Hogtown Hussies On The Brain

November 6, 3015
   I've got hogtown hussies on the brain. Got up this morning and broke out my scratchboard tools and scratched out this before coming into work.

Daily Whip Out: "Scratchboard Hussies #7"

   This, of course, is a reworking of the roughs I did last week in my sketchbook:

  

 

Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Hussies #1"

   I think the scratchboard is a little more serious than I wanted it to be. I also didn't get in the chubby cyprian (middle, left, above) who is much more accurate than the bevvy of Lonesome Dove style ladies in the scratchboard. I also have a notion to put in an actual porker (i.e. a real pig) at the bottom, or on the lap of one of the "girls." Over-producing? Oh, I think so.

   And, lest you think I have forgotten the Native Women, I also really like this gal:

 

Daily Whip Out: "Las Tules"

"The newspaper is the natural enemy of the book, as the whore is of the decent woman."

—The Goncourt Brothers, 1858

LS Cowboys In The Murderous Moonlight

November 4, 2015
   Went home for lunch yesterday and finished a painting for the next Classic Gunfight. The ball opened at point blank range and the muzzle flashes lit up the darkness.

 Daily Whip Out: "LS Cowboys In The Murderous Moonlight."

   Had more rain yesterday. Hiked up to the top of the hill behind the True West World Headquarters and caught this:

 

 The Shower Curtain

     And the march of clouds continued most of the day. . .

 

Freight Train Clouds Over Ratcliff Ridge

   We had a visitor this morning. A kid who was born in Kingman and cowboyed near Seligman, lives in Prescott and plays music in the Palace Bar on Whiskey Row:

 

Three Guys & Four Legs: BBB, Danny Romero and Robert Ray 

   Two of these guys lost a leg and one of them has been accused of losing his mind (when he bought a dying magazine). One of them is a Diamondbacks fan. Two of them don't seem worse for the wear and all of them dig the Wild West.

"The trouble with our younger writers is that they are all in their sixties."

—W. Somerset Maugham

The Hooker With The Heart of Gold

November 4, 2015
   The hooker with the heart of gold is an Old West cliche, but the fact is, for most soiled doves, the profession was a soul crusher.

 Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Hussie Study #6"

"Literature is  mostly about having sex and not much about having children. Life is the other way around."
—David Lodge

Sweeper Clouds Extraordinaire!

November 3, 2015
  Another incredible cloud show—and more rain!—continues on the Great Sonoran Desert. Here's a weird cloud effect I witnessed this morning that almost looks fake.

Sweeper Clouds Over Ratcliff Ridge

Sweeper  Clouds Over Black Mountain

   If I painted those sweeping tendrils accurately it would be very tempting to think I pushed it too far. But that's my job: find out where the line is and then push it to the very edge, flirting all the time with going too far.

"Work is part grind and part devotion"

—Terry Gross, "Fresh Air" host for 40 years

Another Spectacular Cloudy Day

November 3, 2015
   We have been having the most amazing clouds almost every day for a month now. Shot this right out my car window on the way into work. 

 "Storm Clouds Over Black Mountain."

   Of course, these scenes are my bread and butter:

 

Daily Whip Out: "Cahava Ranch Clouds"

 

Daily Whip Out: "Storm Over Kayenta"

Daily Whip Out: "Ratcliff Ridge Rain Clouds"

 

Daily Whip Out: "They've Got Legs"

   And how! Love this quote from the legendary git picker:

"Four decades: same three guys, same three chords."

—Billy Gibbons, ZZ-Top

Starry Starry Gunfight

November 2, 2015
   Went home for lunch and finished a Tascosa gunfight painting that happened in moonlight. Couldn't resist:

 

 Daily Whip Out: "Starry Starry Fight"

"Artists who whine because they need a grant and the government doesn't help them -- well, tough. I had the same problem. I worked in a bookstore for seven years to make money to buy art supplies. And that was fine. I don't think artists should ever expect anything from anybody. For the artist, sacrifice and hardship are a part of the process."

—Patti Smith

Earthquake Last Night

November 2, 2015
   Woke up last night to a low rumble, felt it go right under our house. I looked at the clock (11:31) and thought to myself, "If I didn't know better, I'd think that was an earthquake." Went back to sleep and felt a second one twenty minutes later, slightly weaker. Turns out there were three earthquakes (first at 8:59) with the epicenter at Black Canyon City which is about 10 miles northwest of Cave Creek, Arizona, where we live.

   The news reports this morning said the first one was at 8:59 and was a 3.2 mag., the second one at 11:29 (our clock is evidently two minutes fast) clocked in at a 4.1, and the third one at 11:49 registered a 4.0.

   I have never been in an earthquake before, and I must say it was unnerving that the desert bedrock, our house is on, rippled and the ground felt about as solid as a trampoline. 

