Daily Keemo 10.30 - Lenny

I Don't Make A Habit Of It
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I don't make a habit of doing portraits of famous people. It's not really my thing I guess. I have only done a handful over the years. Well, after listening to some old Lenny Bruce recordings a couple weeks ago, I decided that a Lenny Bruce painting was in order. I won't go on about why I might consider a Lenny Bruce portrait to be necessary because he is the kind of person that speaks (spoke) for himself and nothing I paint or draw or say or write will really have any bearing on your impression of him whatsoever. (that is the trouble with portraits of famous people, I tell ya) Well, with that... Here's Lenny...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.29 - Mime

A Priest A Rabbi and A Mime Walk Into A Bar
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We were talking last night and somehow the subject of mimes and clowns came up. ("you should paint a mime!" one of them said) I guess, I have always been kind of wierded out by mimes. The fact they dont talk makes me very edgy. I get the same way when I talk to people who are wearing big costumes, like at Disney World. I don't know, call me wierd. Anyway, I got thinking that I had never even tried to paint one, so I figured what the hay! Lets do a mime and see what happens... Enjoy! ( BTW, they still wierd me out) Oh hey, if any real mimes are reading this drop me a quick email and say hi. And also, if there any real mimes reading, no offense.

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Daily Keemo 10.27 - Dang Computer

The Original Story Was Really Much Better
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I just finished writing this story when my computer crashed and I lost the whole thing. (I am sure there is Apple vs PC commercial somewhere in here) It was a story about how I had to drive through downtown because my normal exit was closed and how while waiting I was mistaking waving at a guy who was waving a taxi and this painting was him. I suppose I could try and rewrite what it is that I wrote but somehow it just seems like an empty attempt at forging your own work. Kind of takes the creativity out of it. (Know what I mean?) Well, I guess that it is it then. Waving to a man who I thought was waving at me but was really waving at a taxi. The original story was really much better. I miss it already...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.25 - Lotto Loser

Lately, Listening To NPR Makes You Do Things You Normally Wouldn't Do
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I had been driving for a long time listening to NPR and all they talked about was the economy and recession and 401Ks and people preparing to jump out of windows and the stock market and I am pretty sure one economist actually predicted the end of the world as we know it. (and yes, I feel fine) That leads me next to standing in a long line at the gas station. I was daydreaming about all that stuff and thought, "what the hell, I'm going to play the lotto." I laid 3 dollars down and as I drove home I briefly entertained the idea of winning the "Mega Millions." "I could paint all day," I thought to myself. I thought of all the people who I would send money to. The list was long. Well, needless to say, I didn't win. Just like millions of other people around the world who were driving home from the gas station envisioning a different life. Well, maybe I'll try again next week. Or maybe not... Enjoy!



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Daily Keemo 10.24 - Art and the Economy

10 Reminders That Creativity Is Not Linked To The Economy
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All you hear about now is either the economy and the election. Now, Im not one to mix politics and art. Never have. (To me it is like using motor oil as topping for your ice cream sundae. Thats just me though.) That leaves the economy and all the surrounding stuff and I suppose that there is some politics in there with it but at least money (or lack of it) is something that we can have some tangible relationship with which leads me to a daydream this afternoon about how to actually comment on this place we are all at. (I mean everyone else shares their two cents, right?) So, with that, I thought I would share my two cents with these drawings... Actually, it is my 250 cents! ... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.23 - Music

Are You Sleeping
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I thought it was appropriate to do her portrait on this music because she is always asleep while I am down here working away on these paints and pens and paper and emails and all the other stuff that gets strung along on this journey. Sometimes, when it gets really late, say 3:00 AM, she will come to the top of the stairs and ask if I am doing alright. Usually by that hour I have lost track of time and it is a good reminder that I still do have an alarm clock to wake up to only a few hours away. It's not long after that, the lights go out over the desk and I slide into the warm bed and feel her lying there, sleeping soundly. Our legs or hand will touch and I always know at that moment that I am the luckiest man on earth... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.21 - Man And Beast

