Spanish Spurs

October 10, 2013
   Getting ready to head out for the annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium in Ruidoso, New Mexico this weekend. Leaving this afternoon for the long drive, but it's one I love to make.

  Last night Kathy and I attended the grand re-opening of T.J. Cook's at the Royal Palm inn on the south side of Camelback Mountain. Had a great time, good food and drinks.

 
Daily Whipout, "Spanish Spurs"

"Never trust a man with a riding quirt and Spanish spurs who doesn't own a horse."
 —Old Vaquero Saying

Stinking Badges!

October 9, 2013
   One of the most well-known lines from a Western is widely misquoted. In popular culture the famous line becomes, "Badges? We don't need no stinking badges!"

   Actually, in the 1948 classic "The Treasure of the Sierria Madre", the Mexican bandit leader (Alfonso Bedoya) tries to convince Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart) that he and his men are Federales. Dobbs asks, "If you're the police, where are your badges?" And the bandit replies, "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"





Daily Whipout, "Mr. No-Stinking-Badges"

   In the 1927 novel of the same name (on which the movie is based), the bandit says, "Badges, to god-damned hell with badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabron and chinga tu madre!"

"Buenos dias, Cabron."
—Old Vaquero Saying

The Star of "26 Men" Lives to Meet Four of the Original 26 Men

October 8, 2013
   Yesterday, I did a phone interview with Kelo Henderson who starred as Clint Travis in the TV series "26 Men". The show about the Arizona Rangers who roamed the Arizona Territory just prior to statehood, was one of my favorites growing up, so talking with Kelo (real name Paul Henderson) was a treat.



 
Kelo Henderson (center) with, from left, John Redmond, William Palmer,
Chapo Beaty and Joseph Pierce.

   Regarding the photo, Kelo told me, "I actually got to meet some of the last surviving Arizona Rangers in 1957. They visited the set [of "26 Men"] and we talked about the wild, old days. They told me the long distances they had to ride. And they told me that if they anticipated gunplay they would cock their hammers first. It could save seconds and save their lives.

   "Those old Rangers just looked like guys who wouldn't tell stories. But one guy, William Palmer, still carried a single-action pistol which he carried, stuck in his pants. I thought to myself here is some history and I'm going to photograph it."

   As you can see, William Palmer, has a pistol stuck in his pants. I have a hunch he wore that to the set for effect, but still, it's a great story. And, by the way, Kelo just turned 90 two weeks ago. The interview will appear in a future True West magazine.

"The facts are always less than what really happened."
—Nadine Gardiner

Muy Malo Hombres and One Chica

October 7, 2013
   Pulled out some scratchboards out of my morgue to utilize for new True West Moments. Here's a scratchboard of a striking Navajo male from an old photo (Edward Curtis, I believe). I think it's amazing how a guy sporting earrings and jewelry and long hair could still come off as masculine, but the dude carries it off.

 
Daily Whipout, "Navahomo?"

   One morning I whipped out a bunch of faces. One is of a famous Western artist. Can you spot him?

 
Daily Whipout, "Faces of The Old West"



The Hualapais have a legendary maiden.



 
Daily Whipout, "Indin Maiden"

   Some of the old vaqueros were muy malo:



 
Daily Whipout, "Muy Malo Vaquero"

   And some of the merchants out west were pretty mild:


 
Daily Whipout, "What If Jerry Foster Lived In The Old West?"

Barn Dance Bugaloo

October 7, 2013
   The guests started arriving at the historic farm outside Etna, California at about 2:30 on Saturday. Pockets of people spread out in the shade behind the main house on a beautiful day (it was windy and cold the day before).



   That's Deena, Kathy, Weston and Mike comparing notes, above, with Nina and Rick who also have a baby. Note the suits all the way back to the main house in the background.


   The wedding started a little after three. Here we see bridesmaid Deena, being escorted by two groomsmen. The bride, Maki Sato, came last and was escorted by her brother Kai:



   The ceremony took place on a wide meadow between the barn and house, looking out on vast fields where horses grazed.



