Long Shadow Into Night—Daily Whip Outs From Way WAYYYYY Back!

 November 20, 2024

   Last night I went out to the front yard just before sunset to check on the boy and caught this very long shadow of myself stretching clear across the driveway.

Long Shadow Into Night

   As usual, Uno was not all that impressed.

   We are still processing the passing of our good friend Ollie Reed. Here is the feature he wrote on the reopening of the Ellis Store last summer.

Investing In History by Ollie Reed

   Such a good man, and a fine writer to boot. We had over a hundred and fifty guests come through the doors at the Ellis Art Show & Open House and when I asked them how they heard about the event almost all said, "I read Ollie's article in the Albuquerque Journal."

   The legacy of our Old Vaquero Sayings book rests in the hands of our tech crew now.

In A Land Far, Far Away

   In an alternate universe a certain captivo should have been catapulted into the mainstream culture, and it would come as no surprise that a decorated war hero would be chosen to play the boy who started the longest war in United States history.

Daily Whip Out:

"Audie Murphy IS Mickey Free!"

in 1957 Technicolor "Kid Savage!"

Best of The Bad, Part III

   I'm going thru all my sketchbooks looking for the best of the bad. Here's a page from ten years ago when I was adamant about doing six bad drawings a day.

Daily Whip Outs: "April 20, 2014"

   Coming tomorrow, a sketchbook page from 1994. No, seriously, I have been doing six bad drawings a day for thirty plus years and it is a miracle that I can still pull one out of the trash even at this late date.

"A winner is just a loser who tried one more time."

—Old Vaquero Saying

Dan The Man Ages & The Genesis of The Old Vaqueros Book

 November 19, 2024

   Every year, on this date, a certain art director is the same age as me for about 30 days.

Dan The Man Harshberger, turns 77 today

   And, speaking of amazingly talented, graphic designers, look what the old Kingman Bastard came up with for our friends in Texas. 

Sky High Scout Cover Design

by Dan The Man

   Speaking of striking book covers, my collaboration with the Boys down at Cattletrack has resulted in a limited edition collector's edition of Old Vaquero Sayings. Here's how this came about. Three years ago, Mark McDowell suggested we team up to do a book of my Old Vaquero Sayings. Here is how he pitched it to me:

"It should be funky and look like it was printed on an ancient printing press found in the back of an abandoned cantina in Sonora, Old Mexico."

—Mark McDowell

Mission Accomplished

   Meanwhile. . .

In the Walk Where They Walked Zone:

(Photo by Stuart Rosebrook)

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom can keep the obsessive compulsive historian from his rounds."

—Old BBB Saying

Uno Turns Tres, Moon Nish And Other Late Breaking News From The Dust Department

 November 18, 2024

   Uno turned three today, but as you know, in human years that would make him 21, so I gifted him one of my father's favorite ties and offered him a beer. 

Uno Turns Tres

   As you can see he turned his nose up at the cerveza, but, the sirloin scraps, not so much.

   Closing in on a cover assignment for friends in Texas.

Daily Whip Out: "Sky High Scout"

   Best of The Bad, Part II

   Selected pages from my many sketchbooks on my quest to do 10,000 "Bad" drawings.

Daily Whip Out: "The Night Man"

November 17, 2013

   I had a Hualapai friend growing up named Moon Nish. He was 6' 3" and someone told me he was part Mojave because members of that tribe are often quite tall. Anyway, the last time I saw Moon, he was a lawman in Peach Springs and I always thought that would make for a nifty little story (see notes above).

   And, this just in, from the Dust Department.

Daily Whip Out: "Dust Devil Takes Shape"

   The trick is to get those subtle, yet violent, twisting edges. Not easy, but this one has some potential.

   Meanwhile, in the fire department. . .

Daily Whip Out: "Forged By Fire"

   And, by the way, here's a look back at Uno's first three years.