Hogtown Hussies Studies: 1 thru 5

November 1, 2015
   Working on a series of sketches for an upcoming True West Moment on Hogtown Hussies. The challenge is to not make them too soft and "pretty." Many, if not most, soiled doves who worked their way out west were, as they used to say: "Rode hard and put up wet." Still, I have to think they were tough survivors and many became respectable women, if you can call marrying a cowboy or a miner respectable.

Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Hussies Study #1"

Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Hussies Study #2"

Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Hussies Study #3"

Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Hussies Study #4"

Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Studay #5"

"Women have more fun because there's more things forbidden to them."

—Old Cowboy Saying

Hogtown Hussies & Omnibus Gents

October 29, 2015
   I'm researching a gunfight in Tascosa, Texas and I must say, Fred Nolan's wonderful book "Tascosa: Its Life and Gaudy Times" is a much overlooked gem. In fact, I poached a segment in the book about the amazingly named soiled doves in that area and have expanded it for an upcoming True West Moment.

Hogtown Hussies
   In the Old West there were numerous notorious settlements called Hogtown, which was derogatory slang for a gaggle of whore houses. Near Tascosa, Texas in the 1880s was perhaps the wildest of the Hogtowns with shady ladies who had names to match the town's sobriquet: "Frog Lip Sadie," "Panhandle Nan," "Slippery Sue," "Box Car Jane," "Mustang May," "Feather Legs" Gauntz, "Rocking Chair Em," "Frenchy" McCormick and my personal favorite, "Bronco Bride."

 

Daily Whip Out: "Hogtown Hussies"

    When I was in Paris last month I bought a book of old photographs. I love the old styles, especially the stiff collars and the rake of this derby.

 Daily Whip Out: "Paris Omnibus Gent, 1900"

"Virtue is the lack of adequate temptation."

—Old Vaquero Saying

Quien Es? Quien Sabe?

October 28, 2015
   Chuck Parsons is doing a book on Jack Helm and wants a dust jacket. I asked for a description of the lawman (there are no known photos) and Chuck said he was described as "heavy chested, dark beard and arrogant." Went home for lunch and whipped this out.

 

Daily Whip Out: "Jack Helm Hard Charger"

   As we dig deeper into the croquet photo controversy I am struck by the sheer splitting of hairs nature of the discussion. I have a hunch the Kid himself would laugh at us all.

 Daily Whip Out: "Quien Es, Quien Sabe."

"In the first act, you get your hero up a tree.
In the second act, you throw rocks at him.
In the third act, you let him down."
—George Abbott

Canyon Rider & Two-fisted Law

October 27, 2015
  Went home for lunch and finished a little study  I started before our trip to Pasadena last week.

 

Daily Whip Out: "Canyon Rider"

I've been cleaning and learning to let go (see quote, below) and, of course running across little gems, like this little postcard which I bought for a buck back in 1971 at Wylie's Leather in Tucson.

 

Tim McCoy postcard: "Two Fisted Law"

   Here's the irony. When I bought this show card, it was of a movie that was, at that time, 45-50 years old. And today, the card is 45 years old. The card is as old as the movie was at the time I bought it. Groovy, no?

   Let goooooooooooo. . .

 "The greatest step toward a life of simplicity is to learn to let go."
—Steve Maraboli

Bobbing for Bobby Cakes

October 24, 2015
   Got the babysitting assignment last week and dropped everything to head for Pasadena to hang out with this guy.

"Broccoli. Again? Seriously?"

   This morning we went to a Halloween Festival and Weston got to bob for apples with a babe, okay, a classmate of his, but she was a little princess babe.

Weston Bobbing for Apples With A Princess Babe

They also had these nifty little apple peelers and Weston dug that more than anything else:

The Apple Peelers

If he looks like he has a mustache, this is because we tried to dress him as a cowboy with a mustache, but he was having none of that. In fact, we were lucky to get pants on him.

"Why is that Baby Boomer so angry?"

"When one teaches, two learn."

—Robert Anson Heinlein

My Very First Billy the Kid Art Show

October 23, 2015
   It was 23 years ago today I premiered my first graphic novel, "The Illustrated Life & Times of Billy the Kid" at Suzanne Brown's Art Gallery in Oldtown Scottsdale, Arizona.

October 23, 1992, Suzanne Brown Galleries, Scottsdale, Arizona

   Thanks to my production assistant, Julie Sigwart, we got a big write up in the Arizona Republic (she was working for me at nights and for the Republic during the day. Or, was it the other way around?). Tri Star Printing actually delivered 200 books to the gallery at six o'clock, that's how tight the schedule was. Sold those in about a half hour. Had about 1,500 people, sold most of the artwork. In 1996 we came out with the second edition, which was heavily redone with new photos and illustrations and this is the one most people have today. There are still first editions floating around (I kept one box) and they go for a pretty penny.

