43things TEAM PROJECT: support fellow artists in their artistic projects

I had a last minute request from a little boy to make him a trick or treat bag. I had one more skeleton, left. It’s going to be printed on fabric and attached to his bag. The drawing of course is up for auction. Here’s his story.

Uncle Bob spent his life as an entertainer, specifically as a clown. He started as a rodeo clown, then progressed to the Ringling Bros Circus. His career ended during a gig at a burlesque revival, when he slipped on a banana peel. The audience found this hilarious, unaware that this was the end of his brilliant career.

On family get togethers, he would wow the children with tales of the road. He got his biggest delights in sending them all into fits of laughter. After his departure from this life, he was ecstatic that once a year, he could again come home and bring laughter to the children. He’d changed a bit and it took awhile for the kids to get used to him. The tiny ones would run in terror at the sight of one of his signature slapstick faces.

On his annual visit, he’d just sit in the yard and watch the chickens scratch for feed. He made a face at one of them and the poor little thing just fell over in fright. One little niece was hiding, but saw the event and fell into giggles. “Uncle Bob, Do it again!” Soon all the kids gathered around once more, having a gay ol’time making chickens faint.

Toughest audience he’d ever worked.

Pierre & Daisey, Vitto & Lily.

These are not just random pics of bone people. They have histories and their tales need to be told.

Rose & Cleetis

Cleetis entered as Rose’s handyman. It was love at first site and a perfect match. Opposites attract, you know. Rose loved her finer things, her fine china, high tea, etc. Cleetis, well he was just the salt of the earth and didn’t understand what he thought was just a bunch of clutter. Just give him a fishin’ pole and a shotgun, he’d be happy as a pig in slop, but he loved his Rose. Rose had been a widow for about 10 years. Her late husband had left her a huge fortune and all the luxuries that came with it. Every one thought Cleetis was just after Rose for her money. Rose, being somewhat of a rebel, didn’t mind that she was no longer welcome in polite society, plus Cleetis was much younger and their union created an even bigger stir amoungst the town folk. Husbands, all over town, fired their handymen. Even after they were married, Cleetis felt uncomfortable in the manor he so carefully tended. He felt clumsy with all the fussy stuff and lived in the tool shed out back with his coon dogs and pet squirrel. They’d get together on Thurdsays for dinner and frisky activities.

Pierre & Daisey

Pierre and Daisey got together when she won a free trip to Paris. She’d never been outside of her small town of Wamego, KS, except to go to the big city of Topeka. She was totally enthralled with Paris and never wanted to leave, but it was a short trip with too much to explore and no time to waste on sleep. She discovered ESPRESSO!!! One sip and she was hooked. She stayed on and got a job as a barista at the very cafe where she first sampled the devine brew. There, she met Pierre. He was a starving artist of some genius or so he says. We’ve never seen a painting. When asked about his work, he’d go into a rage, screaming “MY LIFE IS ART!! My art comes from my soul with the inspiration of the muses. They don’t create on COMMAND!” He swept Daisey off her feet with a taxi dance under the Eiffel Tower. Their romance was wonderous but brief. They died of malnutrition when Daisey saw no logic in buying food over coffee.

Vitto & Lily

Vitto and Lily met in Chicago. He owned a string of speak easies during the 20’s. Lily had just come from L.A. where she was just another unknown starlet. She swears Carmen stole her personna and ruined her chances in film. Because of her failure, she became a party girl and a groupie to ol’ Blue Eyes and developed a taste for tequila. Frankie had a gig in Chicago at one of Vitto’s clubs (as a favor for old times) and brought Lily with him. Vitto and Lily have been together ever since, even though it destroyed the friendship with Frank. At the end of prohibition, Vitto retired from night clubs and bought a discount furniture store. They used to do commercials together, until Lily injured a sound man for saying she looked just like Carmen.

This is an abstracted view out my mom’s kitchen window. Finally got around to photographing it. The impetus?.....well, another competition on EBSQART with a fall foliage theme. Haven’t decided if I’m going to sell it, since it’s framed and all, but for the time being, I’m just going to be a whore for competitions. November 1st….EBSQART dot COM….get your butts over there and vote.

This is an older abstract, I did a couple of years ago, but never got it into the portfolio. Funny thing. I forgot all about it, till I cleaned out my stash at work. Good thing I cleaned out all my pack rat holes before I turned in my key.

This is what I had planned to enter for Nibblefest last month, but I sold it. Before I even had it finished. Whoo Hoo! I like that. I like that very much.

Here’s the last of my bone drawings for this year. This was so fun to do and will be theme I revisit just for giggles. There’s an EBSQART competition for this month with a Day of the Dead theme. There’s some pretty tough competition, but I entered anyway.

and this one’s in honor of Miss Styx.

and the “Family” is represented.

Ok, here’s the little French dude.

Halloween is just about my favorite holiday. I’ve had a great time, dressing up for the kids and interacting with them for their “safe” Trick or Treat. When I was in Bremerton, the arts district always put on a haunted “house”. The whole neighborhood was done up. Loved being a volunteer ghoul. You could call it improvisational theatre or even performance art. It’s sad, in a way, that the old door to door tradition is disappearing and few communities really do it up for the kids. I know I’ll never forget the fun, both as a kid and an adult, of Halloween. The kids I get to play with seem to truly enjoy themselves.

I was interviewed once, as a business owner, why I went to so much trouble. My answer…”It’s the only time of the year where it’s politically correct to terrify children.” Besides, who can pass up an opportunity to be a ham.