Wednesday, September 27, 2006

TEQUILLA

Wow - what do you know. I turn my back for a minute and six days have flown by. Well, clearly Autumn has begun. I am so very fine with that. Somehow I managed to mis the news of the passing of no other than Danny Flores. Who was Danny Flores you may ask. He was the composer of the mega-huge 1958 hit "Tequilla". One online article described it as a " classic instrumental" which "featured Flores' instantly recognizable saxophone line and his periodic growl of the sole lyric – "Tequila!". It has to be one of the most famous songs of al time with that classic "ba dum budda badum bahdum - ba dum budda badum buhm ...tequilla!" Unfortunately, its states in the article that he sold the rights to the song for a pittance.

I caught an intriguing film on Tuner Classic Movies last night. It was titled "Death of A Cyclist" though it seems to have had several different titles including "The Age of Infidelity" and "Egoisti". Though it seems to have been panned during it's initial release, the film has aged well and I really enjoyed it. Here's how the NYTimes describes it "Originally titled Muerte de un Ciclista (Death of a Cyclist), it is a Spanish-filmed guilt trip with overtones of social upheaval. The young wife (Lucia Bose) of an older industrialist inaugurates an affair with a university professor. While driving from their trysting place, the adulterous couple runs down and a cyclist. They can't go to help him without exposing their affair, so the cyclist is left to die on the side of the road. The consequences of this act destroys the lovers' lives -- but not before director Juan Antonio Bardem has illustrated the shallow upper-class lifestyle that has fostered the woman's amorality in the first place. Shorn of its sociological implications (which incurred the wrath of the Spanish press), the plotline of Age of Infidelity was later cannibalized for innumerable American TV dramas, and for the 1965 Theatre Five radio playlet "Ride to Nowhere."
There is one brilliant and visually riveting scene where the leads are visiting a flamenco club together which makes the whole film worthwhile in my opinion. Also, you can't help but be entranced by Lucia Bose (Ms. Italy 1947), is stunningly beautiful and seductive in the lead role.

Lucia Bose circa 1952

Here is my latest work which I finished yesterday:


"Eyewitness"
36" x 48"
acrylic on canvas

Now, it is time to begin my new work for my friend Randi Rhodes, who has commissioned me to paint her portrait.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Try to remember...

Ah - the joy of returning home. Last night was the first night that I have spent in my usual bed for over a week. Though I had every intention of documenting my mini-road trip through the south, it just didn't come into being. I was easily distracted from my Mac for a variety of reasons. I had a wonderful time - met some new people, visited with some old friends and family, and managed to sell two paintings as well. The states that I traveled through ( Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland) are geographically beautiful.



I only wish that I had taken more photos. Like the computer, it somehow got left in my bag during my adventures. Which, actually, is fine. Somethings are just meant to live on in the memory and no where else.

Today also happens to be the first day of autumn.



It often plays around annually within a few hours, but more or less, September 21st is the day. It was also on this day 5 years ago that my father died joining my mother who had died in 1989. Anniversaries of this nature naturally cause one to reflect. But, these are interpersonal thoughts that I will keep in my mind and free from this digital forum.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Superman vs Wig-Wam Village

Surprise Surprise I have been up since 4:00 AM. Perhaps that's what afternoon naps are for. Well, at least I was able to witness and digitally capture a particularly spectacular sunrise over the bay.

Rehoboth Bay

I saw the film Hollywoodland last night. I was on the list of films that George and I wanted to see. We both thoroughly enjoyed the film. I found the whole did or did George Reeves not commit suicide story rather compelling.


Photo of Noel Neill ("Lois Lane") and George Reeves ("Superman")

Based upon stories that I have read from the case, the film stay pretty true to reality. There is one particularly edgy scene where a little boy dressed as a cowboy shows up at a publicity function and wants to bounce bullets off of Superman's chest. The only problem is that the kid has a real gun loaded with real bullets.



