Altoid Painting # 2 & MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!!

Yes it is Christmas and I hope that this finds every one full of love and joy. And as MY GIFT to YOU (read as self promoting with great amounts of ego) I bring you the 80%, more or less latest altiod painting. The first pict. is from a post in August, before, and the second is.......... the after!

Putting the elements together

And now!!

Getting Better?

And now as a super Christmas bonus heeeeeeres Cheri's!!!!!!!!!!

Most Magnificent!, Unbelievable! Super Fantastic!

I love my wife so much and all the unbelievable inspiring gifts she gives me every day. Every day is Christmas here. We are constantly building joyful art for others to enjoy. Does not get any better than that.

HO!HO!HO!

The difference

I have just come to a realization  Wait ...... the art of writing is  approached differently than the rest of my art! Now.... DUH!!!!! Pretty much what I do is not planned it is spontaneous. Hmmmmmmm I remember a point in time when I said " well you have to be completely comfortable with the procedures, tools and materials to be able to really catch and portray what floats in from the universe". I was taking about painting a picture and how practicing all the classical ways of doing paintings were very necessary to successfully capture a spontaneous creation. Simple put, you must know, with out conscious thought, what and how to do what needs to be done because you have done it so much that it is a subconscious part waiting to be used when the feeling requires it and not the thought.
No kidding you say! All of everything in life is this way! Jump in then Practice practice.
I used to climb at a climbing gym. Great fun! Loved it! I had been doing it for a while and one night I noticed a young father sitting watching his son, 6 years old or so, climbing, I could see that the father wanted to be up there climbing. Every part of him was completely craving to be up there. I sat down next to him and asked " Do you want to climb?" He said " I can't climb" I said I will show you it's great fun" With out taking his eyes of the wall where his son was having the time of his life he said " I would look funny and everyone would know I can't climb". I guess that he did not want to look bad in front of his son. I always remember that when ever I hesitate on doing something new. I was about 45 at the time of the conversation and it had not been that long before that I had been looking "funny" as I learned to climb. I had looked funny practicing and practicing and always had great fun.
So why am I getting all worked up about this writing thing? ( Stamp foot with hands waving in the air and screaming.......). The question is, am I willing to let others control what I do by the, solid as smoke, pressure of what "THEY MIGHT THINK!"
Thank you for letting me share. If you will excuse me I have to get back to work now.

Now where did I leave that key? He thought."Ahhh there it is" he whispered. And gathering it up he set off down the tunnel that was all comfy and warm to the door by the beautiful blue stone. Mr. Mouse did indeed have the key to what lay beyond.

The day after the day after.... maybe

Well it seems that today may be the end of the world. It seems that there is some discussion and disagreement on when the end of the word was supposed to be with the Mayan Calendar  Isn't that the way it always is with the end of the world things. I mean if your going to have an end of the world prediction at least have a backup plan to make it true. I mean your credibility is at stake here.

(Pregnant pause as in place foot in mouth silence)

Well your credibility can take a hit you know. I really do not think that the conclusion of the world is really worth saving someones credibility. A bit pointless really, don't you think?

 Bit of an awkward moment there. OH WELL at least I'm not predicting the .... oh never mind.

Any way I am getting ready for Christmas and ...... we don't really "do" anything for... like gifts and such. We hang out with friends and family just giving and receiving the love. That's what it is all about. Right?

So if we are hanging out here then here's a little love...... oh what the hell .... have a whole bunch and have a great family and friend loving Christmas.

He gently placed his paw in her hand and looked up into her eyes. Stars just forever filled with stars is what he saw. He was home.

Day Two or Weasels

Another post for the get up and go I need. I am trying to establish a bit of procedure in the day. This is why the posts. I want to get into the habit of writing down the stories that fill my head all of my life. I can draw and paint, make all sorts of neat things but the stories escape my ability to capture. They are filled with so much emotion and adventure. Some of the people in these stories have been with me for 30 or 40 years, developing and entwining in other stories. There are whole worlds with social and political structures that have evolved. I have been accused of using this to escape reality. So?
I just want to bring what is inside and show it around using a medium that is better suited for the complete story. The places and people show up in pictures and my metal sculptures but the story of who they are and why they are, where they are, at at that moment in time when they are put in a picture is not there.
Soooooooooo............. Now you will never see these stories untill they are done due to legal reasons. No instead you will get to be part of the never ending "BEHIND THE SCENE" exclusive whining.
Damn I started...... Amazing.
Now off to the day.

He moved one small rock a day and when the King arrived he  found a paved road to the greatest fishing spot ever. ( If you figure that one out get back to me, will you?) ( we could use another close fishing spot)

I keep starting!

