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 09.20 - 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 09.04 - 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 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 07.08 - Boston Strangers Guide

The Stangers' Directory. Boston, 1930.
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It was the name that got me. "Strangers' Directory" This is actually from a 1930 travel guide of Boston. 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 07.06 - Three

A Mixed Bag from June 26, 2008

Well,it was a marathon today. A ton of work created. In between layers of paint, these three little buggers snuck out. 1.) The Bunny. (An homage to another painter, C). The color is called Jalapeno. 2.) Portrait on a color sample called "Mountain Air". (isnt that a common deodorant scent?) 3.) Keemo Monster. Many that have bought Keemos in the past have seen glimpses of the Keemo Monsters. I have been slipping these Keemo monsters into the envelopes before shipping. I thought it was time to post one. The color is called "Intellectual Gray". What kind of color is that? Intellectual Gray? Well, there is a mixed bag from today, June 26, 2008...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 06.26

The Devil Is In The Details. Part 2. 1958

Im fascinated by marketing. As much from the designer side of it as the consumer side of it. As I have mentioned many times before Im particularly fond of older commercial design. It's funny though how the message itself really hasn't changed that much over the years. The graphics got fancier but the underlying message is the same. I really can't find a better example than this advertisement from 1958. (This could probably apply to any of the weightloss products on the shelf right now.) One last thing, this is part 2 of 2. The devil shape in this one has been cut out of the advertisement that was used in Part 1. Well, with that...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 06.25

How Not To Draw A Person With One Breast.
(or) Dust Off Your Heart, Youre Not The Only One Here. 1938.

I got an email recently that asked why alot of my pictures have a person with one breast. I wasn't sure what she was referring to so I responded, "I'm not sure what you are referring to? Do you mean the heart?"... "Oooooooooh, that is a heart!" came the reply. Yes, that is a heart. Most of us have one and I like to think that most of us try to use it when we make some of our decisions. Alot more of us wear it on our sleeve than we think and if you look hard enough you can see it bubbling underneath most people when you are talking to them. I like to keep thinking that most of us strive to have a good one. I know I forget about it, in there beating away, and these little paintings and stories remind me to bring it out and dust it off. I was asked in an interview last year year what my work is about. I wish I wasn't so nervous or I would have said something like..." it is about reminding us all to bring out our hearts and dust them off a bit and maybe even share them with someone nearby." Well, with all that said, I'm off to draw a person with one breast!...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 06.13 - Sweeney Todd

How I Spent My Christmas Eve.
or The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. 1938.
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"Have you thought about doing a religious painting?" her email asked. To which I replied, "Hell no!" Of course, I was kidding around. (The keywork being "hell". I thought it was funny at the time.) It really isn't very funny now that I write it again. Oh well... so, I set out to do a "religious painting". This could mean many things to many people but at this stage in my life I may be lacking a bit in the religious inspiration area. I guess I'm not even sure what it means anymore to do a "religious painting". Does it have to be Jesus, Buddha, John the Baptist, a dove with an olive branch flying over clouds with gates and there is a hostess table by the gates and the hostess tells you there will be about a 45 minute wait and they will call you when you when your table is ready. I'm a bit off track I suppose. Well, one sidenote about this painting, is if you look at the background of this 1938 movie advertisement, you will see the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Recently, remade and known as Sweeny Todd. (Yes, the one with Johnny "everyone-swoons-over-me" Depp) Well, on Christmas eve (one of the most religious of holidays) the three of us wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary for the Christmas holiday. So, one of the things we did is we went and saw Sweeny Todd on Christmas Eve. There was lots of blood and only two other people in the theater and throats were slit and there were meat pies and I cringed every single time someone fell head first through the floor and when we finally got out of the theater the snow was falling and it was dark and we were all laughing about how we were spending our Christmas Eve and we were smiling about all being together and in the end that is what matters. With all that said, there has to be a religious painting in here somewhere...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 06.12 - Psych

Did I Mention That I Pay My Taxes
(or) A Psychologist's Armchair
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I like to think that I have my stuff together. You know, I pay my taxes, I do my best to be kind to people, I open doors for people if the situation calls for it, I often say hi to someone standing in line next to me, I definitely smile more than I frown. I tend to crack a joke before I complain. Did I mention I pay my taxes? Oh I did, sorry about that. I guess the only reason I mention all these things is because none of that tends to balance out just a general sense of feeling like the person in this painting. I suppose it might be only natural to think that just when you think this crazy planet makes perfect sense something happens to remind you that it doesn't. (Maybe it is the act of trying to make sense of everything that doesn't make sense.) A friend once said I was an "armchair psychologist". I said, "more like a psychologist's armchair". We laughed. Anyway... I suppose that's it... I guess with this painting its little more like a psychologists armchair!...Enjoy! (sidenote: my apologies to any real psychologists who read this. Im sure that the proper diagnosis would probably be: "An armchair's armchair)

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Daily Keemo 06.11 - Facts

On a per ounce basis, a woman's swimsuit is the highest price of wearing apparel in the United States

or (Other Facts That Don't Seem Like Facts)

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It has been a while since I posted something from the "Book of Facts" series. This is the 11th 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!") So, what can we all learn from this painting of facts? Well, how about this one: "On a per ounce basis, a woman's swimsuit is the highest price of wearing apparel in the United States" ...Or... "A whipping boy is a scapegoat, one punished for the comings of another" Or... "Spots and lines appearing on the fingernails indicate imperfections in the nails." Okay, that is like saying, "If there is a spot on your face then there is a spot on your face." A fact indeed but is it notable? These are great. Good fun!... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 06.05 - Paris