This is also supposedly based on an actual event. The entire cast was spectacular, but Adrian Brody really was amazing and I would be surprised not to see an Oscar nomination for him.



The same can be said for Diane Lane and of course, Ben Afleck as well. After watching the film and based upon my own reading of the case, I have to believe that he was murdered. There are just so many oddities connected to his death that night that would rule out suicide. You can read more about George Reeves, his life and career as well as this intriguing case here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Reeves

My new musical obsession is the Polyphonic Spree.



I was first turned onto them about 3 years ago ( it may have been longer) when they were featured on an NPR segment. They slipped through my memory banks however until I ran across them online last night. They are very conceptual ( with 20 plus multi-colored choir robe wearing band members) and I find their music brilliant. I purchased their latest EP on ITunes this morning for 5 bucks. It may be the best 5 dollars I've ever spent. Check out their visually compelling website here: www.thepolyphonicspree.com.

So. I'm off on my mini-road-trip to the South today. I intend to have a great time. This time of year is particularly lovely in "Kentuckasee" and I'll be able to visit with some close family and friends - and maybe even be able to take in a roadside peculiarity or two...

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Lovely Tuesday

Wow - Tuesday already. My whole weekend and the Monday that followed flew by. I spent a large part of my weekend in NYC. I was there to visit my friend Randi Rhodes who has comissioned me to paint her portrait. She held this great little gathering at her place and we had a total blast. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. Great people, great friends, great conversation. I also smoked enough cigarettes (which I rarely do anymore) to supply Hong Kong and drank enough martini's to keep Las Vegas afloat for a few years - but we had a blast.

Sprouse and Rhodes

Sprouse and Rhodes

I'm on the road again starting tomorrow. Going down south for Art Business. I'll be posting from the road - so check back if interested.



Peace, love and light,
Michael

Friday, September 08, 2006

Crazy...

On this day in 1932 was born country music icon Patsy Cline in a little town in Virginia. Where I grew up in Kentucky, she was legendary. I have always had quite the soft spot in my heart for her songs, especially her soulful ballads which were tinged with hue of wistful melancholy, like all great country and folk music. This is a digitally enhanced image of her that I created. It is from the last known photograph taken of her before her tragic death.

Patsy Cline

The original can be found here. http://images.soundclick.com/05/pro/album/3/82803_10.jpg

Steve Miller band's "Wild Mountain Honey" just came on over my XM satellite radio. This makes me want to say "Hello, Sandy, wherever you are!". Anyone who knew me then when that reference would make sense, also knew Sandy and her strong affection for that song. And if any of them are reading this entry, they are smiling too.
Peace, light, and love,
Michael

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Cocoa Paint...

Wow - I never want to drive through heavy rain again. 90% of my ride back yesterday to Philadelphia consisted of my maneuvering through, according to the weather channel, the remains of Hurricane John. Is that true - I don't know. I spend most of last weekend watching the remains of Ernesto swallow the beach only to battle John on the way back. I thought John was in California. Where ever it came from, it created a white knuckle driving experience of driving through what seemed like a 2 hour high-pressure car wash in my little VW Bug while being sandwiched between two semis. Sounds like fun, no?



After surviving the deluge, I spent most of the day yesterday on the phone speaking to the Art Director from the high-end design group (McCartan) that had selected prints of my work for the lobby of the famous Cocoa Exchange in NYC.


(3 large scale fine art reproductions of my work grace the lobby of the above building)

It's also the lobby where the photo for the August/September issue of Trader Monthly was taken.

I also spent some time in the studio cleaning up water that had gotten in. So, overall not a bad for a Tuesday.

What I found of interest today is that the photo that I posted on flickr.com of Steve Irwin has become somewhat of a flickr.com internet homage of sorts. I didn't really mean for it for that reason. Well, sort of. But, I'm just amazed at how popular he was and still is. As of right now, the picture has been viewed over 850 times and has had over 30 comments and 25 people have called it a "favorite". That's a new record for photo I've posted I think. I wonder what, if any, effect all of that energy may have on the soul energy for someone who has passed into that dimension. In any event, I've had a good studio day today and am looking forward to getting in some time tomorrow as well.