Good For Man And Beast. 1889.
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119 years ago you could get away with this. You could get away with promoting a product to be good for you AND your beast. The list on the left the illustration lists the "Cures For Man" and the list on the right lists "Cures for Beast". And if that doesn't win you over for this lovely, one-stop product, the catchy tag-line that reads, "Cures Garget, Sore Teats and Bags, and all Sores and Sweelings on Cow and Oxen." Hey, if it helps the sore bags and teats it must do wonders for facial wrinkles! Either way, fun stuff from a time long ago when man and beast sipped from the same medicine spoon... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.20 - TV

Let Our Brains Run Free A Bit
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This is another one of those that I think I will leave the story out of it. I have to remind myself sometimes that not all the blanks need to be filled in. That sometimes we all need to let our brains run free a bit. So, this is one up to you...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.19 - The Guitar Player

The Guitar Player
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I have been playing guitar for many years. Please note, this should not, in any way, suggest that I am a good guitar player. I can play along with most things and fake most everything else. This may help explain the numerous guitar references. (I also picked up the drums a couple years ago but they are just not as much fun to draw. Sorry to all the drummers who are reading.) One of these days I'll figure out how to do it. Anyway, it really is just about the music, regardless of what you play, how you play it, who you play it with or even who you play it for. I guess that it is it...Enjoy! (now where is that pick?) (Story included on back of card)



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Daily Keemo 10.17 - 3 Drawings

3 Lines From Who I Am Listening To Right Now
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I have been listening to them all evening. The entire playlist loaded on the computer has been playing through for the last couple hours. I suppose like most music you either really really like them or you don't. They either move you or they don't. It is less like work when they are on in the background. So, here is to them, for making great music and inspiring many a painting...Enjoy! (can you name who it is? don't google it either. give your best guess. Steve and Kathy, don't tell anyone)

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Daily Keemo 10.16 - Study

I Had To Remind Myself That I Can Draw Legs
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Just what the title says. Although, some might say not very well..Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.15 - Dream

It Is Not Always Bad To Talk To Strangers
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We were standing in line at the ferry waiting to board the boat to get back over the the mainland. We were all a little tired, so we were all keeping pretty quiet as we watched waves roll in and ducks dive for food underwater. That is when I started listening to the lady next to me who was talking about a horrible dream she had the night before. She was very extraverted and involved everyone within earshot of her into the story. We made eye contact and she then included me in one the story as well. She went on to talk about how she was a tree in her dream and someone had severed one of her branches not knowing it was actually her. She said the pain was excruciating. She said she could feel her roots dig in for more nutrients to help repair the cut. "So, then what happened?" asked her friend. "I woke up!" she said. "That is a crazy dream," I said. "I know! Isnt it?" I turned back to our group, "Well, I think I just got an idea for another drawing"... Well, here she is in her dream...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.14 - At The Movies

50 Foot Movies For $2.00
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I was gone this weekend. When I got back there was the mail from Friday and Saturday on the counter. There was a 6"x9" yellow envelope in the stack. Just like the ones that I send alot of paintings in. (you know the ones). I skipped past all the bills, junk mail, magazines and go right for the yellow envelope. In the space where the return address should have been it just said "A Collector." I opened it up a bit cautiously. There was no note inside but the rest of the contents were wonderful. Clippings from old newspapers and magazines. Some even had dates written in pencil on them. So, to whoever you are, (I know you are reading) thanks for the wonderful clippings. Thanks for taking the time to package them up and send them out. (I wish you would have included a note and a name so I could return the favor). Well, until you come forward, here is the first from yours stack. 50Ft. movies for $2.00... Enjoy! (Oh yeah, and those titles are a bit adult-ish. At least for 1957 standards)

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Daily Keemo 10.13 - Boston 1930

Strangers' Directory. Boston. 1930.

