Art by Keemo

Daily Keemo. 7.8. Nothing Is Ever All For Nothing

2009-07-08T06:28:00.001-07:00

Nothing Is Ever All For Nothing
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Before we pulled into the gas station we were talking about how great it would be if we didn't have to think about a mortgage and college tuition and all the other stuff that comes along with leading the lives we lead and we could just travel and paint and see things and meet people and eat tasty food and all that stuff. (Everyone has had that conversation haven't they?) I looked at her and I could see that future and it looked wonderful and I got out I started pumping the gas and she walked inside to get something and leaning next to the car I stared down the row of cars filling up with gas and couldn't help but think that we were all going in different directions and none of the directions is necessariliy the right one. As I was finishing up I could see her coming through the doors with small pieces of paper in her hand and when she saw me she waved them above her head. "Whats that?" I said when she got closer. "College Tuition," she said. I could see they were lotto tickets and I laughed and we drove home and I was positive the tickets in her hand had the winning numbers. Well, it goes without saying that we did not win just like the millions of other people who played but in the end we both knew we wouldnt and she said to me, "you should paint on them so it isn't all for nothing." You know, nothing is ever all for nothing... With that, here are our losing lotto numbers... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 7.7. All In A Days Hustle

2009-07-07T05:59:00.001-07:00

All In A Days Hustle
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We sat at the stop light at the intersection. (This is the same intersection that I wrote about in the preacher painting.) It was a Saturday afternoon. Our windows were down and this young guy approached our car and asked for the time and we told him and then he quickly went into this line about being a local college student and he needed to make class but his car ran out of gas so he needed money for a gallon of gas and on and on and he rattled if off so smoothly I would have given him some money if I was carrying some but I wasn't. He thanked us and walked away. Forward two days later and I am heading through there on Monday morning 8:00 AM and I am three cars back in line and I see the same guy running to my car. He points to wrist through the window and mouths the words, "what time is it?" I can't believe it, so I roll the window down and tell him, "8:05". He then slips into the same exact line he gave me on Saturday and it is no wonder he is so good at it, he is well rehearsed. I let him finish his sales job on me and since I still don't have any cash on me I ask. "What class are you late for?" "Math," he responds. "Math?" I ask. "Math." he says. "Well, sorry, I don't have any money," I say and he walks away. (I didn't know they simply taught "Math" at college.) You know. If I had had some cash on me I would have given it to him anyway, even though I knew he was hustling and was just trying to earn some money. As I was daydreaming on the rest of the way to work, I couldn't help but think that our jobs were not that different... With that here is his portrait... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 7.5. A Closed Door Doesn't Mean Something To Everyone

2009-07-05T09:04:00.001-07:00

A Closed Door Doesn't Mean Something To Everyone
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A long time Keemo collector sent me an email last week mentioning that her car had been broken into and everything in it was stolen. I had that happen once and it just, well, sucks. (Not sure how else to say it) Well, after a couple emails back and forth, I thought I would do a little portrait of the above mentioned, you-know-what, in hopes it brought a little smile back to her. With that...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 7.1. Sales Is Sales Is Sales Is Sales

2009-07-01T06:00:00.001-07:00

Sales Is Sales Is Sales Is Sales
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A lot of stuff happens on this intersection. I drive through it five days a week. I have seen car accidents. I have seen police with their guns drawn, pointing them at one of the buildings. I have seen drug transactions through the window of a car waiting at the red light. I see the same lady at the bus stop on the corner as I drive through each morning on my way to the place that takes way too much of my time. Today, it was a preacher on the corner in a very nice suit and his face was red and sweating from the 90 degree heat of the afternoon but he didn't look uncomfortable as he "had the good Lord to keep him cool" as I overheard him saying from the sidewalk. I thought about that for a second and thought what a lucky man he was that "the good lord" kept him cool but it was hard to believe that it was true as the heat came in through the window and carried his words into the car made me hot and uncomfortable and wanting for the traffic to start moving again so the air would start to swirl. A lot of stuff happens at this intersection and his suit was very nice. ...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.29. Realizations Are Always The Result Of An Equation

2009-06-29T05:37:00.001-07:00

Realizations Are Always The Result Of An Equation
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A painter in Michigan is working on a warm Saturday afternoon. A ninja linocut on an advertisement from 1870. The painter in Michigan pauses as he does the math and then exclaims, "Holy mackeral that is 139 years old!" Extra care is then taken with the orange watercolor to not rip through the old paper. It dries on a table in the backyard under the afternoon sun... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.26. It Is Ok To Sit And Be Fine With It

