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Bob Boze Bell's Blog – June 2009 Archive (41)

A New Apache Kid book

June 30, 2009

I received a new book on the Apache Kid yesterday from Bob Pugh's Trails To Yesterday Books in Tucson (if you want to order your own, call Bob at (520) 293-1260). Read a bit last night. The name of the book is Renegade of Renegades: Court-martial of Apache Kid. by Clare V. McKanna, Jr. who teaches history at San Diego State University.

McKanna uses Apache Kid exclusively, as opposed to THE Apache Kid, as in, "Though his trials would not end in… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 30, 2009 at 5:00pm — 1 Comment

The Scatterer

June 30, 2009

It's no secret: I can be scattered. Kathy mentioned to me the other day, like most women, she is a "gatherer," to which I responded, "Yes, and I'm a scatterer."

She has been ribbing me about this ever since.

Anyway, the Mickey Free project has been starting, stalling, starting, peedering out and proceeding, then stopping for bug bite medical issues (both mine and the Top Secret Writer, who was almost fatally bitten, last Fourth of July, in… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 30, 2009 at 3:25pm — No Comments

Wasted Away Again In Patinaville

June 29, 2009

As promised, here is a sampling of the patina based washes I worked on this weekend, starting with a steep trail in the Sierra Madres (literally "mother mountains"). Need to add a single file of riders, probably Rurales, or bandidos (led by one Doroteo Villa):

This is a set piece for the General Crook foray into Mexico: a thousand men and hundreds of pack mules climbing up the narrow trails:…

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Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 29, 2009 at 3:37pm — 3 Comments

Bugs Goes Undercover As Carp

June 29, 2009

Last week, in Vegas, Charlie Waters, alias Bugs, went undercover wearing a True West ball cap and a Doc Holliday "I'm your huckleberry" T-shirt.

Here's the full report:

The World Series of Poker

Worked all weekend on sketches, starting with a prickly pear study:…

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Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 29, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Billy the Kid And Clyde Barrow

June 27, 2009

Evap cooler is not working. May have to switch to AC. Actually, we made it past most of June so that is a big deal. Going into The Beast in about a half hour to see a movie and then get healthy groceries at Sprouts. Kind of inspired to clean up my act even more (too many heart attack stories).

Wrote up a query letter for the 10,000 Bad Drawings of BBB book. I'm thinking of sending it out when I hit 9,500 sketches. Then really hit it hard for the last 500… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 27, 2009 at 3:00pm — 4 Comments

Eight Page Mickey, An Eye For An Eye & Virgiline Griddle Cakes

June 26, 2009

Really a scorcher today. Did get a couple rain drops last night (in Arizona a six inch rain, is one drop every six inches).

Went home for lunch and turned on the chicken misters and watched the rooster, Cocky, stretch out in the sauna with a babe under each wing. He appeared to be sipping on a spaghetti noodle cocktail but I couldn't quite see under the umbrella.

Worked on ten sketches, then got the call from Carole that the legendary Gus Walker,… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 26, 2009 at 3:30pm — 5 Comments

Dark Nights & Eddie Haskall

June 26, 2009

Working on a series of nocturne studies in my sketchbook:

Check out the small boy on horseback in the second panel. He's riding through the desert on a tall horse. The Apache Kid is running in the other panels towards. . .Beauty, of course (last panel). These are sketches 9,216-9,220.

Several people have asked me how long Charlie Waters and I have been friends and are there any photos of the two of… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 26, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

Heart Warming Trials And Defibrillation

June 25, 2009

I finally heard a different tune this morning, on my visit to the heart doctor (the usual tune I have heard is chocked full of haranguing and hectoring). In fact, I was praised by the doctor and the nurses, with smiles, even. The doctor marveled at my cholesterol levels: Lipid panel: cholesterol (114); triglyceride (62); HDL cholesterol (44); percent HDL (39); LDL Cholesterol, Calc. (60). My blood pressure is very good (100/60). When the assistant M.S.N. asked… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 25, 2009 at 3:00pm — 3 Comments

Color Me Procrastinated

June 25, 2009

Going to see the heart doctor this morning. Feel good about that, but I read a quote the other day that kind of pointed out one of my main weaknesses:

"In creating, the only hard thing's to begin; a grass-blade's no easier to make than an oak."

—James Russell Lowell

I realized that I have trouble starting and I have trouble finishing, but I am a master of all things in between. Ha. Speaking of which here's sketches 9,190 to 9,200 and… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 25, 2009 at 9:41am — 2 Comments

Bull Storms

June 24, 2009

Went down to a healthcare place in Scottsdale at ten to get a yellow fever shot. This is in case we have to build a canal in Cave Creek. Actually, it's for our trip in September to Buenos Aires and beyond.

