A Street Market Scene

This recently finished oil painting is based on a series of photos that I took of the Park City Silly Sunday Street Market while on vacation this last September. It is an oil painted on canvas board that measures 12" x 16". For me this painting brings up memories of the fun perfect weather day that I wandered the Market with my friend Laura. I hope you enjoy it!

My Annual Collections Booklet for YOU...

Dear Friends & Loved Ones:
It’s been 8 years that I’ve been doing these little booklets. (Pictured Below...)Here's an electronic edition that I've put on my blog of it. If you would like to have a pdf format copy of this please drop me an email at -- its2allgood4u@yahoo.com Let me warn you that it is about 5Mb large. I would be more than happy to email you it. I make little changes each year that hopefully are improving the quality of these booklets. This year you will find more changes. I’ve cut out the recipes this year, and added more poetry, and a few new paintings. I hope you enjoy what's included in this blog post and I look forward to any comments that you may make. Please accept this as a gift to you for this Holiday Season.
Thank you --- J. Allgood

The Good Die Young
By Jallgood
Only the good die young-
Or so the song spouts in verse-
And I think,
Does that mean I wasn’t good?
Was I rejected, then, and
Put on the BAD list?
And while on this trial of thought,
Does that mean really old people
Were, clearly, BAD?
Or perhaps, that,
We are all bad?
Then get a chance
To regress into innocence,
In our old age?
And given the choice,
Can I take a waiver,
Or a “chance” card,
And pass on the old age,
Go directly to dying BAD?
Because, quite frankly,
This getting old DOES NOT appeal.


Spinning a Spokesong
By Jallgood
Calves streaked with black grease,
Cleated shoes pushing through circles,
A mind visualizing completed circling strokes,
Circles spinning, spinning,
Wheels turning, and turning,
A dance upon pedals.
A beautiful symphony of rhythm,
Stroke, after pedal stroke.
A heart singing in the sensation….
Flying!
Flying on a bicycle.
Surfing upon a wave of air,
Gliding above pavement,
Spinning a Spokesong,
An ever contented heart sings,
The wind races around a spandex clad form,
The speed washes forward.
A praying thought goes out,
For an everlasting non-ending road,
Oh, to be able to go on and on,
And never ever finish,
This spinning Spokesong.



Odd
Dreams…
By Jallgood
Fleeting glimpses of another world,
and all that I'm mostly left with are
preposterous images like….
Myself and superman standing at the
tip top of the Eiffel Tower
but this version of Superman
is Burt Reynolds in a Superman outfit with a toupee,
and I wonder….
How his toupee is staying on with all this wind?

Or another image…

I'm a pilot of a large jumbo plane
and my co-pilot is Mr. Bean
who, for some reason,
is trying to refasten his "steering wheel"
with chewing gum
and the more chewing gum he
Uses the more the gum is getting
EVERYWHERE else.

Or another image…

I'm dancing and singing
in the rain
just like the movie
but Gene Kelly looks like Brad Pitt,
who can dance okay
but can't sing a lick,
and I'm half tempted to tell him so
but then I think
"He's easy on the eyes,
just give him a break."

Or another image…

I've written a musical
and I'm overseeing the dry rehearsal
the name of the musical?
"Catholics and Mormons Living in Harmony"
and we are going over a scene
where Sister Fabian sings
"Miss Molly Mormon
you've got nothing on me…"
done to the tune of "Run Around Sue"

There are several more images…
those are just the hi-lights, so to speak.
Most of them not as outlandish as these
but strange and fleeting all the same.
And I can't help but wonder the reasons
Is it something I ate before bed?
Or is my imagination
just going "Hog Wild" while I sleep?
Or perhaps,
My subconscious is really twisted?
And if that is the case--
I really don't want to know.
Odd Dreams
None the less.
______________________________________________________________
"BOND CAR" By Jallgood

A sunny brisk late Fall morning,
Easing off of the freeway southbound,
A perfectly blond moussed spiked flat
top remained unscathed,
Dark aviator glasses played off well,
With the black leather bomber jacket,
As the two-seater convertible eased off into traffic,
I noticed the license plate,
"BOND CAR"
I couldn't help but smile and wonder,
Perhaps, he faired well in the bond market?
And thus paid for the car, or,
Perhaps, he's a middle-aged man going for an image?
I tend to think that it is the latter…..


