The three-armed eggbeater ride of my childhood was called The Scrambler. It has evolved into today’s sleeker, curvier Sizzler. The cosmetics have changed, but the experience remains the same. It’ll still make you want to hurl, and (if you don’t) it’s a great first date ride. That’s because centrifugal force smashes the riders together, forcing full side-body contact, which can be an icebreaker for shy youngsters. This young couple seemed to be...
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One of my current favorite books is Wheat Belly, by Dr. William Davis. In it, he discusses why he feels that modern hybridized wheat can be ruining the health of those who consume it. One of the symptoms of high wheat consumption is a protruding belly. When I saw this large man at the State Fair, he looked like the epitome of Wheat Belly. More thoughts about wheat... Twelve years ago this month, I went low carb, a move which was counterintuitive at the time, but proved to be...
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The rodeo arena was decorated with several huge American flags, which dwarfed the cowboys sitting below them. With all those stripes, I thought it would be a good piece for Carol Marine’s Stripe Challenge over on Daily Paintworks. I’m enjoying painting on these cheerful yellow backgrounds. In this case, my reference photo was taken near sunset, so the yellow gave it a warm glow. Available – $125 You might also like: Stripes, and Stars Mr. Bee...
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I didn’t know these kids, but as soon as they saw my camera, they started mugging for it. That happens a lot. Kids these days love being in front of cameras. It’s like life is their reality show, and they all want to be stars. They’d probably be thrilled to know I painted them, but they wouldn’t recognize themselves in this image. I always make changes – things like hair color, clothing, race, or even gender – to avoid painting...
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These two little friends are enjoying the Bumble Bee Bop, my favorite carnival ride. Here’s how I paint yellow in acrylics: Most acrylic yellows are semi-transparent and don’t cover other colors well, but they have a nice sunny glow if applied thinly over pure white. So if I have a painting with a lot of yellow in it, I’ll start with a thin yellow wash over the entire white surface. Then I carefully preserve the yellow areas by painting around them. If I...
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I don’t know why I love the Bumble Bee Bop so much. I guess part of the reason is because these guys are always cheerful, and just so darn cute. Then there’s pure artistic admiration. The designers managed to create believable personalities from basic shapes that remind me of a giant billiard ball stacked on top of a giant yellow golf ball. The simplest designs can be the most effective! These bees have no moving parts – the head doesn’t turn, and the...
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He’s not really blind, just blinded by blinders. Trainers put all sorts of interesting contraptions on these harness race horses so they won’t get distracted by things – real or imagined – during a race. Some setups look like they were cobbled together with baling wire. This one is posted in the Daily Paintworks Up Close Animal Challenge created by artist Taryn Day Available on Artfire You might also like: Chomp, Chomp Little Meow Meow Portrait of the...
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I’d never seen a steam-powered car fired up until I saw this one. It was in the daily parade at the Indiana State Fair, it’s shiny red paint gleaming in the sun. When I looked up Stanley Steamer Motor Carriage Company on Wikipedia, I found a photo of this car in the article. Not just this model, but this actual car with the same US flag decal on the windshield, and the same owner/driver, photographed at the Indiana State Fair. Small world, eh? I’m posting...
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This is a harness racing horse I saw at the State Fair a couple of years ago. It’s painted in M. Graham gouache. I love gouache! The matte surface is so velvety. I’d use it more often, if it didn’t require framing under glass. Available on Artfire You might also like: Pacer Twenty Lashes Feed Me
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