2009-06-26T06:13:00.001-07:00

It Is Ok To Sit And Be Fine With It
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It was a beautiful day yesterday and it was Sunday and we hung around the house and the ladies were reading outside on a blanket in the grass and I had taken the paper and paints out to the table and the ice cubes melted in no time and it was hard to believe it was Michigan that we were laying around in and there where big clouds in the big sky and I looked over and the way she was laying looked like there was grass sprouting out of her hair and I was trying to come up with things to paint and it seemed like a good choice and everything seemed like a good choice then and the pen hit the paper and then the paint and then it was complete...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.25. Two Original Keemo Linocuts

2009-06-25T06:03:00.001-07:00

Two Original Keemo Linocut Paintings
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Well, it was time for a change. I am one of those people who genuinely believes that change is good. That isn't to say there isn't value in tradition or patterns but embracing change will lead to much more than the comfort that you get from the predictability of doing the same things over and over and over. From experience, I can guess exactly what a brush will do when I cover it in orange and move it across the paper. You do something enough and you just know. This is what lead me to the new linocuts series. I just needed something new. Carving the linolium blocks for these prints was something I had not done in years (15 maybe?) and it was nice to not really know what the outcome was going to be and it was just fine to be satisfied with whatever the outcome was because during the process it IS ALWAYS about the process and never about the product and the value in that process is never translated into the value of the finished piece and like usual I guess I am starting to write about more than just painting and the creative process but also about our days and nights and the time we have to move around this place and we all have the choice to stick with what we know or try a new path. Here is to trying the new path... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.24. Portrait On A Paris Postcard #19

2009-06-24T05:54:00.001-07:00

Portrait On A Paris Postcard #19
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Well, I thought the Paris postcard series was over but I was going through a pile of papers and found a few more of these cards that got stuffed between pages of an old magazine. However, #19 (this one) is the very last one and this series is over. This postcard is from a group of photos taken in Paris during the 1920's. This one in particular is called "Paris Nightlife". 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, here is to the last of the "Paris Postcard" series and the 19th in the series ... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.22. Where You Are And Where You Have Been Are Not Always Different Places #1.

2009-06-22T05:55:00.001-07:00

Where You Are And Where You Have Been Are Not Always Different Places #1
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This painting has been staring at me right in the face and I didn't even see it. (Lots of things are right in front our faces all the time and we don't see them, I suppose.) Anyway, I spend alot of time painting on stuff that I find or that is on its way the recycle bin or just has special meaning or any number of other reasons and it just made sense that my own postcards would eventually be given the same treatment. So, with that, here is the first of the series... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.17. Not So Old Time Sake #2.

2009-06-17T06:24:00.001-07:00

Not So Old Time Sake
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Wednesday night, listening to Pandora, painting some ACEOs for (not so) old time sake. Listening to a Ratatat station with others like Dosh, The Octopus Project, Mute Math and others sliding through the playlist. This all stemmed from a discussion earlier with 16 year olds after hearing "Blue Monday" and they said, "Who is that?" and I felt old once again and this seems to be happening more and more. The good thing is it was a question of real interest and not one of disgust as in what is this old fogey crap. (I must be doing something right as a parent, right) Anyway, just good fun and good music and a little painting to go along with it all...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.16. Not So Old Time Sake

2009-06-16T06:03:00.001-07:00

Not So Old Time Sake
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Daily Keemo. 6.15. I Was Late Again Tonight

2009-06-15T05:52:00.001-07:00

I Was Late Again Tonight
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I was late again tonight. I was late last night too. Dinner had already been eaten and dishes were put away and mail had been opened and everyone was already caught up on their days activities and then I stroll in and everyone is winding down and I sit at the counter in the kitchen and eat leftovers and page through a magazine that came in the mail today and I notice there are only a couple lights on and I appear to be the only one making noise around the house. It's now 11:30 and it's quiet and this bright yellow paper was on my desk and it just seemed perfect in the dimly lit house. While drawing on these yellow stripes, I thought how I was not going to be late tomorrow and miss out on the life that was going on while I was away. I guess, with that...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.13. When Rain Is Not The Only Reason You Stand So Close.