Well I'm still in the start mode it seems. Oh well better than the not do anything mode. This applies to this blog. The art, on the other hand, is constant and just keeps on going! We have done a few little community shows and have been selling a tremendous amount of Cheri's jewelry out of the house. So much in fact that we do not have enough to take to the stores. Just means more to make and this means more beauty to see!
I have been working on new display's (picts. soon), ornaments and a new Altoid picture! Just having great fun, fun, fun!!! The Altoid picture # 2 is in pieces right now as I let things dry and work through the permanent assembly steps. Takes a while. Then pictures!
We also had our first snow. Here in Oracle Arizona that means 1/4 inch and gone in an hour. It then rained for two days. We call that a BIG WINTER STORM EVENT! Tells a lot about our weather doesn't it?
Oh well off to the art factory.

"I be wanting to dance in the winter sun, in the dappled light, in the golden day." said the elf with a wicked grin to the maiden quite fair. She smiled her sweet quiet smile with arched brow. She knew about elf's that danced in the winter sun with maidens fair and little ones with summer smiles that appeared that same year. She held out her hand....... and they joined their smiles for all the rest of their years.

Lets start With living Life

Well I am now a full time artist, again. Twenty two years ago I set out on a journey to become a full time artist. Many adventures have been my companion along the way. Now I am an Artist 24/7.
I am sitting in my studio that is in the side of hill, in the foothills of a 9000 ft mountain, in a small town, elevation, Heaven. I have been doing this for over a month now and we, the wife and I, have been going non stop since we started. Meaning I started. She has always been a full time artist.
Every day I awake to joy, wonder, beauty and lots of work. I had a dream and now I am living it.
A note to the world, it is true. You can have your cake and eat it to. Dreams do come true.
Love is real, peace can go on and on. My life has been full of all that you can imagine and then some, good and bad. I made it, so can any one. I am not special just not smart enough to stop. ( Insert smile here ) (There's a cool story about that, but latter)

Today I am finishing up several display's that are going out with an order. Then I will start building several copies of a new item in our product line that my lovely wife came up with. Thank you also to Nina for the "box" breaker. I wish I could share them with you, the items that is, but we are afraid that others will rip off the products. We have seen this happen a lot. I will try to have more pictures, we will see what we feel comfortable with posting.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things i can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

"Why not me?" said the sparrow to the elephant. The elephant shrugged and smiled. "Why not indeed" he said as they sat and watched the sun slip behind the hills. A breeze came by carrying the sent of wild flowers all aglow with the day................. There was no reason why not.

Revisit of the Steam powered Time Machine

Well I finally have some decent pictures of the Steam Powered Time Machine and as mentioned in my Face Book page I also have several detail pictures of the same. It should be noted that the reconstruction has been slow and laborious and will continue as more information or parts are uncovered or recovered. There are also reports that there has been several other artifacts recovered. More on these as they are verified as actually belonging to the wreck site or Captain Bland. There is also a rumor of another expedition being mounted to the wreck site. Hmmmm. I will  keep you posted.
I am enclosing the original article just in case there are those of you that are not familiar with the true story.


 From an article published in the Air Heart Daily.

The Steam clock of Captain Mortimus B. Bland as recovered from the almost unreachable and precariously positioned wreck site of the air ship Demistictus. This clock was recovered during an expedition to the site where the Air ship Demistictus finally found it’s last mooring. Untimely and as unexpected as it was, it was not a fatal crash, as it probable could have been. The surviving crew‘s accounts of the last excruciatingly dire events all agree it was only with the actions of Captain Bland that the outcome was, well, ok.

Of course, as was reported, Captain Bland was not present to join in the relief of a safe landing. Unfortunately the Demistictus was completely destroyed and the Captain was never found. Which may not be a bad thing or a good thing, I’m not sure which. After all Captain Bland was not a Captain, as we later learned, or a Bland! And there are more than a few questions surrounding the cargo the  Demistictus was carrying on what was to be the last and fateful voyage and what of the extraordinary astronomical calamity that appeared to only be located in the immediate vicinity of…… You see why this artifact is so mysterious. Even the gentleman that supposedly assembled it is quite unavailable for comment.

What exactly was the function of what appears to be an ordinary steam powered clock that however includes many unclock- like features? And what of the eerie glow what emanated from the Captain’s cabin right before the crew heard the Captain bellow “ABANDON SHIP PLEASE!”. Although there was one fellow that swore what was said was “A BACON SANDWICH  PLEASE”. The crew to the last man and woman took the first interpretation to heart and scrambled over the side and dropped unceremoniously to the rough terrain below. Whether or not this course of action precipitated the coming events or if a bacon sandwich could have changed the outcome is still hotly debated. The outcome was really  quite a splendid meeting of airship and a rather large forbidding bit of granite. Splendid, in this case, meaning quite a site to see. Of course I’m sure that Captain Bland might have disagreed.  But we will never know now,  will we?

