOW BEAUTIFUL !!!!

I GOTTA say I'm pretty proud of this design. It was taken from a dreamcatcher that I have and will in fact be travelling with us inside the RV. If you don't know the story behind a dreamcatcher, google it - being part Native American I fully believe in the power of a dreamcatcher.

The folks at NEXUS Claude Donati, President and David Middleton, Vice President ( http://www.nexusrv.com/ ) have been so very helpful in the selection of various components in the RV.

If you're looking for an RV - contact them 1-855-786-3987 or check out the web site (above) - TRUST ME blog Buddies you will be soooooooo very happy you did.They eliminate the middleman and sell directly to the public - thereby saving you thousands and thousands of dollars. The middleman's profit is your savings.

HOW GREAT IS THAT!!!!!!!

Well Blog Buddies - sort of a lazy day today - not sure if I will paint or not - after having talked about our RV to Claude and David, I may just lean back in my recliner and day dream!!!!

JR :>)

GOOD MORNING - GOOD MORNING

2012-01-26T09:27:00.000-08:00

Yo Buddies,

Well, don't I sound happy this morning!!!! Well, I am!! Why?? No special reason!!!
I've mentioned this before but for the several new blog buddies that have joined our little group - did you know it takes less facial muscles to SMILE than to FROWN???

It is truth I speak - Soooooo be happy and smile my friends!

OK --- this morning I finished up the Pear that I started the other day. This is where we left off;

OK --- let's be clinical about this!!!! The lady in the fourth row - 3rd seat in from my left - No-No-No ----- I said my LEFT!!!! Sit down! OK - now we have the correct person!

I know you come to most of my demos, so let's see what you have learned!

What is left to do with this painting?

Let's give her a minute-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK you think the following needs to be completed:

BG - FG - Reflected shadows - tuning up the edges - perhaps some local color - fine tuning the color on the pear -

WELL - that in fact is pretty much it - you certainly have been paying attention!!

VERY GOOD!!

Now sit down and stop trying to steal my thunder!!! :<)

OK - lets do exactly what the lady in the 4th row - 3rd seat from my left indicated that we should do.

OK I deepened and brightened the colors and I added more indication of the light source coming from the left

A close up will show this better

OK - time for some BG and FG and shadows. I decided to give the FG & BG some texture with the application of thick juicy globs and blobs of paint. This tends to push the pear forward as the pear is smooth. It also gives a mix of textures to stimulate interest in the eye of the viewer. ( I hope )

This closeup will show the texture in the BG

OK it is time to wrap up this puppy. Only a few things left to do and I apologize but I can't show those things to you as they are secret!!!!! All painters take an oath not to divulge personal painting secrets as there are a lot of HUNGRY (STARVING) artists out there and they are not above STEALING secrets!!

:>)

TAAAAAA DAAAAAA

14 x 11

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

painted out onto all 4 edges

$175 + S/H

Now some close ups so my ~~ANAL~~ WHOOPS ATTENTIVE BUDDIES can see

HOW HE DO DAT?????

Hope you enjoyed this demo and thank you all for your participation and the lady in the 4th row 3rd seat from my left will receive one of my other demo paintings as a gift for her excellent participation and not falling asleep during my presentations.

Later my friends.

JR :>)

COUNTING DOWN

2012-01-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

My DW Melissa posted a discussion on her blog regarding "Counting down the days."

http://writeryogini.blogspot.com/2012/01/counting-down-days.html

So I did some counting down of my own as it relates to "my jobs."

10 times left to do the laundry
10 times left to clean the TINY UNIT
10 times left to go food shopping

Of course all these chores will need to be done in our RV - but a few days break will be nice!

WOO-HOO!!!!!!! :>)

We will be in Elkhart Indiana for 4 days while checking out our RV. 2 nights will be spent in the RV space the manufacturer has on their lot next to the manufacturing facility. This time will be mostly that of checking out all the appliances, features, heating system and the like - in general checking out the RV from top to bottom and from side to side. Two more nights will be spent a few miles from the manufacturing facility and we will be in an RV Park. We figured we need to go out on our own so we could make sure we knew how everything to do.

THE DAY OF RECKONING!!

When we leave Elkhart Indiana we will travel to Council Bluffs Iowa - which will take 2 days travel with one overnight stay. This will be our very first experience driving a 31 foot RV - mostly hyway driving which will I hope get us used to the "feel" of the "wheel!" We have never driven an RV before and we have always owned a sub-compact or compact car - the last being a Mini Cooper!!!! I just hope I don"t have to turn any corners!!!! YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will stay in Council Bluffs for 2 nights (in the driveway of my artist friend Dale) we will then head back to Santa Fe. This will take about 3 days and 2 overnights.

