Sunday, May 17, 2009

Masters, DSFDF, WTTW, Etc.

First off, thanks for the nice comments on my previous blog, Noblesse Oblige. But there's one thing I must add to my little commentary on "Why Blog?" It's a little saying that is almost a philosophy for me:
"We make a living from what we get. We make a life from what we give."

Michelle Burnett, the beautiful, multi-talented, exceptionally creative, originator of "Following the Masters" challenge presented the work of Joquin Sorolla y Bastida as the reference for this month's challenge. I always have a little "spin" towards a humorous adaptation of the piece. So on this one, I tried to do a Don Johnson "Sonny Crockett" type beach bum eyeing this attractive throwback from the 1800s. He's no doubt thinking "Yo, what's up with this...gotta check it out..she may be playing my tune". She, on the other foot, is probably thinking. "Hmmm, we didn't have his sort in the 19th century....He may appear somewhat primitive by some standards, however, ..he is definitely one big "hottie". I have decided to title my rendition: : "Miami Vice Reruns on A&E".




Karin Jurick's ever popular Different Strokes From Different Folks challenge provided a reference photo of a NYC traffic scene. It depicts a number of vehicles amassed on the city street in a frantic hurry to get someplace they don't want to get to in the first place. It also depicts a plethora of ugly buildings rising so high that they might seem to be attempting to tickle the feet of God. It may be that God doesn't like His feet tickled. So He took out His eraser and got to work. Okay...so He's gonna need a bigger eraser.



"Fire in the Sky"

Deb Kierce

If Deb Kierce lived back in the "Old West", and was as fast on the draw with a pistol as she is with a paintbrush...Billy the Kid wouldn't have stood a chance. Her artwork, featured above, is entitled "Fire in the Sky". Deb was first to submit a rendition for this month's "Sunrise/Sunse" challenge for Windows to the Words. Unfortunately, Deb's submission is the only one so far. Can no one paint the sky?...Enya can...so can you. Granted, you won't do as good as God does, but He has a bigger canvas and more colors. Painting a sunset has a degree of flexibility. If you're doing a portrait, and add an extra eye, then you're in for a bit of criticism. If you add a little extra cloud in a sunset painting, no one will notice. C'mon..give it a try. Send it to JPolderndirt2@yahoo.com

Next month's challenge will be Old Folks..Love Them Wrinkles!!! I don't have any photos for that subject yet. Why doesn't anyone have a camera? Why doesn't anyone know any old people? Why doesn't my E-Mail box overflow with photo submissions? Why do cigarettes cost five bucks a pack? Oops...I digress. Sowwy. Send me a photo of some old coot like me with plenty of tale-telling wrinkles. Send to Jpolderndirt2@yahoo.com

And the WTTW submissions for last month's Children, Part 2 were very nice, indeed and can be viewed by clicking right HERE.

Blog thought: Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. Thomas Merton

19 comments:

  1. Whoa!! Thank you for the feature!! It's funny - I feel like it takes me forever to get through my paintings...I'm working on a flower shop in Paris right now that I must have 50 hours into altready. James, great dsdf and ftw challenge pieces! I always love your spin on the challenges.

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  2. You sure have a lot to take in every time I visit your great blog, James! I really like His corrective work in your DSFDF. May be very prophetic, my friend....

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  3. Geez James I thought that was you on the beach in your painting! : ) Love both challenge paintings!

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  4. Ha!! That looks like a surfer dude character portrayed by Sean Penn in the 80's.

    You have some imagination, James. That DSFDF painting is out of this world. Though I would have liked to have seen the original before "God" edited it!

    P.S. Love your philisophy about giving:)

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  5. If I could, I would.
    But I can't.
    I certainly can, and do enjoy looking through my eyes at other hands that have been blessed with talent. To paint the sky - what a dream that would be. All I could paint would be dog paws walking on the clouds
    love
    tweedles

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  6. You are so much fun! Of course I love your Sorolla submission (Thank you!), but when I saw your DSFDF piece...WOW! Amazing!

    Deb's work is also wonderful. (I really am working on a sunset...hope to get it done in time!)

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  7. Really nice job on your DSFDF challenge James,and like always, it makes me smile...thanks!

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  8. Wonderful pieces, James - I especially like the DSFDF painting.

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  9. Always a smile when I read your blog James. Great take on the Masters and absolutely love the Manhattan painting. I just can't seem to finish any of mine on time - it's slow down here in Africa.

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  10. I love your DSFDF. I had projected my own meaning onto it. It looks like my artistic process. Paint almost to completion, erase, start over.

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  11. I am giving you the Splash Award!

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  12. what a great piece for DSFDF, Your imagination soars !

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  13. Hadn't checked in on your blog for a while. Wow! You certainly put a lot into it and I see you are as busy as ever. That is just great. Keep it up. Love it.

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  14. 'Every Photo' is right: It's not Don Johnson's Sonny Crockett, it's Sean Pean's Jeff Spicoli (Fast Times at Ridgemont High). And he's like, Whoa, dude! Gnarly Bitchin Baba at the Beach...Duuuuude....

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  15. Hi, James - I could have sworn I left a comment here last week. Maybe it's in the same place I've misplaced my brain.
    LOVE your renditions of the Sorolla painting and DSDF challenge. So fun!
    Am looking for old photos of old folk....

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  16. James, I don't think you've been given enough awards. You are under no obligation to take it, but I am passing a great award on to you, because of your entertaining, humorous way that you use your blog to share your art, and the way you so shamelessly promote and honor the works of others! Stop by when you get a chance, and grab it if you like!

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  17. you have adorable compositions-great talent and inspiration

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