A longtime Hollywood wrangler, Johnny Watkins, came by the offices today. He saw a True West magazine down at Bart's Indian Village, took it home, read it, and realized our offices were just down the street. Johnny and I had a grand talk. He was the horse… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 24, 2009 at 4:53pm — 2 Comments

"Dual: The Lone Drifter" Premieres This Weekend

June 24, 2009

Got this from Terry Jo Neff down in Cochise County:

On Saturday, June 27 the Cochise College – Benson Center will be transformed for the official screening of DUAL: The Lone Drifter, which filmed at Old Tucson Studios’ western set in Mescal.

The Benson / San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce is a proud sponsor of this unique event, given that movie-making in Cochise County provides a strong economic benefit to Benson area… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 24, 2009 at 8:54am — No Comments

A Triumph TR-4 Painting Companion

June 23, 2009

Got up this morning and whipped out a quick landscape:

Went to yoga class, then into the office to take care of several photo assignments. Called John Beckett to go shoot Kit Carson's house and I also set up a photo shoot in Mogollon, New Mexico with a new photographer in Truth Or Consequences who we want to try out. In fact, I first spotted Bill Lindley's photos on this website. He's very… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 23, 2009 at 4:00pm — 6 Comments

Apache Midnite Crown Dancers

June 22, 2009

Went home for lunch and whipped out a scene of Apache crown dancers:

This is for a sequence in Mickey Free called "Apache Midnite." Here is the opening scene:

Nice and moody. Inspired by a Remington painting called, I believe, "Apaches Listening." Lots of green and indigo blues. Mysterious and murky, indeed. Need to sustain this mood for the entire… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 22, 2009 at 2:41pm — No Comments

A Billionaire Outcast Tracks A Gym Teacher?

June 22, 2009

Had a very nice Father's Day. My daughter and her significant boyfriend came over at noon and I made everyone pancakes. Then we watched an English comedy Death At A Funeral which was a total hoot. We laughed and laughed.

Worked a bit on studies of century plants:

Had good photo reference I took last week on Scottsdale Road:

Also… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 22, 2009 at 11:00am — 5 Comments

Death To Smootchie Bug

June 22, 2009

Looks like the antibiotics my doctor prescribed have knocked out the inflamation in my left arm. Still not sure if it's a reaction to all the heart meds I'm on, or whether it was a Hualapai Tiger bite. I Googled side effects of three of the meds I'm taking at night and two of them can cause hives, so I stopped taking those for the time being and it seems to be working.

Then, last night, just before we went to sleep, Kathy said, "Oh, look at that. Isn't that… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 22, 2009 at 9:45am — No Comments

Politicans May Close Sharlot Hall Museum and the Arizona Historical Society

June 19, 2009

Because of a budget shortfall, the governor is considering a proposal to close two venerable Arizona institutions. Here is the whole deal, sent to me by Vince Murray:

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes today or over the weekend to write the Governor Jan Brewer’s office regarding her proposal to phase out the Arizona Historical Society and the Sharlot Hall Museum. Please inform her that the Arizona… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 19, 2009 at 12:00pm — 11 Comments

Walking With Angels And Hualapai Tigers Bite

June 19, 2009

Woke up this morning with a mysterious bite on my left arm. Swollen and itchy. It's the third such affliction, or, outbreak, I've had in the past week. Kathy thinks it's a Hualapai Tiger, a nefarious, stinging critter that evidently followed me down here from Kingman (they are notorious in that region). Going to see the doctor this morning.

Garage door broke. It's a Hungrite, and lasted 22 years. Not bad. A Hungrite technician is coming out Monday (to hang… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 19, 2009 at 9:42am — 2 Comments

Peter Brown Is In The House

June 18, 2009

Peter Brown, of Lawman fame, and his partners, Greg Long and Chuck Disney came in around 11:30 today and we took a look at the sizzle reel for a new TV show they're creating called "Shootin' The Breeze." We took the CD into Robert Ray's office and took a gander:

Left to right: BBB, Peter Brown, Chuck Disney (yes, he's related) and Greg Long.

It's a pretty cool concept for a show:… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 18, 2009 at 1:30pm — 15 Comments

Guess Who's Coming Into The Office Today?

June 18, 2009

More feedback on the latest issue:

"I figured you were anxiously awaiting my email about this month’s TW. I got it Saturday afternoon and finished it Saturday afternoon. It is always excellent and this is no exception. Don’t beat yourself up about the way you taught your kids history. We all screw up something. My favorite is teaching my sons to fish. I love trout fishing in the North Georgia Mountains. Try teaching that to a 6yr old. A catfish pond would… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 18, 2009 at 10:00am — 3 Comments

Hopped Up On Hoppy!

June 17, 2009

The latest issue of True West is hitting subscribers' mailboxes this week:

And we are already starting to get response:

"I received the latest issue of TW mag yesterday and started reading your bit on how you ruined your kids' interest in history... (haven't finished it yet; I'm a slow reader).

"Anyway... I wanted to see if you had a soft copy of that which you wouldn't mind me… Continue

Added by Bob Boze Bell on June 17, 2009 at 4:00pm — 4 Comments