You might ask yourselves - "I wonder if they are nervous or scared!" My goodness Blog Buddies - we are grownups who have traveled the world - we have hired small planes to fly us here and there --- are we scared ------- HELL YES - PETRIFIED!!!!!!!!

However - that said - and I just said it - by the time we get back to Santa Fe we'll be seasoned RV people!!!

JR :>)

YO DUDES

2012-01-25T11:04:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well no word back from any of the folks in the Santa Fe Gov't regarding our bad experience with the director of the Santa Fe National Cemetery. It amazes me as to how many people work in our local Gov't and it further amazes me as to how non-responsive they are. Well tomorrow I shall contact the ~~Dictator~~ whoops --- the Director of the Santa Fe National Cemetery and offer him a copy of the document we found on-line which governs all the National Cemeteries and clearly states that Walking - Hiking and Casual Strolling is allowed in all National Cemeteries. I LOVE theat term CASUAL STROLLING!!!!! I will offer him a copy - if he refuses one - I will mail it to him Registered and Certified so I can prove he received it. I shall also request he give me a copy of any official document which refutes my document. If he will not do that - we shall contact the local newspaper and TV stations in Albuquerque.

We do TRULY feel our Civil Rights are being violated and that shall not go unchallenged.

ENOUGH!!!!

Well, today is Wednesday --------------- I left the TINY UNIT at 7:30 and took my DW Melissa to work at the Yoga Studio. I then went food shopping - returned to the TINY UNIT and put the groceries away. I then loaded up the car with "STUFF" from the TINY UNIT and brought it to the STORAGE UNIT FOR STUFF! I then went to Sam's Club and to Staples. After this I went to the local art shop ARTISANS. They have a rewards program in which you get a $50 credit after buying $500 worth of STUFF. There is just WAY TOO MUCH STUFF IN OUR LIVES!!!!!
So I picked up some paints and a dozen 11 x 14 canvas panels. These will be used once we start our RV Journey and I suspect the first time they will be used will be in South Carolina - for some ocean and sand dude scenes plein air. WOO - HOO!!!!

I still have $11 left from my $50 credit! I WISH I COULD GET HOT FUDGE SUNDAES FOR ME AND MY DW WITH THE BALANCE.

Welllllll it is now almost noon time - so I'm not sure if I will get any painting done today on the pear that I started yesterday. Time will tell (TWT)

Right now I need some nurishment - I think a nice toasted piece of sourdough bread with some reduced sugar strawberry jam. Still working on the diet - want to get to 150 by 4/1 - I've got 4 more pounds to loose!

In my email this morning was an email from a cousin I have not seen for at least - I'm guessing 15 years and that would have been at my mother's funeral. Her mother and father were my most favortie and loved aunt & uncle and 2 of the nicest people I can say that I have ever know. So it was nice to hear from her - she got my email from another cousin who lives in Anchorage Alaska and follows my blog.

Part of the beginning of our RV Journey will be to re-connect with family members some of whom I (we) have not seen in 10 years or more.

Ok time for a quick diet lunch - a snooze - and I have to go pickup my DW Melissa at 2:45 - I best be getting my skates on!!!

Later my friends,

JR :>)

HOWDIEEEEEEEEEE

2012-01-24T10:12:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well today is Tuesday - laundry day and TINY UNIT cleaning day. I'm happy to say that all of these tasks are done and I've started a painting.

Before I get into that - my DW Melissa and I have decided to wait until Thursday before we do anything else regarding the Santa Fe National Cemetery. The purpose behind this is to wait and see if any of the local Gov't agencies we contacted respond to us.

One would think they would but I guess Gov't being Gov't ---------- IT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TOO SOON!!!

So Thursday we shall call The Director and make him aware of our findings which COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH THE RULES HE STATED TO US. We will also tell him if he can produce a valid - Gov't document - such as we have -- that disputes what our document specifies --- we will be willing to talk about it. BUT - until he does that, we will continue our walks through the SFNC showing respect and honor for my fallen comrades.

Stay tuned!!

OK - as most of you know, I love to paint pears - the various shapes and colors I find not only interesting, but they can be a challenge as well.

Soooooo with that in mind, this will be painted on a 14 x 11 gallery wrapped canvas.

First I do a quick sketch of a pear - this one is a Bartlett pear, which are very tasty although that said --- and I just said it --- I like the flavor of the Bosc pear the best.
Once again - nothing fancy - it's not brain surgery just a shape!

I'm using a big brush and will proceed to throw in some nice thick juicy paint and again, nothing fancy - just lots of paint spread out into the shape, with no regard for staying inside the lines!!!!1 :>) This will establish the "road map' for the rest of the color. The light is coming from the left, so the finished product will be lighter on the left than on the right. See how smart I am!!! :>)

OK - Got to get some dimension for the body of the pear and this I will do with the introduction of more color. Being me, which I am, I never fuss over the colors I use - and as most know I do not lay out a predetermined selection of specific colors. I will lay out GROUPS of colors - such as 2-3 oranges - 2-3 greens - 2-3 yellow etc.

