ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

Or 

THE FOX JUMPED OVER THE MOON

8" X 8"

OIL

 Ever since the solar eclipse & experiencing TOTALITY on

8.21.17 

I can't get the stars, the feeling of totality, the experience out of my head.

I've had the Once in a Blue Moon theme in my head for months.

I've wanted to produce some paintings which portray pure joy and wonder

with the stars in mind along with a bit of quiet reflection.

Here's an odd twist to this journey that occurred recently.

I wanted a total escape, a humorous look at the world

what better way to achieve that feeling?

Guardian's of the Galaxy II

I love that movie for me it's a classic. 

In the old days we used to ski with a 

Sony Walkman around our waist with our favorite cassette tape

blasting tunes into our headset. How's that for a flash from the past?

 Guardian's of the Galaxy II is full of aha! moments - great music

a fun ride through time. If you've never seen it give it a go.

Anyway, the next morning I painted "ONCE IN A BLUE MOON".

I was smiling the entire time - painting that morning was joyful

from start to finish. 

Little did I know that January 2018 would bring us so many

celestial gifts. From the Super Moon or Wolf Moon on January 1st

to the big bang -  to the first Super Blue Blood Moon of 152 years on January 31st. 

Not only that but there's also a TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE happening as well.

 

Don't miss out - if it's not happening in your area there's quite a bit of excitement 

on the internet - I'm sure you can find it and experience it as it happens.

Have a great Blue Moon

Thanks MB

 

 

 

 

 

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

8 X 8

Oil

I should've taken a photo of this paintings first version - it was not working.

The colors were blah and muddy, it was a mess. In fact I was too embarrassed 

to record it in any way!  I set it aside not knowing if it would ever

be finished. One day last week I started over, I like this version much better.

You'll just have to trust me one this one. Have a great weekend.

Thanks for taking a look - MB

 

LOOKING AT YOU!

8" X 8"

Oil

I've been painting but not posting. Repainted an awful image today

I think it could be a winner. Gotta let the dust settle.

Happy New Year hoping for some positive change in 2018.

Later MB

 

SNO BUNNY

MERRY CHRISTMAS - HAPPY HOLIDAYS

OR

WISHING YOU THE BEST! 

 

ALABAMA SHAKES

Or 

"STRUT YOUR STUFF"

Or

"ALABAMA SHAKEDOWN"

Woohoo!

The times they are a changin'

It's about time

 

 

SHADOW RUN

3" X 3"

Oil

Less is More Series

The entire series is on display at White Hart Gallery

in downtown Steamboat Springs,CO.

Thanks MB

NESTING PAIR

3" X 3"

Oil

My first nest painting - I'm hooked. 

Thanks MB

ROOF

November 26 - 2017 lower roof section completed

The upper pitches will be copper as well but will be strip construction.

Not sure when that will happen we're finished for now.

The weather held this year. In fact we don't have any snow

at our house which is OK for now. It will come.

I have 12 new 3" X 3" paintings but no photos yet.

Gotta get that done.

Thanks a bunch MB

 

Almost finished

SUNRISE ON RABBIT EARS

3" X 3"

Oil

Less is More Series

 

SWEETIE

3" X 3"

Oil

 

GLOW BUNNY

3" X 3"

Oil

Less is More Series continues just for fun.

These new paintings will be on display at

White Hart Gallery in Steamboat Springs as soon as they are dry. 

 I asked Cindy for some painting ideas, it was challenging to say the least.

She suggested bunnies, birds, chickens & nests.

Cindy Arnis owns White Hart Gallery, we make a pretty good team. 

Thanks a bunch for looking - MB

 

 

CLASSIC

SOLD

This little 6 X 6 is a commission piece. 

I can't tell you how hard it is to paint a little yellow potato chip bag.

 I never knew that Lay's potato chips were a division of Pepsi-cola!

That's as much of the story as I can reveal you'll have to fill in the blanks.

Thanks a bunch MB 

GIVE THANKS

Wishing everyone a special day filled with friends & family

🏡☃🍰🍷🍮🍸🍦🍾

Thanks for all the encouragement & comments - MB

ODE TO ANDY

12 X 12

Oil

I love to paint coke bottles. I love the shape, the chosen script style and how the light hits the letters.

I may have already told you this story - when I was 10 I wrote to the Coca Cola company for a school

project I was presenting. The report was about the kola-nut. I think I asked if they could send me a sample

nut for my report. Anyway long story short - I received a personal response from a real person in the company.

He explained why they couldn't send me a kola-nut and wished me luck in my endeavors.

I still have that letter in its original envelope!!!! Go figure. I have moved and carried that envelope

to every location I have lived since I was 10. It's a mystery really. Why do we hang onto these memories?

