July 1, 2009
Every so often I love to look at my many art books for inspiration. Last week I came under the spell of Rembrandt and ear marked a couple paintings to do studies from. Here is one of his paintings that caught my eye:

The Abduction of Proserpina, c. 1632 struck me as quite bold in its design, especially how he pushed everything over to the left which leaves this huge negative space to the right. Can you do that? Well, considering how dynamic The Abduction is, I would say, YES, YOU HAVE TO DO It!

So, I did:

The others are also inspired (or poached, if you want to get technical) from other Rembrandt paintings, including, but not limited to: Self-Portrait with Gorget, 1629 and The Entombment of Christ, c. 1639. However, the rock throwers in the bottom, right panel are from a news photograph of rioters in Iran.

I actually laid in a bold wash before I went to work this morning, and, when I came home for lunch I finished it:

This is the Apache Kid on his run (remember, he can outrun a horse) from Mexico to San Carlos to rescue—or is it a kidnapping?—Beauty. He knows where all the springs are (this one is in a side canyon of Arivaipa Creek).

Michael Jackson Vs. BBB Heart Attack
"On the medical front, I was thinking of how strange it is that a drummer for a long-defunct local band can collapse from a heart attack at a rehearsal and end up walking out of a hospital....compared to one of the best selling music artists of all time, who suffers cardiac arrest at home, with a doctor present, and doesn't even make it to the hospital. Of course, you haven't abused drugs for years....I think. It's a strange world, isn't it?"
—Mark Boardman

"The only thing I have abused is the patience of my co-workers and my family."
—BBB