Captain Bland's Steam Powered Clock/Time Machine?

Detail of some of the Steam Clock Modifications on the left. 

Here you can see the steam boiler, Controls and valves and regulators.

Close up of the damage from the explosion and fire at the time of the wreck.

Metal Pictures - Evolution

A long time ago and in a far away land there was a maiden that had the magic of the mystical arts. Beauty beyond words was the world she lived in. Many came bearing gifts of wonder and asked her for her blessing and acceptance. One day a young man came bearing a flower that was filled with indescribable depth and power. The maiden saw the beauty and clapped her hands in joy and wonder. " Boyfriend!" She called. "Come see this gift that Jason has brought!" With that look of wonder,that I so loved, she placed the flower in my hands. "Where is this going to lead us?" she asked."It surely will be a places of joy, happiness and beauty." She whispered.

This is the first Metal Flower Picture! Great fun!!

Now the face has a way to see you.

This is number 2 of the Altoid Metal Flower Pictures. Throwing a bit more in to it. Steam operated? 

The center detail. This will be aged and such.

This is just starting

She was right. The simple flower has grown and grown. The flowers that it has sprouted and the new flowers that it has manifested and are still manifesting keeps growing. the latest in this evolutionary process are the melding of a bunch of my joyful endeavors. Metal art, Steam punk, flowers and pictures. The first of these grew from an Altiods box that wanted a window. You give it one thing then before you know it bam! Gim Me Gim me Gim Me...... on and on .... oh sorry, I like that part. Creating the unknown. That's why I do this. Always something new. And with no further ado here are the Metal Flower Pictures. #1 finished and #2 in progress. As you can see the power of that first flower is still growing.

Mr. Evil Wess Returns!!!!!!!!!

Well it took me a while to put Mr. Wess's last set of pictures up, last post, so you can imagine my surprise when I received an e-mail with his latest creation in progress. Can't imagine the surprise, well..... Lets imagine  that you come home and you open your door and there in front of you is a mad, disheveled, dirty, smelly, maniac, welding the the legs of a beautiful lady in you living room on your brand new white carpet..... and........ the glass of wine that you left is still untouched. Just imagine that the wine is totally untouched and that was a very good year mind you. In fact not are you not only surprised but you are now getting REAL MAD at the insult by this jerk!!!! WHAT MY WINE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR A MAD, DISHEVeled, dirty, ummmm............. I seem to have lost the train of thought. Very good coffee though.

Sooooooo ummm well I mean that I had to bring these pictures of Mr. Wess's latest creation to you my faithful followers as quickly as I could.Which is now!

I love his creative energy that can see how and where each piece fits to create the form and shape of the whole concept and idea...... more coffee any one?......yes thank you..... that's enough.... sugar or cream.... no thank you I like it black....... of the woman he is manifesting into our reality from the cosmos. Absolutely fantastic. Simple put I am in admiration at what Wess does and how he does it. I love watching his creation develop and come alive.
Keep us posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The DIVA has begun!

Seems to be a walk with confidence and purpose?

GOT to LOVE IT!!!

Wess loves tall shoes! Really!

Thank you so much for sharing the pic's Wess. We will need to see her up close an personal soon.

The Evil Mr. Wess!

TA DA! This post begins, or not, a new feature! A guest artist! There are artists out there that when I see their work I go " Unbelievable! " Wess is one of those artists. Like me he works at a daytime job and then lives art the rest of the time. He paints totally awesome pictures of vintage air planes and wemon's in stunning high heals, and sculpts in metal. He is also another artists that works with the discards of other people. I first met Wess when Cheri took me to visit him. We arrived out in the flat lands of Marana, read this as not nothing there, Arizona and pull up to a camper with various vehicles and sheds scattered about. I'm cool. An individual that is living life his own way. I'v done that at times myself. BUT THEN!!!! I notice automatic weapons laying around!!!!!! Things are beginning to look not so cool. Have I made my lady friend that mad? What really happened to her ex.'s? What should I say or better yet, NOT SAY! I'm thinking that maybe we should wave, if he see's us, and go home and clean the sink or something. And then there he was. Feet spread apart, hat pulled down to right over his eye's and with the sun at his back! What were my final words going to be? Then he laughed and shouted " Hi Cheri! Good to see you!" Wess it turned out was a great guy with a wild off center sense of humor, as you will see. The automatic weapons that I had eyed so seriously were, upon closer inspection, made from the parts of lawn mowers, washing machines and lord only knows what else.

