In order to keep my eggs clean, I line my laying boxes with shredded paper. I shred some of my own, and I occasionally bring home shreds from the office. Imagine my surprise when I went to gather eggs and found one egg with the name of my employer on it! I just had to get the picture ...
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  I finished the print today. Actually, my six-year-old daughter, Marina, completed the print. As is my tradition the past two years, I always leave a little area undone so one of the kids can finish it. I'm truly very happy with this print. It now hangs in my waterfront gallery awaiting an interested buyer.
Call me an emotional weakling, I guess - but I've spent the last three days returning to this print ... touching back with myself. Today I became quite emotional as I drew and listened to a 3-set Harry Chapin bootleg set. During "Tangled Up Puppet" I shed tears as I realized that my daughters are growing up, largely without me. And then I recalled the tormentuous moments of years gone by when that song became an anthem to me regarding my now (praise saints) ex-wife. And "Cats in the Cradle" again reminded me of the fact that the kids are so far removed. And, finally, "Mail Order Annie" reminded me of why I continue to do this. I know the music has nothing to do with Willie Nelson, but it's all interconnected - the music, regardless of who performs it, taps into the same emotions, the same "river of green that flows beneath the trees." I had quite a productive day, and after six straight hours of drawing today, I'll be back at it shortly.
(Continued ...)
This print is shaping up NICELY. I'm proud of it. Today (Dec. 20) I completed the face. I'm approaching this print with the same diligence I did with the Conrad portrait. Though the face is done, there is about a month's work of detailed background and apparel work ahead.
We got about an inch of snow in Port Orchard yesterday. It's freezing cold today. It was 9 degrees last night. As I walked down Yukon Harbor today, I realized that the last time I saw any significant snow covering was over my grandfather's grave in Rigby, Idaho. Life does go on. Rest in peace, Conrad.
(Continued ...)
Today (Dec. 6) I completed all the sketching of what will surely be the flagship CHEROKEE '99 print. It is entitled "The Eyes of Me" and is yet another portrait of Willie Nelson. This is a - you gotta see it to believe it - print. It took four sketches over a period of four months (by contrast, Conrad took nine). This print, begun yesterday, was completed on the FIRST TAKE. No clipping, no erasing. The other sketches leading up to this one won't be entirely forgotten. I have a good 10x13 I'll do of one - later. This print, "The eyes of me," will measure 20x30 inches. It will be a rapidograph pen and ink on foam-core board. The title comes from the Willie Nelson song: "We don't run" off the "Spirit" album.
I've been playing guitar like mad lately, focusing on a lot of Willie tunes. Yesterday, I came up with a good version of "She is gone." Now I just got to get my geetar-pickin' friend Ken over to play the accompaniment.
As you know, most all of my artwork is of folk already dead. Conrad's was started a month before he passed away. As this is my second - and also soon to be third - print of Willie Nelson, I think we can rest assured that he's not much longer of this earth. As Ken pointed out: "The poor bugger will never know what hit him. Jim, why don't you save the country a bunch of money and do a print of Clinton?"
I'd rather poop in my sleep, all things considered.
This Limited edition Cherokee Art print on heavy, frameable stock comes autographed by the artist, and is available
now:
$11.99
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Jim W. Coleman is an accomplished author and artist from Port Orchard, Washington, a small community directly across the Puget Sound from Seattle.
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