   Hard to believe we're approaching the quarter century mark on the art and the book. The gallery is gone as is Suzanne, but the legend of both lives on. I saw her take a painting that wasn't selling, move it to another wall, double the price and it would sell. Now THAT'S an art.

   That was a long way back, and I have so far to go. Wonder what the old vaqueros have to say about this?

"Always concentrate on how far you've come, rather than how far you have left to go."
—Old Vaquero saying

Food For Thought

October 22, 21015
   Leave it to the Arizona State Fair to combine foods that really don't go together, or that a cardiologist wouldn't recommend ever going near, but, well, it's the state fair and these things are expected.

• Chocolate Covered Chicharrónes (Bacon A-Fair)

• Chicken Fried Bacon (Bacon A-Fair)

• Southwest BLT Indian Fry Bread - Indian Fry Bread served with hickory smoked bacon, lettuce, fire roasted salsa and homemade chipotle mayo topping (B & J Concessions)

• Bacon Wrapped Pork Belly - Premium pork belly rubbed with sage and rosemary and wrapped with 2 feet of thick cut honey smoked bacon on-a-stick. (Biggys 1 & 2)

• Frosted Flake Fried Chicken (Get Pickled O Petes)

• The Koolicle - a Kool-aide infused pickle (Get Pickled O Petes)

• Deep Fried Nachos - nacho cheese inside of piping hot orbs of crispy nacho goodness bursting with nacho flavors. Can be topped with guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños and cheese. (Tater Twister)

"We literally dig our graves with our teeth."
—Old Vaquero saying

Billy Looks Back

October 21, 2015
   Woke up this morning thinking about Billy and the Regulators after the Big Killing when they split up and went their separate ways, with the Kid heading for Tascosa, Texas.

 Daily Whip Out: "Billy Looks Back" or "Leaving All That Behind."

   I'm doing a Classic Gunfight that happened in Tascosa, Texas in 1883, so that weighed into my whip out. Dug out Fred Nolan's excellent book, "Tascosa: It's Life and Guady Times."



"People love to admit they have bad handwriting or that they can't do math. And they will readily admit to being awkward: 'I'm such a klutz!' But they will never admit to having a poor sense of humor or being a bad driver."
—George Carlin

The Vicious Little Cop Killer

October 20, 2015
   Last night I was watching the second half of the "Billy the Kid: New Evidence" show on Nat Geo when our house guest said, "He was nothing more than a vicious little cop killer." I realized at that moment we shouldn't hold our breath for a Billy book from the talented author (hint: she's a policeman's daughter) who gave us both "Doc" and "Epitaph."

Daily Whip Out: "The Kid and His Silver City Pards."

    Here is our house guest with Kathy this morning.

 

Kathy and Mary Doria Russell

   Afterwards, I drove her over to Ken Amorosano's house to do a taping for our documentary on Wyatt Earp In Hollywood: The Untold Story. Mary was in Tombstone the other day for a book signing when the accidental gunfight broke out on Allen Street and two people were wounded by actual gunfire. I have to say it was a tad ironic when the mayor of Tombstone said the shooting was "unprecedented." As the home of the O.K. Corral street fight, I don't that is true.

"Until you make peace with who you are, you will never be content with what you have."
—Doris Mortman

Close Encounters of The Kid Kind

October 19, 2015
   Ever sit around and wonder if the Billy the Kid Bermuda Triangle actually exists and is it still sucking us all into its vortex?

 

Daily Whip Out: "Billy Just Keeps On Riding"

   I must say that Kid has certainly turned my world upside down. I can't go into that triangle without something strange happening.

 Daily Whip Out: "Close Encounters of The Kid Kind."

   Watched the Nat Geo show on the croquet photo and actually enjoyed parts of it. I thought the re-enactment of the photo, moving back and forth from color to sepia, complete with movement, was impressive. And it does look more than a little bit like the Kid.

   My gut tells me it's not New Mexico, but that's just my eye.

   The costuming was excellent, best Billy-stoved-in-hat yet.

   Of course, I have issues with some of the history re-enactments, especially the killing of Tunstall, which was embarrassingly wrong.

   I heard through the grapevine that they already have two buyers interested (and neither is Bill Koch). I have asked the producer to write up his defense of the photo and we will do a point-counterpoint on this so readers can decide for themselves, once and for all,who to believe.

"History is a cruel trick played on the dead by the living."

—Old Vaquero Saying

Impressions and Sketches vs. Finished Masterpieces

October 16, 2015
   One of the things that appealed to van Gogh, and most of the Impressionists is the idea that a sketch can sometimes be more powerful than a finished piece.