Studio Time

Monday, September 04, 2006

In Memoriam...

It's Labor Day 2006. I must begin by saying that I was a bit heartbroken when I read about the unfortunate and unexpected death of Steve Irwin aka "the crocodile hunter".



Though I had only seen his programs on a few occasions, he had a definitive charisma and charm connected to his work that made him fascinating to watch. He would get as excited as a kid at a candy store and some of his scenes practically would crackle with excitement as he would draw uncomfortably near a particularly dangerous creature. He died doing what he loved.

In Memoriam...
Steve Irwin
22 February 1962 – 4 September 2006



Saturday, September 02, 2006

September...



September once again. Frankly, after a particular topsy-turvy summer, I have never been as willing to welcome autumn as I am now.
I love autumn and it's glorious color and crisp air.

With that said, now this, since I am in between the ages of both - and they are born on this day, I say

Happy Birthday Keanu (42)



and Salma (40)

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Necklaces, Pastels and Glen Ford

I missed Wednesday. How did I manage to do that? In any event, what started as a so-so Wednesday (a sub-so-so really - involving the end of a 3 day period of torrential rain, standing water on my studio floor, and the futile search for the affordable yet elusive wet-vac) ended on a lovely note.

By the end of the day, I had been contacted by a well established gallery located in the South who wants to carry a line of my original works and I spent a good part of my evening having a wonderful time having dinner and stimulating conversation about art with my friends Michael Scotko and Karen Kiick - both extremely talented artists themselves. I love being in a room with other artists - talking, laughing, discussing our work and our role in society as artists. I can't get enough.

Karen, an award winning sculptor and painter, also makes wonderful jewelry. She gave me a necklace as a present and I am crazy about it! I wear artistically designed masculine necklaces often - and this one is perfect for the coming autumn season. Here I am wearing it this morning waiting for my coffee to brew...

Early morning

And here is a close-up of it:

Necklace

A common theme in all of Karen's work is her ability to successfully present a sense of vision that is tactile in nature and inextricably bound to the very human desire to touch and feel rock, stone and clay. Our primordial ancestors need and ability to create tools from natural resources in order to scrape and paint imagery onto a cave wall is buried inside all of us. There are reasons that people are drawn to ancient stone ruins, graveyards, ancient cathedrals and castles and Karen's architecturally inspired work satisfies that want in an approachable and sophisticated way.

Her husband Michael Scotko is a self-taught pastel artist specializing in landscape. His work is brilliant - they transcend simply "pretty" landscapes evolving into thought provoking, soulful, delicate sanctuaries on paper that immediately calm and quieten. They're so enchanting that to see them in real time is the mot proper way to experience them, but until then - you can visit his site for a sampling at www.michaelscotko.com.

Now, I must end this post on a sad note. One of my favorites and a screen icon has passed. Glen Ford. I always found him so compeling on screen no matter what role he was playing - usually a good guy done wrong. And - of course, just one word..."Gilda"

Glenn Ford: 1916 - 2006

In Memoriam...
Glen Ford
May 1, 1916 - Aug. 30, 2006

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The most intimate and internal things in the world...

Here is the latest bizarre email that I have recieved in reference to stocks of some sort.

"No, the young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. There was a short round jacket with a high, rolled collar. Then Anthony saw that Carlo Cibo was sitting on the chest laughing. The custom imparts a certain tone and discipline to a tropical community.

I shall take it up with the ecclesiastical authorities. What will anything matter fifty years from now to Carlo Cibo? He is no fool I can tell you, that old man. I play them off one against the other and go my own way. Complete darkness descended except where the doll stood in a kind of foul light. Father Trajan thrust his hands into the chest and pulled out the Madonna proudly. You see, said Cibo quietly, as they mounted the broad steps to the Paseo. As for the peccadillo of the soul I leave that to the church; heroics to the military.

