Daily Keemo 01.02.09

A Nineteen Year Walk

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It is the classic beginning of the classic coming of age story. I was 18 and just finished high school and couldn't leave that small town fast enough and I knew that there was this whole new world out there waiting for me to run around and make all kinds of mistakes in. The day before I left to go out West, we went for a walk through a neighborhood park, and I could tell that I was hurting her alot by leaving the way that I was. I could also tell that she knew she had to let her son go and find out what things were about. My memory of that day was one of beauty. I can still see the big huge Michigan trees dropping leaves around us as we walked. The light was perfect and so was the world for the first time in a long time. Her memory of that day was one of sadness and regret. Over Christmas as we talked and shared stories, she brought up that day walking through the park. She was still sad and had feelings of regret. "I knew that you were going to struggle down the path you were choosing," she said. Looking back I know that it was the path that was necessary and that I was letting the destination choose the path and not the other way around. (there is a difference.) I suppose I think often of that walk in the park and remind myself that I am still on that path and I have not yet arrived at the destination. I guess I am still just walking in the park and yes, she is still walking there with me... Enjoy!



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Daily Keemo 12.27 - Happiness

I Will Take Two Of Those And Call You In The Morning



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I know this seems obvious but you really gotta do what you makes you happy. I'm going to go on a limb here and say that most of us pass most of our days doing a whole bunch of stuff that we do for every other reason but happiness. Odds are there is a job you that would rather not be done and then there is all the time you waste in a car daydreaming in a traffic jam or in a line somewhere or you can insert another place you were or thing you did that was for every other reason than happiness. I can think of a few off hand right now but I'll save those for another day. Then there are the other times, the times in between those moments when you find yourself doing something that actually makes you happy and you are doing it for no other reason other than it makes you happy. I know this seems off track with this painting but it isnt. This is one of those times for me. The time when you allow yourself to paint a silly portrait and paste it to a silly wood veneer and the only reason is because it makes you smile when you do it. Does there always need to be a reason other than that? I hope not. With that... Enjoy!



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Daily Keemo 12.24 - Sized Perfectly

Sized And Measured Perfectly

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Behind me the entire wall is painted with a diamond pattern that is sized and measured perfectly so the pattern of diamonds fit perfectly within the space. Only one wall in the studio is painted this way. Each diamond is about 18 inches tall to give you an idea of the size. I didn't paint the diamonds. She did. I could not paint something so perfect. She can. Her stuff is perfect. Always. Im not using the word "perfect" with any hint of a derogatory tone. She doesn't strive for perfection, everything just seems to end up that way. When I sit here at the desk and look at these lines and colors and scribbles and ink and acrylic and words I can see these big perfect diamonds out of the corner of my eye I am in awe because she can do it all in one piece of work where I keep doing another and another and another and never quite getting there. I guess that sums us up her and I. Her lines and shapes are perfect and my lines and shapes don't strive to be. They are both there and have thier value and need each other to reinforce what makes each one unique. With that... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 12.17 - Ninja 1 of 8 - Japanese Series

Ninja 1 - Japanese Series

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I have said many times over the years that to many people take thier artwork way to 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 the better. Sitting there in your art collection, just waiting for the moment to unleash it's fury, the ninja will strike when the time is right. Be careful. Respect the ninja and respect is what you will be given in return... it is the ninja way...Enjoy you art!

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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.

Daily Keemo 11.21 - WWKeemoD

The Bible Has Trouble Proving Something

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This is the 13th in the "Book of Facts" series. I was going through a bunch of books that were stored away in boxes. I ran across this old book of facts. It is just page after page of wierd facts. After about 2 pages, I thought, "this is perfect!" On the others in this series, I would highlight two or three facts on the page but for this one, there seemed to be just one fact that was worth pointing out. Fact: "It cannot be proved by the bible that Jesus Christ ever smiled." I'm not sure what to make of it... but you know that is what makes this fact a good one. So, with that...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 10.04 - 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 09.24 - 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 09.04 - 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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Daily Keemo 08.25 - Ninja Mask

The Ninja Mask #3
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I just can't let another day go by without another ninja mask! Good fun!...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 08.18 - 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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Daily Keemo 08.16 - Trust Me

There Are Not Many Times When Starting From The Beginning Sounds Like The First Course Of Action

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I was sitting on the runway waiting for the plane to take off. I hadn't put my headphones on yet. I was tired and it was early and I was ready to get home. I turned the air up a bit and pointed it at my face. I looked out the window at the people loading our bags. I thought for a second that I was glad that I didnt do that for a living. I was ready to get home. I looked around at people getting situated, fussing over coats and bags and books and newspapers and voices blended together with the air blowing on my face and the plane rocked a bit as people moved about and I slipped into daydream staring out at everyone in the plane. I was tired and ready to be home. I closed my eyes and listened and daydreamed and was half asleep and for some reason I tuned into the conversation that was going on in the seats behind me. It was the tone of her voice when she said, "Well, that means we will have to start from the beginning." that got my attention. Her tone made me sad and there are not many times when I think that having to start from the beginning sounds like the first course of action. It is usually the last. There was a long pause and another voice replied, "I know that it will. We will be OK. You can trust me." There was a long silence and I slipped back into daydream again and the air blew in my face and I was tired and was ready to be home...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 08.12 - Chris

I Want To See How Much I Go For
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The email read, "I have been a fan for a long time. Can you do a portrait of me? I want you to post it on ebay though so I can see how much I go for." There was a JPG attached to the email. "Why sure. No problem." I replied. That was a first. So, here it is, a portrait of Chris, as promised... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 08.11 - Florida

Famous For It's Cleanliness

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An old flyer from a boat tour down in Florida. This has to be from the late 50's or early 60's. One of their many slogan was "Famous For Its Cleanliness" How great is that. Another was "The Best 2 Dollars You Can Spend". They even boast "Alligator Wrestling" Well, I suppose this speaks for itself...Enjoy! (Another great find from B&J. Thanks!)

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Daily Keemo 07.23 - Little Things

Its The Small Moments That Give You Away.
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There are these little moments when I know that we are meant for each other. Many people think that this is shown with grand gestures, big things but I've come to learn it is always the small moments that give us away. They are little looks, light touches, maybe its just when you talk you look at each others eyes. Phrases like, " I thought of you when...." or "This reminded me of you..." or "You would have liked this..." always give you away. This was a "I thought that you could maybe use this in your art" moment and she handed me a stack of old design books that were going to be thrown away at her office. "Even if you can't use them, I thought you would like them" See its those moments. Those simple moments. So, with that here is a page from one of those books ...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 07.16 - Youd Never Know

You'd Never Know.
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I was rummaging through my stash of old clippings and stuff and I ran across this ad from 1958 for a cream to treat Psoriasis. For some reason the phrase "you'd never know I had..." struck me as odd and made me realize how many people probably go through the day hiding something that they don't want other people to know about. Not to mention all the products that exist to help us cover things up... I remember when I was growing up my next door neighbor had psorisis really bad on her arms. I remember her saying that she always wore long sleeve shirts when she went out because she was so self conscious of it. She hated it in the summer because it was always too hot for long sleeve shirts. So, she just stayed inside most of the time. I remember thinking how sad she must have been. Well, I guess that is it. Well, here is to trying to live with everything about yourself and realizing that we all have things that are wrong with us and that is exactly what makes us all so... right... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 07.11 - Limited Edition Print. The Guitar Player

The Guitar Player - Limited Edition Print #7

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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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