Square Shooters Plus The Sentinel Reworked

 February 29, 2024

   The extra day. Okay.

Ed Mell Painting: "Square Shooter" 1988

   I'm giving Edmundo Segundo a big shout out in my editorial for the next issue.

   I'm also rounding up some of my more zanier boards to put in a packet for our four grandchildren. I just have a hunch this is going to be more their speed.

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"So Happy For You. Hope You Choke

On A Hotdog And Die"

I always try and improve old boards I find when I'm cleaning.

Daily Revised Whip Out: "The Sentinel II"

   And, here is how it looked before:

Daily Whip Out: "The Sentinel" 2018

   I know what you're thinking. He went too far. He stepped on all the subtleties. Those cliffs on the left had some subtlety that has been lost, but, on the other hand, he sure improved on that midget on the ridge.

"God is a comedian playing to an audience that is too afraid to laugh."

—Voltaire

Lynda Sanchez's Apache Scouts, Wild Bill's Mistress & Fictional Truths

 February 28, 2024

   Good morning you Zany Zonies!

Daily Whip Out: "Part Time Lawman"

Daily Whip Out: "Troopers In Dust." 

   This is for a wonderful feature from historian Lynda Sanchez on Apache Scouts in the next issue of True West magazine (May-June). 

   I tell you, it's such a privilege to still be in business! What with Wild West magazine going out of business it is amazing we are still standing and I thank Ken and Lucinda for that. We are down to six issues, but we are still here Mothers-you-know!

   Meanwhile, I am sort of bemused that no one bought this DWO, below. It was in the bins prominently displayed last Saturday. Perhaps it was too subtle, and not deemed "picture worthy"?

Daily Whip Out: "Wild Bill's Mistress"

   This was created for my 2017 book, "The Illustrated Life & Times of Wild Bill Hickok" Page 65: "Wild Bill is a rock star in his day, and he loves many women. Fated just like his future brothers in arms, one of these women gives him a gift he doesn't want."

   Amen.

What Are The Odds of History Being True?

   When I was starting out on this history journey four decades ago I believed that if we dug deep enough, we could arrive at the truth, and I mean, 100% TRUTH. Man, was I naive. Today, almost 25 years after buying True West magazine, I would put that number closer to 48%. Here's what happened. 

   Our theory was that if we rounded up the very best experts and historians on any given topic or event, we could corral the true story of what happened and it would be golden for generations. Ha. Even though we daily correspond with the top historians in our world, we still find ourselves stepping in it after about five years. Sometimes less. Here's what happens: new research invariably blows holes in the old research and it affects even the very top dogs. I won't name names but it's true of everyone. Turns out history is a moving target. Sometimes I feel like it's trying to change a tire on a car going 40 mph!

   And, of course, there were warnings, but we failed to heed them.

"Early in life I had noticed that no event is ever correctly reported in a newspaper."

—George Orwell

   And when we invariably step in it, there is always a know-it-all who says this:

"And you call yourself TRUE West magazine?"

—A typical Vince Murray criticism

   Another roadblock to the truth is what I call insipid family stories.

My Daddy Told Me. . .

   Here's a "true" Tom Mix anecdote that was posted on Facebook a couple days ago: "Tom Mix always went to Tucson, AZ on weekends to play poker with his buddies at the Hotel Tucson. He was on his way in his 1936 Cord car pulling a horse trailer. Don't know if he had his horse with him when he went off road into a 'WASH' and hit it hard. He was on his way home to either Gila Bend or Casa Grande."

   Okay, let's unpack this "true" story: Mix was on a cross country road trip from New York to LA, with stops in Chicago and Texas. He rode in a parade in Lordsburg, New Mexico 48 hours before he crashed and died in a wash northwest of Oracle Junction. He was driving a 1937 Supercharged Cord and he stayed at the Santa Rita Hotel in Tucson. He wasn't pulling a horse trailer and he was on his way to Florence, Arizona and, then on to Phoenix and his home in LA.

   We can file this "true" story under "My Daddy Told Me A Windy". It  also begs the question our Texas kin put on these kinds of specific propositions: Unless you can improve on a story, you have no business retelling it in the first place. Then, you cross pollinate that ditty with this one: Most of the fiction in this world comes from people who are repeating true stories.

A Past That Never Existed?

"There are people in every time and every land who want to stop history in its tracks. They fear the future, mistrust the present and invoke the security of a comfortable past, which, in fact, never existed."