2009-06-13T08:04:00.001-07:00

When Rain Is Not The Only Reason You Stand So Close
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We were downtown caught in the rain. Standing on the sidewalk under an awning out front of a deli. It was cold. Her pink hood was pulled up over her head and we stood with shoulders pulled up like you do when you are cold. You know what I mean. We talked and stood close and the rain went on and on and talked and it was just fine and I wouldn't trade that moment for anything... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.12. I Aint What I Used To Be.

2009-06-12T07:44:00.001-07:00

I Aint What I Used To Be
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When I was looking at music selections for a painting and I read the lyrics to this old childrens song, I knew it was perfect for tonight, for this painting. To be honest I don't know how the melody to this one goes. I suppose I could google it and find out how it sounds but for some reason that doesn't seem relevant to where my mind is at right now. Maybe it's the recent birthday or another case of self-doubt that has come around like it does every few months and makes me think that I should leave the painting for those who are truly masters of thier craft or maybe it is just late and I am tired and I know I need to keep working away because somewhere in here is a dream and I don't want to end up like that group of people that has given up their dream because there was always something more pressing and I guess that I could ramble on and on and on about this but when I pause a second and reread these lyrics, I am pretty sure that at this moment, these words say it best:

The old gray mare,
She ain't what she used to be
Ain't what she used to be,
Ain't what she used to be
The old gray mare,
She ain't what she used to be
Many long years ago.

With that...Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.10. To My Left On The Desk And The Paint Is Still Wet.

2009-06-10T12:21:00.001-07:00

To My Left On The Desk And The Paint Is Still Wet
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Every year there is a big arts festival held downtown and every year I don't participate in any capacity other than walking around sampling the food from the food booths, walking through the galleries and different art exhibits, stopping at the different stages and listening to the different music and every year I think, maybe I'll submit something to the show this year and then every year I think I am just not cut out for juried art shows and I am pretty sure that my art is not either and I know that it isn't about the show because it never has been. So, as soon as I am done writing this, we are off to downtown to do all of the above while my own artwork lays to my left on the desk and the paint is still wet and sometime next week this painting will be shipped a long way from the exibits and the food booths and the stages and the people and my desk and into a home that I will probably never see and as I write this I realize... that is exactly how it should be... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 6.8. All These Things.

2009-06-08T21:09:00.001-07:00

All These Things
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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 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, 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!

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Daily Keemo. 6.5. All These Things

2009-06-05T05:37:00.001-07:00

All These Things
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Daily Keemo. 6.2. At The Intersection of Money and Hope Series - #4 - 1966

2009-06-02T06:42:00.001-07:00

At The Intersection of Money and Hope Series - #4 - 1966
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This is the fourth painting in the series called "At The Intersection of Money and Hope". This particular painting is on 100 shares of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company that was purchased on March 18, 1966. (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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Daily Keemo. 6.1. Her Blue Fabric Moved In The Breeze That Carried Words Of Ignorance

2009-06-01T05:52:00.001-07:00

Her Blue Fabric Moved In The Breeze That Carried Words Of Ignorance
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I had to make a quick run to the store to pick up a few items for dinner. I run in grab the things I need stand in line, make small talk with the cashier, swipe the debit card, grab my stuff and head out the door. I should say that as I do these things Im usually in some daydream land, thinking about things and looking around, its just the way I work. Anyway, as I'm walking down the row of cars, looking around in this daydream land, I see there is woman whos car is near mine, putting her groceries into the trunk of car. As I get closer a car passes by slowly and the occupants of the car start to yell racial slurs and profanity at the woman and she ignores them but they slow more and they keep yelling and she keeps ignoring them and lightly brushes the blue fabric that is wrapped around her head and then they drive off and she never looks up. By the time I am near her, she is done with putting her groceries into the trunk of her car. She looks at me and all that comes out it is, "Well, I was going to say, Nice Day, isnt it? but it isn't I suppose" Then she replies back, "No, it really is." She smiles at me and I am speechless and keep walking as she is right and it is really her call and said it perfectly. I throw my bag into the passenger seat as I slide into the drivers side, I start the car and think to myself that I really have no idea what alot of people go through every day. I put the car in reverse and uneventfully head home to dinner. Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 5.28. When Some Faces Become Every Faces