   Lots of cowboy hats and even overalls in the crowd.




   While this was going on we had a master-ball-cap-bar-b-que-er doing tri tip along the side of the barn:



   The historic barn was built in the 1860s and the groom, Christian, worked three days in Chico (he's a physical therapist) then drove out to Etna and worked on the barn for three days, for several months, each day stretching far into the night. The local boys often stopped by to help him, as is the custom in farm communities.




   For one thing, his bride-to-be is allergic to hay! So , he had all of the hay taken out and gravel put down. Christian also told me an original beam in the barn is eighty-feet long and comes from one tree, beveled by hand. The reason the barn has lasted this long is because they used no nails, so no rust could deteriorate the wood. Amazing. The old ways rock! Of course, the inside of the barn was decorated with some class:




   A plywood dance floor was created at the east end of the barn and I wondered what kind of fiddle music would be played. Well, EDM has reached the outlands, folks. These cowboys can get down. After dinner, the tables were empty and the dancefloor packed with kids and adults:




   The DJ played some Country, but lots of rock ("Honkytonk Women" by the Stones) and EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and even, well, check this out:



Barn Dance Bugaloo


"She blew my nose and then she blew my mind."
—Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones

Barn Dance Bugaloo

October 7, 2013

   The guests started arriving at the historic farm outside Etna, California at about 2:30 on Saturday. Pockets of people spread out in the shade behind the main house on a beautiful day (it was windy and cold the day before).





That's Deena, Kathy, Weston and Mike comparing notes, above, with Nina and Rick who also have a baby. Note the suits all the way back to the main house in the background.



The wedding started a little after three. Here we see bridesmaid Deena, being escorted by two groomsmen. The bride, Maki Sato, came last and was escorted by her brother Kai:



The ceremony took place on a wide meadow between the barn and house, looking out on vast fields where horses grazed.



Lots of cowboy hats and even overalls in the crowd.



While this was going on we had a master-ball-cap-bar-b-que-er doing tri tip along the side of the barn:







The historic barn was built in the 1860s and the groom, Christian, worked three days in Chico (he's a physical therapist) then drove out to Etna and worked on the barn for three days, for several months, each day stretching far into the night. The local boys often stopped by to help him, as is the custom in farm communities.





For one thing, his bride-to-be is allergic to hay! So , he had all of the hay taken out and gravel put down. Christian also told me an original beam in the barn is eighty-feet long and comes from one tree, beveled by hand. The reason the barn has lasted this long is because they used no nails, so no rust could deteriorate the wood. Amazing. The old ways rock! Of course, the inside of the barn was decorated with some class:



A plywood dance floor was created at the east end of the barn and I wondered what kind of fiddle music would be played. Well, EDM has reached the outlands, folks. These cowboys can get down. After dinner, the tables were empty and the dancefloor packed with kids and adults:



The DJ played some Country, but lots of rock ("Honkytonk Women" by the Stones) and EDM (Electronic Dance Music) and even, well, check this out:



Barn Dance Bugaloo



"She blew my nose and then she blew my mind."

—Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones

A Historic Wedding

October 7, 2013
  Kathy and I are back from the northern California farm wedding outside Etna, CA. The whole thing was a hoot and a half. Several in our party commented I am usually easy to spot at a function because I'm tall and have on a cowboy hat, but I was just one of many at this shindig. The wedding celebrating the union of Maki Sato and Christian Peterson came off in a meadow behind one of the oldest ranch houses in the northern California valley (1860s):



   That's Doug Jenner walking away from his '32 Chevy, which the bride arrived in an hour later. In the early afternoon, the attendees arrived in twos and threes and talked among the shaded grass in the back yard:



Coming next: More wedding shots and an old-fashioned barn dance boogie, to boot.

In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.
No fight, no blame.
—Lao Tzu

Yarnell Fire Footprint & Grandma Goose

October 5, 2013
   It's always fun to see new places and fill in gaps in the geo-landscape. Prior to Friday I had never been to Sacramento, and I had never been north on the 5 to Mount Shasta and the farming region beyond.

