Daily Keemo 12.18 - Botched Interview

She Kept Wanting Me To Think Like Her About My Art
9" x 12" x 1.5" - Acrylic and Ink on Canvas



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The lady who was interviewing me said thought that most traditional galleries would never take on my work because it relies too much on the words to complete the piece of artwork. I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I said, “I think it is because I'm not a very good painter.” trying to joke my way out of going through this conversation again. “I don't think that is true. I just think the words can interfere with the viewing experience.” She said. “Well, I'm not worried too much about the galleries. If I was to write a list of reasons why I paint day in and day out, you would not find the words, “Get Into A Gallery” anywhere on that list.” I replied. There was an awkward silence. This conversation always ends up this way. I never get why some people have such a hard time with the words. “I guess I like to think that I am not just making a painting. I hope it is more than that. I hope that it all helps create a relationship with the viewer, the subject and myself.” “ Do you think it works?” she asked. This went on for another 10 minutes or so and we weren't getting anywhere and I could tell she was not happy with how this was going and after we hung up the phone I sat quietly for a minute and thought again why I am doing all this with the paints and the words and long hours and the tired mornings and realized I should probably get back to the paints and finish this painting and just keep doing what I do.... Enjoy!

(Note: I never did hear from her again and the interview never got published.)

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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 12.01 - Whiskey

It Was His Drink And I Was Thinking Of Him

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I decided I would mix up a highball tonight because that was his drink and I was thinking of him. I remember he would come visit us in the summer when I was a boy and he would sit out in the sun in a folding chair in the center of the backyard with his shirt off drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon and the top of his head would be beet red with sun burn but he didn't care. He was peaceful out there and he would ask me to fetch him a tomato from the garden that he planted out back and he would eat it just like an apple and then he would ask me to grab another beer for him and he would let me take the first sip of the beer and then laugh as I made a sour face and shook my head side to side and said it tasted gross but secretly I loved it. I loved all of it; his visits, the sun, the garden, the back yard, taking sips of his cold beer in the summer heat, the tomatoes, the way he could sit quietly out there and seem just fine with that. So, with that, here is to him and to us and those hours in the summer when life was simple and it consisted of just us two... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo - Saturday

These Are The Days That Most People Forget

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It is Saturday today. A quiet day. One of those days where you stay around the house and everyone is a bit quiet and you watch movies and you grab a snack from the fridge because you're a bit melancholy but not really that hungry and someone is off in another room reading and the sound of someone talking on the phone fills the whole house and you lay ink down on pink and blue paint samples and you swear you can hear the pen tip slide across the paper. These are days that I enjoy. We are all here. We are all here...Enjoy!




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Daily Keemo 11.24 - Tattoo

Never Judge A Man By The Tattoo On His Neck

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I think for this one I am just going to leave the story up to you. This is one of those people that everyone who meets him probably walks away with a slightly different impression. I suppose it should be that way for his portrait as well. With that... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 11.13 - The Economy

10 More Reminders That Creativity Is Not Linked To The Economy
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This is the second set in this series. The first set was with penny rolls but I figured that since things to appear to only be getting worse I thought I would up the ante a bit and move on to nickles. Thats right. Nickles. The way things are going, it sounds like it is going to be necessary to move up to the dimes. Don't even get me going on the quarters. Well, with that... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 11.12 - Sore Head

Moments Are Strung Together With Other Moments
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I often think that life is made up of small moments that exist independently from the moment before or after them. My paintings are always about these brief moments. However, all of us know that this is really not the truth. Moments are really strung together with other moments almost like christmas tree lights. Let me try to explain using my life last night. It is important to understand that there was a number of things that had to get done last night. (I'll save explaining why) Anyway, there was lot that needed to get done. So, in my typical fashion I started working on something that wasn't on the "need to get done" list and started on the "want to get done" list. So, I started with replacing the clutch lever on my motorcycle. It was getting cold out in the garage, so I was hurrying. It wasn't working out like I had planned. The thing stalls when I kick into first gear. Ugh.. So, that ends up taking longer than I had planned and now I am behind on getting the other stuff done. So, I hurriedly, go about other things on the list. Then I reach the item on the list that reads "pick up bed from moms house". So, my daughter volunteers to drive and I'm still hurrying around. She goes and starts the truck. Its dark and cold and rainy now. So, I see that the garage door is still open. So, I hit the garage door and it starts to close. Just then I think. "I should probably bring some tools to take the bed apart. So, I hit the garage door button again, stopping the door just about face level. I duck under the half open garage door and rush into the garage gathering up my tools that were all spread around from working on my motorcycle earlier. (Did I mention it is cold and rainy and I am hurrying?) So, I gather up the tools I need, turn and make a beeline out of the garage, looking down at the tools in my hand and completely forgetting that the garage door is not open all the way. With a fast paced walk, I walked directly into the lowhanging garage door with it catching me right across the eyebrows and forehead. It literally knocked me right to the ground. I got up still in a hurry and went to the truck only to see my daughter laughing hysterically (I mean hysterically) because she thougth I was joking around. We proceeded to get the bed and now my forehead has some nice scratches directly between my eyes. As I was riding along in the truck, feeling the ache in my skull and feeling a little dizzy, I couldnt help to think how all the moments prior to hitting my head, were actually leading me directly to that moment. So, with that very, very long story, here is a portait of the scratches on my forehead and a portrait of life when you try to fit more into a day than you have time to do so... Enjoy!