Uno The Pup

Uno The Lifeguard

Uno The Studio Mate

Uno The Stair Climber

Uno The Front Seat Driver

Uno The Rock Climber

Uno The Sunrise Ignorer

"If you want to be happy for a year, get married. If you want to be happy for ten years, get a dog. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life tend a garden."

—Martha Stewart

Dust Ups Galore Including The Courtesy Gap

 November 17, 2024

   It's not an exaggeration to say I hate the wind and the incessant dust in my hometown. Then why am I so obsessed with capturing it on paper? Please allow me to answer that.

Dust Ups Galore

   To say I have a thing for dust storms is like asking if the Pope is Lutheran. The answer is, very close, but no cigar. See, it doesn't make much sense on paper, but somehow knowing I am from Kingman just might make you nod your head knowingly.

Reworked Daily Whip Out:

"The Courtesy Gap "

   Yes, he who controls the wind is probably not Lutheran either. But, the wind gives the above rider a courtesy gap as a sign of respect. He is, of course, El Pendejo, a master of the wind and also a certain Lincoln historian's least favorite name for a Mexican character. Lynda, I mean, this anonymous historian really dislikes the name and thinks I am being rude by even mentioning this, but then I am an ex-Lutheran, so perhaps that accounts for something. That said, I have this exotic and very dusty idea for a book cover.

Daily Whip Out:

"Wagon Train With Approaching Dust Storm"

   Of course, not everyone was thrilled with the endless wagon trains on the Santa Fe Trail. . .

"The wagons came like slithering snakes."

—Victor Yassayesva, Hopi Honcho

   Now, I want to add a young scout to that dust storm, rather large, giant actually, way up in the sky, like this:

Daily Whip Out:

"Sky High Scout"

   I'm half tempted to having him ride in a dust devil as opposed to a full fledged haboob, but, I've already done that concept.

Daily Whip Out:

"Mexico Reaps The Whirlwind"

Daily Whip Out: "The Mexicali Stud"

   Would a dust devil by any other name grab your attention? Well, I don't think I would go with "haboob," but then I grew up in a simpler time.

"Writing books is easy, it's selling books that's hard."

—Larry Winget

Best of the Bad, Part I

 November 16, 2024

   I love to push around paint to see where it goes. This one wrote itself.

Daily Whip Out:

"When The Smoked Cleared"

   Woke up with an idea for a book cover I am doing for friends in Texas.

Daily Whip Out: "Sky High Mystery Rider"

   And here's looking back at the beginning of my journey. . .

The Best of The Bad

   Many moons ago I started on a quest to do 10,000 bad drawings. This was inspired by a proclamation  from fellow cartoonist, Dave Sim, who claimed, "Every artist has 10,000 bad drawings in them." I decided I would see if that was true for me, so I made a vow to do six "bad drawings" a day and see what happened when I got to the end.

   In short, it had a profound effect on my process and I'd like to think, on my artwork, and I will spill the beans on everything I discovered. Here, for your examination—and amusement—are selected pages from that long and fruitful journey, starting with this page from 11 years ago.

Daily Whip Outs: "Best of the Bad, Exhibit 1"

Meanwhile. . .

Daily Whip Out: "Leering Vaquero"

"You don''t dig this long hair, then get yourself a crew-cut baby!"

 November 15, 2024

   A couple more highlights from yesterday's wrap up signing on The Old Vaquero Sayings book project down at Cattletrack Arts Compound in Scottsdale.

Cattletrack Cowboys

Mark and Brent Stylin' Woolies

   I fought my way down into The Beast, through insane traffic, landing at Cattletrack at 11:30. When I traipsed back into the studio area I heard a very familiar tune blasting out of Brent's speakers:

"Good guys bad guys which is which
The white collar worker or the digger in the ditch
Hey, and who's to say who's the better man
When I've always done the best I can"

   But, the best part is at the end and is spoken:

"You think those guys in the white collars are better than I am baby, Then flake off!
You don't dig this long hair, get yourself a crew-cut baby! Yeah, I mean what I said."