   First, though, we flew from Phoenix right over the Yarnell Fire area where 19 Hotshots died:


The Yarnell Fire footprint: the Hotshots died in upper left-hand corner.

   And, then, north of there we come to the Mucho Canyones (Many Canyons) region of Arizona where U.S. Forces surprised an Apache Rancheria on the top of a flat mesa, near Turret Peak, I believe the name of the closest topographical outcropping:


Mucho Canyones

After a four hour plus drive we landed in a lush, historical farming area where the barns and houses date from the 1860s. This is in Etna, a small farming community of about 700 souls. We are here for the wedding of Maki Sato, one of Deena's best friends. Her husband to be, Christian, went to high school here and worked on the farms in the summer. Of course Grandma Goose and G-Paw Goose have spent much of the time babysitting Weston, and here is Marmita (as her daughter calls her) carrying The Man of The West out of our B&B (the Alderbrook Inn) in downtown Etna:


Kathy and Weston in front of the Alderbrook Inn

A middle-aged man is waiting in a grocery store checkout line while he watches the cashier talking on the phone in a foreign language. When she hangs up, the man says, "You're in America now, you need to speak English." The incredulous woman says, "Excuse me?" And the man says slowly, "You are no longer in Mexico. You-need-to-speak-English." Ringing up his items, she says, "I was speaking Navajo and if you want to speak English go back to England."
—Old Vaquero Joke

The Jeanner And The Deener

October 5, 2013
  On Thursday night, I met two former radio compadres (on KSLX and KBUC) at Harold's to catch a set by Chuck Hall. Both gals, J and K, can still do a mean Bugaloo:



Katherine and The Jeannner. Both are still beautiful and mothers, to boot.

Kathy and I flew to Sacramento yesterday, then we rented a car and drove five hours north to a little crossroads town called Etna. Kathy and I traveled with these three.


Deena, Weston (three months) and Mike. We're here for a wedding.

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
—Mahatma Gandhi

The Dan Duffy Duster

October 3, 2013
   Dan Duffy came out this morning and posed in front of the True West World Headquarters, modeling our new Authentic True West Duster.


   The Dan Duffy Duster is available on this site (lefthand menu on home page under "authentic apparel") The great Ford pickup is Dan's and the Wyatt Earp pistol is mine.

   Meanwhile, got up this morning and whipped out a little study of a cowgirl character Juni Fisher and I have been noodling:

 
Daily Whipout, "Dixxy Diamond Hellbound"


"Too many peiople are thinking of security instead of opportunity. they seem more afraid of life than death."
—James F. Byrnes

A Nympho Rodeo?

October 2, 2013
   Dan Harshberger forwarded me this old photo postcard that shows the epi-center of life in Mohave County back in the day, when Lovin and Withers were kings of the county. Best location in Kingman and the best business (freighting from the railroad, right across the street!).

 
   And then, by 1955 everything has shifted and the ground moves beneath their feet and it's all gone. Crazy. To this day, there is a vacant lot, where once stood the proudest building in 100 miles.

   Meanwhile, on a lighter note. The Top Secret Writer, sent me this wonderful magazine cover from the 1950s:



   I'd love to do a Western like this. Full of cheesy noir and great names, like Buster Hyman and Wheeler D. Lerr. Gee, I wonder what the title of this roadkill would be?



 
Nympho Rodeo: One cowboy rode them all

"Bring Me The Maidenhead of Victoria Garcia!"
—Old Vaquero Saying (and graphic novel title)

Lozen Chosen and Sierra Anchas Rider

October 2, 2013
   Got up this morning and whipped out a little picture before I came into the office:

 
Daily Whipout, "He Came Out of A Dust Storm In The Sierra Anchas."

   I'm just a nut for dust storm pictures, probably partly because I grew up in the dust storm capital of the free world: Kingman, Arizona. But this would make a great start to a movie. A lone rider trotting out of the dust with his long rifle held high.