He wondered if all events for Cibo inevitably resulted in more and better food. Clothes were, he felt, the most intimate and internal things in the world. It is the firm of Cuesta and Santa María. He is always steered in the direction which his bowsprit indicates. If it had not been for that he would have plunged out in his sleep into the garden below.

He pushed Anthony by the arm toward the black emanation in the corner. It understands us instinctively by just remembering itself. He remembered a naked child in the vestibule of the Casa da Bonny feather. "


A little online research informed me that this probably an excerpt from the novel “Anthony Adverse”, written by Hervey Allen



and made into a film in 1936. According to one source the novel was the “greatest best seller of its day, and was only surpassed when Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With The Wind”. As to why an excerpt appeared today in my email sent by a stranger with the dubious name of Clair. Who knows.


I do know that while I was on my 4 mile high speed exercise walk this morning a black fast moving SUV sped by and someone inside yelled “asshole” at me. I couldn’t figure out why that happened and it stuck with me for a minute.

I didn’t know the occupants and only even glanced towards the vehicle after the vocalization had occurred. It wasn’t until about 10 minutes later after I had turned around the bend of the large park did I notice a friendly looking fellow drive by. He was probably in his early 30’s, clean cut gent. Our eyes met briefly as I was walking and a slight smile came across his face. It was then that he lifted up his hand and offered me a peace sign. And then I knew. He must had seen the button that I was wearing...

peacebtn.jpg

And so. sadly, had someone in the SUV. Someone so brainwashed by what’s happening in our world, especially by our government, that they felt the need to call me, a perfect stranger walking down a street, an asshole.

Because I was wearing a peace button. What does this kind of behavior remind you of folks?

riot-police

Be careful out there fellow peace lovers...

Monday, August 28, 2006

"She Hates Me" - not really...

Well - the close of another Monday. Weather wise, the whole weekend was humid and overcast. The light was a diffused white/smokey haze from sunrise to sunset.
Friday night, George and I went up the street to this hip coffee shop and watched "She Hates Me" (great musicians, badly designed website) perform.

I had seen them once before but only briefly. Though the coffeehouse was uncomfortably warm and there was more than one overtly loud and obnoxious buffoon in the audience, the performance was really enjoyable. Shannon McGill's voice is simply angelic and touched with a haunting rustic quality. She has wonderful phrasing and intonation which blends perfectly with Kevin Sullivan's masterful guitar work.

I also spent some of the weekend and today finally finishing my My Space site. Feel free to visit by clicking here: www.myspace.com/sprouseart.

I also was informed by one of my curators that the current issue of the international published magazine of high-finance " Trader Monthly " has a photograph containing of one of my works featured prominently in an article entitled "30 Under 30: The top young talent currently slaying the capital markets. " The photograph is of Josh Slavitt (of the firm BNP Paribas of New York). He's one of the "30 under 30" and in the photograph he is standing right underneath my work entitled "Le Désir Secret". Gotta love free publicity.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Crazy dream...

Super odd dream story from last night. Dressed in running shorts, t-shirt, and athletic shoes, I find myself wondering the halls of some office building somewhere.
Though I could tell it was present time, the offices aren't exactly new. They were well maintained and clean, but not new. They had that look and feel of offices from the 70's - short shagged industrial gold brown carpet everywhere, warm yellow hued lighting, stolid burnt tangerine colored plastic and super shiny ever so slightly off-white opalescent tiling.





Based upon my interaction with other folks in the building who all knew me and greeted me by name, I must have been working there. It didn't seem to matter that they were all in business attire and I was dressed as if i were headed for the gym.

After walking the halls for a bit, I stop in the men's room.



So, I'm standing there at the wall urinal going about my business and who walks in but George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Now, of course, for me the dream has drifted into "nightmare" zone. "This is just great" I remember saying sarcastically to myself, since I am definitely not a fan of either men.



