Dorchester Parking

5" x 7", oil, palette knife

Yellow Scarf

9" x 12", oil

Bean

Bean, 15" x 20", charcoal

Charles

Approximately 15" x 20", charcoal

Like studying your Blog Stats? You've gotta check this out... Woopra

I've just found the best blog and website statistics program I've seen yet. It's called Woopra. Installing on a Blogger site is easy. Use the Add a Gadget tab then the HTML/Javascript tab, paste in the code from the website, download the Dashboard to your computer, and you're finished.

You can use the code on as many blogs or websites as you want. The interface has tabs across the top to switch between sites/stats for easy navigation. The information is incredible. As an example, on the Virtual Paintout blog today I can see the individual pages people enter through, the search words used and the search engines used, the countries visited from (today's are USA, France, UK, New Zealand, India, Canada, Romania, Netherlands, and 7 other countries, respectively).

With my live visitors I have right now, I can see location, IP, Browser, Resolution. Along with how many times they have visited and their duration. I could also click the "Chat Now" button and whatever I type would pop up on their screen as long as they are on my site, and it doesn't matter what browser they are using. I think it might freak me out if it happened to me, but I can see how it would be useful in a sales situation to let them know you are there if they have any questions. Maybe. I can also see that the top cities today are Vancouver, Stevens Point, New York and 141 other cities.

These are only a few of the stats available. Check it out. Blows most others away.

Johnny and His Bike

Not sure if this one is finished or not. I'll look at it a day or so and see if I can figure it out. Pardon the poor photograph, it's large and difficult to shoot well.

Johnny and His Bike
40" x 30", oil on stretched canvas

Huts

Here's a quick sketch.

Huts, 9" x 12", oil

Johnny Newby

Here's Johnny. When I went to his shop he was changing the oil on his Harley. He told me that bike has over 200,000 miles on it. If you've never met him, you should. A little eccentric, and very intelligent. He wears the cap all the time, hardly ever see him without it.

Approximately 20" x 15", charcoal on distressed Canford Dread Gray paper.

Riley Guffey

Here's one of my grandfather, Riley Guffey. From a photograph taken about 19 years ago.

About 19" x 13", charcoal on Canson Mi-Teintes Sand colored paper

Dooley

Need a yard mowed? Tree trimmed? Dooley's your man.

20" x 15", charcoal

Herman

I talked with Herman a little today, and asked if I could take his picture. He knows me, but doesn't know my name. He drinks a lot, and can usually be found sitting on a bench on the shady side of the courthouse in the middle of our small town. Of course, the shade changes as the day progesses, so Herman moves around a little. He can also be seen walking through town and across the bridge over the Cumberland River, carrying his .22 rifle. Does some rabbit and squirrel hunting.

I showed him the digital pic on my camera, and he said, "There's Ol' Dad!" I think he'll get a kick out the drawing.

Herman, 15" x 20", charcoal

Gus

15" x 20", charcoal

Self Portrait Demonstration

Started this one last night, and took a few pics along the way to show my process. I meant to take more but I get to concentrating and forget. ;)   15" x 20", charcoal

The first pic is a quick 10 minute block-in using pan pastels and a small palette knife/trowel with soft tip as an applicator.

The next pic shows about 30 minutes work with an eraser, trying to find the forms.

Next is the first application with charcoal pencil. I rubbed down with a paper towel. About 30 more minutes.

Here's where I'm at now. This is after white was used, and again rubbed down to get the values closer together. This was about 45 minutes.

The process is about refining with each step. I see things now that need fixing. So each time I go back in, re-draw, brush or rub down, it gets more correct. At least that is the hope.

Worked on it about another hour tonight. I'm including the finish and a detail shot.

Kelly - June 13, 2010

Forlorn

15" x 20", charcoal

Jack

18" x 14", charcoal and pan pastel black

Tonight's 2 Hour Sketch

About 14" x 16", charcoal

Charcoal self portrait

Playing with some new charcoal toys tonight. This was really fun. I'll have to really take my time and see what I can do with this stuff. This sketch was about 2 hours tonight. Also adding a detail shot.

14" x 19", charcoal

Self-Portrait - June 9, 2010

9" x 12", oil

Rancher

"Rancher"
9" x 12", oil