2009-05-28T05:54:00.001-07:00

When Some Faces Become Every Faces
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For once, I feel like this portrait speaks for itself and captures the person enough that it doesn't need one of my silly stories to run along side of it. If you know her, you recognize her. If you don't, then that is just fine too. It is like finding wonderful old photos in an old shoe box at a garage sale. The faces in those old photos look like every face from your childhood and somehow you connect with the people even though you don't have any idea who they are. Some images become every images and some faces become every faces and to me this is one of those... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 5.27. I'm Not Sleeping A Third Of This Life Away

2009-05-27T05:42:00.001-07:00

I'm Not Sleeping A Third Of This Life Away
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I got sick again. Like really sick. This happens to me about twice a year. The sad thing is this is the 2nd time already this year and that isn't too great considering it is only May. She always tells me it is because I work too much and don't sleep enough and I know I could probably eat better (can't we all?) but that is just the way it is. Based on 8 hours a night, I'm not sleeping 1/3 of this life away. I figure I'm somewhere around the 1/4 or 1/5 mark. All that stuff aside, I spent the last 4 days laying around sleeping and 3 of those days there was a fever on and off and I swear the dreams in those fever moments are the best dreams you can have and you know you are not sleeping but your dreams are further from you than your imagination and you shiver as you walk in the dark to find the tylenol to bring it down and jump back into bed and pull the blankets up tight around your neck as you shiver yourself back to sleep again and you realize that although the room is completely dark it is really 2:00 in the afternoon and you can hear people in other parts of the house and you look over at the glass of water on the nightstand and catch your reflection and it looks yellow but you can't figure out why because there is no light and there is something blinking in the corner of the room and then your eyes really open and you know that everything that just happened to you was made up by the fever and you pull up the blankets over your face and slip back into it all and wait for what comes next... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 5.25. Last Night As I Lay On My Pillow.

2009-05-25T11:59:00.001-07:00

Last Night As I Lay On My Pillow
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I was going to write a bit of a love story to go with this one but then as I read the lyrics I thought they said it much better. So, for tonight's musical selection, we have the first three verses of... "My Bonnie"... Enjoy!
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
My Bonnie lies over the sea
My Bonnie lies over the ocean
Oh bring back my Bonnie to me

Last night as I lay on my pillow
Last night as I lay on my bed
Last night as I lay on my pillow
I dreamed that my Bonnie was dead

Oh blow ye the winds o'er the ocean
And blow ye the winds o'er the sea
Oh blow ye the winds o'er the ocean
And bring back my Bonnie to me

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Daily Keemo. 5.21. Learing Lessons The Hard Way

2009-05-21T07:34:00.001-07:00

Learing Lessons The Hard Way
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The best lessons learned are the ones we learn the hard way... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 5.18. We Are Like This, You And I

2009-05-18T05:42:00.001-07:00

We Are Like This, You And I
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I was out in the garage a couple weeks ago, working some other projects. As I was working I got sidetracked by the scrap wood pile near the table saw. There was this piece that was right on top of the pile that looked perfect from across the garage. I went over and picked it up and flipped it around. At first glance, I decided against it. There was some scuff marks on it, it was a little dirty and one of the edges wasn't perfectly square and a little tattered. As I looked it over though, I couldn't help but think of just about everyone I know, in this piece of wood. I mean, we all have our tattered edges and our scuff marks and somehow that makes us all more of an individual and more human. I changed my mind. This piece was perfect. I took it inside to the desk and started painting. Scuffmarks, not perfectly square, a little tattered and all. I'm pretty sure that I am not just writing about the wood anymore... Enjoy!

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Daily Keemo. 4.16. The One Armed Man Poses With The Kill.

2009-05-16T17:38:00.001-07:00

The One Armed Man Poses With The Kill
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I was lost. Driving along roads in northern Michigan and the GPS couldn't even find the destination. I knew the bridge out sign was not good. The gas gauge was real low and finally on fumes we roll in there and while pumping gas a big truck pulls up and parks on the other side of the pump and 4 hunters get out excited about their kill and the gas station attendant comes out to take a picture of the kill and just then a beat up PT Cruiser pulls up and out gets a man with one arm (seriously) and slurs words to the hunters and they all laugh and then the one armed man poses with the kill and I walk by the kill to go pay for gas because there is no pay at the pump in these parts. (There really is a good 10 minutes more of this story before I finally leave the gas station but this has to wait for the full short story that is coming.) While driving away I couldn't help but daydream about the entire layer of the Michigan existence that I have absolutely no connection to. So, with that... Enjoy!

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