A Mighty Fine Motto By Jallgood
He stood on the porch,
Hands on his back hips,
He recited with a slight southern twang,
"My Papay always told me…
Remember the seven P's,"
His index finger counting off his other fingers,
As he continued on,
"Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Papay found it worked;
He was always ahead of the game."
I respectfully listened,
Meanwhile, I was taking in the view,
A gutter barely hanging on by a rusty strap,
And a weather-beaten fence swaying to the wind's whim,
And I couldn't help but think to myself,
What's his definition of," Proper Prior Planning"?
And his definition of "Piss Poor Performance"?
As I nodded and agreed,
Saying," That's a mighty fine motto to live by,
A mighty fine motto."


Car Maestro —-By Jallgood
On a warm Fall afternoon,
The music streamed from the half opened window,
As the engines hummed in accompaniment,
Her arms flourished around
and above the steering wheel,
Her short brown hair swung
in timing with the music,
The semi-truck may have blocked most of her view,
But her imagination was directing an orchestra,
And all this took place at a stop light.
_________________________________________________
A Sunny Day at the Park
By Jallgood

Sounds envelope me,
Children's laughter rings,
The fountain patters out
a comfortable rhythm,
I relax on a bench,
The sun's warmth on my face,
A slight soothing breeze cools,
And whispering trees,
Put me at ease,
In this oasis
In the city.

Stress!!! By Jallgood
Calmness evaporates in the face of it,
Hands sweating,
Heart palpating,
Nail biting sets in,
Then shaking legs and wobbling knees.
Freaking out!
Frazzled!
Thoughts converging in the mind,
Fleeting remnants of ideas,
Sweep the edge of consciousness,
There and gone in a blink.
Faster, faster!
Threads are holding it all together,
A mass intertwining,
Confusing,
Spinning, Spinning!
Out of control!
Juggling, Juggling!
Don't let any of the pieces fall,
Hurry! Hurry!
Please pray an ending in site,
A good ending,
Please,
End SOON!
______________________________________________________
Shared Love By Jallgood

A whisper of breath,
Across a cheek,
A gentle breeze,
Of warmth,
A smile,
Reaches a twinkling eye,
A light squeeze,
Of holding hands,
A hand,
Lightly resting,
Reassuringly,
On a knee,
A palm,
Smoothly stroking,
Along the small of a back,
Full conversations,
Done in,
Wordless looks,
Comfortable,
Quiet silences,
Between two,
Little moments of love,
Flashes of warmth,
Glowing,
Enough to melt,
An icy core,
Of a soul,
A rekindling,
Of hopes,
And dreams,
Dreams
Long thought dead,
Or out of reach,
Now seem possible,
Because of shared love.

A Scathing E-Mail By Jallgood

Just when you thought it safe,
A scathing e-mail scantily clad has scampered,
For shelter in your “In-Box”,
Scarcely a scarecrow,
On these sinister autumn days,
Has scared you as much!
And the matter of Seven Swans a Swimming,
Could prove to be less savage!
Than scrambling to play a saucy game of Scrabble,
With the ever sassy seventy-year-old Mary,
But sainthood shall never be applied to this satirized e-mail,
That proves to be a scab,
On the scaffolding of your network!
No longer savory to exist,
You send this slippery scalawag to a scarleted trash bin,
And with a sigh of relief,
You carefully scan the rest of your “In-Box”,
For any further dubious characters!
______________________________________________________
I am Home By Jallgood
My soul has touched the whispering whites of clouds,
And it has felt the depths of burning embers in the earth,
But my heart has found a home,
Entwined in the safety of your arms,
And in that circle of love,
A willingness to ride the tides between heaven and hell,
As long as I can be in your arms,
I am home,
And my anchor is entrenched,
So whatever war the world may wage,
I shall always return to peace,
And the paradise of your loving arms.

