Purple Dog

I think I've finished up. It may or may not seem a little "cartoony," but that's okay, after all it's a school mascot costume for cripe's sake! If anything, I think it really has a Wayne Thiebaud Pop-Art feel to it, which is what I was going for. Thiebaud is one of my favorite painters and I've always wanted to do something like he would. Thiebaud was born in Arizona, like me, only 50 years before me. Unlike Roy Lichtenstein, Thiebaud actually started out as a cartoonist, working for Disney for a while.

The Pop-Art thing is perfect because it should be upbeat and fun, and the decorating style of the recipient is pretty clean and contemporary. Kenny was mascot both at Boyer Valley (purple), where I coach cheerleading, and at Concordia University in Nebraska (blue). Both schools are the Bulldogs. My only hope is that a bright purple painting doesn't clash too much with whatever neutrals and earth tones Kenny used for his home. But then again it's a gift, he can hang it in his john or in his basement where no one else will see it if he wants to. I am seriously considering the poster thing. If not for a fundraiser, at least so that I can give the same image as a gift to a few other people- not to mention being able to keep a copy for myself- maybe in my classroom. NOW the only problem is waiting for it to dry, since it's in oil.

Oil Pastel Painting

Lighten up, Lutherans

I've never seen a happy or friendly looking portrait of Martin Luther. But if you've read much Luther, you realize what a great sense of humor he had. My wife and I wanted to make something for our pastor for Christmas this year. As much as I thought that he'd appreciate one of those "suffer the little children to come unto me" pictures of Jesus- I just couldn't bring myself to do it, they're SO many of them. And I don't know whether I could capture either Jesus or a bunch of children successfully. I'm not saying that they should re-make the 2003 movie "Luther" and replace Joseph Fiennes with Jack Black in the role of Luther or anything, but I don't see why he can't be portrayed as a jovial and approachable paternal or even grandfatherly type. Why must he always be so stern and sober?

"You have as much laughter as you have faith" ~Martin Luther

"If you are not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there." ~Martin Luther

"The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn." ~Martin Luther

Don't mind me

I was teaching 7th graders about complimentary colors and how they can both contrast and neutralize. Thus an oil pastel self portrait. I think I kind of look a little like David Alfaro Siqueiros- but I have been researching Mexican art for a special Dia de los Muertos lesson this week.

An Iowa hero

"It may be shocking to some people in this country to realize that, without meaning to do so, they hold views in common with Hitler when they preach discrimination against other religious, racial or economic groups."
— Henry A. Wallace

Here's a watercolor caricature I did of FDR's Secretary of Agriculture, Commerce and Vice President, who ran as the presidential candidate of the Progressive Party.

Watercolor

Just playing around while my students work on their assignments in Painting class.

Bully

Been talking to 4th, 5th, and 7th graders about complimentary colors and made this oil pastel painting. We need a trust-buster like TR again.

Tortured souls

Talking to 4th, 5th, & 7th graders about Vincent Van Gogh-Go.

• Epilepsy
  
• Manic-Depressive
• ADHD
• Anger Management problems
  
• No real job
• Only sold ONE painting his whole career
  
• Lead poisoning (Cadmium, cobalt, mercury, whatever other ingredients in those paints he kept eating)
• His brother Theo had to pay Gauguin to be his friend
• Cuts his ear off and sends it to his ex girlfriend (a hooker)

Poor guy, if only he had had some Trieptal, some Redilin and some Prozac. And you thought YOU had problems.

Hangin out

Here's a picture of my fellow art teacher, Grant Wood, and I hanging out near his studio in Cedar Rapids. We were painting placid scenes of Iowa prairies when he needed a smoke break. Me, I don't smoke, but I do like to lean against trees in Cedar Rapids.

Has anybody seen my good friend Bobby?

Just something I did while my Painting students were working on their watercolor paintings.Here is an 18x24 graphite drawing that I did of Harry Truman

Political paintings

I don't just cartoon. I take photos and paint some too. Here are some paintings of political figures that I've done over the years. Featured are MLK, Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln, Churchill, Goldwater, Ben Franklin, and LBJ.