Portrait On A Paris Postcard #12
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This is the 12th 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 about 15 postcards that were of different photos taken in Paris during the 1920's. This one in particular is called "Gardens of the Palais Royal". 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.. Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 06.03

Without The Rainy Days
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I saw her a few days ago and she seemed just fine. Wonderful, as a matter of fact. Better than I have seen her in a many years. I won't go into who she is or what she has been through. (none of that matters here, I suppose) I will say that we all know someone who has been hurt like her and I hope that we all know someone who is a strong as her. Here is to all of us, who have been through something difficult and came out on the other side stronger and wiser and happier and with the realization that without the rainy days the sun wouldn't feel so wonderful... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 05.23 - Mask 2

Mask #2
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I have been wanting to do masks for quite a while but I guess I just haven't gotten around to it. I have always been intrigued by them. (who isnt?) Then my brother and sister-in-law (everyone should be so lucky to know these two people) mention that they have located some masks that would be perfect for painting. (The two of them are amazing at finding stuff). I know, I said the same thing for Mask #1 but I thought I better just thank the two of them again for thinking of me... Enjoy! (Thanks B and J!)

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Daily Keemo 05.13

Portrait on Paris Postcard #11
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This is the 11th 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 about 15 postcards that were of different photos taken in Paris during the 1920's. This one in particular is called "Gare De Lyon Trolley". All the postcards are very Paris and you can hear an accordian playing and it all makes Michigan seem all that much further away. With that.. Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 04.30

Portrait On A Paris Postcard #10
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This is the 10th 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 about 15 postcards that were of different photos taken in Paris during the 1920's. This one in particular is called "Jardin Des Tuileries". All the postcards are very Paris and you can hear an accordian playing and it all makes the Michigan winter seem all that much colder. With that.. Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 04.24

More Important Than Swimming Around In Your Own Head
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It has long been my thought that self doubt is the painters biggest foe. (I don't really have any clue how true that really is because I am basing that only on my own personal experience as a painter) When these bouts happen though, production slows, things end up in the trash, motivation slips. As I write this I think this could probably be applied to more people than just painters. Not too mention, maybe self-doubt is just a segway to depression. I don't know. What does this painting have to do with any of this selfish introspection? You know... probably not a whole lot other than these were the things that I was stewing on while I tried to paint a portrait of my friends son. I feel like I blew his portrait but its the little guy that reminds me there are more important things than just swimming around in your own head...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 04.22

Music Store in Hamburg #2

Last summer we went to visit some friends in the Netherlands and Germany. They are all professional musicians. Not the garage band kind of musicians but like real playing-music-for -a-living kind of musicians. One performs with a big "broadway" type show in Amsterdam. Anyway, we were taking the train into Hamburg and had to make a pit stop at a music shop in downtown Hamburg so she could pick up a new mouthpiece (?) for one of her trumpets. As they were talking about music in German I was grabbing all kinds of flyers and magazines and sticking them into my bag. (I was probably not representing Americans very well but at least I wasn't asking where the nearest McDonalds was.) After we left, my friend told me that the music store owner asked why I wanted all the different flyers. "I explained you were a painter," she said. The store owner replied, "what do those have to do with painting?" We laughed. Well, here is to the music store owner in Hamburg who wondered what these had to do with painting...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 04.20

Listen. Think. Speak.

Its funny. The initial reaction from most of the people who have seen seen this painting is "Why is the person puking?" We laugh a minute and then, after a few mintues, it is then "Oh, I see! It is not puke." (Boy, no matter how you try to dress it up "puking" is just not a pleasant word...sorry I got off track) Well, it isn't puke, it is words and out of the head comes ideas and with the ear we listen. It really can be a simple as that. Not just in this painting but possibly everything. You know now that I write that, it never ends up being as simple as that because we always end complicating things more and it all ends up being about bills and gas prices and deadlines and schedules and whats for dinner and who is going to be there and the alarm clock and gas prices again and bills again and somehow all the listening and thinking and speaking gets put aside underneath the whole mess and the alarm clock wakes up to do it all again. Well, here is to remembering that underneath the whole mess are some simple things that are much more important...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo 04.18

With A SNORT SNORT Here And A SNORT SNORT There Here A SNORT There A SNORT Everywhere A SNORT SNORT

I have this horrible memory of singing this song in elementary school. It was maybe 2nd or 3rd grade and the whole class was gathered in the library. We were all sitting on the floor surrounding the teacher. She was reading us a book out loud. After the book was done, she thought it would be fun for us all to sing some songs. I remember singing B-I-N-G-O and this one Old McDonald Had A Farm. To spice things up a bit, my teacher picked out kids to make the animal sounds out loud when the time came. Well-I'll-be-scarred-for-life, I get elected to make the PIG noise. I was already a shy kid but now I have to make the pig noise in front of the whole class. So, the line comes around, I do my best and make the best pig snort I can. Man it was a ripper. The whole class is breaking out laughing so hard, the song actually falls apart and they have to start again. Well, this goes on like three more times with the same result. Finally, the teacher asks me to just say "Oink, Oink" instead. It was then and there that I learned the power of laughter and also that an "Oink Oink" is never a good replacement for a hearty "snort snort"... Enjoy!
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