—Robert F. Kennedy 

   And, so what is the moral of the story?

Here's My New Mantra

"When the legend becomes fact, stick with the facts, but good luck with those slippery eels!"

—BBB

Every Picture Tells A Story, Part II

 February 27, 2024

   Dan The Man Harshberger has been pumping out some fantastic Route 66 Bozecards combining old car photos with historic locations on the Mother Road. I think they deserve their own art show, that's how groovy I think they are.

El Rancho Motel in Needles

Coronado Court in Kingman

Brandin' Iron on Hilltop

   And, speaking of Dan The Man. . .

Dan and Darlene seen here sporting Razz T-Shirts at last Saturday's Triple B Daily Whip Out Art Sale. Here's a Razz ad for these same shirts from 1974.

   Yes, that's Ed Mell wearing the Doper Roper shirt, second from left, and that's Dan, on the right. So, yes, if you do the math, those shirts Dan and Darlene are wearing are 50 years old!

Every Picture Tells A Story, Don't It? (Part II)

   The legendary Bryan, of Bryan's BBQ fame, came by the Triple B Daily Whip Out Art Show last Saturday and bought this little dittie.

Daily Whip Out:

"Confluence of the Gila and Colorado"

   This was a rough aerial view of Yuma Crossing which I did for the Olive Oatman story.

   Meanwhile. Mike Newberry (who does the wildly popular Cochise County Travels podcast), grabbed this Whip Out of the Dalton Gang's ill-fated Coffeyville Raid.

Daily Whip Out: "The Daltons Raid"

      Yes, this ended up on the cover of True West.

     And, yes, you can hear his interview with me right here:

The 66 Kids

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

—Tim Notke

Triple B Bin Shoppers Win Bigly

 February 26, 2024

   Here's a recap of Saturday's blow out BBB Bigly event.

Triple B Bin Shoppers

   We sold over 100 Triple B Daily Whip Outs on Saturday at the Cryin' Coyote Barbecue Cafe and I am happy to report there are only 7,283 left. That is a guesstimate as I have no idea how many are left. But if you throw in the previous home sales out of my actual garage, the sold number is closer to 150.

   This morning I grabbed a whole bunch of the weakest DWOs and filled a big garbage bin, but I pulled out about about fifty that I thought I might save. Here are a couple of them.

Daily Scratchboard Reworked Whip Out:

"One Hopi Knew The Storm Was Coming"

Daily Reworked Whip Out:

"El Pendejo Lands In Opodepe"

Daily Scratchboard Reworked Whip Out:

"One Major Diesel Dyke"

New Meaning for A One Night Stand

   Notice how I am the only one standing in this live action shot of the Razz Band's Last Stand.

"I try, I try, and I try, I Can't Get No Relaxation"

   Yes, that's Bob White on drum (I only brought my custom made snare gifted to me by Larry Archer) and we are in the middle of "Gloria," the waning dittie that defies gravity, much like my knees.

Every Picture Tells A Story (Don't it?)

   I promised every buyer I would tell them the back story to the image they bought. Here are a couple examples.

Buyers #9

      I did a series of portraits for my "Illustrated Life & Times of Geronimo" (2018) and this is one of them that I ended up not using, but in retrospect, it has a certain charm (dig those flaming horns on his head), than the one I used did not have. This is what happens when you try too hard to be historically correct. This painting, above, more accurately portrays my true feelings about the G-Man. He was much more brutal and cold-blooded than the "Freedom Fighter" image he has today.

Bavispe River and Old Coot

   Man, these two have great taste in art! The first scene is from a sequence in the Mickey Free story where the Apache Kid sneaks up on an encampment where Tom Horn, James Young and Mickey Free have stopped for the night. And the second painting, "Old Coot" is a character study from my story of "El Pendejo" the mysterious and mischievous pendejo from high in the Sierra Madre.

   More buyers and more stories tomorrow.

"Buyer beware!"

—Old Retail Saying

The Razz Band's Last Grand Stand

 February 25, 2024

   The reviews are in and I am proud to say, we lived up to our eighties claim as "The state's most mediocre band."

The Razz Band's Last Shot

(with Uno sitting in)

   Yes, this last photo of the band was taken yesterday at the Cryin' Coyote Cafe in Cave Creek just before we kicked out the jams with "Louie Louie" (the clean version). Yes, that is the Tom Mix Cord, which Bob White drove down to the gig. He also sat in on drums so I could do "Gloria" out front with my patented "High School Gymnasium Frug-Meets-the-Jerk" moves.

