I Met the Walrus ...

Made me smile ...

Rocktoberfest 2008 ...

With the craziness this year, and as time slides into the holidays, I've been thinking more about things that make me smile vs. all the other crap of the day (work, economy, etc.) Up on top of the happy list, music & friends ... got both at Padilla's Rocktoberfest. Jon Auer, Scott Miller and the rest of the 'Rusty Trombones' - fabulous. (listen to Jon ... listen to Scott)


1. On Vocals ..., 2. Jon Auer ..., 3. Scott Miller ..., 4. Scott ..., 5. Scott & Jon ..., 6. Gary & John ..., 7. Jon Auer ..., 8. John ..., 9. John & Jon ..., 10. Jon ..., 11. "'Cause I'm a creep ...", 12. Jon ..., 13. Jon & John ..., 14. Jon ..., 15. Scott & Jon ..., 16. Jon ...

Sausages, Padilla's amazing potato salad, pretzels, beer ... plus a cover of 'Godzilla' with some lyrical adjustment to 'Padilla.' Of course, highlight for me - Jon Auer and Scott Miller delivering 'Don't Let Me Down.'

Good Times.

Made Me Smile ...

After a long week, a lil' Phranc Talk ... Enjoy!

Art Journal in Blue ...

I've wrapped up my latest contribution to the art journal round robin. The theme the originating artist chose was 'Blue' and, I quickly realized, I don't typically gravitate toward blue hues. The note from the originating artist asked, 'What does blue mean to you?' I wasn't quite sure but found as I worked that I had a sense of Americana when I thought of blue ...

The entire time I was working on this journal, I was listening to Liz McGrath & Morgan Slade's band, Miss Derringer ... that could have had something to do with it.

I alternated between Miss Derringer's first album, from 2004, 'King James, Crown Royal and a Colt 45' and ...






Miss Derringer's second album, released in 2006, 'Lullabies.' The cover features some of Liz McGrath's artwork.

(Be sure to check out Miss Derringer's site and Liz McGrath's site)



So, with Miss Derringer in heavy rotation, I spent the last 3 days working on the journal. Here's the result ...



I created a bit of a journal within a journal so this was the 'cover' ...


And this is from the back. Inside the pocket are tucked scented fabric rose petals and a 'sachet' of pipe tobacco. Every journal in the round robin is supposed to incorporate 4 of the 5 senses so sniff away ...


But the heart of the journal was the spread. The stars of the journal are my Grandma Rose (featured with her sisters, Gram is the 3rd from the left) ...


And, my dad, Arvis, born in 1931 in Muskogee, Oklahoma ... he was probably about 6-years-old when this photo was taken.


I didn't want to do too much so tried to focus on just a few details ... all aged with washes of paint. Grandma Rose was quite the seamstress ...




Dad hustled pool for a living in his younger days and was in the Insulators Union. He enjoyed a good game ...



With as crazy busy as this year has been, I was amazed how time slowed down as I worked on this journal. Maybe it was the reptition of colors, the focus on trying to keep things simple, the repeating soundtrack ... either way, I found blue to bring a bit of calm.

Welcome to the Weekend ...

Let's just say, it's been a week. Thankfully, it's also the beginning of a 3-day weekend.


Tomorrow, more time with the art journal project.

But What Blue?

Working on another art journal for the round robin. This time, the artist has chosen the theme 'Blue' ... blue, great, I can do anything. But when I started to work on it I realized I was a bit stumped. Turns out I don't use blue much ... and while it wasn't a requirement to use the color, I was also a bit stumped on what blue means to me. Should I feature the Blues, blue bayou, the big blue ocean ...?)

So, finally, without a solid concept, I had to just jump in. First thing, get rid of the white page. Opted for some Payne's Grey for my first wash of 'blue' ...


Next up, for another page, a second wash of Pyrrole Orange (just can't go blue alone)


Still playing a bit ... but I think an idea of 'Blue' is starting to form ... the images here are of my dad when he was about 6 years old.


Long weekend coming up and that means time to work on the journal some more ...

Happy Hat Trick ...

Stopped by a friend's house tonight and she surprised me with a cool journal featuring images from 'Goth-Icky' and an awesome book of depressing songs by Tom Reynolds. (Thanks, K!) When I got home, my September issue of Mojo had arrived complete with another great Mojo CD release, 'The White Album Recovered' no. 0000001. October should be bringing no. 0000002. Not a bad way to wrap up a Monday.

Watch Dr. Horrible ...

I attended my first, official, full day of voice acting class today - and it was great. But rather than read my ramblings about it, I'd rather you go watch Joss Whedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" ... watch now! (before they go *poof* at midnight on Sunday, July 20th)

Got My Mojo!