He looks at me and gives me that insipid frat boy smile nods and says "How ya doin". I nod back, and out of respect for the office of the Presidency itself (not, in this case, for the fellow who currently holds the office) I respond with a stern "Good morning, sir." I stare straight ahead and go about by business. Bush and Cheney begin to discuss something political ( I wish I could remember!) as if I weren't there. I remember thinking that whatever they were discussing, it wasn't something that I wanted to be in on and it made me very uncomfortable. I finish up, quickly wash my hands and leave without saying a word.



As soon as I opened the door to leave, I found myself walking up a street about a block away from the house I grew up in. I was till wearing the same clothes, but this time my shoes were missing and I had a sliver-grey back pack with me that was very heavy. I kept switching the back pack on and off my shoulders to distribute the weight. It' s lovely early summer day and I'm walking by the park that i spent so much time playing in. I walk by the house of one of the neighborhood kids that I knew and there are small bleachers set up in his front yard. There's a small group of people sitting on the bleachers eating muffins watching this kid and his sisters give some sort of speech. I walked by and continued to the house I grew up in. I pass another grey stone house which was adorned from top to bottom in a huge shiny red ribbon- complete with a bow at the top.



Though it appeared to look more like holiday decorations rather than a gift. In fact, I remember thinking that the whoever lived in the house had really jumped the gun on the holiday decorations as we were still several months away from Christmas. And then for some reason, I remember thinking that the person who lived there had this decoration up year round. It was a lovely house. It seemed to me to have been built in the 1920's or early 30's. The stone used were thick hewn roughly textured blocks of limestone that had darkened and weathered over the years. There were also beautiful crystal clear windows that ran that enclosed the entranceway/porch to the house. They were made of cut glass so that the sunlight refracted in prisms all about them. And the red ribbon made it just that much more lovely really.

After that, it becomes vague and I wake up. That was about 2 hours ago or around 5:00 AM. You would think that someone getting up that early had some cows or something in the backyard that had to be milked or something.



But that's not the case at all. I just like getting up early.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Little button - big message

See this little button?



What is the first word that pops into your head when you see it?

I ordered mine from www.peacebuttons.info shortly after the fiasco in Iraq began.And here is why. Because symbols are incredibly powerful and Peace is beautiful. If you are old enough to read or speak then you know the what the peace symbol means when you see it. I try to wear this little button every day. I own more then one and keep them about the house to make it even more easier to grab it and pin it onto my shirt when I'm heading out the door.

In my opinion, since everyone knows what this symbol means, the first second they see it, the word PEACE is spoken in their head. Whether they agree with it or not, or want it or not, the "little button with the big message" has planted the word PEACE in someone's psyche. It is impossible to see the symbol and not hear the word PEACE in your head. Imagine if everyone in the world spent just 60 seconds a day repeating the word PEACE ( or its equivalent in the language of their choice) as a silent meditation. What do you think would happen? There is power in that word - and if I can help someone speak the word in their mind even for a second, then I feel like I'm doing something to help end this futile, wasteful war and to help build something beautiful. What realy makes me happy is when someone asks me where they can get or tells me that they are going to find one that they have had in the bottom of some shoebox from the past somewhere. If you have one of those, then now is the time to pull it out and wear it proudly or order some now from www.peacebuttons.info. Give them to family and friends, even complete strangers. Just spread the word.

Here are some recent entries from my sketchbook...







Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Everyone likes muffins....

Ah - this bizarre yet sweet animation made me laugh today, which I enjoyed greatly. I do so wish I had a muffin... A couple of weeks ago, I greedily consumed the most decadent dark chocolate muffin with milk chocolate chips and chocolate covered espresso beans baked within. My eyes still glaze over like a junkie's when I think of it...


http://www.muffinfilms.com/psst.html.

Today also would have been the 94th birthday of American film dancer great - Gene Kelly. What amazing talent he had. A what awesome powerful legs. He was the Fred Astaire of the working class.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Aint that nice...