Attraction
By Jallgood
I’m drawn like a moth to a flame,
I can’t help myself,
And I don’t understand.
I’m enchanted, bewitched,
and fascinated beyond comprehension.
It’s as though a switch has been thrown.
I’m off skelter.
So I blame you!
It’s your personal charm,
Your animal magnetism,
And all the other qualities I notice,
That add up to you.
I want to shout
“It’s your fault!”
But I can’t give away that control,
Much as I would like to.
I can’t give that up.
So I keep my distance,
As much as I can.
I need to figure this out, because
This is not the norm for me.
Questions swirl in my brain, mostly…
Why? Why? Why?
Why is it you?
Why such a strong attraction?
I can’t explain it,
And it’s driving me in to madness.
I wonder
Is it me?
Am I somehow short circuited?
I need control!
Yes!
Control and logic!
That’s what will save me from this….
That’s if I want to be saved?
_________________________________________________
A Glimpse of God
By Jallgood

I saw a glimpse of God
In your smile,
And my heart soared to the gates of heaven,
And I knew, then,
That you were meant for me,
For you are my gift from God,
And there is not a day that goes by
That I don’t thank Him,
For you.

Three Friends in a Doorway
By Jallgood
Talking,
Laughing,
And sharing.
Three friends,
Sit in a doorway,
On a warm March day.
Benny, Sally, & June,
When Sally tells...
“It was THIS high...”
Raising her arm,
Benny's face smirks with disbelief,
And June just rolls her eyes.


The Riding Team By Jallgood

We were comfortably crowding each other,
Our thighs lunging in a rhythmic motion.
Sharing the road felt like poetry from heaven.
Riding with a lyricism of the wind at our back,
Anyone could appreciate this hypnotic gliding through air,
A building momentum of a team riding the air,
Each of us on the wings of another desiring to fly,
Or so it felt.
Each of us finding our pocket of air,
Drafting off a rotating leader.
Each taking our one minute pulls,
Then taking our turn at a refreshing drink,
We drift back to the tail of the paceline,
Our humanity mechanized,
My team and I are humanly recharged.
______________________________________________________________________

The Bumper Sticker Read By Jallgood
The Bumper sticker read
“God Bless The Whole World: No Exceptions!”
The dry red painted Volkswagon churned to a stop.
She danced out of the car
Swinging the door shut with a loud bang.
Her blond hair bounced under her stripe knitted hat.
Spinning slowly around,
Her baggy frayed pants skimmed the ground.
Her earth friendly clogs peeked out
And her half opened lime green home knit sweater
Swayed around her slender tall form.
She heard music from an unknown source,
And she hummed along,
Marching to a beat
That only she could hear.
Marching up to the Post Office door,
Oblivious to the stares from others,
Or the looks she received,
She swish and swayed,
Alone in her own world.
Trying to save our world
In her own way?

Romantic Love?
By Jallgood
Some define it and declare it
With sappy sentimental verse,

Others, consider it sarcastically
As an illogical emotion
Until it slams up against their heads.

And others, question it…
Does it exist?
Will it ever knock on their door?
And if it does, will they recognize it?
Or feel they deserve it?

Are we all fools in our own right?
Whether we declare it, deny it, or question it.
Perhaps, we take too much time
And worrying about it,
That we miss both the possibility and simplicity of it?
_______________________________________________________________________
Grampa Slim
By Jallgood

He could have paid for his home several times over,
And the neighborhood was on the decline,
But here he remained.
The 1920’s clapboard house was full of memories,
Some good, some bad,
But it had served simply as his home for over 40 years.
He was a simple man with simple needs,

The same attitude applied to his blue work coveralls,
He wore them everyday.
He had retired 15 years ago,
But he continued to wear them.
After all, they were comfortable, serviceable, and low maintenance,
Which fit in fine with his bachelor lifestyle.
He was a simple man with simple needs,

On ordinary days,
Breakfast was eaten at the restaurant
down around the corner.
The usual two eggs, two sausage patties,
toast and coffee.
It was the cheap special of the day on the menu.
Most afternoons and evenings passed
“Shooting the breeze”,
And a few beers with his buddies.
Down at the local VFW club,
He was a simple man with simple needs,

He knew the sadness
Of outliving a wife, a son, and a daughter.
He had 10 grandkids,
And 13 great grandkids,
He found joy in them.
There wasn’t a day went by,
He didn’t miss “Toots”,
She had been his shooting star.
It had been 12 years,
Since cirrhosis of the liver had taken her away,
Life was full of surprises,
Some good, some bad,
He took it all in stride,
Because he was a simple man with simple needs.