—The Standells

   The Cattletrack Cowboys were not familiar with the 1966 rock staple from the The Standells, but it is an anthem to me, super, SUPER classic and I had to put down my stuff and play some serious air bass (I know, I know, it doesn't make any sense for a rock drummer to play air bass, but there you have it). These are to me—classic rifts—so I got carried away and started duck-walking across the studio space, then duck-walking out the door and back in, then back and forth in front of my slack-jawed compadres, yelling out, "Get yourself a crew-cut baby!"

   Well, that was some serious serendipity. Then we got down to work.

Tres Old Vaquero Amigos In Signing Mode

   I signed all 100 of the books, then I signed another 27 books that were divided up into AP (artist proofs), AI (archival impression and one of them donated to the Public Trust) and then PP (printer's proofs) along with one "Bon-a-tier" (French for "Good to Pull"). Then, when that was all wrapped up, Brent started cleaning up the press and went into a traditional dance. It was all very exotic.

The Printer's Dance

   And, in case you do not remember "Good Guys Don't Wear White," here is the tune in all its early pre-punk glory:

The Standells "Good Guys Don't Wear White"

   So, the interesting thing is, have we started on Volume II? What do you think?

"The first thing you will notice when you get to heaven is that none of the interesting people are there." 

—Old Vaquero Saying

Daily Whip Out: "Old Vaquero In Hell"

The Old Vaquero Sayings Book Is Signed, Sealed and Ready for Delivery

 November 14, 2024

   A long one in the Beast today. In the morning I drove down to Mayo Clinic to visit with my cousin, then across to Cattletrack Arts Compound. Signed and numbered all the Old Vaquero Sayings books and they are now ready for shipping to everyone who has already bought one. 

The Signing Trio

   That's Brent Bond, at left, handing me the books and telling me what the number is (in this case 7 of 100) and then after I sign and number it I slide the signed book to Mark McDowell who puts it in a slip case and numbers that. It's a slick process. Details tomorrow.

"What the hell is a 'bon-a-tier'?"

—BBB, answer tomorrow

Negatvie Naybobs In The Land of Disenchantment

 November 13, 2024

   As you might imagine, there are tourists who go to our National Parks and are not all that impressed. A few of them leave negative reviews. Here are my favorites:

Triple B Enjoying Capitan Gap

Yosemite

"Disappointingly pointless and heartbreakingly awful. Shut it down and fire the owners."

—Kevin K.

Grand Canyon

"A hole. A very, very large hole."

—Ken B., Tucson

Grand Tetons

"Could be better. Mountains were blocking the sunset."

—Evan Josiah

Death Valley

"Not a fan of finding nothing in the middle of nowhere. It's like visiting a giant litter box."

—Andy Hobbs

Big Bend

"Too many rocks."

—Angel Bueno

Petrified Forest

"One huge nothingburger."

—Jordan Halvorsen

Bonus Petrified Forest Comment

"Basically it's a knockoff of the Badlands. They should pay you to enter the park."

—Rob Sims

White Sands

"It was too sandy."

—Josie

"Golly, what a gully!"

—Teddy Roosevelt, seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time

Borderline Sword Lessons Cancelled Until Further Notice

 November 12, 2024

   I guess I never really realized just how much of my life revolves around the border region. For one thing my mother was born in the bootheel of New Mexico.

Lordsburg, New Mexico

This was when her parents—my grandparents—lived in the Animas Valley in the twenties, and later at Steins Pass.

Bobbi Guess Bell, age 20

We are awarding the True Westerner Award for 2025 to this worthy cat.

Jay Dusard by Scott Baxter

   And, Jay lives outside Douglas on the Arizona border.

   Sometimes old photos from the border area speak to me.

Sword Class Cancelled

   I'll bet that's the last time he volunteered to give her swinging saber lessons.

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"Old Vaquero In Moonlight"

   What happens when you do a Whip Out without any expectation as to where it might go?

Daily Whip Out: "Colossal Ice Flow"

   Yes, I pulled that one right out of my rectum. I had no idea what it was until I let it dry, turned it sideways and saw the artic up close and personal.

