Daily Keemo 12.15 - Music Does The Body Good

Think Of The Music You Can Make

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This is the fifth in the guitar chord series: DM7. I have to be honest with you, this was a chord that I struggled with for a long time. I think it was just that I don't have the biggest of hands. It also probably had something to do with the fact that I wasnt super intersted in learning all the chords in the book. So, sometimes I would come up against a chord that my fingers didnt like and I would just skip it. (that is easy to do as long as your are keeping your guitar playing to your parents basement.) Anyway, eventually the fingers got around this one and it gets handed out just like the others and those days seem so long ago when I just skipped it because it didnt feel right. I guess if you give anything enough time, you can learn to live with it and even grow with it. Think of the music you can make with the more chords you have in your bag. With that...Enjoy!

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8 Ninjas. Badass.

2009 Keemo Calendars Are Here!

2009 Keemo Calendar - Limited Edition

On Ebay | In The KeemoStore

Once upon a time there once was a London design firm named Made In Earnest who was putting together a calendar for 2009. At this same time, many miles away, there was a painter named Keemo who was busily creating paintings. Magically, the sound of Keemo's brush strokes travelled across the ocean and landed into the ears of Made In Earnest. Made In Earnest decided to seek out the source of this sound for they knew it was this brush that they were destined to have for their calendar. It was only a matter of time before Made in Earnest was able to locate the source of that brush stroke and a friendship was made and a calendar was created and the world was saved. Oh wait, the saving the world part isn't true but all the rest is, I swear!


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Daily Keemo 12.05 - We Are Not So Different

We Are Not So Different, You And I

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When I was younger I used to feel like there was no one like me. I clung to that idea for a long time and sometimes even consciously attempted to reinforce the idea. As I got older I realized that I was not that different from everyone else and that everyone else is not that different from everyone else and somehow we all end up worrying about the same things and doing essentially the same things day in and day out and while the details may be a bit different, the overall progression of our days are very similar. Im not sure exactly where I am heading with this or what point I am necessarily trying to make. I suppose I made it already and if my theory holds true, that we are not so different, you and I, then you already get what I am saying and I can stop with all this right here... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 11.22 - Drinking For The Wrong Reasons

A Vague Story About The Effect Others Can Have On Your Heart

or (I drank a little more and probably for the wrong reasons)


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I remember when he left I walked around with a heavy heart for about a year. I am pretty sure that during this time I drank a little more and probably for the wrong reasons. I am pretty sure many of those sleepless nights where because of him leaving. I am pretty sure that I caught myself at times just staring out of window a long way from that moment. However, it wasn't depression, it wasn't sadness, it was simply this strange void inside in the spot where he used to reside. As time passed though, I realized that in a way I was free from him now and lugging my heavy heart around was no real way to exist as a human being. I also realized that all those things he had said had no truth and I could begin living the life that I wanted to live. Who "he" is in this story, is not important. What is important, is I suppose many of us have a "he" in our lives and we just need to see that life is good all around and we all have value and the tricky part is just seeing our own value when we look at the mirror into ourselves and no longer see something in us that really doesnt exist. With that, here is to learning that life opens up when you walk without a heavy heart ... Enjoy!



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Daily Keemo 11.18 - Loss

Too Sterile For Moments Like These

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I was 25 when he died. He died laying there in bed while all of us sat around looking at him. The sound fell out of the air and the air fell out of the room. It seems silly but I knew it was now time to buy my first suit. I remember the light in the room was very white and bright and cold and I thought to myself that it was too sterile in there for a moment like this. I suppose when you have moments like this there are no right ways for them to happen. They happen. And that is how it works. My mother sat on the bed next to him. All five of us kids were scattered around the room. I remember my sister had her arm around me. We sat quietly and all looked at him for a long time. I learned a lot about him in those quiet moments right then.

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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 10.04 - 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 09.29 - WWKD

What Saying Of Our Saviour Does This Picture Illustrate? 1870.