A Walk Down Main
By Jallgood

Let's stroll,
And take a romantic turn,
Down memory lane,
Look!
There's “Our” cafe,
where we had our first date,
And look!
There's the Boot Shop,
where we've spent many hours,
telling stories,
of how you got
that hole in your boot.....
this time.
And look!
There's the jewelry store,
where you bought my ring,
Oh, to bottle up all these memories,
What a wonderful heady potion!
I'm so glad for this
Walk Down Main.


Fountain Play
By Jallgood

Jazz rhythm,
Irregular and rude.
It's just water,
Shooting up,
Then slapping to the ground.
Peels of Laughter,
Squeals!
And shrieks of surprise,
The shock of running through cold water,
On a hot July day.
Parents hum plans for small futures,
For the little ones who play.
______________________________________________________________
The Leader
By Jallgood

All alone,
Dancing on pedals,
I pause a bit,
Blowing the air out of my lungs.
A glance over the shoulder,
Reveals the pack is back 15 feet.
I pounce and accelerate,
Building that space,
More, and more, to
20, 25, 30 feet.
I take quick glances checking distance,
And again at the top of the hill,
Then again at the crest,
I pounce one last time.
Rising out of my saddle,
The bike swaying side to side,
Smashing my legs for all of their worth.
I start to descend.
I sit and tuck in, while
I keep my feet going.
I take a cleansing breathe to wash,
Out the scalding and sulfurous feelings,
Logged in my throat.
I must stay focused now,
The finish line approaches.
___________________________________________________________
Snow Plow Man’s Ballet
By Jallgood

At 3:30AM
The pristine snow covered parking lot beckons him
A soft white clean slate
If only life could be like this
He couldn’t explain the beauty of it
Try as he might
His wife would roll her eyes.

Maybe, maybe some day
When their son was old enough
Then he could make his son understand
Just like when his dad had shown him.

Taking one more quick sip of coffee,
He turned up the music.
The symphony spiraled
Above the noise of the truck’s heater.

Dropping the blade,
It began.
The first pass cut the parking lot in half
Then the quick twirl of a turn,
A light tap on the brake
And the slight lift of the blade
In unison
Then around for another pass.

Dropping the blade again
Watching the sparks fly
As the metal and cement skimmed along
He picked up the speed on the straight a ways.

Then again a quick turn
Light tap,
Slight lift,
All done in unison,
Then around for another pass.

Then the race along the next straight away
The music surging into a crescendo
And feeling a tug on his heart from past memories of himself and his dad
Of being buckled in on the passenger side, while Dad drove,
Loving the building speed
Just before the turn.
And around for another pass

Oh, these winter moments
Filled with fond memories
Were among his favorite.
They kept those hurried Christmas season thoughts at bay.

The quick twirl of turn,
A light tap on the brake
And the slight lift of the blade
All done in unison
Then around for another pass.

Only in America
By Jallgood

7:30AM on a December Tuesday Morning
The car radio announces a 20 degree dip in temps
I pull into the Wal-Mart parking lot
Outside stands a man with shopping bags on a bench
His red checked flannel shirt hangs out over worn blue jeans
His head is topped by a green and lavender striped stocking hat
He’s eating an ice cream cone
A nutritious breakfast?

Inside the breeze way
Two rumpled men sit on a bench with bundles and used sleeping bags
Debating philosophy over their steaming McDonald’s coffee cups

Hovering by the McDonald’s door inside the Wal-Mart
A pair of Latino girls speaking quickly in Spanish.
A man with a turban and a down jacket exits the store
A middle aged blond bombshell in a fur trimmed leopard print jacket,
and bright purple boots is being check out at aisle #1

All the while I’m thinking …
Only in America
Only in America
Could you find such a melting pot?
(Or maybe just at your local Wal-Mart?)