So --- dimension and more color!!

BY JOVE I THINK I'VE GOT IT!!!!

Not bad JR - that certainly gives dimension (body) to the pear and the addition of color also livens up the pear.

OK - at this juncture (I love to say that) juncture - what a cool word - anyhoooooo

I will paint in the stem as I'm getting tired - I think my DW Melissa and I are coming down with colds. So I will throw in the stem, toast a nice piece of sourdough bread - I love sourdough bread - and put some nice low sugar strawberry jam on it and take a break!!!

OK STEM TIME!!!!

I know I've mentioned it before, but the direction of brush strokes can very nicely define a shape. Pretty much the only thought I put into painting pears while the painting process is going on, is "DIRECTIONAL BRUSH STROKES"

Just below the stem above - that sounds weird

"below the stem above" LOL

I'm sure you can see brush strokes that give the directional flow of the pear in this area - or - MAYBE EVEN AT THIS JUNCTURE!!!!!

OK -- I'll be back perhaps later today - if not - tomorrow.

In the meantime an artist friend of mine, Angelique, who lives in Cape Town South Africa does some very beautiful work and she too has been on an OCEAN kick. Actually I think I got on my OCEAN kick because of her kick - I guess it could be said she kicked me!!!

We have never met - only thru the internet - her work is beautiful so jump on over and see her. Say hello for me!

http://artbyangelique.blogspot.com/2012/01/starry-night-in-bay-angelique-2012.html

JR :>)

OCEAN SPRAY WITH GULLS

2012-01-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well - no further progression on being kicked out of the Santa Fe National Cemetery. None of the Govt officials and Congressmen have written back to us - WHAT A SURPRISE!!!!! We talked this morning and have decided to continue on our current path of being able to walk once again in the National Cemetery. This is something we will not let go of and will continue our quest for walking privileges. I'm going to do a search on all National Cemeteries in the USA and make contacts to ask if WALKING is permitted.
We also agreed if this is not settled by the time we leave Santa Fe on our RV Journey that we will continue to pursue it from the road. I have to be honest and say I want to kick that guy's ass to the curb!!! I am also going to try and get some FREE advice from the ACLU as I feel our Civil Rights are being denied!

OK - enough!!

Since the largest portion of our RV Journey ( called LEG 1 ) is going to be up Carolina/Virginia and the New England seacoast on into Nova Scotia, I will be doing a lot of plein air ocean scenes. So I did another one this morning.

9 x 12 on a primed single canvas sheet.

"Ocean Spray With Gulls"

What do we need? A blank piece of primed canvas and the horizon line.

See - it just ain't rocket science!!!

Next we need to throw in the sky with a big brush and lots of juicy paint!

Still not rocket science!!

This will go quickly as I'm using a big brush and the painting surface is only 9 x 12 - I'm working wet into wet very quickly!

WOW----- Ya I know --- that was too quick!!!!

Truth is I forgot to take some photos - my mind was off some place else.

See ---- ya don't even have to think when you paint!! :>)

Well - we got the sky - the presence of ocean and the nice big chunk of rock embedded in the sandy ocean floor - just waiting for a wave to crash over it and throw up some spray!!!

Well--------that's what the title indicates!!!!

Sooooo we need some waves coming in as well as a wave crashing on the back of the big rock and some movement in the FG surf.

Hang on a minute - let me see what I can do with my big brush!!!! :>)

HOLY CRAP I DID IT!!!

I even managed to throw in two gulls!!!!

Now for my ~~Anal~~ whoops I messed up ---- Now for my ATTENTIVE BUDDIES:

HOW HE DO DAT!!?!!

SEA SPRAY

SEA GULLS

Well-----hope you enjoyed this demo - sorry I did not take more progress photos but my mind clearly was off someplace else!

Enjoy the day and remember as you proceed down the hyway of life - stand up for your rights - be firm but be fair - check things out the best you can and proceed with caution and when you know you are 100% in the right

ATTACK WITH VENGEANCE!!!!

CHARGE!

JR :>)

NATIONAL CEMETERY UPDATE & SHASTA DAISY FINI

2012-01-22T08:24:00.000-08:00

Yo Blog Buddies,

Well ------ there is an NBC TV reporter who covers Santa Fe issues - mostly Governmental issues but also people issues. We contacted him - he replied and has asked how he can contact us!!!! Progress!!!! Time will tell!!!

To clear my mind, I decided to finish Shasta Daisies.

When we left off yesterday - this is where we stood.

Needing to be done is the painting in of the daisies as well as some general housekeeping regarding edges, shadows and overall "take it up another notch!"