 

Daily Whip Out: "Sketch of Rene Secretan" 

      The French Impressionists of the 1880s were reacting to the official Salon—The Art Establishment—which dictated what was a finished piece of art. Here's what van Gogh had to say about that: "What has impressed me most on seeing paintings by the old Dutch masters again is the fact that they were generally painted quickly. Not only that: if the effect was good, it stood. Above all, I admired hands painted by Rembrandt and Hals, hands that were alive though they were not finished in the sense that is being insisted on nowadays."

   Van Gogh also liked to quote his hero Delacroix who suggested that a hasty sketch might be more effective and alive than the finished product. This was the main sticking point with the Impressionists against the Salon. Van Gogh and his comrades were rebelling against the "established" rules of the game. It wasn't their subjects that offended the art establishment, it was the perceived sloppiness and unfinished quality that upset the professionals so much.

   The same thing happens in music. Imagine what trained musicians thought the first time they heard "Cinnamon Girl" by Neil Young. "He can't sing, it's three chords and off-key falsetto yelling. This goes against everything I have been trained to achieve." And yet, "Cinnamon Girl" still has incredible power several decades later. In fact, it's as impactful, to me, as it was the first time I heard it. The same is true of many of van Gogh's paintings.

   So, what we all strive for in our sketches is aliveness of line and the overall effect which we try to do as quickly as we can. Toulouse Lautrec believed that if his hand stopped moving, the drawing would die. That's what I tried to achieve in the above sketch. On the second pass, I tightened it down a notch, trying to control the image to achieve a likeness (or, at least how I imagine the young punk who shot van Gogh might have looked, based on his photo as an old man).

 

 Daily Whip Out: "Rene Secretan Study #2"

   Did I ruin it? Of course!

"A dreamer of pictures, I run in the night, I can be happy the rest of my life with my Cinnamon Girl."

—Neil Young, Cinnamon Girl

Life Lessons From Vincent van Gogh

October 15, 2015
   I've been chasing The Redheaded Madman for two months now and, so far, here are the takeaways for me:

 

Daily Whp Out: "Life Lessons From Vincent Van Gogh"

    In the 1880s virtually all the known world hated Vincent van Gogh's artwork. His own mother called his art "ridiculous" (even after he started to become famous) and he sold only one painting while he lived. Today, of course, his paintings are valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and he is considered one of the father's of modern art. The VG lesson: Be careful what you condemn. 

   Two different women remembered van Gogh coming to their house when they were kids and drawing pictures of their families and then leaving the drawings as gifts. In both cases the kids got up the next day and used the paper as kindling for a fire in the fireplace. Those were very expensive fires. The VG lesson: Be careful what you burn (includes bridges).

 

 

Daily Whip Out: "Van Gogh In The Asylum"

   After his second meltdown in the Yellow House at Arles, Vincent was placed in an insane asylum south of nearby San Remy. He was kept in a room with bars on the windows and he had several relapses and "attacks" while he was there but he continued to paint, although he was assigned a "handler" to watch him at all times (Vincent at times ate his paints during attacks and was a danger to himself). One can imagine what the handler thought of the strange scenes Vincent painted (short answer: not much). And yet, today, thousands of people a year make the trek to the asylum at San Paul to see where Vincent painted some of his most famous paintings. VG  Life Lesson: If a nut house is revered today as a holy site, don't worry about your current habitat in the world.

 The entrance to the insane asylum near San Remy, France that is today a mecca for art lovers.

 

Van Gogh's room at the asylum. Note bars on windows.

"There are some things one can only achieve by a deliberate leap in the opposite direction. One has to go abroad to find the home one has lost."

—Franz Kafka

My Poor Discarded Baby

October 14, 2015
   Drove across the London Bridge this morning. Last time I was here was in 1978 when the Razz Band performed on the beach for the Sigma Pis. One drunk Pi kept requesting "Out of Time" by The Stones and Hans Olson must have sang it 10 times.

 

Scene of Razz Band gig #247

When I opened the blinds in my room at the Nautical Inn and saw this cove, all the lyrics came flooding back. "You don't know what's goin' on, you been away for far too long. . ."

Sent the photo to Dan Harshberger, the Sigma Pi, who got us the gig, and he says, "I remember it well. I'm thinking it had to be 'Buck' that requested it. He liked that song and 'Hey, Joe' was another fave of his."

 

The Razz Band, circa '79

You don't know what's going on
You've been away for far too long
You can't come back and think you are still mine
You're out of touch, my baby
My poor discarded baby
I said, baby, baby, baby, you're out of time
—The Rolling Stones

Read more: Rolling Stones - Out Of Time Lyrics | MetroLyrics