Season’s Greetings
to all of you!
Wishing that whatever wishes
you wish come true during this
Holiday Season!
-Jallgood

Christmas Open House-- Art and Jewelry Sale!

This last Friday I had a Christmas Open House- Art and Jewelry Sale. On Thursday night I had a small preview of the Art part and then on Friday night there was both my Art and Cambria's Jewelry. I will admit that it was not as well attended as I had hoped but those that did show were in a buying mood. 6 of my oil paintings were sold, YES! Cambria sold enough to make it worth her trouble to come down from North Salt Lake to my place. So now I'll be able to purchase some more canvas and paints, and who knows I may put some more of these events on. Here's some picutres from the event...
(Above: Dana with her purchases. Below: Cambria located a pair of earrings! and an overview of the jewelry)

A Bit of a Blue Direction...

This is a new direction for me. An experiment in blue with a bit of abstract. I call this " A Blue Abstract of the Moochie Bike Ride". It's based on some pictures taken from a Moochie's Restaurant bike club ride that took place earlier this year. It just felt done to me, and I thought it rather looked interesting. It's a bit of a change from how I usually paint, and I hope that you find it as interesting as I do.

This is done in oils on a canvas that measures 16" x 20".

I would love to hear some feedback on what you think...

St. Joe's Auction...Somewhat a Disappointment

I will admit that I was a little disappointed. I had hoped to have my painting sell for more than what it did but with the economy the way it is... I guess it didn't do too bad.

I was somewhat shocked when I arrived at the auction to find my painting leaning on the floor up against a wall. My friend, Jay,( who came along with me as support) quickly talked with someone in charge and had it moved to tabletop near by. There was no easel in sight and if I had known I would have brought one from home. Also, a couple more minor disappointments were that they did not have any of my blog cards (20 of them) or my artist's profile. Ann, who was on the ball printed up the artist profile, and I grabbed a few blog cards that I had with me. That issue was fixed but it made me feel rather uneasy about the whole auction.

Shortly after that I had a photo taken with the framed painting. The frame was very simple and I thought it fit in rather nicely with the painting. Dean, who was also from the St. Joe's congregation, did a wonderful job of taking former wood from inside the church and making a frame for the painting.

(Photos: Jay and myself enjoying beverages. The wonderfully decorated Parish Hall. )

There was a great deal of activity all around, and the parish hall was very nicely decorated. Jay and I visited the silent auction part with a wide variety of baskets to bid on. There were about 90 baskets in all. Jay made a bid on a couple of them while I kept on looking for a basket with some live theater tickets like I won on bid last year. Jay ended up winning a bid on a large basket of popcorn varieties. But I never did see any live theater tickets in any of the baskets. All the while I was walking around and looking at baskets, I had quite a few people say Hi and comment about how they very much liked the painting.

After the silent auction closed, then came the live auction action. There was a couple of different items that were up for auction before the painting. Both of those items went for well below what they were valued. It seemed that there was not any large bidders out there. Then my painting came up. My friend, and mechanic, Jim won the final bid. He's planning on donating back to the painting back to the church with wishes that it will be hung up in the foyer area of he new church. That idea made me very happy.

(Photo: Jim, who took the final bid on the painting with me.)

Live Auction-- Friday the 13th?

Hello All! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. This painting is going to be on a LIVE auction block this Friday night at St. Joseph's. When I donated it, I had no idea that it would be considered for the Live auction. I will admit that I hoped but wasn't sure that it would be considered worthy of a Live auction. This will be my first piece that has ever been a Live auction situation. I plan to watch, and I hope it goes well.

The painting is now framed in some old wood that was taken from the old St. Joe's church. I haven't seen it myself since it's been framed but have been told that it looks wonderful! I really hope the painting does well at the auction to assist in raising funds for the new church. I hope that the 13th proves lucky again... It IS my lucky number after all. But I will keep you posted and will hopefully have pictures from the night.