Girl Friend & guns!

They looked real and the detail work was fantastic. This guy was good! So began my association with Wild Mr. Wess. he refers to him self as "Evil" Wess, not true, "Look at the world differently" Wess, ya. So here is his "girl friend" standing about eight feet tall! Love her. Also notice the guns in the back ground. Machine gun and 50 cal anti air craft gun. You never know about those lights in the sky at night in AZ. Noisy Neighbors? no problem!

Mr. "Evil" Wess and the "Lady that shot me down!"

Just got to love her!

I try to identify all the pieces! Can you?

Notice the high heals!

Thank you! Thank you! Mr. Wess!

But here is the latest wonder of wonders. It is titled "the girl that shot me down". What can I say? I am completely mesmerized by what he has accomplished with what he has used. All of it found then beaten, welded and placed together to form the greatest "don't mess with me lady" in the universe. Here she is enjoy!!!!!!

ANOTHER YEAR !!!!!!!!

Well there goes another year! WOW! I am about to start a regular blog and am pushing to post at least more than........ It all started innocently I was walking along minding my own business when he stepped up to my side. Not unusual you say? Well unusual is about four and a half feet tall. Twisted over and around so I'm looking down as he is looking up. NOT an imps face, but some what miss shapend. You know, the eyes are not in line and spaced a bit far apart. The nose is quite crooked and hooked. Whats left of the eye brows are well a mess! Well anyway. Looking down at this apparition I almost stumbled. In fact it felt like I was  always about to fall over this wildly gesturing and bobbing.... did I mention smelly! Now there is a challenge, describe the smell. Nope can't do it. Oh well you will learn about the smell. Where was I? Oh falling, almost, as I tried to avoid stepping on the animation of peculiar gestures and personal proportions. It croaked! Yes I said croaked it did! " croake, croake, tit, tit, tau, Bit sir, Bland's come eh?"
Now that stopped me quite cold.  Now he was standing in front of me flailing his arms, long and loose jointed. His face contorted into a snarl at first then hope then total fear. All in a flash then " Time oh! oh! tit, toh, slup, be time he want's see hear the winbings"  He grabbed my right arm by the elbow and for just a second all movement stopped and he looked intently into my eye's. Was that stars I saw? Clouds? what shapes are these I see? He blinked and there was nothing but blackness in the orbs most of us call eyes. " You see muck much low. Oh yes he be! Ha! Yow tik, tee!" With that he released me and swirled around and danced a jig, I am sure, Laughed with another croake and puff gone!
I rubbed my arm gingerly it felt as if an electric shock.... NO! ever bump your elbow and it tingles all over an dosen't work right. Thats it! What had I just encontered?  I knew why but what was it they were warning me about? Was it ? No way! Well maybe? You see I was on the expedition. I had better start from the beggining and then you will understand a bit better. You see I have it and it's just about fixed.  

 From an article published in the Air Heart Daily.

The Steam clock of Captain Mortimus B. Bland as recovered from the almost unreachable and precariously positioned wreck site of the air ship Demistictus. This clock was recovered during an expedition to the site where the Air ship Demistictus finally found it’s last mooring. Untimely and as unexpected as it was, it was not a fatal crash, as it probable could have been. The surviving crew‘s accounts of the last excruciatingly dire events all agree it was only with the actions of Captain Bland that the outcome was, well, ok.

Of course, as was reported, Captain Bland was not present to join in the relief of a safe landing. Unfortunately the Demistictus was completely destroyed and the Captain was never found. Which may not be a bad thing or a good thing, I’m not sure which. After all Captain Bland was not a Captain, as we later learned, or a Bland! And there are more than a few questions surrounding the cargo the  Demistictus was carrying on what was to be the last and fateful voyage and what of the extraordinary astronomical calamity that appeared to only be located in the immediate vicinity of…… You see why this artifact is so mysterious. Even the gentleman that supposedly assembled it is quite unavailable for comment.

What exactly was the function of what appears to be an ordinary steam powered clock that however includes many unclock- like features? And what of the eerie glow what emanated from the Captain’s cabin right before the crew heard the Captain bellow “ABANDON SHIP PLEASE!”. Although there was one fellow that swore what was said was “A BACON SANDWICH  PLEASE”. The crew to the last man and woman took the first interpretation to heart and scrambled over the side and dropped unceremoniously to the rough terrain below. Whether or not this course of action precipitated the coming events or if a bacon sandwich could have changed the outcome is still hotly debated. The outcome was really  quite a splendid meeting of airship and a rather large forbidding bit of granite. Splendid, in this case, meaning quite a site to see. Of course I’m sure that Captain Bland might have disagreed.  But we will never know now,  will we?