May 18, 2003
Went absolutely nowhere yesterday. What a treat. Didn’t even get in a car. Did go for a walk, but didn’t get far. Actually got to paint on my Pancho Villa ideas. Did three landscapes utilizing the colors of the Mexican flag: reddish sunset, big storm cloud in middle, offset by a green sky with a lightning bolt going through it at the top. Now to superimpose Mr. Villa on a white stallion, with crossed bandoleers, a big head saddle horn and two death riders (skeletons) on either side of him and I’ve got it nailed. Got bogged down on that concept trying to work out the horse and rider problems in pencil last night. Got frustrated and quit around eight.

Got up this morning at six. Read paper. Talked to Kathy about kids. We’ve got a house full of ‘em (Deena brought home a friend). Tommy sold the Land Cruiser for $1,900 cash (it’s been in the family since we bought it new from Ellis Rucker Motors in Kingman in 1991. I think we paid $25K for it new. It was a warhorse. Had about 275,000 miles on it. I’m kind of sad to see it go).

I’m anxious to paint today. Here’s what’s on my wish list:

• Finish scene of Will Carver perched on a rocky knoll shooting down on posse.
• Paint Elzy Lay getting hit in the shoulder and chest as he leans down to fill canteen (he lived!).
• Paint Sheriff Farr and officer Elliott hiding behind trees and shooting.
• Paint Sheriff Farr getting hit as a bullet goes right through a pine tree and hits him near the heart.
• Paint Three outlaws riding in a lightning storm with Sam Ketchum listing in the saddle.
• Paint Pancho Villa bursting right off the page on a thundering steed. He’s laughing and Americans are cowering at the bottom (that ought to get my redneck friend’s hearts pumping).

Found a much better quote for yesterday’s entry:

“One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.”
—Oscar Wilde