Wednesday, April 1, 2009

WTTW Art. March Has Marched On...

I recently gave Vern Schwarz The Lemonade Award, not because he's an ole sourpuss, which he's not. But because he deserved it. He's the "Captain Kirk" of blog awards. James Kirk of Star Trek was the only one to ever pass a "No Win" Romulan challenge at Starfleet Academy. He never told anyone how he did it till ST, The Movie 3. He broke in and altered the computer program. "If you can't win, change the rules". Instead of nominating a list of other blog artists for the award, he gave it to the participating artists of Sheila and Carrie's "Art For Animals" Project. Kudos. "Aye, Cap'n...ats holdin 'er togedder." Oh, and Vern nicknamed me "The Godfather of Blog". LOL. I don't think I look much like James Brown....but I FEEEEEEEEL GOOD !!!!!

The Windows to the Words March challenge wound up with 15 submissions, 12 of which are exceptionally good. If you haven't been over to check them out, click HERE. Big, friendly, bear hugs to those that participated and have dropped by to view. There's a lot of participation events out there, so I am trying to make WTTW more personal, reliable and present subjects and reference photos that will enable the artist to wind up with a piece that may have sales appeal.


The above is what I refer to as a DAM project....Driven Almost Mad. It is my WTTW rendition of the photo of my two oldest children, Tish and Mark. I have Tish looking 13 rather than 6 and Mark looking like the neighbor's dog. So this is a work in progress that I'm sure I'll get plenty of free advice from them when I go to the States in a week. Tish wanted me to make sure I didn't let on that she was almost 42. It would be rather embarassing if her friends saw this portrait and I had blabbed that she was 42. So I won't mention that she's 42. And I'd better not mention that this photo is 35 years old, because anybody with minimal math skills could figure out that she was about 42. So..Mum's the word, Tish.

ARTISTS....The April Challenge (This month also children) is posted with the 3 children subjects on Windows to the Words Main Page.

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HOTOGRAPHERS....The April WTTW Photo challenge for photos is beautiful sunrises/sunsets. 3 of the best pics will be for the May WTTW Art Challenge. Get your Honey and your camera, go watch a great sunrise/sunset together...and take a picture if ya think about it. Like this................

I am in the process of packing up to go to Texas April 8. The cost of shipping to the States is about $10 a pound. I have 14 tons of stuff. To save you the math...that's a quarter of a million dollars in freight. I don't have a quarter of a million dollars. So I'm chunking...and it's driving me up the wall. My next blog will be about this little packing venture. But for now I have to sort through this mountain of stuff. First I need to go to the bathroom. Hmmm...now where is it?

20 comments:

  1. You danced and sang your way around that pretty darn good James...da da da da da da da, da. Now beam me up Scotty.

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  2. I think Tish and Mark will be happy with the portrait. Course, now you will need to paint their children too.

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  3. James, howdy, I'm so glad you are coming to visit all us Texans. Who are you paying to sneak your stuff across the border, cuz that seems awfully expensive to me.
    I'm got your windows challenge for pet portraits on the calendar. I think I can handle that one, as I am surrounded by the three fat friends of Pokey and TacoBelle.
    xxxoooo

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  4. So...just outta curiosity...like, what would the punishment be if an artist like...say Shelia for instance...Yes...What if Shelia painted the beautiful sunset above instead of the beautiful children behind the link, for the windows challenge. What would happen to her?

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  5. Aha, DEB, good question. Since flogging and shooting folks with a twelve gauge is usually frowned on some societies, I would have to say, paint the child and put the sunset behind them. Fairly severe punishment, I know, but at least it doesn't leave any permanent scars. :-)

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  6. As usual you are priceless !!!!!!! Hope Pokey and Taco bell don't get lost in your luggage, have a safe trip little ones.

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  7. Are you going back permanently? i can never quite make out what you're talking about half the time! Must get an American dictionary!

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  8. Your personal perspective of your own work always make me laugh so hard! Thanks for making me smile!

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  9. I'm with Liz (and am Liz) Are you going to Texas permanently and leaving lovely Costa Rica, James?
    I think your portrait is great!

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  10. LOL, Liz & Liz... I can hardly make out what I'm talking about half the time. I'm going back to Texas for a month and visit and set up a shop where I can ship from the States rather than Costa Rica. Then, what I plan on doing is coming back to Costa Rica and Panama 2 or 3 times a year for a couple of weeks. The rest of the time, I will be painting in Texas and Louisiana and visiting with family and friends. Then taking off on the road for a week or two every now and then and painting and blogging on the road. Hope it works, cause it would be fun.

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  11. Your portrait of your kids is fabulous James! I think you should capture them now also! Tell Tish not to worry about being 42...... it's really the new 32! LOL! I should know.... I'm turning the same age in June!
    Have a great trip!!

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  12. Thanks for the laugh! I really enjoy your blog. :) Just try not to get lost in your own house. I know what you mean...

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  13. You did a wonderful portrait of your kids, James! They should love it.

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  14. OMG, My side aches from laughing. Poor Tish, one doesn't ever outgrow being embarrassed by their parents does one.

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  15. James, does Mark read your blogs:) Well, from your painting, the neighbors dog must have been a cutie.

    P.S. Why do you have to ship so much stuff?

    ~Nancy

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  16. Have a good trip James!! Thanks for the medicine!...=]...LOL

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  17. Nice work James and a very enjoyable blog.
    Best Regards

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  18. Hey Mr. James I love reading all your blogs. I can't wait for my husband to come home so I can show him all of your art work. Dad told me you taught him how to play cards. Okay ..you showed me how to make the blog now you have to teach me to play cards.

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  19. I hope you didn't have to throw away all your paintings?

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