The Lighter Side of Edward Burton and Artist 'sMagazine Entries

One day I'm gonna put up a blog analyzing why we blog. For now, I'll just say I blog to show off my art and share art tips and ideas, of course. BUT...I think the REAL reason I blog is to try to entertain. I have a weird sense of humor, and I like to inflict it on others. So, let's start off with the good stuff first.

This blog is kinda about aging, which I'm doing. I'm trying to eat better...more fruits and veggies, etc. Well...ED BURTON (an exceptionally talented artist and my buddy by the bay...visit his site for awe and inspiration by clicking HERE) seems to have a friend who likes fruits and veggies too.....as "disturbed art creations"....makes me want to grab an avocado and an Exacto knife. Ed shared these with me, and now I'm sharing em with you.

Extremely rare Butterfly.....Lepedoptera Appleicus

Watering the Melon

Remember that old B-Movie, Killer Tomatoes? Well..............

Next, I'm addicted to writing poems for "Every Photo Tells A Story"...a delightful blog site that features great artwork and writing....check it out by clicking the photo on the right. Today's photo was of three old geezers sitting on a park bench reminiscing about old times. I wrote my poem "I Remember What I almost Forgot" and then reflected some more on getting older. So when I picked up my E-Mail, there was ED BURTON sharing some more with me. Others are aging also....which makes me feel better? Hmmmm. Anyway, let me share with you a few others who are adding on the years (and pounds?)

Barbie Turns 50...... (and 250)

"Puddy Tat? Puddy Tat? Who Cares? Tweetie at 60

Linda Carter? Calling Linda Carter. We need you, Linda Carter.

Speaking of old geezers....Artist's Magazine has just sponsored a competition for artists over 60 years of age....which excludes most of you all. The deadline was September 30 and the top ten chosen by the jury will receive $100 and a feature in the March issue. I submitted 4 for the competition....wish me luck.

"Moon Dog on the Streets of Granada, Nicaragua"
MoonDog was a sweet old dog that kinda attached himself to Me and Pokey and TacoBelle. Totally useless, but rather endearing. I visited Granada, Nicaragua quite often, and took a lot of pictures of the neat streets and scenery there. I plan on using more of those backgrounds and add elements to them.

"TacoBelle at the Door In Granada, Nicaragua"
This is the third version of this painting. I had posted a larger version of it several months ago. I sold both previous paintings and this one I just finished (12 x 16 acrylic on canvas) for another customer.


"Back Steps Beggar"

I have posted this one previously. It is a pezote, or coati mundi on the back steps of MINAE (Costa Rica's Environment Agency). I painted it last year and OTS (Organization for Tropical Studies) used it for their Holiday greeting cards.

"Egret on the Rocks"
I have posted this one earlier, too. Caught this photo of an egret on the Sarapiqui River in Costa Rica a year and a half ago.

And finally....3 more days for WTTW "Cats Up" challenge. I've had some delightful submissions (see em HERE), but there's still plenty of kitty litter left undisturbed, so send me your art. Next month's challenge will be "SCARY STUFF", and I'll post those reference photos Sunday on Windows to the Words.

Thought for the Blog....It seems the more timesaving devices you accumulate, the less leisure time you have. Have a good weekend & CYA down the road.

YIKES...Self-Portrait - WTTW Cats - Pokey and TacoBelle Frantic

I hopped right on Michelle Burnett's Following the Masters Challenge for this month because it is on a subject that sends chills up and down my spine and makes me reach for the Excedrin....SELF-PORTRAITS. Now, I think it so much more interesting (and less painful) to be painting raccoons or birds or wildflowers than to have to face a picture of myself for long enough to paint a self-portrait. But...I knew that if I didn't do it right away, that I'd put it off and it never would get done. And, out of the 4, 812 blog artists I admire, Michelle is right there near the top of my list. So here I am, I think it actually does sorta look like me.
NOTICE!!!! (Added to blog, Sunday Sep 27, 2:30 PM CST... I've extended the deadline for submitting artwork for Cats Up until midnight, Oct. 5 (judging will be Oct. 6)
Next...Only 5 more days left of WTTW Cats Up Challenge (prizes with this one). So paint a cat. Draw a cat. Sketch a cat. Spay a cat. Barbecue a cat. No...scratch that last one...Pokey put me up to that.
I did 3 of em, and I just put one of em here. You can see the others (along with some really good ones) by clicking HERE. Oh...and a comment on my "Happy Cat"...I started not to do that one because I was sure I couldn't paint it without making it look like a cartoon. I was right.


I'm trying to post at least 4 or 5 ACEOs a week on Daily Pain Things. I am selling these for only $10.00 PP until the first of the year. You may want to check it out. Ad paid for by Starving Artists and Painters Society.

I will have some details on the upcoming "Texas Paint Out" rescheduled for October on my next blog. Should be fun....cool and ideal for bringing the best out in the "mud daubers". Fingers crossed.