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Some of you may remember a couple pieces recently that were based on a 1930 travel guide of Boston called the "Strangers' Directory" This is a portrait on the cover of that portrait. Just as I was saying on the other pieces, I can't help but think of the Boston tourist council sitting around a table trying to come up with this marketing campaign. "Well, what do we want to call these strangers coming in from out of town?" "How about strangers?" "That is a great idea!" "Strangers it is!" I could go on and on for all the other fun things surrounding the "Strangers Directory" but I think its best left up to your imagination. Have fun!...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.08 - Kindness

I Guess I Have The Rain To Thank

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It was raining hard when I pulled into the Post Office parking lot. As I quickly pulled the door handle to get out the guy next to me was doing the same thing. Our doors nearly collided. He waved me on, "You go ahead!" he shouted. I quickly got out and ran into the post office to get out of the rain. Inside there was a long line. I was standing there at the end of the line with my packages when I felt this huge presence behind me. It was the guy who let me know out of the car. "Why don't you go ahead of me. You let me out of the car." I stepped aside and gestured for him to move in front of me. "Naaahhhhh. There needs to be more kindness in the world," he said, peering down at me. He was soaking wet. I don't think he ran to get inside like I did. The line was long, so we kept talking. We talked about the economy and politics and we joked a bit and laughed a bit and he was really a genuine and kind person and I couldn't help but think that under different circumstances we would have probably never started talking. I guess I have the rain to thank. Finally, after about 15 mintues, it was my turn. We shook hands and wished each other luck and I went to open counter. As I waited for the woman to figure my postage to Mexico, I turned and saw him a ways down the counter. I turned a little further and looked at the long line behind me. Not one of those people where talking to each other. I guess I have the rain to thank... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.06 - Hotel

The Drury Inn. Austin, Texas. 9.6.08 - Room Key Series #4

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Travel. I love to travel. I like being out of my element. I like finding myself in situations that I don't know the outcome before I arrive. I often pack up the paints and ink and paper and work while traveling. (It sure beats flipping channels through bad tv shows alone in a hotel room waiting for the morning.) I have been trying to think of a way to incorporate the places I go directly into my artwork. Well, it hit me when I returned from a stay in Canton, MI a few months ago and found the room key still in my pocket from the hotel I had checked out of earlier that morning. Thats it! So with that, here is to travelling and letting yourself experience new things, meeting new people and being flexible enough to try and enjoy everything... Enjoy

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Daily Keemo 10.04 - Mummy

Mummy For Angie
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Keemo fans are the best. "Fans" is probably the wrong word. That implies something about me that really doesn't give the right impression of the reality that is here at the desk every night. (Bands have "fans", people like Brad Pitt and Oprah have "fans") I think "Friends" would be more appropriate. Well, here is a painting by request from someone who always emails me great ideas and inspirational images. So, here is to you Angie, for all the great emails you send with your great web finds and ideas...Enjoy!





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Daily Keemo 10.02 - Paris

Portrait On A Paris Postcard #16

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This is the 16th and final piece in the "Paris Postcard" series. I was looking over my bookshelf and there was a bunch of papers shoved between a couple books. Among other things there were a bunch of postcards that were of different photos taken in Paris during the 1920's. This one in particular is called "The Louvre". All the postcards are very Paris and they make me want to travel and get out of the US for a while and see the other parts of the world where things are new and even simple things are filled with wonder. With that, here is the last and number 16 of the series... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 10.01 - King

I Think I'm Turning Japanese

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This seems to be happening more and more. I get requests for certain subjects. It happens a few times a week now. It reminds me of when I was in middle school and we would call the local radio station and request a song and then listen all night waiting to hear it. If you were lucky, the DJ would say something like, "By request, here are The Vapors Turning Japanese for Jeff, Matt and Keemo!" and we would all be like "No waayyyyyyyyy he said our names! How awesome!!!!!" We were goofs. Anyway, with that in mind... "By request, this "King" goes out to Joy in beautiful Southern California"... Enjoy!

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