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I don't ever say this about my work (especially out loud) but I am going to say it now. I like this painting. Don't get me wrong. I'm not bragging or self inflating my ego or saying that this is a phenominal piece of artwork that is going to go down in the art history books next to the all time greats. Nothing like that. I'm simply saying that somewhere in this picture is something that speaks directly to me. Actually, isn't that what we all look for in artwork? We might even say that it is technically the job of artwork. I think it is the lines or maybe the fact that the paper is 138 years old or the fact that the content is completely religious and there is irony somewhere in here or that the 138 year old message is the same exact message that is preached now and is probably the same message that was from the beginning and somewhere from then to now a whole other world has opened up and ideas and lines and color and people all continue to move forward while if you look right below the neck, underneath it all, is the same old question... What Saying Of Our Saviour Does This Picture Illustrate? I guess that is my answer. With that... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 09.25 - Bones

Like The Paints, The Night and The Quiet

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It's 3:19 AM. It is Friday night... oh wait, Saturday morning. The house is quiet. It has been quiet for a long time now. I listen to a book downloaded from itunes. I have arrived at this point in my life where there is no time to drop everything and lay on the couch and get lost in front of a long novel. (I miss those days) Somewhere along the way, I learned that I can listen to books and paint at the same time. They go well together. Like the paints and night and quiet. The story on the speakers is about Vampires and humans and love and life and death and all the other stuff in a good vampire story. As I paint and listen I think about the life and bones under my own skin. I am aware that all this flesh and bone really is temporary and I imagine to have a life like the vampires in the story. (Don't we all!) I grab another piece of paper and attempt to draw the bones under all this that move this body about. With that...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 09.20 - Kentucky

It's Better Aged In Bourbon Barrels

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We were in Kentucky. We were a local BBQ restaurant. (Always try local stuff when travelling.) I have been to Kentucky maybe 5 times. I wasn't sure how I felt about Kentucky. The times that I have been there before last week, I never really made an attempt to talk with people. Back in the old days, I used to think life was easier if you just went through it and kept to yourself. (There was also some stupid idea about being a misunderstood painter/writer too.) As I got older I learned that this was really just a philisophical way that I dealt with whatever insecurities that I had. I also learned that this is not an easier way to go through life. (Actually, Im convinced now it is much more difficult.) Our waiter, came over and reminded me of how I used to be. "What can I get you?" he said. "Well, Ive never eaten in this restaurant in my life, so what do you recommend? What do you like on the menu?" I ask. He tells me. "Then that is what I will have" From then on we all talked a bit everytime he came to the table. By the time we left, everyone was smiling and as we walked out the door he says, "Anytime y'all come back to Kentucky, y'all come on back here!" "We will!" we all said. We all walked to car, really full of Kentuck BBQ and Kentucky Bourbon Beer and corn bread and grits and black eyes peas and cole slaw and french fries and more Kentucky Bourbon Beer. Well, here is his portrait and to him and the Bourbon Beer and always trying to see strangers as more than... well...strangers... Enjoy!



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Daily Keemo 09.19 - 3 Figures

The Final Three. Three from Sept 18, 2008

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I have been gone for about a week. Quite a bit of travelling last week and I didnt do very well keeping up with all my email. I finally got a chance last night to sit down and go through them all and there was an email that was from someone I had not heard from in a long time wondering if I was planning on doing any more of these 2x7 drawings. "Why sure" I replied. I wasnt sure where I even put these papers. After scrounging around I found the last 4 in an envelope that I had stashed with my drawing papers. One of them was just too dark to draw on. So, I guess that these are the last three of the drawings of this size. With that...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 09.08 - Red Eye

16 Minutes From Last Night


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I couldn't sleep again. This happens to me often. "I'm not the only one, I know it," I say to myself. I look at the clock and it shines back the numbers 3,0,8. I got up, went down stairs and opened the fridge and the light poured out lighting up the entire kitchen and standing there in my underwear I pulled out a container of grape juice and poured a glass. I leaned against the counter and drank it in the dark. The clock on the microwave shined the numbers 3,1,7. I finished my glass and put into the sink. The house was very quiet and dark and I stood there for a second thinking about them sleeping upstairs, dreaming, not seeing those shining numbers and then I walked up into the bathroom. I pulled my bottom eyelid down and exposed the underside of my eye into the mirror. I could see the red veins and in the reflection I could see there was life still in there. I turned off the light, went upstairs and laid down. The numbers on the clock shined 3,2,4. That was the last thing I remember... Enjoy!