Good question. I will take that letter out of my drawer and marvel at that old typewriter script and

the exquisite ink signature. I admire good penmanship because mine is atrocious. 

 

The title to this painting pays homage to Andy Warhol one of my artist heroes.

My Disclaimer - I'm not advocating that you go out and buy some Coke. This

is not an endorsement for a product it's just an artists inspiration for line,color and form.

Thanks a bunch. It's going to be awhile for the next post. Getting ready for the show will

take more time than I can ever imagine. 

Happy trails and thanks - MB

RTE. 66

10 X 16

Oil

I love this car! 

This is a 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria 

You can find this car parked at Twisters in Williams, Arizona.

 Twisters is a 50's diner on old Route 66. I've painted their neon ice cream cone 

sign a number of times as well as the Crown Victoria. I'm drawn to the curves and colors.

I'm a sucker for the 50's - what can I say? The cars were beautiful and voluptuous at the

same time - those curves and chrome - a painters delight.

Thanks, one more to go later MB

 

SUMMER BREEZE

12" X 12"

Oil

I've painted this bug a number of times. I recently had a request for this view 

of the beach bug. Not sure if they'll like it so it's a gamble on my part.

We'll see how it goes. I didn't get the best photo but thought I'd post anyway.

I have one more painting to finish for the December show. Woohoo! 

 

My kitchen wall awaits. 

Carrot Stick is the chosen color for my kitchen with Heirloom Tomato accents.

Along with some aqua and blue. 

Thanks for following and thanks for all the great "Veteran" painting comments.

Later MB

 

 

 

 

VETERAN

12" X 12"

Oil

 When I saw this truck I had no idea what kind of history accompanied this vehicle.

I'm not known for painting old, rusty trucks, I'm attracted to reflective surfaces for the most part.

So why this truck? That's the million dollar question. Who knows why I stopped to admire

this WWII Veteran but I'm glad I stopped.

This 1943 Ford G8T was one of the ENGINES OF THE RED ARMY IN WWII.

These vehicles were Lend-Leased to the Red Army.

Here's a bit of history I found.

The wartime diversion of the automotive industry to other products

forced the Red Army to depend more heavily on Lend-Lease supplies than in nearly any other major

sector of the war economy. In total, the US, Britain and Canada provided the Red Army with

about 401,100 vehicles during the war, nearly twice the Soviet wartime production.

61,000 Ford G8T's were delivered between 1941 and May 1945.

A different website lists 78,000 G8T's delivered to the Red Army under the 

Lend-Lease Act. After the end of the war many of these trucks ended up on US farms.

Who knew? 

This painting has another title "Take Me Home" a Veteran in need of a respectful retirement.

Most of the G8T's for sale on the Internet mention they are looking for GOOD HOMES for their

trucks, they don't want them to be sold for scrap. There's a lot of emotion attached to these trucks.

 Thanks for waiting MB 

---

Ford G8T ("Ford-6"), 1½-ton, 4x2, Cargo   

---

Equipped with a 158in. wheelbase and the common 144in. by 80 in. cargo body, the Ford G8T was by far the most numerous commercial 1.5t 4x2 truck and was delivered to Russia under the Lend-Lease Act from 1943 on.

Together with his civilian ancestor, the 2G8T, from which he differed in the engine type and some minor modifications, the total amount of delivery sums up to 61,000, making the »Ford-6« the second most delivered truck.

---

COPPER SHINGLES

Some of my followers expressed interest in our roofing project. 

This is the front of our house. That's my engineer, woodworker, solar expert,

shingle producer all around honey working on the front side of our roof.

It's so pretty I thought I'd share.

Later MB

 

SNO-BUG

8" X 8"

Oil

I'm so happy with this little painting. It's funky and fun!

I started a truck today and so far it's a home run - my December show

deadline was a good decision. It's got me all jazzed. 

In reality I should be finished with the paintings but all in good time.

In between painting VW's and trucks I'm choosing colors for my kitchen. 

My kitchen wall was painted school bus yellow - I drove a school bus for 

3 years - I can't believe I did that job. We had the art bus. Kids from my route would come to

my studio to create pieces for the bus. How cool is that??? 

It was one weird trip - but if you need me to drive a big rig for you - no problem. 

 I love school bus yellow but my kitchen might end up turning into an heirloom 

tomato instead. It's all up in the air. 

More on that as it develops.

Thanks a bunch and have a great day! MB

 

THE FLASH

8" X 8"

Oil

These new 8" X 8" paintings are studies for future larger scale paintings.

I've pretty much abandoned the smaller 6" X 6" format for now. 

I'm back in the studio. My house needed some attention - I'm painting

walls, getting rid of furniture, cleaning cabinets trying to simplify my surroundings.

The house is still in disarray but livable. The studio calls. 

More paintings are on the way.

Thanks a bunch MB