Congrats to John & Chrissy up in the snow covered tundra of Minnesota on the arrival of Madeline Rose - born on Christmas Day 2007 after a long night..but I hear there was an epidural involved in the process - you cheaters! What movies did you watch?

I looked at some pictures after Jake was born, during the early 90’s and the horrific HMO’s that were in place.. I felt like I went through a drive through delivery.. umm.. what would you like… “a baby” okay..your cost..over five grand, please pull forward.

Jake is now six foot two and over 250 - yeah, one would think that he would play football with my love for the game, but not happening in our household, but he sure can play good guitar.

Enjoy it to its fullest John & Chrissy - before you know it, she will be dating…and they may be just like John! I am looking forward to taking Madeline’s Flat Stanley to Victoria Secret as well!

I drew this using graphite and charcoal, I added the pink for the baby girl with Photoshop!

Soul to Soul

Susie

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s music is still an inspiration to me, and his story as so many know, has been written about and talked about since his passing in 1991.  One of my all time favorite guitarist’s, his dedication to his music should be a lesson for all of us.

It doesn’t matter what mood I am in, the minute I put on some of Stevie’s best, my attitude can change, from the moment he hits the first cord in the song Hug You, Squeeze You, it brings me to life. I can picture his fingers on the neck of Number One, and can feel the passion he had for what he did through his playing. 

This piece of Stevie was younger in his career and yet, it speaks.  I once read about the Vaughan forearms and you can clearly see as I tried to bring out in this portrayal of him, the muscle that he had behind his playing.  I love watching as he plays and uses the thumb on his left index finger on the neck of his favorite guitar, adding to the uniqueness of his playing and his style.

This was a graphite drawing that I hang proudly in my office, I used photoshop on this original piece to add the light behind him and the stars that float above him.  The price he paid for the hard road that he lead was only beginning to become a written piece of his history, with those chapters un-finished due to his un-timely passing.   Any fan will agree, I am sure, that the remaining chapters of his life would have surpassed many of his guitar hero’s and his mentors.  

This one is dedicated to Sarah

the little girl I never had!

What a delight to draw, this is my rendition of Criss Angel from Mindfreak!

The six pack ab’s, they were delightful to draw, this was done in graphite pencil and I enchanced his hair with black charcoal. 

My all time favorite stunt of Chris is the one where he walks through solid glass, where a solid can not pass through a solid.   It is a stunning video of his true capabilities of an illusionist.  Freaky all the way through - you will get goose bumps if you haven’t seen it. 

Yo’ Ho’ Captain Jack Sparrow, taken from the similarities of Johnny Depp’s character, I wanted to create a pirate that watched over who ever decided this piece was going to be in their collection.  

This is a piece that was done on a vintage window taken out of an old house.  This was an unusual piece that took me quite some time to perfect.  The front of the window was painted to create a frosted effect, the back of the window was painted black gloss.  

I used charcoal for the majority of the painting, along with some enamels to actually bring out the dreadlocks that this pirate is sporting.

I have auctioned a mighty fine bar stool at a charity auction recently that was a spot on image of the true Captain Jack Sparrow - Johnny Depp, I will post that soon.  It can as well be seen at The Trade Show Blog just search Captain Jack Sparrow and he will come up.

This piece was put on Ebay and I sent it off to Florida to a couple who belong to the Krewe of South Shore Marauders.  Mark & Annie stand here with the hand crafted treasure chest on their way to one of their parades.  

Mark had this to say about the Krewe of South Shore Marauders: 

“As a Krewe we raise money for scolarships in our area as well as performing community service projects such as Locks of Love and the cancer walk. We also do an annual Pirate Idol fundraiser. We are also participate in eight parades a year. We are in parade season now. We have already done the Ruskin Veterans Day parade and the Kwewe of Venus Christmas parade. The biggest parades are coming up in Jan. and Feb, These are the Gasparilla Childrens parade, Gasparilla Day parade and pirate Invasion(third largest in the country) and the St. Yago Knight parade.”

Thanks Mark & Annie - I hope this pirate watches over all who sleep beneath!

If anyone knows me, they know that I do not like winter. If it snowed two days a year, that is one too many. Christmas day with snow is fine in my book but after that, it’s bring out the beach towel and give me sand between my toes, a good book and the beach.

Oh-and do not forget the Corona Light - that’s a staple!

As life dicates, that is not yet able to happen. So, I find pleasure in painting and drawing the tropical sunsets and beaches.

Thanks to Island Lake Tanning & Travel - they book ‘em and brown ‘em and I give them a little taste of paradise during the snow filled dreary days.

Go figure, she owns a Tanning Salon - that would be Jennifer Koeppen and her husband Bob Koeppen owns a snow plowing company.

I have been able to display alot of my art work, from pencil drawings to paintings. Here is a piece of a piece that hangs in the salon. Alot of the material I use is found in the junk or in recycled piles that people have tossed to the curb. (thanks buck) This is actually a piece of old used cardboard that I took from Primeline, Inc. when I worked for Sully!

Please read on to find out more about Island Lake Tanning & Travel and give Jenny a call next time you want to take a trip - God know’s I wish I did! More on that story tomorrow!
Island Lake Tanning & Travel - “We book ‘em & brown ‘em!- 847-526-0680 211. E. State Road, Island Lake, IL. 60042 (next to Culvers on Rt. 176)

Conveniently located: 8.5 minutes from Lakemoor, 5 minutes from Wauconda, and 10 minutes from Mchenry

Monday-Friday: 8 am - 9 pm - Saturday: 8 am - 5 pm - Sunday: 8 am - 12:00
Any laydown bed $5 and $1 for standup

3 levels of laydown and the latest in tanning bed bulb technology. Come experience the strongest and quickest stand up tanning with a maximum exposure time of 7 minutes.
Your full service tanning salon has an in-house travel agent. When you book your next vacation, you earn free tanning to get ready for your trip.

Let Jenny book your vacation plans or just a trip home to see loved ones. She works hard to find the best deals and promotions for her customers!

New Customers print this out - and mention the Blog and you get a free laydown tan or stand up.

847-526-0680

Offer expires December 31st, 2008.
Thanks for stopping by!
Soul to Soul