When The Answer Becomes A Riddle

 April 17, 2025

   Often times when we are looking for answers, a riddle rears its ugly head.

My kids in the Kid's home town 1992-1996

(we started a short-lived tradition of taking their photo in front of the Lincoln Courthouse at the end of our stay every year.)

   On the other hand, all good writers create a riddle out of an answer.

The Kid's alleged last minute on earth.

And then we get the burning question.

"Quien Es?"

   And, then comes the tease.

Uno is looking forward to this!

"Out of all the characters I have played he is the closest to me in many ways; he was beautifully unhinged one moment and then he terrorized everyone around him the next. Let's figure out a way to bring him back."

—Emilio Estevev, teasing Young Guns III: Dead or Alive

A Cherished Fake Billy Meets A Discarded Whip Out And They Both Win

April 16, 2025

   Sometimes the goofiest, off-handed things can change your life.

The Fake Photo I Bought for A Quarter

at The Longhorn Museum, On Old Route 66

near Moriarity, New Mexico

1958

   I was telling the story of how I acquired this bit of roadside hoo doo to the high school kids in Roswell last Thursday and I could just tell they thought it was kind of lame, or, worse—hokey, but there is no doubt it changed my life. As I told them, you can draw a direct line from me finding out the photo was fake to me running True West magazine for 26 years. In a bit of weird irony, it is framed and hangs in my office. A cherished bit of bogus history.

   Go figure.

   Sometimes I find quick studies from my failure piles and think to myself, "Hmmm, what was I thinking? I kind of like this just as it is!"

Daily Whip Out; "One Grumpy Bastard"

"Lying about the West in general and the Southwest in particular has been a cottage industry for over a century."

—Charles Bowden

More Roadside Wreckage And The If Store Guy Confronts Me

 April 15, 2025

   Still tabulating the roadside wreckage I witnessed on our long road trip to New Mexico and back.

Roadside Wreckage, Pie Town, New Mexico

   Also, when I stopped in Datil to take a photo of a leaning wreck, this guy ran out from across the street. 

If Store Guy

   He asked me what I was doing and I said, "Taking a photo, please don't hurt me." He turned out to be working in that store behind him and was perhaps bored, or lonely. He told me, "You need to take a photo through that window over there and you will see the original Navajo Motel from back in the day." I nodded my head, got back in the Flex and sped out of town.

A Senior Moment Revisited

   Meanwhile, in the dark world of mysterious women I have known. . .

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"Rule Breaker"

   I have a pension for dark shadows and women in those dark shadows.

"Be inspired, be passionate, be motivated, be grateful and be open minded."

—Old Optimist Saying

Random Road Thoughts From A 22 Hour New Mexican Fun Run

 April 14, 2025

   As a recap, I have to say seeing all the roadside wreckage on our trip to Roswell and back was a bummer, but the daydreaming made up for it.

Uno & Roadside Wreckage

at Christopher Creek

   On Sunday, after we lounged around Christopher Creek Cabin #9, we took off for Payson at about 8:30.

My traveling compadres sitting outside at Duza's

   After a rousing, exotic breakfast at Duza's (this is absolutely one of the best cafes in the Southwest) we cruised on home, landing at the Triple B Ranch just after eleven in the morning. It was a long run for a good cause, and I also had time to think during those long stretches of lonesome highway out beyond Quemado. It's like fishing to me, just enough to do so that your mind can wander and be creative.

BBB Random Road Thoughts

   I would love to do a desert noir story about a lonesome lawman who has to patrol the barren corridors of western New Mexico.

Pie Town PD

   He doesn't even like pie, so of course, he got the assignment to police the high desert around Pie Town, New Mexico. With the cartels moving in, it is going to get muy stormy to say the least.

The Dirt Bag Brothers

   Benny (seated at left) and his brothers—Booger and Barney—thought they could get away with anything. They were about half right.

The Banegas Brothers Drunk As Skunks

Boon Dog Bixler

   He loved the Mescaleros. Too bad, they didn't love him back.

The Late Boon Dog Bixler "Land Surveyor"

(killed by Mescalero Apaches near Nogal)

Nickle-Plated Love

   If she had a nickle for every dadburn calf roper who said he loved her, she'd be able to buy two cases of Baby Ruths.

