Thursday, February 26, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.26. Two Drinkers.



The Two Drinkers. 1963.

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I am a history buff. I like it all from Ancient Rome to WWII to Dinosaurs to the 1960's. Someone once said to me that my love of history comes from my inability to connect with the present. I told him he was wrong. (He was). I just like history. Let's take these two fine folks for example. A party. 1963. It's evening. There are drinks. Good Drinks. A nice suit. A nice dress. An embrace. I'm sure there is swinging music. Everyone is happy. What is there not to love? It really is not about history at all. It's about all the things I just mentioned. With that...Enjoy!

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.24. Night.



Your Moment Is Left Over From Others Who Were There Before You. (1870)Part Two.

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A couple weeks ago I posted the sister painting to this one. Basically, a little two part series. Two paintings made during one late night. Just in case you missed that one. Here is what it was about... It has been one of those weeks. You know the kind. You work too many hours, you come home late, you don't see much of your family, you eat left overs from the fridge standing in front of the sink while everyone is already in bed and the kitchen is lit only from the small light over the stove. You can look at the things spread around the counter and table and get a good idea of what went on around the house while you were gone and you feel peaceful only because it is so quiet and you can't help but relax into everything because you are finally home....Enjoy!

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Monday, February 23, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.23. The Devil and The Ghost



The Devil And The Ghost. (Redux)

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This is less about the content and more about the context. I was recently contacted by a German company about producing a "collectors" series of cards/postcards that will be distributed through thier 7,500 locations around Germany. Attached to the initial email was some of my past work that they thought would be good examples of what to use for the series. One of those pieces was a painting from a couple years ago that was of the Devil and the Ghost. (Those of you who have followed my work over the last few years may even recognize this one as being similar to that one.) Well, since the old painting was a couple of years old I thought it would be best to paint an updated version of our friends the Devil and the Ghost. So, with that in mind, here is the original painting for one of the upcoming cards. As one collector said to me, "Why get the print when you can get the original?" Good point. Anyway, thats it for this one...Enjoy!

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Thanks Everyone! Does 20% sound OK

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone reading this blog who has been so supportive of my artwork. I appreciate all the great emails, letters, comments and all the other good stuff that has arrived in my mail box.

To show my appreciation, you will be able to get 20% off all your purchases at http://www.keemogallery.com/.

Just enter the discount code of: newsite2009 when you checkout. It will be good until Feb 1st.

Did I mention, you also get free shipping? Well, its true.


Thanks again for everything. You have all been wonderful.


Kindest regards,
Keemo
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Daily Keemo. 2.22. Ninja 4



Ninja 4 - The Japanese Series

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I have said many times over the years that to many people take thier artwork way too seriously. That is not to say that artwork does not have an important role in our lives or in our day to day meandering but when it comes down to it I just remind myself that there is a reason why the brain surgeon gets paid the big bucks. Enter the Ninja. Those of you who follow my work are familiar with this idea. Every art collection, no matter how serious, needs one. Shoot the more serious your collection, the better. Sitting there in your art collection, just waiting for the moment, the ninja will strike. Be careful. Respect the ninja and respect is what you will be given in return... it is the ninja way...Enjoy you art! The paper is a Japanese art newpaper. (Many thanks to Anne for sending over after her recent trip to Japan. I owe you.)

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.18. I Am Not



I'm Not The Mailman Or A Hangover

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I am NOT a lot of things. It is easy to assume that I am not dead. It is also easy to assume that I am not the newly elected president or a dolphin or a tree or the cup of cold coffee that is on my desk or the mailman or a hangover or a these colors or a or even a figment of your imagination. There are quite a few things that I AM. However, it is much harder to pin those things down after a week like this one. So, to make it easy for this evening, I am going to stick with what I am not. With that said, what are you?... Enjoy!

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Monday, February 16, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.16. Money.


That Will Be $1.20.
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I knew when I woke up this morning it was going to be a rocky day. It doesn't help when you are up until 2:00 AM the night before and the alarm comes less than 5 hours later and you drag yourself through the first part of your day on auto-pilot because you have been doing it for more years than you have fingers. Its a cycle I go through... late, early, late, early, late, early until eventually it just hangs over you one day and you can't shake it. That is usually when the self-doubt about all these hours and the priorities kick in and you wish you would do better by everyone in your life and you pour another cup of coffee to propel you forward and just when you've had it you find yourself on the highway on the way home. It was that state of mind I was in when I approached the counter at the gas station. I put my beverage on the counter. "How are you?" I asked the girl behind the counter. "Great. What a beautiful day, huh?," she said motioning to the outside where the warm temperatures where quickly melting the large piles of snow. I thought for a second. "Yeah, I guess your right." I was just agreeing to be agreeable. "That will $1.20" she said. I gave her my money and walked back to the car and it felt good to not be wearing a coat and feel the warmth on my face. I put the car in drive and headed towards home. I put the window down a bit in the car to let in the air. This was the first time in months. I thought of the two of them at home and couldn't help but think that lady at the gas station was right. It was a beautiful day... With that, here is her portrait...Enjoy!