I've been reading Mojo for years - finally subscribed (thanks to some birthday gift certs from friends & family) ... July issue arrived today! Seemed fitting that my Mojo subscription would start the same month I shipped off my voodoo journal spread full of Robert Johnson mojo.

Voodoo, Mojo & Mr. Johnson ...

Spent more time in the studio this weekend and the Voodoo art journal is ready to send on its journey! Hard to see this one go - really enjoyed creating the Robert Johnson shrine - but happy it's going to Deb (sure hope she likes it).

The music selection for the last phase of the journal moved into some current material, but still with a strong blues influence ... and an edge.

Conjured up the seedy underbelly with Nick Cave and 'Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!' Catch a bit of their own hoodoo on the Nick Cave & The Badseeds site -- Mojo voted this the best new album of 2008.
Next up, Detroit rockers, The White Stripes with "Icky Thump"
Finally, wrapping things up with Joe Strummer delivering his influences on 'The Future Is Unwritten'

So now to the Voodoo journal. As I thought about Voodoo and Mojo, I thought about the story of Robert Johnson selling his soul at the crossroads ... the inspiration for the spread.




The words are from an article I found at the Mudcat Cafe ...

"If you want to learn how to make songs yourself, you take your guitar and your go to where the road crosses that way, where a crossroads is. Get there be sure to get there just a little ' fore 12 that night so you know you'll be there. You have your guitar and be playing a piece there by yourself…A big black man will walk up there and take your guitar and he'll tune it. And then he'll play a piece and hand it back to you. That's the way I learned to play anything I want." ~ Tommy Johnson

The rusty bits started out as toys. The larger of the dolls is from Hannah Grey Curiosities & Drygoods and the smaller doll is a mardi gras baby -- one of a handful I bought some time ago.


In addition to paints n' patinas, I also used my vise and dremel on this journal. Something satisfying about drilling a hole into the tiny fist (1/32" drill bit). I ordered the vise & dremel from The Artists Nook ... sure, you could go to the local Home Depot but better to support artist-run businesses (besides, it's the vise that Michael deMeng recommends so you know you're off to a good start with your tools)



The snakes are from the local party supply store ...




Might try to grab a few more pics before shipping this off ...

Forget to Learn ...

On Saturday, I went to an "Intro to Voice-Over & Acting" class in SF. I've been wanting to do VO work for years and, in fact, have done some off-n-on, here-n-there, mostly for friends and at various companies I worked for. You see, I was a radio broadcasting major and I intended on working in radio but, as many of my friends have heard the story patiently over and over, the talk radio station I was working at just before graduation went bust -- the owner came in and fired everyone except for one engineer to keep the station running on satelite feed -- and, to make the story short, I ended up going the 'practial' route and got a job in tech.

So, hear I am years later and the urge to really pursue the VO path has finally pushed me to sign up for some classes at a local studio. This first session was an overview of the business but there was a point where everyone had a chance to be 'on mic' and read some short copy to see how they liked it. I know I like doing this but found the nerves kicked in when I got in front of the room and suddenly I couldn't stop over-thinking the delivery. The result, besides a stiff read, was the realization that just like when I work on an art project, a writing project, or any other creative endeavor, I need to get out of my head, get out of my way and just go with the process. If I think it through too much, the end product doesn't work.

Moving forward, I need to forget everything I learned in my years of broadcast training and open up to all the new information to be learned about voice-acting. I think it's going to be a fun ride.

More Voodoo ...

Spent some more time over the weekend working on the Voodoo art journal. I was immersed in making things old and weathered - so much so that didn't really think about blogging the effort. Between the art process and the music, not much else came into play.

The music? Been pulling out several CDs that I haven't listened to in awhile to provide the backdrop for this art journal.

Reverend Gary Davis, in particular the album 'Harlem Street Singer'

Next up, some Muddy Waters, from the fab compiliation: The Chess Box.

And, most recently, Lazy Lester, songs from the '50s and '60s collected on 'I Hear You Knockin'! The Excello Singles'

The art bits that happened while listening to these albums? More rusty toys and prepping of a few pins ...




More to do this weekend ...

Voodoo In Progress ...

I've slipped behind on the art journal project (late sending the current journal in my posession off to the next artist) but last weekend I made some headway. The theme for this particular journal is Voodoo - so it wasn't so much a lack of ideas as picking a place to start. Once I decided I wanted to create a bit of a shrine within the spread, things started to move.

I started by creating some structure ...




Then it was time to start playing with toys ... I love the Modern Masters paints (learned about them when I took a class from Jane Wynn)




Of course I wasn't about to stop with just one baby doll ...


In between painting the layers and patina on the toys, I worked on altering a laser print photo of Robert Johnson ...


