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.

Number 9 - Satellite of Love oh oh oh oh....

Howdy again,

Just finished Lou Reed painting last week. "Satellite Of Love". Here tis'. The Rough and the final painting.

SATELLITE OF LOVE – Lou Reed

Satellite's gone
Up to the skies
Thing like that drive me
Out of my mind

I watched it for a little while
I like to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of

Satellite's gone
Way up to Mars
Soon it will be filled
With parking cars

I watch it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of

I've been told that you've been bold
With Harry, Mark and John
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday
With Harry, Mark and John

Satellite's gone
Up to the skies
Thing like that drive me
Out of my mind

I watched it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love

 Started Bobbie Gentry painting this week. "Ode To Billie Joe". First Number 1 I've done I think (July 1967 - 47 years ago this month!). The song was originally intended to be the B-side of "Mississippi Delta", but as was still happening at the time on FM radio the disc jockeys actually chose what they thought was the strongest track and the stripped back "Ode to Billie Joe" took the preference. There was alotta debate at the time of the meaning of the song (see lyrics below). What did Billie Joe and the narrator throw of the Tallahatchie Bridge?

ODE TO BILLIE JOE - Bobbie Gentry

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
"Today Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

And Papa said to Mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well, Billie Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
And Mama said it was shame about Billie Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billie Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece of apple pie, you know it don't seem right"
"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"
"And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

And Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"
"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"
"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"
"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"
"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"
"And she and Billie Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billie Joe
And Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round, Papa caught it and he died last Spring
And now Mama doesn't seem to wanna do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge

And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Bobby Gentry on the Smothers Brothers show - Ode To Billie Joe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc

I'll post both the rough and the finished piece hopefully next week.

Next I'm workin' on a portrait of some brothers from different mothers, the masters of the ancient form of weaving, Ronnie and Keef.

And then, number 11. Joan Baez or Memphis Minnie, both are getting honored (if you can call it that...). Been narrowing down the final 5. The Boss, Jimi, the Man in Black, Petty, the Big O and Jimmy Reed are all in the running. Pretty hard to pick...

portraits

Hey,

Here's some portraits I've been workin' on. Still might need some touch ups. these are painted straight to ply, without any prelim sketches. In order of appearance, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, Joni Mitchell and Ron Ashton. I realised while painting these how influential these 4 are, how many kids have picked up guitars because of these 4? I think the first 3 or 4 songs I learn t on guitar were probably Stooges songs.

Elvis-

 

Kurt-

Joni-

 Ron-

 Started Lou Reed "Satellite Of Love" painting this week, should be done early next week. So been listenin' to a lot of this era Lou mainly Transformer and Berlin. I have really been gettin' inta Berlin, dunno how I've overlooked this record for so long...So damn good.

Then onto painting number 10 of 16. What's it's gunna be?

 Here's some Stooges, Live at the Cincinnati Pop Festival 1970...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuT5kMoYc1w

And some Joni. This is a hell of an Awesome set.

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