Eating Peaches

Eli, the barrow boy of the old town
Sells coal and marigolds and he cries out
All down the day
Below the tamaracks he is crying
“Corn cobs and candlewax for the buying!”
All down the day

“Would I could afford to buy my love a fine gown
Made of gold and silk Arabian thread
But I am dead and gone and lying in a church ground
But still I push my barrow all the day
Still I push my barrow all the day”

This piece is based on lyrics of the song Eli, The Barrow Boy, by The Decemberists. If you’ve never heard of The Decemberists, I highly recommend giving them a try. They hail from Portland, Oregon.

This piece is kind of cobbled together from a lot of different sources. The main one is some woodcut engravings I found online here – the book they are from is called Saint Epiphanius on the Physiologus, from 1588.

And with that…I have completed my goal for the year! Fifty-two pieces, which comes out to one a week. I am actually kind of shocked that I completed my goal. But I’ve had a lot of fun along the way, and really have enjoyed getting back into my art. I hope you have enjoyed the pieces and the blog.

I intend to repeat this goal for 2011 – 52 pieces in 52 weeks, so stay tuned…more to come next week/year!

Photo credits:
Barrow – mr wolke
Church – Sam Segar
Texture – Linnell Esler
Texture – Bert van ‘t Hul

In the brown shag carpet of a cheap motel
In the dark and dusty corner by the TV shelf
Is a small reminder of a simpler time
When a crumpled up pair of trousers lost a brand new dime
Well you ask me how I made it through and how my mint condition could belong to you
When I’m on the ground I roll through town
I’m a president you don’t remember getting kicked around

In the hiss and rumble of the freeway sounds
As the afternoon commuters drive their cars around
There’s a ringle jingle near the underpass
There’s a sparkle near the fast food garbage and roadside trash
I’m a dime
I’m fine
And I shine I’m freshly minted
I’m silver-plated I’m underrated
You won’t even pick me up because I’m not enough for a local phone call
I’m a dime
I’m fine
And I shine
I’m a dime
I’m fine
And I shine
I’m a dime
I’m fine
And I shine

This piece is based on the song Dime, by the band Cake. I love Cake – seriously in my top bands of all time. The lyrics of this song are awesome. Who writes a song about a dime? Better yet, who does an art piece based on lyrics about a dime?

What a bunch of loons.

For those keeping track, I am one piece away from my goal of 52 for the year, with 11 days to go. It feels pretty good.

Photo credits:
Dime – David Strachan
Road – Mario Alberto Magallanes Trejo (now that’s a name!)
Sky – Me
Texture – Andrew C.
Texture – Julia Starr

Your mama never told you
How you were s’posed to treat a girl
Your papa never told you
Now you’re alone, out in the world
Sirens are screaming
Inside the winding sheets are pale
The devils are dreaming,
Dreaming of a blue angel

The devils are dreaming.

This is a song that I’ve had a painting in mind for for a long, long time. But what’s interesting is the final piece is absolutely nothing like the painting I have in mind. Maybe I’ll do that piece in the future. It’s darker than this one.

The song is Blue Angel, by the Squirrel Nut Zippers. I was fortunate enough to see them in North Carolina when we lived there (they are from there).

Love, love, LOVE this song!!!

Photo credits:
Dreamer – Andrew Haarsager
Angel? – Wise Wander
Background – Jim Frech

Wintertime winds blow cold this season
Fallen in love, I’m hopin’ to be
Wind is so cold, is that the reason?
Keeping you warm, your hands touching me

Come with me dance, my dear
Winter’s so cold this year
You are so warm
My wintertime love to be

I hate winter. But I do kind of enjoy this time of year, until after New Year’s Day. Then I want it to be 75 degrees and sunny. But in Colorado that’s probably not going to happen too often in the winter…although it was 70 degrees here just a few days ago.

This is my take on Wintertime Love by The Doors. It’s on the 1968 Waiting For The Sun album, which ironically doesn’t not contain the song Waiting By The Sun (that would come two years later on the album Morrison Hotel) Anyway, Wintertime Love is a great song…listen to it! This album is probably my favorite Doors album, and I actually have it on album. It’s one of the few I saved in the great album purge of ’87.

Photo credits:
Dancer – Cristina Nichitus
Building – Colin Brough
Texture – Hilde Vanstraelen

People say I’m crazy doing what I’m doing
Well they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
When I say that I’m o.k. well they look at me kind of strange
Surely you’re not happy now you no longer play the game

I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go

This piece is based on the John Lennon song Watching The Wheels. (check the video out with the song – it’s great!) I love the lyrics of this song. The way I interpret it is he’s basically checked out of the rat race, and is just watching the wheels go ’round and ’round – enjoying and living life.

I chose it because today is the 30th anniversary of his senseless and tragic death. You may have discovered from a lot of my pieces that I am a big Beatles fan. I was probably always more of a Paul McCartney fan, but in my later years I got more into John Lennon. I might be more of a Lennon fan now actually. I really like his music and what he stood for. The world lost a great spirit and entertainer 30 years ago.

Rest in peace John.

Photo credits:
Carousel – Jane Cleary
Field – George Popa
Wheels – Balkan Bridge
Background – Dimitri Castrique