Old St. Joe's Painting...

Well, I sometime DO manage to surprise myself. I started this painting on the evening of October 10th and finish it last night on the 14th. I don't think it turned out too bad and I welcome any comments about the finished product.

In the forefront is my version of the St. Joe's crucifix, and in the background, is the interior of St. Joe's church which will be torn down at the end of October/early November. The interior is based on some photos that I took from the upper balcony area at the rear of the church. I purposely left the details as to the time of year. I wanted more to focus on the base of the building, which much like the congregation is the base of the church. But yet there's enough details that you can recognize that you are in the soon to be old St. Joe's.

I played with the idea of what to do with the background behind the crucifix. I wanted to make it specific for the parish of St. Joe's. I had all kinds of ideas but as I was sitting down and going through some of the photos I had of the church. It just kind of clicked! What would be more specific than the interior of the church? Another benefit is that it would compliment the crucifix with all of the wood tones, and thus, it was like this painting fell together for me.

I decided to not put in a face. Part of the reason is because I found it hard to do the face-- both emotionally for me, and I was also concerned because I wanted to do it perfectly. Perfectly? How could I do it perfectly? I'm human, and this is the face of God's Son that I would be trying to paint. It didn't mesh for me. Also, the emotion that's in the face of the crucifix brought up emotions in me. It was just too hard.

I also kind of liked the vagueness of the face. I believe that Christ died for each and everyone of us; for our sins. With that in mind I see an endless sea of possibilities of faces for those sins that he died for. How can I just narrow it down to just one face? I'm not sure if that makes any sense to some of you.

There's also the fact that I'm doing it in my style and if you have seen in quite a few of my paintings that I purposely leave the faces blank or vague. I like doing this because I like for those that are viewing the paintings to put a little of their imagination into the viewing of the work. Maybe they see loved ones, neighbors, friends, or memories of themselves in their version of the paintings.

I do welcome any input or comments to this work. Now it needs to just dry and then needs to be framed. I'm currently hoping to find someone that has talents with framing or wood working that can assist with the framing of this piece. Please have them contact me. Thanks!

How Many Ways Can I Paint This??

So I've promised to donate a painting for my old church which they are getting ready to tear down. I told a friend in the Women's Group that I would try to do a painting of the old crucifix that's currently hanging in the church. They are having a fundraising dinner in November where they have a silent and live auction with a little entertainment thrown in. I thought it's going to be tough but it's worth a try and for a good cause(funds go towards the building of a new church). I've got tons of pictures that I took of the cross.

Now I find myself in a quandary....how do I paint this crucifix? I can't just do it as a straight across copy of a photo that's never been my style. I want to try to make it special for that church member that puts a bid on it. Make it special for the old church too. But I'm struggling with painting the human form. I've only been painting for about 5 years. It's going to be a challenge.

Then I think I can go on the Internet and get some ideas on how to paint this.... You see some of what I saw on sites above. WOW! It's rather overwhelming the different ways that the crucifix has been done, and well, now I'm really questioning about where and how to begin. I also am feeling more and more overwhelmed. I might have bitten off more than I can chew! But we'll see--- I might yet be able to pull it off, and I have surprised myself in the past.

Cycling Chalk Creek... A Painting

Here's the latest oil painting based on photos that were taken during a beautiful summer day spent cycling in Chalk Creek Canyon. Chalk Creek is a scenic dead-end boxed canyon that is not far from Coalville, UT. There's a creek that winds along the two lane paved road. The canyon has rolling hills with farms that grow hay and also quite a few have sheep, cows, and goats. This oil painting measures 12" X 14" and is painted on canvas board. I hope I managed to capture the sunny and beautiful day. Enjoy!

Arsenic & Old Lace...

This last Friday night I very much enjoyed a theater production at the Sugar Factory Playhouse... Arsenic and Old Lace. One of my favorites, and at SFP they did a fabulous job! I invite anyone that may be out in West Jordan, and loves to laugh to check it out. AND you can't beat the $6 for a live theater production. My friend Giselle is performing the role of Martha and she just amazed me with her talent. There seems to be quite a bit of talent in that theater--from costumes, to lighting, sound, and set design. I snapped a few shots with my camera as they were all taking their bows at the end of the show....