More ideas cooking. More time in the studio needed this weekend.

Candy Cigs

Candy Cigs
Originally uploaded by k-dj

Wonder if El Charro would carry a pack ...

Diptych ATCs ...

I was reading the Spring issue of Artful Blogging recently and one of the blogs featured was Think Monday - Think ATCs, a blog featuring weekly ATC challenges. Here are the ATCs I made for this week's challenge: Diptych.


"Change is to give up what we are to become what we could be" ...

"It's the little things that matter" ...

The image is an old family photo ...

Garage Find ...

Some people plow through a box of cookies, a tub of ice cream, a bag of chips. Me? I occasionally go on CD shopping binges. Last big spend in a record store was at Waterloo in Austin in March. So, it was time.

After seeing 'Young @ Heart' on Saturday I was craving some new music. Luckily, Rasputin is just down the street from the theater. One hour and 15 CDs later, I was ready to start listening.
The first play from my new stash was a surprise find. I knew I wanted to pick up the Foxboro Hot Tubs release so Garage was on my mind. Flipping through the bins, I spotted 'You Got Yours!: East Bay Garage 1965 - 1967.' The parentals grew up in Albany (CA not NY) -- I was born in Berkeley -- a CD of East Bay garage bands was a must purchase.

I was not disappointed! The CD opens with 'Waiting For You' by The Baytovens (featured on the front cover and my favorite band name on the disc). A couple of the tracks would be great additions to a '60s for Kids compilation -- notably 'Humpty Dumpty' by The Epics and Dynosaur by The Flintrocks.

In addition to 24 tracks of East Bay rock, there are also detailed liner notes from Alec Palao, El Cerrito, CA. Definitely worth checking out.

Young @ Heart ...

Part of my plan to kick off the 3-day weekend was see "Young @ Heart" on Saturday but the show was SOLD OUT. So, today, I set the alarm, grabbed a Peet's double latte and headed to the theater early for the morning matinee. Fantastic!

It was a great experience even before the movie started.
The elderly lady sitting next to me had also tried to see Saturday's show (sold out) so we chatted a bit about how we really wanted to see "Yount @ Heart" on the big screen and that led to other movie talk - both of us loved "Iron Man" and thought Tony Stark was the role Robert Downey Jr. was meant to play. But back to "Young @ Heart" ...

As I sat in a theater full of people - most at least 60 and many probably 80 - all to see a film about octogenarians singing Sonic Youth, The Clash and others, I started to smile. Music is universal.

I'm no film critic so not going to attempt a review. Let's just say, you must see this movie.



Note: I did notice a few key differences with the audience: no text messaging during the movie, no talking during show and, following the film, the line for the restroom formed quickly. Ah, things to look forward to.

(post addition) I should also mention, during this movie was the first time I enjoyed a Cold Play song.

Like A Prayer ...

Catching up on some blog reading today and saw John Wesley Harding's post that there's now a video for his cover of Madonna's 'Like A Prayer.' (read Howie Klein's post about Seymour Stein, Wes and the song here) Imagine my surprise to see one of my photos in the video!

Here's my pic from The Freight & Salvage in 2004 ...


Watch for it in the video for 'Like A Prayer' ...



Nice to know in some way my photo's helpin' to spread the word.

John Wesley Harding, musician
Wesley Stace, author

The Art Journal Project Continues ...

The last few months have been stupidly busy. I wish I could say I've been busy with lots of fun and creative things and, while there has been some of that, there's also been a lot fo day-job hoo-haw gettin' in the way. But, that said, I finally managed to finish working in the 3rd journal I received as part of a rotating Art Journal project!

Each Journal was started by a different artist - they creat the cover & choose the theme - this journal was all about Travel. While most of my recent travel has been business trips (no, I am not going to create a journal page with that focus), I did have a wonderful trip to Oaxaca last October (and also in 1999) that I used for inspiration.


The bits of newspaper used throughout the journal are from the newspapers used to wrap items I bought in Oaxaca.


The inside started with very bright colors: hot pink of the papel picado, bright yellow paint, the original colors of the Catarina image and my photographs. But, while there is a lot of color in Mexico, most of it is knocked back a bit with layers of earth -- so I hit everything with washes to tone the color down. The handwritten text says "Celebración de la Vida en la Tierra de Tres Valles."


The metal objects in the journal all started as brightly painted or plain tin. Using techniques I learned from Michael deMeng during the Oaxaca trip, I altered each with layers of paint. (I also used Michael's painting techniques on the 'burned paper' edges.)



To give you an idea of where this journal started ...


So, that's the spread.


And now it's time for me to work on the next journal. It arrived in April but I held off opening the box until this one was completed. Hmmm ... maybe I'll get to use bones in the next book ...