   Yesterday, I went home for lunch and whipped out another little painting of a subject I'm also crazy about:

 
Daily Whipout, "Lozen Chosen"

   Lozen, of course, being the Apache warrior and right-hand to Victorio.

   Got a letter from death row two days ago. Evidently, the corrections department at a certain prison rejected the last issue because of, well, I'll let Mr. Death Row tell it:


   "I was not aware True West was a purveyor of pornography; however, as the enclosed form attests, your magazine is so lascivious as to be banned by the Arizona Department of Corrections. I trust future issues of True West will feature more gunplay and less foreplay."

"I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers."
—Mahatma Gandhi

Prisoner Claims to Know Where Forrest Fenn's Treasure Is

October 1, 2013
   We received a letter today from a prisoner incarcerated at Abilene, Texas who claims he knows where Forrest Fenn's $1 million dollar treasure is. First, he says the article by Johnny Boggs is "COOL." He then states, "Sir, I truly believe I know where the gold is located. I can't give you a clue because to do so would reveal my guess as to where it's at. I will say one thing—if you should happen to contact Mr. Fenn, please mention it to him that 'they named that town like that for a reason.'" [the sentence is underlined] He then goes on to ask if we could blow up that map and send it to him and he wants to know what the 49 places Dal Neitzel has searched.

   He tells of us another treasure he knows about that he deciphered by using the U.S. Constitution. He ends with, "Would you do me a favor—ask (please) Mr. Fenn that if I can pin point with accuracy (exactly!) where the gold is located can I claim it?" then adding, "It wouldn't hurt to give me a chance."

   I sent this on to Forrest, who replied: "Bob, please tell #1253 that if he will pinpoint EXACTLY where the treasure is, he can claim it. But 'close' and "'general area' are not good enough."

  We had a Design Review this morning and went over the December issue, which is out the door and started on the January issue. Here's a behind-the-scenes-look at how many versions our covers go through before we pull the trigger (final, at bottom right). This is the December issue which went to press this morning.

 
Eight True West Covers (there were actually 11, but some had tiny changes)

   We really fret over these covers and Dan The Man Harshberger goes the extra mile almost every issue, giving us multiple looks and angles. A real pleasure and honor to work with him. We started working together (on the Razz Revue) in 1972, so it's been a long working relationship. The bottom line is, we both just want these cover to be the best they can be.

"The important thing is this: To be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become."
—Charles du Bois

The Granddaddy of The American Cowboy

September 30, 2013
   Got up this morning and whipped out a little "Mexican Vaquero" before I came into work. There is some debate about the parents of the American Cowboy but his Granddaddy is definitely the Mexican Vaquero, replete with Indio style on top of Spanish horsemanship.




 
Daily Whipout, "Mexican Vaquero"


"A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him."
—David Brinkeley

Sea Change Final

September 29, 2013
  Worked all morning on "Sea Change," which is a tribute to the first cow that landed in the Americas on November 27, 1493. Little did anyone know at the time that these creatures would change the future course of this continent and lead directly to the American Cowboy.


Daily Whipout, "Sea Change"

   I have been intrigued for some time by Columbus and his second trip to the New World in 1493. When I went to retrieve Kathy from Spain last March we stayed in a resort on the beach at Rota, which is the port Columbus left from. As I stood along the sea wall and looked out at the angry sea I thought to myself, those were some brave boys, they were.

   I knew that Columbus brought both horses and cattle with him on this second voyage, but I didn't know the details or the scale of the endeavor. Turns out Columbus had 17 ships (caravels) and 1,500 passengers armed with tools, grain, seed, pigs, cattle. Oh, and 20 stallions and five mares. They landed at Hispanolia (today Haiti and The Dominican Republic) and when that first Spanish longhorn wobbled his way up on the beach, well, it was definitely a sea change moment.