I'm not going to spend a lot of time making excuses for why I've not updated this blog in 11 days. I've had a busy topsy turvy last few weeks and frankly, I can't wait for what has been a rather unenjoyable summer to fade away. I love autumn and am ready to start a new season. I will do my best to keep this blog updated as best as I can - especially since my dear friend Kathryn had informed me that she reads it with her morning coffee.

Today is August 22, 2006. While flipping mindlessly through the 8,000 digital cable channels the other day, I stopped for a nano-second on the conservative skank Glenn Beck's how to speak directly out of your ass program. He suggested that he had a feeling that something "big" was going to happen today. I hope that he is wrong as I am driving to New Jersey later this morning and don't suffer detours, road blocks, and traffic well. Perhaps the big thing would be for him to realize while staring deep into his own vitriolic eyes while shaving what a hate mongering self-important wind bag he is, but I doubt it.

Today also happens to be the 36th birthday of Giada De Laurentiis. I have seen her cooking show several times. I like what she prepares and have even incorporated one of her dishes into my own culinary repertoire. However, her physically big mouth frightens me and sometimes gives her a truly maniacal look.



Plus, she uses the word "nice" much too often. A big slab of salmon flesh isn't "nice". Angry perhaps and dead - and certainly tasty when prepared properly, but "nice", no.

Friday, August 11, 2006

In Memoriam...

Wow. It must be the "August"ness of it all. That would explain why I have neglected to update this blog in 10 days. To be fair, I have had a crazy 10 days. It's been more than I want to place in the blog, but I'll touch base on some of them, in one of my favorite tools - the list. Here are just some of the things that I have dealt with or experienced in the last 10 days since my last update.

▪ I heard and then watched the beach modular home directly across from mine explode and the burst into a flaming fireball.
▪ I entertained several different groups of friends in two different states and had a blast
▪ I heard someone smashing the driver side window of someone's car at 3:45 in the morning.
▪ Sold one of my favorite large-scale paintings
▪ Consumed crab ravioli with lobster cream sauce in one of my favorite Italian restaurants
▪ The ice-maker stopped working a second time covering the kitchen floor with an inch of flesh numbingly cold water
▪ I was clunked on the side of my head by the heavy blade of a fast moving ceiling fan while standing on a ladder
▪ Sold one of my favorite large-scale paintings
▪ Was contacted by a nationally celebrated talk radio personality about commissioning a portrait
▪ Watched Hitchcock's "Torn Curtain" starring Paul Newman and Julie Andrews from 1966
▪ Visited the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia which was teeming with screaming, pushy, sweaty, hyper-active children from all walks of life.
▪ Made the perfect Bean Dip and Mango Guacamole
▪ Became slightly addicted to Bravo's "Project Runway"

Now, I learned today of Mike Douglas's death at the age of 81. I remember his show on television when I was growing up. He celebrity was super-huge then and being a guest in his show was quite a good PR move. One of the things that I remember and that I thought was hip was the way in which he would have different celebrities host his show for a week. One great team was John Lennon and Yoko Ono. How cool is that, huh? Huh?



In Memoriam...
Mike Douglas
Aug. 11, 1925 - Aug. 11, 2006


He died on his birthday. I have always found that fascinating. I don't know who told me and I have no idea how true it is, but I was once told that often people die within three months surrounding their birthday - usually in the month preceding or directly following the date. Though that was not the case of my father ( birthday in April, died in September) it was the case for my mother (B: September - D: August). In any event, there is something very Zen to me about the phenomena of people dying on the day they were born

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

August 1, 06


meaug106.jpg, originally uploaded by sprouseart.

It's self-portrait Tuesday. This is my new closely trimmed beard. I may keep it for a while if it doesn't become too hot. Though today, we are to hit a high of 105 degrees! Am I in Death Valley, the Middle East or the African plains? No - I am in New Jersey! Where else should it reach 105 degrees in Summer? I intend to spend most of the day in my AC enriched studio painting.