(Sidenote: My daughter told me later that I was laying on the ground for about one minute. I thought it was 5 seconds. Yikes!)

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Daily Keemo 11.11

The Songs Ended And Started And Ended And Started
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I am tired. It was one of those long days. My eyes are a bit dark and a bit swollen and I am feeling like I just want to go to sleep. I got home late. The house is already quiet. I grabbed a Leinenkugel out of the fridge, opened it, and took a swig. I walked up to the desk and looked at the half finished paintings spread out and turned to my right and put some music on. (The Postal Service if you are wondering) It was perfect. I grabbed a new sheet of paper and worked on this painting. The Leinenkugel went down well and the songs ended and started and ended and started and the work for today is finally complete. It's time to turn off the lights and go upstairs... Enjoy!


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Daily Keemo 11.06 - Friends

Chase Our Painting And Writing With Drink And More Drink

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I remember when we were back in school and we were close friends. His mom had just died from cancer that year and his dad was deep, deep, deep into the drink. He was raising himself at that point. It didn't help matters that I didnt have much supervision either. We leaned on each other that is for sure. A painting could be made about every night from those years and every morning was cloudy and hazy and there were blocks of time missing and we would start it all over again and we would chase our painting and writing with drink and more drink and other stuff that puts people in jail and with no supervision it was a life that was equal parts Bukowski and Henry Miller and I'm not sure how we made out on the other side in one peice. Well, maybe not in one piece but we made out and here is to him and for still being there even though there are miles and years between us and those days... 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 09.26 - Music

Down In The Valley

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I wish I could write words as good as these:

Down in the valley, valley so low

Hang your head over

And hear the wind blow



Can't you hear the wind blow, my love

Can't you hear the wind blow

Down in the valley, valley so low



Have you ever been lonely, lonely

Have you ever been sad

Did you ever really, really want some one

And really need them bad

Bad, bad, bad, bad



It was down in the valley

The valley so low

It was where I held you so tight

How could I ever let you go



I remember the first kiss

Oh, how it filled me so

Now all that I can feel right now

Is that cold wind blow

... 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 09.24 - Throat

Words That Are More Than They Mean #1
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The story for this new series is simple. It also requires that I don't write a story to go along with it. Just as the title says, this series is of "Words That Are More Than They Mean". We all interpret things differently and all words carry different meaning with each of us. So, this is where you work your magic and stop a minute and allow yourself the luxury of slowing down a bit to think about what it can mean to you. With that... Enjoy!


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Daily Keemo 09.23 - Guitar

GM7 Chord (G major 7) 2 of 7

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This is the second in the series. I was going to write up a bit about this one but now that I look it over, I like this one on its own. There are enough words in the piece to fuel your own creative mind to come up with something that means something more than anything that I may write about now. 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 09.09 - Politics

Portrait Of Guy Who Was Telling Me All The Reasons Why My Political Views Were All Wrong
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Needless to say it was not a fun conversation. 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 09.04 - Blood

King Of The Blood. Cures All Humors. 1889

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(Yes, this one is really 119 years old. "King Of The Blood". That is a marketing slogan for the ages. I just love the phrase "Cures All Humors". Just can't beat it.)

So, lets see... this page is 119 years old, I am 35 years old, the wine I am drinking right now is only 3 years old, this painting is about 6 hours old, this story is minutes old and this moment is now. I suppose all time and history always come together at this point of now. By the time you read this, now will gone. I was going to say something like, "it's funny how things work" but that really isnt appropriate. It is just the way things work. King Of The Blood, 119 years old and it's here now. With that... Enjoy!

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