Size/Description: This is an original piece of artwork

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Daily Keemo 09.02 - Animal Toy

Animal Toy
(another wonder from the patent office)


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Those of you who have been following my work for a while may remember "The Patent Series" from last year. This was a series based on funny things that can be found browsing through patents. There is a ton of good stuff in there. The kind of stuff that writes itself. If it was fiction it would not be as funny. (The Onion doesn't have it on some of this stuff.) Like this one for example. The Animal Toy. The patent reads, "An aparatus to be used as a toy by an animal, for example a dog, to either fetch carry or chew includes at least one protrusion extending therefrom that resembles the branch in appearance." I'm serious. It says that. Im amazed that it was only just patented in 2002. Anyway, what good fun. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 08.26 - In Park

Portrait of Man Who Was Sitting Alone At Park.

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I feel like I'm skimping on this one but I'm going to leave the story out on this one. The title pretty much sums it up. Once in a while I suppose it is important to let the portraits just speak for themselves. Not to mention, I know you are all creative enough to come up with something that is ten times better than I might write. With that... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 08.24 - Louder Than Bombs

A Chord (A Alternative) 1 of 7
or (5 stories for 216)

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I have started this story 5 times. Really. I guess I'm not sure what is the exact point that I am trying to get across here. The first time was a story about this drawing. The bombs, the people, the music... all that stuff. The second was a story about where this great guitar chord card came from that is used in this drawing. (They came from Studio 216. If you are near Dallas/Ft Worth, I highly recommend a visit to the gallery. "tell em' keemo sent ya!") The third was about wonderful people, that do wonderful things and when you see them you can tell they are surrounded by others who enjoy these wonderful people for the wonderful things that they do. The fourth story was about how friendship can span time and distance if you allow it to and how it is possible to understand some people better in a few days than some in a life time. That brings me to this story; The Fifth Story, which I guess is about all these things; friendship, time, distance, kindness, giving, bombs, music, people, texas, mail, not to mention Studio 216 and the Granbury Gang and all the other things that connect us and made it possible for this piece to happen. Wow, that sounds pretty lofty and I am not sure what is more abstract; this drawing or this story. Either way, I know there is something here for us all and if we tilt our heads just right, both the drawing and the story make just enough sense, that there really is no abstraction at all... Enjoy!





(Special thanks to S & K at Studio 216 for all the great cards and other goodies. You guys are the best.)

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Daily Keemo 08.21 - The Last Button

When Blue Is The Color Of Change. (The Last In The Button Series)
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I don't think I have ever posted a portrait of my mom here. I've posted Grandpa Joe and many of my brothers but I don't think Mom has been here. Long story short, she went through here own blue period the last 5 years. It isn't necessary to share all the details. We have all gone through blue periods and we all understand that keeping the details private is necessary. (Especially in forums like this) However, with that said, those periods can define us at a certain moment as it is hard to not wear those emotions on your sleeve. The time has come for her next portrait to be a bright yellow or orange. Her blue period seems over. Here is to going through rough times and coming out on the other end stronger than ever! Here is to Blue being the color of change...Enjoy!





Only 25 of these buttons will be made available. Once these 25 button are gone, that is it. I have worked with the printer to make sure that each button is individually numbered to reflect it's placement in the set. (If you are the 5th person, you will receive button #5 of 25.) (Special requests for button # can be made if available.)

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Daily Keemo 08.18 - Ninja

Time Multiplied By Paintings Divided By The Number Of Ninjas

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I have been working most of the evening. There are paintings everywhere. Really. Im not exangerrating. To my right. To my left. Behind me. In front of me. As I was taking a little break and looking around at all the work spread out I realized there was no ninja. There hasnt been a ninja in quite a while. Those of you who follow my work have seen the ninja pop up many times over the past few years. As I've said before, I can usually guage how seriously Im starting to take my artwork by the amount of time it has been since I have painted a ninja. If I was a mathematician it would look something like: Time multiplied by paintings divided by the number of ninjas equals the amount of stress currently floating around the air in the studio. So, for all of you who are taking things just a bit too seriously (and that includes your art collection) here is a ninja... Enjoy!

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