Painting Cold Scenes on Hot Days...

Well, here it is! After almost 4 weeks of being on my easel, it's finally finished. Painting a winter scene in August to try and stay a little cool. I thought would be a good idea, and so I started a winter scene thinking of cool thoughts while the temperatures outside climbed into the upper 90's. It kind of worked in theory, but at other times it was a challenge because I would have rather been out riding my bicycle. Some what crazy, I know but so very true of me. But it was interesting because the day that I finished it the temperature had drove to the mid-70's. I couldn't help but think that I might have influenced the weather? NAW!! Sheesh! Talk about an "EGO"! But one could hope to dream.

But here's the result of 4 weeks working sporadically on a painting. I call it " Making a Snowball at Temple Square". It's an oil done on canvasboard measuring 18" X 24". Enjoy!

Repairing Grant Wood...

Recently, my mom sent me an article from the hometown paper about repairs to a Grant Wood stained glass window. The stained glass was cracked during the Floods of 2008 in Eastern Iowa. The window has a huge rising angel of peace in the center who is welcoming all the veterans home. Along the bottom there are soldiers from the nation’s six major wars through to World War I. It’s an amazing piece that has left me standing mesmerized each time I beheld it as a child.

Most of you may know the artist Grant Wood for his famous piece American Gothic, or maybe a parody of this work which is one of the most popular parodied pieces outside of Mona Lisa, and Whistler’s Mother. The original painting of American Gothic done in 1930 now hangs permanently in the Art Institute of Chicago. I luckily grew up looking quite often on his works some of my favorites which you may not have seen or heard of. There’s the, Woman with Plants(pictured below), where Grant lovingly painted his mother with a snake plant. It’s a real favorite of mine.

Another favorite is his Young Corn(pictured below), where he rounds the hills and trees making them ever so friendly and simple. He helped create an all-American style of art. If you ever happen to be driving through the Stone City, Iowa area; you’ll see where he got the idea of rounding of hills and the trees. It looks like much of the scenery in that area, with patches of different colored fields depending on the crop. It brings back fond memories of weekend drives through the area. I also remember a Young Corn-like landscape being on cover of the Cedar Rapids phone book one year.


The towering stained glass window (pictured at top), measuring 21 feet wide by 25 feet tall, was commissioned by my hometown, Cedar Rapids Iowa, in 1927 for a mere $9000; a bargain at that time. Grant Wood was quoted two years later that it was “…at least a $12,000 window”. Now the bids to repair the 58 paneled window is anywhere from $111,000 to $170,000. The piece has an estimated $300,000 insurance policy, according to the newspaper article from the Cedar Rapids Gazette. It's amazing how art appreciates. I can only hope one day when I'm six feet under some of my work will be worth something. The stained glass window will be removed from the Veterans Memorial Building/City Hall for a year at least for the repairs.

Trying to get motivated...

With all of this rain we have been experiencing here in SLC, you would think that it would be a natural for me to pick up the paint brush. But it's kind of like I'm having "painter's block"?!? Is there such a thing? However, on the other hand, I don't seem to be having trouble with the "writer's block". So thus, below you will find a new poem that I wrote, and I think it's pretty obvious what frame of mind I was in. I apologize it still needs some work, but it's pretty darn close to being "there". Well anyway, I hope you enjoy and it'll probably be in this next year's "Collection Booklet" this Christmas.

Here it is.....

The Good Die Young

Only the good die young,

Or so the song spouts in verse,

And I think,

Does that mean I wasn't good?

Was I rejected?

Put on the BAD list?

And while on this trail of thought,

Does that mean really old people

Were clearly BAD?

Or is it, perhaps,

We are all bad?

Then get a chance,

To regress to innocence,

In our old age?

And given the choice,

Can I take a waiver?

Or a "chance" card?

And pass on the old age,

Go directly to dying BAD?

Because quite frankly,

This getting old Doesn't appeal.