"Columbus didn't discover America, he invaded."
—Old Vaquero Saying

Sea Change & Vaqueros Grande

September 28, 2013

   Because I'm ADD and OCD, everything has to be perfect, just not for very long. That's why I usually work on three or four paintings at the same time. Got a good cloud bank going ("Sea Change") and a Andalucia landscape ("Invaders") and another sky ("Vaqueros Grande").

I'll post results as I move along.

"The stone age did not end for lack of stone."

—Bruce Usher

The First Longhorns In The New World

September 27, 2013
   After a couple weeks of painting leaping cowboys I shifted gears today and attacked another scene for the feature on Cowboy Ground Zero. Went home for lunch today and whipped this out:



 
Daily Whipout: "The First Longhorn Wades Ashore (unfinished"

   Need to drop in a couple Spanish galleons and a gang of Spaniards and that Italian guy. This, of course, illustrates Columbus and his second trip to the New World when he brought pigs, horses and Spanish longhorn cattle. Several references say the longhorns grew even longer horns in their new environment to deal with nastier predators. There is some speculation Columbus picked up these cattle on the Canary Islands. The second trip was for colonizing and Columbus talked Isabella into giving him 17 ships and 1,000 men. The dudes left behind on the first trip were gone when Columbus returned the next year. Turns out they were raping the local women and the natives attacked wiping them out.

"There's no point in burying a hatchet if you're going to put up a marker on the site."
—Sydney J. Harris

Splitting Hairs & Adding Ropes

September 26, 2013
   Got halfway to the office yesterday after lunch and realized I forgot to give the Straight-up Remington Rider a rope.



Daily Whipout, "Cowboy Ground Zero Straight-up Remington Final"

   You'll notice I gave the V at bottom some definition to accent the search for cowboy ground zero. Oh, and I fixed his hat.

   Had Dan The Man do a cover version with this painting just for grins and here's what Mr. Harshberger came up with:

 
Cowboy Ground Zero Cover #7

   Respectable, although both Dan and Ken think the other pose is stronger with the two guns and blasting off of a Spanish map to emphasize the ground zero aspect. Started two more versions this morning and got the background washes in. Going home for lunch to finish and send down to the Harsh. Stay tuned. Print is so unforgiving. You send it to the printer and it stays that way for a very long time.

"I have decided that the trouble with print is it never changes its mind."
—Ursula K. LeGuin

Tweaking This Morning's Straight-Up Remington Rider

September 25, 2013
   Went home for lunch and decided to give this morning's Impressionistic Straight-Up Remington Rider a couple tweaks. Always a worry that I may take it too far.

 
Daily Whipout, "Straight-Up Remington Rider, No. 2"

   Ooops. Just noticed I forgot to give him a rope. Number three coming in the morning.

   I have a history talk tonight at Cartwright's next door. Going to be talking about Those Crazy Cozads and Western Art. See you there.


"There is but one cause of human failure and that is man's lack of faith in his true Self.
—William James

A Straight Up Remington Rider

September 25, 2013
   Hit the wall on the Cowboy Ground Zero cover yesterday afternoon. Dan Harshberger had attempted to make the whole thing fly, and it was a worthy effort but Robert Ray proclaimed it "too cartoony for True West" and my friend Bill Dunn said the whole thing was a little too "Star Wars" for his tastes. When I showed it to Kathy early this morning she agreed and added it is "too busy and crowded."

   So I cancelled my trip to Austin tomorrow and went out to the studio and whipped out a straight-up Remington style rider which was my original concept:

 
Daily Whipout, "Straight-Up Remington Rider"

   Brought it into the office and scanned it, but Ken Amorosano is still holding out for a better "two-gun rider". He thinks this one is too bland and doesn't pop like the other one.

   Going to take one more run at it when I go home for lunch today.

"A new style of American equestrianism began to develop, called la bastarda, which lengthened the stirrups and adapted the saddle for ranching and herding in the rough and varied terrain of New Spain."
—Stuart Rosebrook, our senior editor, expounding on his theory as to where Cowboy Ground Zero is