Sweet Alita "Roper's Delight"

Range Detective

   Angie Banegas (yes, that's her ne'er do well cousins above) patrols the Big Sandy and she don't put up with Dirt Bags (see, also above)

Angie Banegas Range Detective

Jenny Cordova is one shrewd Mamacita

   Of course, seeing all those small New Mexican towns brings back memories of my own upbringing in a certain western Arizona cowtown.

Dally Yardbird Cowboy Pool Hustler

   Not to mention the local In-dins who made a strong impression on me.

Bisti Badman

   Their first mistake was sending him to boarding school. Their second mistake was letting him graduate. Try and catch him now law dogs!

"It's always easier to condemn the past than confront the present."

—Old Vaquero Saying

Roadside Wreckage On The Backroads of New Mexico

 April 13, 2025

   Heading home after a six day road trip to eastern New Mexico. Of course, I have been driving this stretch for over three decades and one of the starkest realizations is just how much so many of the stalwart roadside attractions have faded, some close to oblivion.

Roadside Wreckage at Datil, New Mexico

Roadside Wreckage at Pie Town, New Mexico

Uno Not Impressed With Pie Town

   It's a ten hour run from Lincoln to Cave Creek, but we decided to call it a day at Christopher Creek and cruise on in this morning.

"Six days on the road and I'm gonna make it home tonight."

—Dave Dudley, "Six Days On The Road"

I Found Myself In Roswell, New Mexico

 April 10, 2025

   It was sixty years ago, in a Kingman art class, I made a vow that if I ever figured out how to become a successful artist I would go anywhere to tell youngsters how to do it. No one came to my school and the goal of my vow was to give anyone who would listen, the inside skinny I never got. Oh, and by successful, I don't mean monetery worth. I'm talking about making a life for yourself as an artist.

Old Man Talks to His Younger Self

(photo by Janice Dunnahoo)

   So, Kathy, Uno and I drove 11 hours and landed at the Robert H. Goddard Public High School in Roswell, New Mexico and thanks to Janice Dunnahoo, I had the privilege and honor to speak to five different classes (three on history and two on art) and in each 40 minute talk I was seeking my younger self.  I confessed right up front I knew most of them probably didn't care what an old man had to say, but I was looking for that one student who feels a little lost and intimidated by the world of art. To be honest, I wanted to tell that younger version of myself how to be brave and how to get past the fear. 

   I really wanted to find myself and give my younger self some courage and ammunition. 

   And, by the way, the Goddard High School is named after the rocket pioneer Robert Hutchings Goddard.

Yes, you too can become a successful artist if you can do one thing. And the key word is "if."

The Big If!

   Yes, the key word is "if." Everything you want is on the other side of fear. And, if, you can figure out a way to get past your fear, you have a good to decent shot at being an Artist, with a capital A.

   When I was attempting to first make art as a kid, I got three comments, over and over: Did you copy that? That looks like a photograph. And, so and so is a brilliant artist and he has had no training!

   The first comment is a snotty query as to the source of the art. The idea being, if you copied a Norman Rockwell painting, that is cheating and you don't deserve to be called an artist. The second comment speaks to the general population's obsession with reality (if a piece of art looks like a photograph, then it is accurate, i.e. godly), and the third comment is a weird commentary on my tribe's fascination with artistic talent. To the speaker it is God given and can't be explained—or taught! It just arrives magically in the fingers of the dumb struck artist.

   Here's another thing I told them.

Truth and Myth Often Walk Together

"Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth."

—Pablo Picasso

   Once again, at the end I encouraged them to be motivated to take meaningful action by failing more and drawing without expectations. That last message seemed to resonate.

   The road is the only thing.

   One of your vulnerabilities will become a strength. Everything you want is on the other side of fear. So, how do you get past your fear? Here is something that worked for me.

Thanking My Hometown for The Wind

Windy Recognition

   That's me on the road to 10,000 bad drawings. It really freed me from unreal expectations.

"It truly is incredible the things we can accomplish when we just do the art without expectations. Thank you for introducing me to a fearless approach."

—Chelsea McDonough, Kingman Miner reporter

Heading for the Saddle In Datil and The Green Chile Burgers in San Antonio, New Mexico

 April 9, 2025

   Spent last night in our favorite cabin in Greer.