   So, I've got that going for me.

"I went into an antique store and they wouldn't let me leave."

—Andy Huggins, standup comedian, 74

Ancient Conversations With The Patinas Crowd

 November 11, 2024

   Since we live across from the cave that Cave Creek is named for, I often start my day by giving a shoutout across the canyon—"Good morning, Ancient Ones!" I've never received a vocal answer, but my friend Rod Tinamus assures me that if talking to them makes me smile, "they have answered you."

Talking to The Ancient Ones

Uno & The Ancient Ones

   Yes, apparently they kind of bum out my dog, but I have great respect for their legacy and so does the horny toad coming out of the wall, courtesy of Chuck Weaver (yes, Weaver's Stance is named for his dad, I believe).

   Here are just a few of the fine folks who came by Patina's last Saturday.

   This is Craig Schepp holding one of the four paintings he bought. Yes, the model for this is Flint, the guy in the below photo!

Flint Carney, DeAnne Giago, BBB and

DeAnne's old man, Joseph Wolveskill

(Both photos by Rooster Rob Mathiash)

   Meanwhile, my high school Civics Teacher, Tom Dugan, 87, showed up to give me grief about my penchant for talking in class sixty years ago.

   When I complained, at length, The Mucous Bastard sent me to the principal's office—again!

   Speaking of crazy Zane Bros, Wonderful Russ dropped in and proceeded to keep us all in stitches for the entire time he was there, which is to say, until the store closed.

Wonderful Russ and Rooster Rob yucking it up.

   Also in the house was Dan The Man Harshberger who threatened to give Tom Dugan a wedgie just over the principal of the thing. Dan, of course, was in the Mohave County Union High School Civics Class I was in. The only difference between us is he knew how to keep his mouth shut.

BBB, Big D and Rooster Rob

   When Harshberger and Wonderful are in the house all seriousness goes out the window.

   Today, of course, is Veteran's Day so I would be remiss without giving thanks to this great guy.

Allen P. Bell, U.S. Army Air Corp,

 from Thompson, Iowa

   As you might expect, some of the conversation at Patinas, got around to the election and what it means. I think the following quotes have a bearing on where we are headed.

The More Things Change. . .

"I feel like the pandemic was a turning point, and the world is in retreat now, being dragged back into the past. I might even go so far as to suggest that it's becoming more medievalized. Globalism is in flight in a big way, with social media, once so promising, now reaching a dead end. . .perhaps in this era we live in, older stories may reveal a kind of unexpected resonance."

—Haruki Murakami

   And to add to Murakami's point:

"Every decade or so, the world is tested by a crisis so grave that it breaks the mould: one so horrific and inhumane that the response of politicians to it becomes emblematic of their generation—their moral leadership or cowardice, their resolution or incompetence. It is how history judges us."

—Jo Cox, October 13, 2015

Rockin' Patinas!

 November 10, 2024

   I am exhausted. I feel like I worked a floor shift at JC Penny's back in the day. Yes, I was on my feet from ten in the morning yesterday, until closing time. The last time I did that I was childless and broke.

Uno And The Patinas Staff Before The Storm. 

   Kathy Sue took this photo yesterday of Dan Duffy and his staff before the onslaught of art patrons at the On The Border With Boze Art Show. We raised $530 for the Cave Creek Museum just on badge sales alone!

Patinas Security

   Yes, without exception, everyone who came through the gate was super generous. The sign says, "With a donation to the Cave Creek Museum you will receive a badge which is good for 10% off on all BBB artwork." Ten people put a twenty in the jar, many donated $10 or $5 and one generous patron donated two $100 bills. Yes, and I must add this same cat has great taste in art. He bought four paintings!

Craig Schepp, Art Patron Extraordinaire!

   Here is a view of the art space inside Patinas.

The Triple B Alcove

More pics of my favorite patrons in another post.

"You can either buy clothes or buy pictures."

—Gertrude Stein