Many years after Stevie’s death, Rolling Stone ranked him #7 out of 100, in their list of Greatest Guitarist of all time.

What makes a great musician? As in anything we do, I belive it is the passion behind what we are doing that drives us to greatness.  Life certainly can have it’s share of trials and tribulations, for some way more than others.  I wrote of Wellness Wednesday a few posts back, when you have the blues, winter blues or otherwise, remember your passions in life, and sink into one of them.  Even if it is only for a glimmer of a minute. 

I found this picture of Stevie many years ago and it has always been a favorite of mine.  Yes, I have always been attracted to “attitude”, this is a picture of Stevie that carries that attitude and the swagger of an outstanding musician.  The intesity that Stevie played with is incredible.   I have said it before, and I will say it again, if you have not watched Hug You, Squeeze You, go look it up on YouTube, at one point in the video the camera shoots him at an upward angle, and he glimpse’s directly into the camera, you can literally see the passion of the song in his eyes. 

I was working on this piece that was done with a woodless graphite, 97 4B with an extreme amount of shading.  I got to his muscular chest, and sat thinking, what the heck is wrong with this? I realized, I had his peacock tattoo drawing backwards, as well as his famed belt buckle, “The End of the Trail”, which still is backwards on the sketch above.

Take today to chase away your blues!

~ Soul to Soul - Susie

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!

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