Greer Companions in front of Cabin #89

   Now comes the most serene part of the trip. At least traditionally. While cars and trucks battle each other around the mine field potholes on I-40, a two-lane country highway, AZ 260, parallels the same journey with very few cars or trucks. At least that has been my experience for the past three decades of driving this stretch from Springerville to Quemado (Burned!), Datil, Magdalena, don't forget the Great Array, Socorro, San Antonio, Malpais, Carizzozo, Capitan and Lincoln. I could almost drive this stretch blind folded. Of course I have criss crossed New Mexico in other corridors.

   This is just down the road.

The Sombrero Jack Gang

Silver City, New Mexico

(reference photo staged by BBB 1992)

   And, this is just down the road in the other direction.

Isleta Kids With Puppy

   And, of course, we will be in the heart of this country.

Daily Whip Out: "Saint Billy"

"If Billy the Kid has taught me anything about living it's this: dying young only looks good on someone else." 

—Old Windbag Historian

On The Road Again

 April 8, 2025

   Took off for New Mexico late this morning. Made it to Greer. I said to my honey, "It's me and you and a dog name Uno." She's old enough to know the reference, thank God.

Lone Greer Cabin

   Love this high country. So quiet and serene. Off towards Datil tomorrow. Big art show in Roswell on Friday Night. It's an 11 hour run. Can't blast thru like I used to.

Me and you and a dog named Boo
Travellin' and livin' off the land
Me and you and a dog named Boo
How I love bein' a free man

—Lobo, 1971

"It ain't like it used to be, but it'll do."

—The Wild Bunch ending

Get Ready for A Sneak Peek at The Traveling Wake of Billy the Kid Art Show

 April 7, 2025

   It all started with Buckeye's dream. My Kid Krazy compadre, had this idea to do a shrine of the wake of Billy the Kid with the dead outlaw stretched out on the carpenter's bench in Old Fort Sumner on July 15, 1881. Buckeye's original idea to place this shrine at the actual graveyard in Old Fort Sumner, got shot down by the city council. Still Buckeye persevered, and now, with the help of myself, artist Thom Ross and Tim Roberts at the Fort Sumner Graveyard Museum that dream is about to become a reality.

   Some of my contributions to the traveling wake will be on display at the Roswell, New Mexico Library this coming Friday night. It is technically a drop off point for me to meet my co-conspirators, Thom Ross and Karla Morton, who will then carry the artwork on to Lamy, New Mexico, where the first leg of the traveling show will be staged in August of this year. From there the show will travel to Raton, New Mexico and then on to Scottsdale and points beyond.

Daily Whip Out:

"Saint Billy Still Stands Tall"

   An original art print of this painting will be on display and for sale at the Roswell Library Art Show. In addition, framed art prints and originals of my Billys—and even a Pat Garrett!—will be included in the show.

   And, you know what the Kid would say about all this expended effort:

"There's no money in it."

—William Bonney

More Mourners at The Wake of Billy the Kid

 April 6, 2025

   Nice Sunday at home. Got a big road trip coming up Tuesday, so I'm rounding up a whole bunch of BtK artwork for the 11 hour drive to Roswell.

Rain clouds over Ratcliff ridge

   Still having fun with more mourners at the wake of Billy the Kid.

Daily Whip Out: "More Mexican Mourners"

(in progress)

"Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth."

—Pablo Picasso

Jose, can you see, Kathy’s Arizona flag blowing in the breeze?

 April 5, 2025

   Nice day at home because it's Bike Week in Cave Creek and you can't move in town for all the bikes.

Jose, can you see. . .

Kathy’s Arizona flag blowing in the breeze?
(hint, to the right, just over the fence)

   Had, ahem, a blast with dust effects:

Daily Whip Out:

"Changing Woman Changes Everything" 

Cow Pow Wow

   Going to talk to a bunch of high school artists next week and wanted to round up some inspirational quotes, like this one.

"Be inspired, be passionate, be motivated, be grateful and be open minded."

—Old Artist Saying

Mexcian Mourners Get Serious Weston Gets A Doppleganger

 April 4, 2025

   It's time for some serious wailing. No, not economic wailing, I'm talking about Mexican mourners, like the ones at Billy the Kid's wake.