The Razz Band in semi-action!

   Damn, I'm sore today!

   And, for the record, here's our first band photo, taken before a gig at Lake Havasu for a Sigma Pi fraternity reunion in April of 1978.

The Razz Band's First Gig

   Both photos were taken by Kathy Sue Radina. And Dan The Man Harsbherger got us the Havasu gig, so there is some serious Dee Jay Vu going on here.

   And, even more ironic, we closed both shows with a rockin' finale and this time the lyrics had new meaning and to be honest, they stung a little.

"Well, I told you once an' I told you twice

That someone will have to pay the price (in the morning)

But here's a chance to change your mind

'Cause I'll be gone a long, long time (true that)

Well, this could be the last time (it was)

Maybe the last time (most definitely)

I don't know (oh, yes, we all know)

Oh, no. . ." (quit your whining, dude and face the music)

—The Stones, "Last Time"

A Day That Will Live In Infancy!

 February 24, 2024

   Well, the day has arrived and I can't find my drumsticks. Which begs the question: when are you too old to Rock 'n' Roll? I have a hunch, not being able to find your tools would be high on the list of determining the ability to rock and roll.

Daily Flashback Whip Out:

"Old Boomer's Judgemental Blow Back"

   I drew this back in my New Times days (in my 40s!), mocking my fellow aging Boomers with a prediction that has not only come true, but that old coot kind of resembles me!

   Which brings us to here.

Dan The Man's Commemorative Poster

   And, here's Rebecca's version:

Rebecca Edwards Commemorative Poster

   All my life I have been accused of being immature. "Oh, grow up!" is a phrase I often heard multiple times a day. But the good news is, I found my drumsticks!

"Some of us grew up on old Route 66, but, to be honest, 'grew up' is a little strong."

—BBB

The Edmundo Segundo Legacy

 February 23, 2024

   Yesterday we got the news that Ed Mell had passed. It wasn't a surprise but it was still a shock.

   His given name was Ed Mell II (the Second!), but I always called him Edmundo Segundo and he was the hardest working artist I have ever known. He had two brothers, Frank and Lee, and by his own admission, they were more talented but Ed simply outworked them—and everyone else. 

A Classic Ed Mell Desert Scene

   In the early 1980s, we shared an art studio which was an old grocery store at Tenth and Oak in downtown Phoenix and we often would go to lunch together and when we came back I had a hard time getting back to work, but Edmundo, would walk in the door, turn right, sit down and start painting again. Damn! it was breathtaking to witness. So focused and on task. I spent six years in what we called the Mell-Bell Studio and, frankly, it was my real college education. 

   Oh, and Edmundo was hilarious. Even as he dealt with Stage Four Cancer he would call me up about some serious business, but soon enough, he would crack wise and we would laugh and laugh. That is what I'll miss the most about my friend Edmundo Segundo.

Trips With Our Boys, Santa Fe, 1992

   Ed's youngest son, Carson, and my son, Tommy with me at Ray Duey's house on Canyon Road.

Edmundo with one of his stunning pieces

Edmundo goofing with my hat in the studio.

Photo by Ralph Rippe

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

When Horndog Stoved-Up Cowboys at The Mineshaft Attack!

 February 22, 2024

   In the late nineties, David K. Jones and I did a drive time morning radio show on KXAM, broadcast live from Tara's Mineshaft Restaurant And Bar in Cave Creek.

   The show opened with the sound of eggs frying on an industrial restaurant griddle and we had locals in five days a week. 

Daily Whip Out: "Mineshaft Mama"

   I captured this scene of a stoved-up cowboy hitting on a beehive-wearing server at the pinball machine. It's exactly as I saw it (and I have the photo reference to prove it!) The irony is, I am now older than that old pinball horndog. But I can still relate to his methodology!

   Look what I got framed.

Daily Whip Out: "The Tom Mix Cover Art"

"I've always wanted to be crazy rich and the good news is I'm halfway there."

—Old Mineshaft Saying

Riders Under Cloudy Skies & When The Law Is Far, The Fist Is Near

 February 21, 2024

   Got a request from Steve Peterson who wants to know if I had any Daily Whip Outs on historic looking riders traversing cloudy skies. Well, yes, of course.

Daily Whip Outs:

"Riders Under Cloudy Skies"

   Meeting up with the Boys from Cattletrack today to go over our long gestating book.

