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February 2009 Blog Posts (80)

Drinking Cowboys Not Drinking Anything

February 28, 2009

Got this question this morning:

On Sat, Feb 28, 2009 at 9:20 AM, Jimmy Sparks wrote:

"Mr. Bell, Please satisfy my curiosity. I watch the Westerns Channel about every day. I see a lot of your commentaries and just wondering if those cowboys really drink as much as they seem to. My thoughts are that they are not really drinking alcohol at all. Am I right? List me as a faithful watcher From Lenoir N.C."

—Jimmy… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 28, 2009 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

Angels....

As I was sitting high on a ledge one day I saw angels swooping down ….I watched their wings silhouetted by the darkness of the clouds….Amazed I sat and watched as they soared high above me….they sparkled like diamonds as the sun broke through the clouds….my eyes now unable to focus upon them…Their movements now hidden from my tear filled eyes….I watched as the clouds parted again and wept as they left as quickly as they appeared…leaving me staring as I often do into an empty sky…..alone….

Added by Nasty Ned Logan on February 27, 2009 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

Big Billy, Part III

February 27, 2009

Went home for lunch and brushed in another pass at the big Billy painting:

Laid in some Indian Red to give the shadows some warmth against the adobe:

Also, gave Garrett's face some shadows as well. The Kid seems to be floating a bit. Was hoping the shadows would pull him down, but it didn't. May kill the highlight on his spur because I think… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 27, 2009 at 2:30pm — 3 Comments

Working Ahead

We had a graphic meeting yesterday and I think our new system is going to work mighty fine. Production (RR & I) are laying out stories 2-3 issues ahead so we can solve problems in a timely manner if they arise. We're planning on having a June 09 meeting this coming Tues. morning to look at images. This way we're able to pick the best pictures possible. I think this is good. We're able to be a little ahead of the deadline. They always seem to come fast and furious. My friend always jokes… Continue

Added by Abby Goodrich on February 27, 2009 at 11:15am — No Comments

Clint, Mickey Free and American Flag

February 27, 2009

Got this from the United Kingdom this morning:

"Hey, painter, I thought this page from my morning paper might interest (astonish?) you.

"There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world: ; and that is an idea whose time has come." (Anon)

Love to Kathy,

—Fred Nolan

Yes, the motiff is quite close to, oh, say, this:…

Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 27, 2009 at 9:00am — 7 Comments

Old Fools Still Foolin'

February 26, 2009

Got a slow leak in my left front tire on the Ranger. Lugged out the air compressor and aired it up yesterday, but this morning it was way down again. So aired it up and then drove up to Tobias Automotive on Cave Creek Road. Left it, and hitched a ride from there with Chuck up to our offices. We're about a mile away.

Got a snotty letter from a reader of this blog. Scrawled on a printout of the "Music Is The Doctor" poster-posting were these words: "Yes,… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 26, 2009 at 8:43am — 13 Comments

Big Billy, Part II

February 25, 2009

Lots of image and design issues this morning. Good feedback and questions. Everyone working together to do more with less.

Went home for lunch and worked on a Mickey Free sequence (Faces of Anguish) and then worked on the sky in the Big Billy painting:

Worked quickly to lay in the entire sky before I came back into the office:

Got… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 25, 2009 at 4:27pm — No Comments

Ted Turner's Head Meets Ted Turner's Sword

February 25, 2009

Finished "Call Me Ted" last night. The book got less interesting after the AOL-Time Warner collapse. Turner rides off into the sunset, so to speak, with several hundred million dollars (as opposed to the $8 billion he had at the height of his empire in 1999, when he calculated his stock value was increasing by $10 million a week!), but the heady swashbuckling of the early years gives way to saving the planet stuff, which isn't nearly as exciting or… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 25, 2009 at 9:00am — 4 Comments

Joining RGA

I am planning to join the Reenactor's Guild of America (RGA). There is no group in PA although there is another member who lives near Philly. So, I am going to try to start a RGA sanctioned group by recruiting from the various SASS groups here in PA.

We'll see how that goes. My brother-in-law who did SASS reenacting in AZ before moving to PA is interested.

Added on 2/25/09

Ok, here is a first draft of my character bio. Feedback is welcom.

The Life of John “Four… Continue

Added by Four Eyed Jack on February 25, 2009 at 7:00am — 4 Comments

I stand among the rocks high above the desert floor... The moon slowly rising over the distant mountains to the east... The yellow glow from the moon's light illuminating each object it touches... Sh…

I stand among the rocks high above the desert floor...

The moon slowly rising over the distant mountains to the east...

The yellow glow from the moon's light illuminating each object it touches...

Shadows dance as I shiver from the cold wind...

I see no movement on the desert floor yet I know they are out there...

Each ghost has it's own past...