Since I paint in an expressionistic style, I never paint in every petal or every blade of grass or every leaf etc etc so the daisies were done with spontaneity - my style.

For my "ATTENTIVE" buddies ---------

HOW HE DO DAT???

Well I hope you enjoyed this finish of the demo for

"SHASTA DAISES"

If interested, another $65 steal. :>)

Depending on what the NBC TV reporter has to say, may or may not dictate our next move in what we consider a violation of our Civil Rights.

We believe we are correctly reading and understanding the Regulations of the National Cemeteries which by the way is UP TO DATE as of 1/12/12 and hope we can bring this issue to a favorable closure for us and all peoples.

JR :>)

SANTA FE NATIONAL CEMETERY (CONTINUED)

2012-01-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Blog Buddies,

Well-------My DW did some on-line research and found a very interesting document. This document issued by the agency controlling our National Cemeteries, in part says:

That "recreational activity is not allowed."

The regulations goes on to further state:

"Recreational activity means any form of athletics, sport or other leisure pursuit or event, whether organized or spontaneous, that is engaged in by one of more persons for the primary purpose of exercise, relaxation or enjoyment, including but not limited to the following: jogging, racing, skating, skateboarding, ball playing, kite flying, model airplane flying, throwing objects through the air, sunbathing, bicycling and picnicking. This term does not include walking, hiking or casual strolling."

This is a direct quote from the National Cemetery Regulations issued by the controlling government agency for whom the Director of The Santa Fe National Cemetery works for.

Welllllllll anyone who knows me or my DW Melissa will not be surprised by the following:

We are going to print off the National Cemetery Regulations in its entirety and deliver it to the Director of The Santa Fe National Cemetery - bringing in directly to the house he lives in on the grounds of the Cemetery. knock on the door and very nicely suggest that he read it. We will also tell him that until he produces a valid document stating otherwise we fully intend on continuing our walks every day and we will continue to honor and show respect to the service members who fought for the United States of America. His response will determine any further action on our part.

It will also be interesting to (we hope) hear back from our Congressman, the Governor and the other government agencies we contacted.

I would love to see the Director of The Santa Fe National Cemetery stand toe to toe with a VietNam veteran (of which I am) and tell that person they cannot walk in the cemetery and pay respect to their comrades.

Other avenues we will go down if needed will be to contact the local VFW, the news media, the TV stations. We will also invite our Governor and our Congressman to go for a walk with us through the cemetery. There is a fellow on a local TV station who fights for the rights of the public and tracks down and exposes crooked politicians - he most certainly will be called in for assistance.

So the National Cemetery Regulations seem to clearly state that "walking, hiking, casual strolling" is in fact ALLOWED.

We are carrying this document with us whenever we walk in the Santa Fe National Cemetery and any other National Cemetery, as we believe it to be our right to walk in any National Cemetery and shall consider this document to be our "Walking Pass!"

To be continued..................................................

ASKED TO LEAVE THE SANTA FE NATIONAL CEMETERY

2012-01-21T12:03:00.000-08:00

Well my friends, we went for our power walk this morning at The Santa Fe National Cemetery. About 3/4 of the way through our walk we notice an official looking SUV following along behind us!!! The driver pulled up, got out and proceed to say:

"As the director of this Cemetery it is my duty and obligation to inform you that any type of exercise of any kind including walking is not permitted in ANY National Cemetery within the United States of America! "

He was boldly pleasant in a very condescending manner - we exchanged a few words, told him what a very stupid rule that is and as a veteran and a tax payer we assumed a right to come into the cemetery and walk the grounds in a very reverend manner.

He further said that there were signs throughout the Cemetery explaining this policy. Well we've been walking over there for 3 months now and never- never have we seen any signs other than "Floral Policy" and "Funeral Procession Stop Here"
On the Nationl Cemetery website there are no restrictions listed.

Can you tell me all of the vistors to the Arlington National Cemetary are in violation of this LAW!!!

He informed us we could write our Congresman if we so chose!

Well we will be writting our Congressman, Governor, the Veteran Administration (who is in charge of the National Cemeteries, the local Santa Fe newspaper, and perhaps the President of the United States.

The "DIRECTOR" of the Cemetary sort of dismissed us and started unloading beer and a case of wine from his Government SUV and we asked if drinking acholol within the confines of a NATIONAL CEMETERY was consider OK as well as being reverent.

"THE DIRECTOR" pointed to a building and said "I live in this building and I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT!"

Well during our walks we would stop at grave sights and say hello and a quick prayer - if we saw a container of flowers tipped over by the wind - we would upright it, If we saw a piece of paper on the roadway or near the headstones we would pick it up.

I would suggest that "THE DIRECTOR" pay more attention to the appearance of HIS NATIONAL CEMETERY and less attention to those paying their respects!

Well all good things must come to an end but we will however go down making a NOISE about this.