And last....Pokey and TacoBelle came to me all upset and frantic this morning. Pokey told me about this Labor Day they had in a town not far from here where they were eating real dogs as hot dogs and showed me the picture below. She thought that Tweedles had got lost and was about to be munched down for supper. And that wasn't Tweedles, but Tweedles' long lost second cousin, twice removed. I told her they weren't eating the dogs, just dressing them up for Halloween.



Seems Texas has had problems down at the border with illegal aliens, but I didn't know all the details of the situation until TacoBelle showed me this photo. Weird, huh?


Remember, ability and talent are meaningless unless they are put to the test of action.
Cya down the road...... James

MICHELLE'S WESTERN and DSFDF C"URP"CAKES

Michelle Burnett's Following the Masters Challenge for this month was Western Scenes. She had some marvelous submissions...really great artwork. I went up to my niece's home and took a picture of one of her Texas Gardens and painted it for Michelle's challenge. Here it is...


Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks Challenge had cupcakes on parade as its theme. So I did this one for it.


The "Cats Up" Challenge on WTTW is in full swing, and the paintings that have been submitted are grand. Click HERE to check em out. One kitty seemed to have gotten the wrong idea about the challenge, and went down the wrong path....illustrated below.



The economy seems to be on the rebound, but there's still a bunch of unemployment out there. Some of the job lay-offs can produce unexpected results. Such as in this photo that a friend sent me...


And....some friends of mine returned from a trip up North and took some pictures of Mount Rushmore. Then they went up to Canada and took pictures of Mount Rushmore from the Canadian side. You know, I've always wondered.......



Cya round the bend.....

CATS UP....CASA RIO BLANCO....SWINE FLU

Well, today my sister and I were to be at the Marble Falls, Texas Arts and Crafts Fair peddling our wares. After 3 months of drought...we are having a deluge. No complaints...the rain is sorely needed. But here I am blogging instead of raking in beaucoups of Dinero (Hahahahahahaha!!!!!)


This month's subject for Windows to the Words Art Challenge is Cats...CATS UP!!
I have posted 2 here, but there are 4 delightful little critters posted on WTTW to be used as reference for feline-inclined artists. AND, this month, something new...PRIZES. You can see all four puddies and the details by clicking HERE.


Next....I was unable to ship all my paintings from Costa Rica due to expense, size, etc. Some have been in galleries, but most have been stored. Well they are now on display and for sale at a Rio Casa Blanco EcoLodge in Guapiles, Costa Rica.

Casa Rio Blanco is a delightful place. Herbie and Annette are from the Netherlands, and some years back decided to make Costa Rica their home, and did so by establishing this Ecolodge at the foothills of Volcano Turrialba and on the outskirts of the rainforests of Braulio Carillo National Park. Herbie and Annette are marvelous folks and their lodge is enchanting.



Nestled among Palms, ferns, heliconias, orchids and other lush tropical foliage, Casa Rio Blanco provides a home for toucans, monkeys, sloths and all kinds of other rain forest inhabitants. An intriguing hiking trail winds down to picturesque Rio Blanco (White River) where ctystal clear water from springs and upper level rainfall flows magically over rocks and boulders that are even older than I am.

Herbie and Annette have graciously displayed my work for sale throughout their facility. I have posted a few photos of Casa Rio Blanco here, but you can view more scenes and details by clicking CASA RIO BLANCO.


And lastly, I've been a bit under the weather for the last few days....kinda like hitting on 3 cylinders. My sister asked me if I might be coming down with the Swine Flu. I don't know where she got that idea. So I went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror and took a photo....Hmmmmm...she might have something there. What do you think?

Commission Acomplished, Illustration Friday, WTTW

When I grow up, I want to be that guy who posts his blog when he says he will post his blog. Running late as usual. I'm back in Texas, but at my sister, Margaret's....who is a slave driver. We have this show (she does fused glass) in Marble Falls this Saturday, and she's been working me over to get more art pieces ready. Below is pictured some of Margaret's delightful handiwork!!!


But I had to take time to post the finished commission painting I delivered while in Louisiana. A couple of blogs back, I had published the WIP of this one. Here is the finished piece, delivered, and client pleased. This is a MIXED MEDIA...acrylics, cigarette ashes, perspiration, and pizza crumbs, applied in 100+ heat, raging winds at times, and amid vast hordes of flies and gnats. All in all, I think it turned out sorta OK.


Thanks to Deb Keirce, I got involved with another challenge thingy...
Illustration Friday. Penelope Dullaghan posts a word or phrase every Friday, and participants send in artwork appropriate to the post. This Friday the topic word was "Strong", so I painted a still life of my container of Speed Stick Deodorant. However, I thought that was a bit tacky, so I submitted these leafcutter ants from a series I'm doing... "Windows to Costa Rica...Wildlife".



And next, I found the paintings I had done for Windows to the Words, Summer Stuff. I am the world's worst packer, so when I went visiting in Louisiana, I just kinda packed stuff here and there, in suitcases and garbage bags and chunked ii all in the old pickup. When I finished em, I took out my camera to shoot em, and the camera told me "Forget it, your batteries have bought the farm", So I temporarily forgot about em. But here they are.



