I'm up to the part of the massive bio on Vincent van Gogh (apparently the Dutch do not capitalize the "v" in van, but in the title of the book, and in the movies about him the v is capped as in Van Gogh), where Guagin (who was 5' 4" by the way) is leaving Arles, where the two had tried to be studio mates, and the "mad Dutchman" is about to cut off his ear. I have been studying the artwork of both men, as we go along and I can't help seeing their influence everywhere:
Daily Whip Out: "Doc Behind Bars"
Few are aware that after the gunfight behind the O.K. Corral, both Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were arrested and they both spent 16 days in Tombstone's tiny, makeshift jail. Here's this morning's Daily Whipout: "Doc Behind Bars," and, as you might notice, there is more than a passing influence from Mr. van Gogh.
Did another little whip out:
Daily Whip Out: "Joe Ely Looks Back"
Didn't set out to do Joe Ely, but when it was done, he flashed in my mind. I've always admired the west Texas honkytonker, and I saw him open for the Stones at Sun Devil Stadium way back in 1982, I think it was, but other than that I don't have any of his music. I seem to remember he did a decent tune about Billy the Kid. Not sure why he popped into my mind for this, but then, I think it's safe to say, artists get the spirit in odd ways.
"As painters we must always remember that the spirit is more important than the fact."
—Harold Von Schmidt
