Last Apache Welder?

[Bob Boze Bell]

February 14, 2013

Tweaked a couple paintings this morning before I came into work. One of the Lone Light Paintings I started last weekend turned into an homage to Frank Tenney Johnson.

 

Frank calls nocturnes like these, "The Midnite Visitor," etc., but I'm reading "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, and he describes a youngster who is full of testosterone and roaming the countryside until he comes back "from squirtin' around." Ha. It gets better. Here's how Tom Joad's father describes his youngest son:

 

"He's a-billygoatin' aroun' the country. Tom-cattin' hisself to death. Smart-aleck sixteen-year-older, an' his nuts is just a-eggin' him on. He don't think of nothin' but girls and engines."

 

Daily Whipout #126, "The Horndog Visitor:

 

Also retweaked a study I posted a couple days ago. Thought it need a little more definition. Always a gamble, the fear being destroying anything subtle for the sake of clarity. not sure of the verdict, but it's too late now.

 

Daily Whipout #127, "The Last Apache Raider"

 

Got an amusing but succinct critique of a recent Lone-Light painting. My Canadian compadre Bill Dunn said in reference to this painting:

 

"Arc Welding In The Moonlight?"

 

"I like the way you’ve walked us around to the darker side of the house with
the sun glow on the other side. This is working in a number for your last works.

"However, you can’t forget what is producing the light you see in the window.
There are no power poles???? so it has to be lamp light!

"You would think with that amount of light filling the window someone was
welding in the living room!!"

—Bill Dunn

 

"He was as lecherous as always. Vicious and cruel and impatient, like a frantic child, and the whole structure overlaid with amusement. He drank too much, when he could get it, ate too much when it was there, talked too much all the time."

—John Steinbeck, describing Tom Joad's grandfather in "Grapes of Wrath"

[Neil Waring]

These are terrific, as usual. But where I never cease to be amazed is when you say
these were worked on before you went to work – what time do you get up? I am
not a morning person, not at all, never understand how you can paint, walk the
dog and all those things before going to work. I would need a nap as soon as I
got there. Keep up the good work!

[Sue Cauhape]

Granted, I read Grapes of Wrath and loooonnnngggg time ago, but I don't remember anything as described here. Guess it's time to read it again. Steinbeck always deserves another reading.

[Bob Boze Bell]

@Neil, I get up at 5:30, read and plan my day until 6:30, come out to the studio at seven, sketch and doodle, check email, feed the chickens, walk a mile up Old Stage Road, read the paper and try and knock out a study before I go into the office at nine. I don't always achieve this and some days I go in at 9:30 if I can accomplish work tasks from email at my studio.

[Sue Cauhape]

I think your energy is phenominal. No wonder you're successful. Wish I had a tenth of that energy. Keep on keepin' on.

[Bob Boze Bell]

Thanks Sue. Full disclosure: sometimes I don't go on the walk (like today), sometimes I don't do a piece of artwork, sometimes I get up at 6:30, sometimes I fail at everything I seem to try, BUT I always feed the chickens, so I've got that going for me.

[Sue Cauhape]

Hey BBB, if the chickens don't get fed, they'll let you know. When I had the flu last month, feeding the chickens was about the only thing I could do. I knew I HAD to do that much. They've rewarded me with eggs. Hope yours do the same.

[Bob Boze Bell]

Yes, Sue, just got two eggs for breakfast. Mighty sweet of those gals. Got to take care of them.