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Friday, February 13, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.13. Spring.


In Hands I Hold The Flowers And In The Face I Hold The Sun
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Its cold here in Michigan. It won't be long and the snow will disappear. It always does. I've been inside all day today, working on the computer and working at the brush and paints and working around the house and occassionally I would look outside and see the sun and if you tilt your head just right you can see trees and bushes beneath the white and ice and you know it won't be long now. It won't be long now.... Enjoy!

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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.13. Day At The Ocean.


A Day At The Ocean. 1946.
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We went down to the ocean and found more than sea shells and sand. We found many other things too. Hope that is enough for you on this one. Cheers! ...Enjoy!

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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.10. Money and Hope


At The Intersection of Money and Hope Series - #2 - 1964
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This is the second painting in the series called "At The Intersection of Money and Hope". This particular painting is on 50 shares of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company that was purchased on November 2, 1964 by a Frank P Mazzara. (Yes, this is the real certificate) For reference lets take a quick look at what happened with the Penssylvania Railroad Company: The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy," the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The PRR was the largest railroad by traffic and revenue in the U.S. throughout the Twentieth Century and was at one time the largest publicly traded corporation in the world. At its peak, it controlled about 10,000 miles (16,000 km) of rail line. During its history, the PRR merged with or had an interest in at least 800 other rail lines and companies. The PRR corporation still holds the record for the longest continuous dividend history: it paid out annual dividends to shareholders for more than 100 years in a row. The budget for the PRR was larger than that of the U.S. government and they employed approximately 250,000 workers. In 1968, the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with its rival, the New York Central Railroad, to form Penn Central Transportation. The ICC required that the ailing New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad be added in 1969. A series of events including inflation, poor management, abnormally harsh weather and the withdrawal of a government-guaranteed 200-million-dollar operating loan forced the Penn Central to file for bankruptcy protection on June 21, 1970. The Penn Central rail lines were then divided between Conrail and Amtrak.Normally, I would put my own comment or story on these pieces but I think this series speaks for itself and probably speaks to all us to some degree.... Enjoy!

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Monday, February 9, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.9. Ninja 5.


Ninja 5 - The Japanese Series
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I have said many times over the years that to many people take thier artwork way too seriously. That is not to say that artwork does not have an important role in our lives or in our day to day meandering but when it comes down to it I just remind myself that there is a reason why the brain surgeon gets paid the big bucks. Enter the Ninja. Those of you who follow my work are familiar with this idea. Every art collection, no matter how serious, needs one. Shoot the more serious your collection, the better. Sitting there in your art collection, just waiting for the moment, the ninja will strike. Be careful. Respect the ninja and respect is what you will be given in return... it is the ninja way...Enjoy you art! The paper is a Japanese art newpaper. (Many thanks to Anne for sending over after her recent trip to Japan. I owe you.)

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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.3. Good Wine.


The Wine Is For Nights Like These
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It was a great night. Dinner at a friends and there were good times and laughs and catching up and music and lots of stories to fill in the gaps from the last time we got together and there was wine, too much to be sure and we talked about everything and like always it went late into the night but somehow it still felt like not enough time to get it all in as all the problems of the world had not yet been solved but maybe just one more glass of wine and some more stories and more laughs will solve it all and even if it doesn't there is always better reasons to get together and have nights like these and friends like these and moments like these and I know we all have them and they all appear a little like this painting and I hope that there are many more nights like this one and friends like these... Enjoy!

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Monday, February 2, 2009

Daily Keemo. 2.2. Greener Grass.


The Grass Is Fine And So Is My Can Opener
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"Learn how to fix electrical appliances from home," says this 1957 advertisement. Seems like a great future indeed. For only $2.50 they will send you what you need to get started in a future in electrical appliance repair. (is it me or does the phrase "electrical appliance" seem odd?) There is an actually a line in this ad from 1957 that reads, "Every wired home has an average of 8 appliances." It is hard to think of a home not even being "wired." (I must be showing my age I suppose) Anyway, when I ran across this ad while thumbing through an old magazine I picked up from an antique store, I couldn't help but be reminded of how so many of just want a little more than what we got or want to do a little something different that what we are doing. Is the grass always greener on the other side? I'm not sure. However, what I do know is that if you spend so much time looking at everyone elses grass, you forget how green your own really is... With that... Enjoy!

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