My sister's on my case to get back to work, so I will. I apologize for such a sloppy blog, but next week, Pokey and TacoBelle and I will be back in Dripping Springs/Wimberley/Blanco in our typical "laid-back" mode. And hopefully, back on schedule... Take care.

HOME, HOME ON THE RANGE...WHERE THE DEER AND THE CATS PLAY....CATS????

Whew...didn't mean to blog vacation so long. I'm still here in Louisiana, getting caught up with some visiting I've been putting off for decades. You know, it's weird how your high school buddies sure look different than they did 45 years ago. I'm just glad I haven't changed much. :-)

This is just a short test blog. I'll be back tomorrow with a bigger blog with neat stuff and what not.





BUT..... The next Windows to the Words Challenge is CATS. Yup, Cats. The Lords of the Manor, The royalty of the household. The main reason they invented kitty litter. What a subject for painting...I'm getting furballs just thinking about it.

So I found this video (Actually, my buddy, Ron Fenley, sent it to me. One of Ron's hobbies is collecting funny and oddball Internet stuff, so you''ll be seeing "Fenley Fingerprints" on quite a few of my blogs) and hope I have enough sense to blog it correctly. It's about a cat and a fawn. It is priceless. If it doesn't brighten your day and give you the "warm fuzzies", then YOU need that vacation.

So punch it...enjoy...and tune in tomorrow.

Summer Break "JUST FOR FUN" Blog

Special Note!!!! Post a comment on this blog, and you will be entered for a drawing on Labor Day for a 5 x 7 acrylic HUMMINGBIRD original painting...by me and signed by me. Worth millions, probably. Or it could make a nice coffee coaster.



Well, I was supposed to post this blog on Tuesday, and here it is Thursday. "What a bozo", you may say, but I have a good excuse...

It's all this new technology...like cell phones, and TV remotes, and coffee makers. And COMPUTERS. I deleted the Internet. But I got it back. And here is a "Just for Fun" Blog I hope you'll enjoy. I'm going to take a week off and go fishing, so I thought I'd leave ya with a laugh.

First off, Windows to the Words just finished a month of Dog Paintings. Here are some dog photos I didn't use.....

David and Goliath

You should see this fellow chase rabbits....

This is Tweedles cousin. He's not being attacked...the Lab just has incredibly bad breath.


You've heard of STRETCH Limousines, but how about....... ?


You are getting sleepy...verrry sleeeeepy............

Pokey and TacoBelle don't much like going to the Veterinarian, but this guy's got vetaphobia in the worst way.

"A-TEN-HUT!!!!!"

"AT EASE !!!"

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE STUFF!!!!
Look Closely
In last month's dog challenge on WTTW, Tweedles was the paws down favorite. Now here's another rendition, but it's not paint. IT'S OVER 600 DOG PHOTOS !!! No Woofin.


This one blows my mind. Looks like some camels in the desert, right? Nope...what it is, is camel SHADOWS in the desert!!! The camels are those little white lines. This photo was taken from directly overhead.


Another mind-blower!!! Above is a photo of the shoreline of a lake somewhere in the far East. There is only one day of the year when the sun is correctly shining on the rocks to produce this effect. The effect is shown below when you turn the photo vertical.

Fantastic, Huh?


Above are two photos of a very big saw. Can't say for sure, but I've heard it rumored that the government just bought it to cut the Federal deficit. I don't think it's big enough.

Although the federal deficit may be big, these two photos may put things into perspective. Might even be a bit humbling. Above is a photo of our Sun...be sure to notice the little black specks on the left center.


Here's a close-up of those specks....the Shuttle and the Space Station. And remember...there's 93,000,000 miles between the Space Station and the Sun.

Now what "Summertime. Just For Fun" Blog would be complete without a few pokes as us Texas folks....So here we go:


Typical Texas Car Wash


Normally Texans don't have any problems with finding a place to Barbecue. However...when that happens.... Well, as Hank Williams, Jr said, "A country boy will survive"..or at least improvise.


Texas does take pride in its highways. Roadkill? Roadkill?

I didn't see no shtinkin' Roadkill!

Texans usually don't have any horseshoe shortages, either. But, if for want of a shoe....They can be very inventive.


I've told ya about all the hummingbirds I've got around The Shack. I've even started painting a bunch of em. I've wondered how they could maneuver and zip around so skillfully, So I got out my good camera to get some close-up photos. And, well, you won't believe this.....


This Fourth of July, a contractor in Houston, I think, hung a big American flag between two crane uprights, not knowing what effect the sunlight would have, shining through the flag. Well, some say that they're trying take God totally out of our country...but the Light will come shining through.




And Finally......


And finally...Take time to Care...And to Share...
And Maybe even a hug.

Many Thanks to.. Habeeb.com

Shangrala Family Fun

Take Care. Stay Cool. Keep The Faith
See Ya in A Week