Daily Whip Out: "Pendejo Puncher"

"When the law is far, the fist is near."

—Old Vaquero Saying

The Most Important Decision You Will Ever Make Is This

 February 20, 2024

   I usually end with a quote. Today we begin with one.

"The most important decision you will ever make is to be in a good mood."

—Voltaire

   If it's true we are what we think about, then, it pays dividends to be in a good mood. And there's an art to being in a good mood, which I believe is actually more like a muscle, than a magic elixer, or the byproduct of a series of fortuitous events. You know, "If I win the lottery, then I'll be happy," or "if I had that house, that girl, that job, that shirt, then I'd be happy.

   This is rarely the case.

   And, here's a guy who has helped me achieve better discipline to be in a good mood.

The Oklahoma Sage Larry Winget

(and an art collector with great taste in art!)

Why Not Sell Everything As the BBB Collection?

   I've had a few people questioning my decision to liquidate my vast archived DWO artwork and to them I say, "Okay, you store it at your house!" They quickly back peddle and say something like, "You need to sell it as a collection, dude." To which I say, "Who are you calling dude, dude?"

Daily Whip Out: "Battle Butte"

Daily Whip Out: "Crossing Banjo Flats"

Daily Whip Out:

"That Crazy In-din Walked Straight Into That Haboob"

   Yes, all of these will be on display and for sale at this special event.

Be there, or be square."

—Old Kingman Saying

Help Us Do Our Final Swedish Death Cleaning. My Children Thank You In Advance

 February 19, 2024

   Early in my art career I was challenged by a fellow cartoonist with this intriguing statement: "Every artist has 10,000 bad drawings in them." In response, I made the decision to do six bad drawings a day to see if it was true. It took me almost five years to accomplish the goal and, yes, the vast majority of my ten thousand drawings were, in fact, let's say, for the record, "not that good." But, this exercise made me very prolific. I literally have thousands of Daily Whip Outs filed upstairs in my studio, thanks to the late, great Kristi Jacobs, who took the time to separate them by subject matter and file them in large envelopes. These packets take up every inch of floor space.

   So, it's time to thin the herd and share the bounty, as it were.

   This weekend, every last piece is going to a good home. Or, in the trash. Why? This is a gift to my children, and their children.

Daily Whip Outs: "Jesse James Galore"

Daily Whip Outs: "Billy the Kid's Galore"

(granted, these are all framed and not part of the sale, but you get my drift)

Uno Weighs In: "It's all crap to me"

   And of course, there will be a slew of scratchboards to choose from.

Daily Scratchboard Whip Outs:

"Some Of These Are Gone

But More Than A Few Remain"

   And, you guessed it, there will be a few old vaqueros in the mix.

      And, even a landscape, or two. Or 21.

Daily Whip Outs: "Landscapes Galore"

   So, join me this coming Saturday at the Cryin' Coyote Barbecue joint in Cave Creek from three to six. Everything that is unframed is available for $47.50. Be there, or be square.

"Outside the saloon old former prospectors sat dreaming over their canes under the locking old clock. This fury had been known by them in greater days."
—Jack Kerouac

Now You Can Own A Mick Jagger, A Charles Atlas, A Rudolfo Fiero And A Wise Ass

 February 18, 2024

   It takes one to know one, as the saying goes.

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"The Smiling Wise Ass"

   And, for the record, I have known a few of these as well.

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"Chisled Cowboy Icon"

   Ditto for this cat.

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"Instense Real Estate Guy"

   I have not met this guy yet, but a friend of mine has.

Daily Whip Out: "Mick Jagger Grandstands"

   And, over the years, I have met (on paper and on the screen) and loved every single one of these Old West characters.

Daily Gang Shot Scratchboard Whip Outs:

"Old West Characters I Love"

   Hint (In No Particular Order): Al Sieber, Mae West, Dick West, Elfego Baca, Charles Atlas, Rudolfo Fiero, Susan Sarandon, Little Crow, Mickey Free, Mickey Campa and Doc Dugan. And, to be honest, I feel like I have met them all up close and personal.

   And, finally, here is someone I am dying to meet.

Daily Whip Out:

"An In-din On An Indian in In-din Country"

   All of these scenic folks will be in the Whip Out bins at the Triple B Art Studio Public Art Sale at the Cryin' Coyote Barbecue in Cave Creek, this coming Saturday, from 3 to six. First come, first serve.

"The jerk store called and they're running out of you."

—George Castanza, "Seinfeld"