100 Entrecard Credit’s going on the auction block, along with my commemorative plate of Stevie Ray Vaughan and a blog review from Bloggeries!  I decided to do throw a contest, to turn over some of my art stock, this hand crafted plate was done by a woodsmith that lived next door while I was growing up.

The sketch was done in graphite pencil and a bit of charcoal.  To qualify for the 100 entrecard credits and the plate, which will be mailed to you via priority mail

To enter the contest - 

Comment on any post that you choose on Pencil Drawing Sketch Art make sure you make reference to the contest.

Stumble this post with a review

Pick any post on Pencil Drawing Sketch Art and blog about it. 

It doesn’t have to be long, just a ditty on Custom Pencil Sketches or what you may like about a particular piece.

I will choose the winner through random.org and once I do will notify you by email - to obtain where you would like the commemorative plate sent to as well as the 100 entrecard credits and your review will be taken care of by Rob over at the Bloggeries Forum

Contest will end February 22nd!

It is titled “Top-Shelf SRV Music”  from Vintage Guitar Magazine. 

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Friends was released a few months back, and IMHO, no matter what Stevie plays on, or who Stevie played with, his style and his sound was always recognizable.

A true fan thirsts for the next album, the next concert, and the next street side appearance but in the case of our late great blue’s legend that will not be happening, we can only continue to enjoy what has been released and continue to be hopeful that there is more hidden in the archives and estate.

Have we heard better Stevie? I would say absolutely, someone gave me a track of Stevie performing I’m Crying and the lyrics are classic  heartache, soul searching and down to the knitty gritty of blue’s music.   The track I got, seems to date back some many years, but is it signature Stevie, I can hear it, and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t listen to at least one of his famous tunes and the scream of his guitar shakes my bones.

Everyone can critique Stevie & Friends in their own way, but for those of us who; no matter the day, no matter the mood, when you hear that first cord hit, you immediately feel a smile embrace your being, and you instantly are thrown into the depths of what Stevie Ray Vaughan was all about.  He was a man that walked a road not much different than most of us, with questions and uncertainty as he states in his AA speech on page six  he says….

I used to think that if it wasn’t done my way, that it was completely wrong and it couldn’t be anything close to right because you just didn’t know. I know it’s kinda, it’s…sometimes I found out that it’s real comfortable not knowing everything…

Chew on that a little while..as my husband always says to me.. stop being an “in-charge”  do something that envokes your passions, do something that you love, and remember…..once in awhile, to use the words…”no doubt” they can be profound.  

I will confess, the spirit that guides me through life, aka - guardian angel, spirit guide… always uses the expression, “no-doubt” so I felt it fitting to add that to the bottom of Stevie’s Ray Vaughans Hat.. No Doubt, either don’t doubt what’s in front of you, or in awe.. you can sit back and revel in what is truly a miracle happening around you.

I painted Stevie’s Ray Vaughans Signature hat, because of it being an icon and a statement. I started this many months back on a solid semi-gloss back ground of a shabby piece of particle board, it had divets and grooves, that lent a bit of a challenge factor to the entire piece, trying to get the curves of the hat correct.  This was done entirely in acrylics, with a smidge of enamel paint for the edges of the hat, and the feather for texture.  

I was asked to do another version of my very first post of Stevie Ray Vaughan, but incorporate more tree’s and an icy river within the conches of his signature hat.

The song Shake For Me resonated in the back of my mind, the icy part, I am in Chicago, so that is so not an issue at this very moment, as we are under a winter weather advisory. Shaking is the only option as you go out into this winter mix of ice, snow and cold.

The original piece that I did with a woodless graphite pencil is still without any conch design. So I happily obliged. I did a tropical beach scene in the last mutli-medium sketch of Stevie, which some liked and some had comments that it did not look right.

Well, I suppose the additional order of for another Stevie proved them incorrect. I painted the original tree’s and mountains on an 8 x 10 canvas, enhancing the icy waters of the river with water caps with white tips. The tree’s in the background were begun with a ebony black and I added the greenery with a rough round bristle brush. Adding depth to the trees along the river bank.

I put the dark reds with the orange setting sun just as a glimpse in the rivers bed towards the end of the river. The entire 8 x 10 was done in Acrylics by Anita, a real reasonable paint to purchase for any art project!

Upon completion of the painting, I scanned and used photoshop to merge the two pieces, I had to use the lasso tool in photo shop to inlay the painting into the conches! I will elaborate later on the signature “no doubt” that sits at the bottom of the sketch.

Enjoy ~

This copy is for sale! Hit the Contact Susie Page to inquire.

Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan - Guitar Legends.  Stevie Ray never got to see Jimi perform live and yet, he had great success in uncovering his talent.    Stevie once said humbly about being compared to Jimi Hendrix, that “there is only one Jimi Hendrix.” ”I just want to keep his music alive.”

As Stevie never got to see Hendrix live, I did not get to see Stevie live, my husband Buck had the honor to do so in concert 1986 at Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, his girlfriend back then, nut job she was, would sit in her shoe closet, and hit herself in the head with reebok’s, it’s a good thing he got rid of her. Someone gave her tickets, not knowing who Stevie was, said take these, “who wants to see some hillbilly a$$ehole…”  

I searched YouTube for the rare interview that I have of Mark Goodman and Stevie, when Stevie talks about the dreams he had of Jimi, where they sat across from one another, just listening and sharing.  I believe if we are all open minded enough, we can feel the energy of those that have past.   If you want to see an honest, humble Stevie Ray Vaughan on YouTube watch this clip when his friends talk about him, he is head down and uncomfortable with the compliments.  Yet he touched so many.

What motivates us? When I hear Stevie rip through a song, with grace and ease, like he is walking down the street, that motivates me.  That put’s me in a mind frame of getting things done.  When we get up in the morning, we should be getting up to something that makes us feel good.  Why the guilt when we indulge in ourselves in activities that we enjoy and make us feel good. 

I sat here the other day, pencil in hand and thought, I should clear out the dust bunnies and get the floors scrubbed.  Instead, I took three hours to start a painting and get some items in order that will be auctioned off in February.  (more details will follow.)

Life is too short, enjoy and always remember ”no doubt.”

~ Soul to Soul

If you know me..you heard the horror story of the trip to Puerto Vallarta that went bad! Book trip, husband can not get off work, even though he has 27 years seniority, oh they will let him off for the 5 days during the week, but forget the weekends.  Okay, dealt with that moved the trip, sweet talked the airline agent, guess what.. the boy comes home and his teachers won’t let him out of finals for the 2nd option! CANCELLED TRIP.. BAD MOOD strikes.. let it set..

But now we are going to Austin Texas, to walk where Stevie Ray walked, to visit his tribute statue and spend some time at the Robins Nest Bed & Breakfast Austin Texas! What a wonderful woman answered my call and gave me hope for vacation again.

This is a bar stool that I did of Stevie Ray Vaughan for my own collection, do I want to sit on it…hmmm, ladies answer that yourself.. but no matter what it’s used for in my house, it makes me smile.

Austin…here I come!

Soul to Soul