Each it's own demons...

I move slowly to my left not making any sudden movements...

Finding shelter in a cleft… Continue

Added by Nasty Ned Logan on February 24, 2009 at 7:30pm — 4 Comments

Don't Call Me Ted (But Give Me Some Of His Gumption)

February 24, 2009

Another beautiful day in sunny Arizona. Got on a short-sleeved shirt and used the AC coming back to the office from my home studio. Supposed to hit 83 today.

Kathy met me at the house at 2:30 to move out a big desk in my studio so I can bring in the big oil painting of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. While I waited for her I whipped out a trio of landscape studies:

I guess you could collectively… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 24, 2009 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

My Reply To D. Round, Cheyenne, WY(Addendum to A Genius Chipolte Promotion And A Good Attitude)

I do not have patience when dealing with such arrogant imbiciles. I can appreciate customer service, yet my respose to D. would not pass as a welcome response.

What you you folks write back?

Here's an example of something I might cosider an apt response:

"D.,

I am writing this slow, as I'm confident you do not read fast.

It was not my decision to honor the quasi-nudum pactum you had with Cowboy magazine. I did, however, adhere to it, and… Continue

Added by Wacco on February 24, 2009 at 2:00pm — 3 Comments

A Genius Chipolte Promotion And A Good Attitude

February 23, 2009

Had a staff meeting at lunch today. Carole got a big Subway hoagie for everyone, along with Sprite and Cokes. Gave a little pep talk about staying positive in this very negative time.

Esquire magazine Editor, David Granger, wrote a wonderful editorial in the current issue on how this is the best of times because gas is under $2, the best restaurants have open seats, as do airplanes, and you want to buy a car? Zero down, half off! In this doom and… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 23, 2009 at 3:30pm — 18 Comments

Big Billy, Part I

February 23, 2009

Finally got the underpainting on the big Billy the Kid oil laid in. Started Friday and used alizarin crimson utilized by Frank Tenney Johnson on his nocturnes:

Saturday morning I bailed in early and blocked in more of the big shapes:

By nine I had it covered (with the exception of a distant roofline at the bottom:…

Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 23, 2009 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

Inquiries: Billy the Kid's Ridiculous Hat

February 22, 2009

Last night we drove over to the westside of the Beast for a surprise birthday party for Gordon Smith. Gordon, who turns sixty, is a very funny guy and when we did our radio show on KSLX he did a character called Dr. Buford, who was a stitch-and-a-half. Had lots of fun and many laughs.

Reclaimed part of my studio this afternoon, so I can move the big Billy the Kid oil painting into the north light space. The painting is now in the breezeway, which is… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 22, 2009 at 12:30pm — 12 Comments

The hard earth still shows signs of when I crossed this land... the ruts from my wagon cut deep into it's skin... my blood soaked deep into the soil... look closely and you'll see my sun bleached bon…

The hard earth still shows signs of when I crossed this land...
the ruts from my wagon cut deep into it's skin...
my blood soaked deep into the soil...
look closely and you'll see my sun bleached bones laying near by...
my voice now travels on the winds...
heard by only the other ghosts... Continue

Added by Nasty Ned Logan on February 21, 2009 at 7:58pm — 3 Comments

Ammo Shortage

I don't know how things are in Phoenix or elsewhere but here in New Mexico, we are having trouble getting ammo in everything but .22s and shotgun. Cowboy cartridges seem almost impossible to get and the prices are crazy!

Added by Ricochet on February 21, 2009 at 4:49pm — 3 Comments

Tres Muertes Or, On The Dead Run

February 20, 2009
A running boy, a worried mother and a sharpshooting Rurale. . .

"Managers help people to see themselves as they are. Leaders help people to see themselves better than they are."
—Jim Rohn

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 20, 2009 at 4:57pm — 3 Comments

Walt Disney's Golden Advice

February 20, 2009

Finally started the underpainting for the big oil painting of Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett. I'll post the progress later.

Meanwhile, our April travel issue went to the printer yesterday. Tweaked a couple designs, caught a couple corrections. Always a massive undertaking towards the end with the operative metaphor being a six-lane freeway exiting through a garden gate. Ha.

I've missed a few postings on my daily sketches, so here are the last… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on February 20, 2009 at 9:14am — 3 Comments

Lessons from The Alamo

Next week will mark the anniverary of the fall of the Alamo.It is sad to see how far our society has digressed since then.At that time and place you had patriots willing to die for their homes and beliefs.They were not soldiers or warriors per say they were lawyers,shopkeepers and farmers.They represented all nationalities,races ,and creeds.They knew the true meaning of courage and committment and honor was more than just a word it was a way of life.

It was a time when there was no need… Continue

Added by Cowboy Bill on February 19, 2009 at 11:52pm — 2 Comments

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