Lizzie and the Two Sisters

Hey,

Finished Mempis Minnie "Bumble Bee" painting. Such a great guitar player, singer and songwriter. Been really good listenin' to hours of her stuff while doing this piece. Kinda pretty happy with myself with it. Though I just realized I didn't paint the guitar strings in between the nut and the tuning heads, oops. Easy fixed...

Here tis'.

Also finished brothers Davies painting. Titled after the Ray Davies song from the Kinks' 67' record "Something Else", "Two Sisters" This is Ray and Dave circa 67'/68'.

So, gunna start the Boss "Thunder Road" sketch tonight. "Well, I got this Guitar and I learned how to make it talk".

Gettin' towards the end of the series I just realized that the first painting I did was Hank Williams and the last one will be Jimi Hendrix...Just like the Neil Young song from Harvest Moon "From Hank to Hendrix". Stoked on that coinsidence...

Here's somethin' ta watch.

The Kinks - "Days" BBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQetbyueIWg 

Live set from the kinks early 70's.AWESOME!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smIF5374bTw

Neil. "From Hank to Hendrix" MTV Unplugged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIAiPQ2Ge50

twelve and thirteen

Hey,

Sorry, no post last week had the  Johnny Cash "Don't Take Your guns to Town" painting finished, but didn't have time to blog it.

Here it is. Need to re work his eyes a little.

Also have nearly finished the Memphis Minnie "Bumble Bee" painting.  Should have it finished tomorra I reckon. I'll post the final next week. For the meantime here's the rough.

I'm gunna start workin' on the Davies brothers piece tonight. Reckon I'll have somethin' to show by next week too. The Kinks are at times my favourite band, but then I have a lotta favourite bands...

Speaking of which, saw Bob last week. Awesome show. Awesome band. Played a bunch of songs from "TEMPEST", great record and live they were so damn good.

Bob and Charlie Sexton Palais Theatre St. Kilda

Hafta start the Bruce Springsteen "Thunder Road" one too next week. Here's the lyrics. Such a great song, but I don't have to tell ya that do I?

Bruce Springsteen THUNDER ROAD

The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey, that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside, darling, you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty but, hey, you're alright
Oh, and that's alright with me

You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a savior to rise from these streets
Well now, I ain't no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey, what else can we do now?
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well, the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting on down the tracks

Oh oh, come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey, I know it's late, we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road

Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride ain't free
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises'll be broken

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines rolling on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone on the wind
So Mary, climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win

Man In Black

Howdy,

Started "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" painting last week, goin' pretty good...

Here's the rough. Should have the painting done by next week.

Next up is Memphis Minnie "Bumble Bee"

Link to song...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKBzv5lWLQs 

Then The Boss, Joan Baez and Jimi Hendrix...done! Sweet 16!!

Also gunna start workin' on a Ray and Dave Davies painting circa 68' I reckon. I'm a big fan of everything Kinks, but the records that came out between "Village Green Preservation Society" and "Muswell Hillbillies" I really dig hey. It'll go with the Ronnie and Keith painting, think I'll also do one of John and George, and also Angus, Malcom and George Young in the same size/style. Other portrait paintings will consist of, John Fogerty, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Willie Nelson.

School Boys in Disgrace.....

Bright Lights, Big City

Hey,

Kinda finished the Jimmy Reed "Bright Lights, Big City" painting, not 100% happy with it, a few touch ups still needed I reckon, but here tis'. kinda has a bit of a pulp novel feel about it I think.

Haven't started the rough for "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" yet. Have been painting a band poster for Claire Birchall and the Phantom Hitch Hikers, so been delayed a bit there...Gotta get onta it tonight. Reckon I'll get it done pretty quick though.

"Don't Take Your Guns Your Guns To Town" was one of the first singles Johnny Cash did for Columbia records after leaving Sun (featured on "The Fabulous Johnny Cash" record). It made it to number 1 in the Country charts and stayed there for 6 weeks, backed by "I Still Miss Someone".

That 7" was actually the first Johnny Cash record I bought way back when...

The Lyrics...

"Don't Take Your Guns To Town"

A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wonderlust who really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
And combed his dark hair down
And his mother cried as he walked out

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He laughed and kissed his mom
And said your Billy Joe's a man
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
I'd gun nobody down
But she cried again as he rode away

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He sang a song as on he rode
His guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town
A smile upon his lips
He stopped and walked into a bar
And laid his money down
But his mother's words echoed again

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
And tried to tell himself he had become a man
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mothers words

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

Filled with rage then
Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
Before he even saw
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
The crowd all gathered 'round
And wondered at his final words

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town 

I'll post the rough next week...Until then.

Still goin'...

Hey,

Was hoping to have finished "Bright Lights, Big City" painting by now, still about 5hrs or so left I reckon...I'll put it up in the next week or so.

Here's the Lyrics.

Bright Lights Big City – Jimmy Reed

Bright light, big city, gone to my baby's head
Whoa, bright light, an'big city, gone to my baby's head
I tried to tell the woman, but she don't believe a word I said

It's all right, pretty baby, (gonna) need my help someday
Whoa, it's all right, pretty baby, gonna need my help someday
Ya' gonna wish you had a-listened, to some a-those things I said

Go ahead, pretty baby, a-honey, knock yourself out
Oh go ahead, pretty baby, honey, knock yourself out
I still love ya baby, 'cause you don't know what it's all about

Bright light, a big city, they went to my baby's head
Oh, the bright light, the big city, they went to my baby's head
I hope you remember, a-some of those things I said

Next painting is Johnny Cash "Don't Take Your Guns To Town"

Johnny Cash "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" At the Town Hall Party 58'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRls7nXI__U

Ancient Weavers

Hey.

Just finished the Ronnie and Keith painting. 101 days left to go to I get to see them play their old "Ancient Form of Weaving" again. Can't wait.

here tis..

Done layout sketch for Jimmy Reed "Bright Lights, Big City painting yesterday. Start the painting tomorra.

The Final 6 are:

Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City
Johnny Cash - Don't Take Your Guns to Town
Memphis Minnie - yet to be decided, either Bumble Bee or Drunken Barrel house Blues at the moment
Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road
Joan Baez - The Hitchhiker Song, but again not 100% decided (Maybe Diamonds and Rust??)
Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile, but again yet decided.

Here's the Jimmy Reed rough.

double figures

Howdy again,

Didn't get chance to post anythin' last week...Busy paintin'....
Just finished number 10 of 16 of the main series. "Ode to Billie Joe" by Bobbie Gentry. 

Here's the rough.

And the final painting...

Also completed the Ronnie and Keith painting this mornin', I'll post the final next week, but for now here's the layout sketch. Keith's hair's a bit big, but fixed in the painting. You get the idea but.

Been listenin' to the Stones all week, from the first record through (Up to "Dirty Work" as I speak, has some great stuff on it regardless of what the stupid critics say). Favorite band of all time I'd reckon. Can't wait to see them again in October.

Here's some Keith and Ronnie in 74' for the release of the awesome debut Ronnie solo record "I've Got My Own Album to Do"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oWQiN_0SeE

So, up next is Memphis Minnie, then the final 5. I'll letcha know next week exactly. Need to do me some plannin', make sure I've got the bases covered. Should have Memphis Minnie underway by then hopefully, still deciding on the song. Got some listenin' and some research to do tomorra.