April 26, 2007
Worked all of yesterday afternoon on Hugh O'Brian studies. But first I want to share a photo I took on the way back from the bank on Monday. We got a freak rainstorm and as I approached Cave Creek Road on Tom Darlington (a fancy name for Scottsdale Road, which they insist on using in Carefree), I saw this dramatic cloud jutting just over the horizon near Desert Mountain. Took two shots, this one right out the windshield. When I downloaded them I liked this one because it shows the price of gas in Carefree (3.01.9).



Several years ago, Scottsdale publicist Pierre O'Roarke got a photo of himself taken with Hugh O'Brian holding my Wyatt Earp book (looks like a rare second edition). That's Pierre on the right. Hugh also gave me a quote for the back of my Wyatt tome, "Your book is fascinating, coupling your powerful illustrations with your unique chronological tracking. . .from birth, to Tombstone, to the legend he has become, I think even Wyatt would approve."



So, naturally, I want to do right by the Hugh Man. The painting of Hugh and Wyatt was technically due yesterday, but I'm just not there yet. Here is a sketch from yesterday proving my point:



Actually, this is one in a series of warmup images I did to get loosey goosey. I have taken to doing loose washes with no attempt at anything approaching accuracy. Here's a vague background that I like because it has integrity. Don't ask me why, I can't prove it, but I just think it does.



Here's another one (I did about a dozen) that speaks to the inner-fiber of human DNA, perhaps inspired by going to see the Body Worlds 3 show at the Arizona Science Center last Saturday. That's the wildly popular show from that German guy who turns actual cadavers into plastic. Creepy, but intriguing:



And here's my six sketches for yesterday, proving I have Hugh on the brain. I may use that image of Wyatt Earp, bottom center (actually poached from Kurt Russell as Wyatt in Tombstone), and put the real Wyatt behind Hugh and call the painting, "Twin Towers." How 'bout them apples?



Late yesterday, I tried to do a study of Hugh from a publicity still, utilizing one of those "Integrity backgrounds" I created recently. Not bad. Still not there, though, and I don't see him sitting down in the final.



Ran out of time. Need to leave for Hon-dah and the Arizona History Conference. Starts today and the Top Secret Writer speaks at 4:30. I'll be back Saturday night.

"I do the very best I know how—the very best I know I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end."
—Abraham Lincoln