Little Red Riding Hood!!!

Oh what a FUN time!

Check out more fun pictures on my other blog--

the Allgood life ( http://theallgoodlife.blogspot.com/ )

The Little Red's BIG BAD WOLF; an interview

The BIG BAD WOLF--- as played by Doug Jensen


I thought that with the Little Red Riding Hood Ride (LRRH) coming up in June that it might be fun to interview the BIG BAD Wolf, the mascot of the ride, and also this will be in the May issue of BCC's newsletter. The BIG BAD WOLF is featured in both of the collage oil paintings that I'm donating this year. (See Blog Post Entry below.)

The man under the costume is Doug Jensen. Some of you may know him as the Bonneville Cycling Club's ride leader for the Thursday Bike and Brew Rides. I also know him as the guy that’s walked away with the first place costume prize on my annual Tricky Treat Halloween Bike Ride for the last two years. He’s a big easy going type of guy that likes wearing costumes. What better person to be the Big Bad Wolf for the LRRH?

So how did you become the BIG BAD WOLF?
Penny asked me because she knows that I like to dress up. I seem to have this “Crass Comedic” reputation that fit in well with the personality of the BIG BAD WOLF.

What do you feel is the personality of the BIG BAD WOLF?
A little lecherous, but nice after all he is the BIG BAD WOLF.

When was the first time that you were the BIG BAD WOLF?
It was two years ago in 2007 that was my first year of being the costumed BIG BAD WOLF. It was fun!

This year is a rather tropical type of theme; will there be any changes to the BIG BAD WOLF’s costume?
You’ll have to wait and see, but know that I have no shame. So expect something!

Anything you’d like to tell the ladies riding this year?
Yes, watch your rear view mirrors because I’m going to be out on a bike this year. Also, whatever my costume may be, be sure to swing by for a good photo opt and to say “Hi” to me too.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?
I’m looking forward to embarrassing my daughter and her friends who are coming up from Las Vegas to do the ride.

Paintings Donated to Little Red!!!

Little Red Riding Hood 2008 Collage Painting

(24" x 36"; oil on canvas wrapped around frame)

and below....

Little Red Riding Hood 2007 Collage Painting

(20" x 26"; oil on canvas wrapped around frame)

Both of these paintings will be donated for the 2009 Little Red Riding Hood Ride's Silent Auction to assist in raising funds for the charity. This year's charity is the University of Utah Genetics and the funds will be ear marked for breast and ovarian cancer research.

These paintings are based on a collage of photos, and personal experiences that I have had with the all female bike ride. It's one of my favorite bike rides that Bonneville Cycling Club puts on, and it always raises charitable funds for women's health issues.

For more information about the ride; either to be a participant, a volunteer, or an observer--- please check out the Little Red Riding Hood website below.....

www.bccutah.org/lrrh2009/

"Three Friends in a Doorway"

(Oil on canvas board- 8"x10")

Three Friends in a Doorway

Talking,
Laughing,
And sharing.
Three friends,
Sit in a doorway,
On a warm March day.
Benny, Sally, & June,
When Sally tells...
“It was THIS high...”
Raising her arm,
Benny's face smirks with disbelief,
And June just rolls her eyes.

Some Temple Square Lights.....

Hello! Here's two new paintings of Temple Square with Christmas Lights. These are my first snow paintings, but hopefully not my last. Let me know what you think of them.

(At Top:"Couple at Temple Square with Christmas Lights" on Canvas board-18"x24"; and on the bottom " Three Friends with Temple Square Christmas Lights" on Canvas board-12"x16"). These are based on photos that I took with a friend one night down at Temple Square just before Christmas. Thanks to the help of my photo-savvy friend, I actually had photos that turned out. Amazing!! I'm not generally very good at taking photos without cutting off heads, arms, and etc. I do apologize however for the poor quality of the "Couple at Temple Square with Christmas Lights". The paint was still wet as I was taking it, and I got quite a bit of reflection on it. Enjoy, and I'm off to my next painting project. -----A Little Red Riding Hood Ride 2008 Collage! Coming soon..............