Daily Whip Outs: "Mexcian Mourners #25"

   I have been collecting scrap on this for some time and it's time to get serious.

Daily Whip Out: "The Supplicant 2.5"

Rodeo Zane Riders And Their Zany Names

   Also, as I mentioned to Kathy, here are some of the zany rodeo rider names I spied last Sunday at the Cave Creek Rodeo: Bucky, Kory, Bubba, Rhet, Bodi, Hollis, Rooster, Ky, Colter, Stade, Zac, Cash, Clate, Bo, Cooper, Jessi and from Buckeye, Arizona, Weston Crane.

Weston B.

   As you may know, my grandson's name is Weston and when my daughter came up with that handle, I thought that name was so original and so unique no one else in his generation would ever have that sobriquet.

    Well, apparently someone in Buckeye was having the same thought. Here's the truth: no matter how original you think your idea is, somewhere on the planet, and more likely, someone in your county is having the same idea. And, I might add, laboring under the same conceit.

"I love those who can smile in trouble."

—Leonardo da Vinci

Sugarloafs Supremo

 April 3, 2025

   I recently realized I am not the only person who totally digs the classic sugarloaf sombrero. When I was in Tucson for the Tucson Book Festival, Stuart and I picked up our custom hats at Arizona Hatters, I found out the guys who work there are just as thrilled as I am with those old style gargantuan Mexican lids. Some are trying to duplicate the style, but so far, it's a bit out of reach. Here's why.

Sugarloaf Supremo

(note the curled sweep and the pinch at the top)

   It is not a Spanish style (as some have posited), but totally Indio, and you can see in old photos that the brims and the crowns just keep growing and growing from the 1880s until by about 1915 when they are off the charts humungo.

Daily Whip Out: "Sugarloafs Galore"

   And, then, unfortunately because of the Mexican Revolution, the style is inseparable with the insurgents and when they are defeated it loses its appeal. And by the 1950s only a caricature style remains (the charro sombrero) but it's a pale substitute for the mighty sugarloaf. 

Daily Whip Out: "Sugarloaf Paisano"

Daily Whip Out: "Barefoot Sugarloaf"

Daily Scratchboard Whip Out:

"Mexican Sugarloaf Study"

 

  And, of course, in the states it gets chopped down to size

Daily Whip Out:

"Buster McCumber wearing a sawed-off sugarloaf"

   Arrested twice for bunco-steering in San Angelo, Texas, Buster M. was a master conman who fled across the border into Old Mexico and gravitated to the Bacanora, Sonora region. Some believe he is the real Guero from Divisadero. This is all fictional and a character I am developing at the moment.

   I just got a sneak peek at forthcoming book, "The Undiscovered Country" by a certain author I know. Here's my take on it.

"An epic telling of a history I thought I already knew. I was mistaken. No one threads the needle between the dark contradictions of American history with such breathtaking clarity, honesty and wit as Paul Andrew Hutton. He is the undisputed king of western history."

—Bob Boze Bell, executive editor True West magazine

Val Kilmer Remembered

 April 2, 2025

   I met Val Kilmer on the set of Tombstone in June of 1993. He was a little stand-offish and reserved, but it must be said, he was in character and damn did that ever pay off!

   Val passed yesterday. He was 65.

   Here are two versions of him I recreated, depicting one of his most famous scenes:

Daily Whip Out: "Doc In His Cups"

Daily Whip Out: "Val Spins A Cup"

   Both are available as art prints.

Doc In His Cups Art Print

"That's just my game."

—Doc Holliday

Dressing for Semi-Success And New Mexico Here I Come!

 April 1, 2025

   It's been a while, but we're headed for New Mexico next week to go visit this tiny berg.

   Don't tell anyone, but here's a sneak peek at the next cover.

   I tell you, that Dan the Man is a talented mahoo. Totally rocks.

   Had an online staff meeting this morning, so I half-dressed up, which means I kept my morning togs on, below the screen. When Kathy came home from Jazzercize, I went out to the garage to meet her and she caught me dressed, well, like this.

Dressing for Semi-Success

Top half professional, bottom half recreational.

(Yes, Uno finds it hilarious.)

"The truth is simple. If it was complicated, everyone would understand it."

—Walt Whitman