REVISITING THE LA CAVENIA IN GEORGETOWN, LA

(It was once a convenience for the RR passengers)

My old painting buddy, Stanley Pollard (and his wife Aleise and their daughter, Sharon, actually lived there and they rented the store part rather than operate it themselves.  Stanley hated steady work.

Stanley was a "many parts" type of citizen; he knew a lot of things, being widely read.  He could do almost anything.

When the community needed a water system; he was chosen to put it in and operate if for a small sum.  Aleise (Aleeese) was the town Postmistress.

I painted the place from the viewpoint of the highway overpass bridge that was the western entrance to the town.  The painting sold almost at once to a former citizen living in Baton Rouge.  Luckily I photographed it before it went.

I'd always regretted that I hadn't put in more of the local flavor of the place.  This repaint does that and I made the La Cavenia classier, which I enjoy more.

I probably will not agree to sell this one. I've missed the original one a lot.

 detail from "La Cavenia Revisited"

Elbert 10/12/13

DANCING WITH THE RED FISHERMAN

"The Red Fisherman" that I did the take off from, by Milton Avery, my very favorite.  This particular one was my second run at it and was done in order to include my dancers.  I enjoy it a lot and it is placed in my prime viewing area in our bedroom.  I see it many times each day and especially when I'm going for a nap. 

 Because I love to dance and love "The Red Fisherman", it is a very comforting "go to sleep" scene for me to focus on.

Elbert    10/12/13

FLYWHEEL'S FLAPADOODLE

'THE FLYWHEEL'S FLAPADOODLE"

When I was 15, I traded my older bike for a 2 cycle gas engine equipped with a variable speed carburetor.  I had, also, a pair of lawn mower wheels connected by a length of pipe, nailed onto a 2 x 4 support.

I began what I had intended to be a "go cart"....but as I collected scrap materials about me, I had more lathing strips and mattress ticking than I did 2 x 4s or another pair of lawnmower wheels....thus was born my 3/4 size airplane.  I called it "Flywheel's Flapadoodle".  It was a project of the whole summer and into the late fall.  Flapadoodle got great attention from everyone I knew and many that I didn't know.  I couldn't have enjoyed it more!

I spent hours of carving, sanding and checking for balance on the propeller (I'd never even heard of a thrust bearing engine or drive to prop ratio).

Finally the big day of trial came.

In my painting, I've chosen Lotus Abboud to crank it, (but I don't really recall who did).

At slow speed, all was O.K.,  but, when I revved it, the poorly balanced prop began to shake the contraption so badly that pieces began to fall off.  The vertical tail went first.

I loved building it!

MORE LATER    Elbert  10/11/13

Renoir and Me

One of our papers carried an illustration of Renoir painting on site. When I'd started my version of it, Shirley

 photographed me doing it. There is a resemblance there, I think.

The painting, on canvas, is 16 x 20, oil. I've not done this one with me in it yet, but I may.

----------------Renoir and Me

About Drawing---

 Early people got into groups to share what they had experienced. Grunting and pointing or even waving arms was limited as a way of getting your tale, told, or an opinion across. But then, we flattened and cleared a patch of ground at our feet and picked up a short stick and stooped to draw and all gathered about. They began to nod; Yes I see! We all took turns with the stick to add our own bit to the topic... because we could all draw.
We could all draw and according to the cave drawings, we could all draw pretty well. Drawing was our first truly descriptive language.

My point is that anybody who tries to draw something, that interests them, can do it. They just need to hang in there, keep trying and don't become self-critical about their early result.

Everything that people like to do and even do quite well, they did awkwardly when they began.

I often advise beginners to pick a simple object (not an orange or a box) but a flower; a ceremic boat; a pair of shoes and so on.
Draw the subject carefully and place it face down... don't criticise it. Do this five times and try to do it as well as you can each time. Turn each drawing over without critique. Next, turn them all five over and notice the improvment in the final piece.

This won't always be true, but it usually is, if you aren't just rushing to finish all five.

Don't be impatient to finish and miss the fun in doing a sketch. You will be glad you drew.

Father's Day

Julia Price-Kent

My dad...took us on bike rides;invented games for us to play; built a treehouse; taught us to skate, ride bikes, and appreciate art; took us on day trips and sang in the car; brought us home something each day when he came home from work even if f it was just a stick of gum; invented stories about our family doing adventures; let us cuddle in bed on early weekend mornings; had discussions about serious subjects with us and listened most of the time, no subject was taboo; cooked inventively with only one major disaster; make me look up words; danced with me standing on his feet; and gave great foot rubs; and taught us how to think critically. hanks for the good times, Daddy.

Elbert's Reply

It;s easy to be a good dad, when you have four of the best kids any dad could ask for and a fabulous mother.
Even now, after all this time, when I hear somebody call out "Daddy!", I immediately look up.  If you've ever been Daddy, you never get over it.  It's the worlds top job and I loved it.  Love, Daddy