Double Pain - Bourbon Whiskey

I've said before, paned wind-ows are always a pain. But this guy wasn't a trouble. Why not paint two of my favorite things? Haha, simple and to the point. A nice couple picked up this window at the Renegade Art Fair. 

'Whiskey' is a lettering similar to bank signs from the late 1800s, early 1900s. And the 'Bourbon' lettering is from railroad signage. The frame has been stripped, stained and clear coated.

Check out some of these lovely afternoon sunny photos!

"Bourbon Whiskey" SOLD

Photos in the Sun-Times

My booth had TWO photos featured in the Sun-Times..

http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=14998660

New Brushes, New Windows

Sneak peak of some in process windows.

Coming soon, "Prohibition", "Whiskey Drinking", "Blind Jack's Speakeasy", "IPA", "Bourbon Whiskey", and more..
My new puppy and I (who turns 1 year old today... off to the strip club and bar tonight..) have been workin' hard.
Snapshot of my work table:







 Been strippin' a few outside in the hot summer sun:

 

Before and After

And let's not forget about the lovely gift certificate my good buddy Mandy gifted me on my birthday the other day. Sometimes all a Bean needs is a free shopping spree at the ye old art store.

                           Kafka

 

The Harmonica Shoppe

The Harmonica Shoppe? What kinda shop only sells harmonicas and what kinda shop spells it like shoppe? (pronounced, shaw-pee while sticking out your pinky finger over a cup of tea)

Well I don't know. But I think it looks great and the wind-ow is one of the oldest I've worked with. So I find it to be neat.

I have been thinking about old-timey musical instruments lately.
I'm always listenin' to music and recently enjoyed the sounds of new bluegrass, southern influenced, country songs. I've been hanging out with the audio representations of Steve Earle, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The Heartless Bastards, Townes Van Zandt, and Justin Townes Earle...just to name a few.

Well, I figured I'd make a real old timey sign... something that doesn't include drinking this time!

Also, I've been dreamin' lately of getting a banjo, a trumpet even. But I may end up with an easier-on-the-pocket solution.. a harmonica.
We've had an unseasonably pleasant spring here in Chicago, maybe I'll sit around the fire tonight and play a tune.

Refinished wood frame, stripped, stained and clear coated
Also, due to this window's old age, I've reinforced the glass. I added some glazier points and clear window caulk. 

"The Harmonica Shoppe" Measures 22.5in x 22in $190

It has been snowing nearly all night and all day.

 You know how one can get stuck? Stuck inside, stuck unmoving, stuck... Well, the snow is... really very nice honestly. But, I just wasn't ready. Here were are in January in Chicago and I was able to stand outside and paint in a light jacket... with SUNSHINE for goodness sake. It was just wonderful.

It reminds me of New Orleans. Yes it does. Mm hm.

So what does a bean do on a stuck snow day?

Well, my first move was to get up outta the bed (my office as I rather call it), come downstairs, and immediately listen to some records.
A lil Elmore James, a lil Anita O'Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday...
I am laying on the floor wearing red suspenders, headphones,
in a sea of cardstock covers
and paper sleeves.
I'm hittin' all the bargain bin records here but then I toss on ol' Louis Armstrong.
"Satchmo and Friends" was 99 cents...(again with the bargain bin)
and I remembered what a damn fine song he sings
bout missin' New Orleans.
Do you know it?

Have a listen here and tell me
you don't hear the sad desperation
for the big easy! (Do you know what it means to miss) "New Orleans"

Also, a shot I took while in NOLA of the Armstrong park under construction, 2010. 35mm B&W film.

Well Beaner whatcha got to show for ya self?
Here it is. "To Miss New Orleans" 25in x 31in SOLD

(It is still snowing)
(And it ain't the good kind either. Not the kind ya can make an igloo outta)

(An igloo whiskey bar)

(I think I'm onto something)

Manly

     Man Cave as defined by the mancavesite.org

man cave n. A dedicated area of a house,
such as a basement, workshop, or garage,
where a man can be alone or socialize with his friends

     
This is a commissioned wind-ow for.. guess who? A fella named Lonny.

     

     Manly name, Lonny. Manly wind-ow, man cave. The cave in question is, from what I'm told, more of a complete barn on a farm. Ping pong is the main attraction but I do believe there are alcoholic beverages and darts as well. I would hope, at least, there's more than just ping pong in a barn on a farm! Barn cave just doesn't have the same ring.

    
Here is the 12 coolest man caves brought to us by oddee.com. 12 coolest man caves

This window was found at a Cincinnati building material recylery. The banner in the design is from an old matchbox label. The font is similar to old whiskey bottles. Fire and booze... manly. The frame was clear coated with a lovely semi-gloss to keep the red paint detail.

"Man Cave" Approx 28 inches x 26 inches. SOLD

Commission Week - Today: "For Madmen Only" for Justin in Cleveland

Herman Hesse's 'Steppenwolf' has been in my back pocket recently. I found the first Chapter title or opening line, "For Madmen Only" to be just charming.

So charming, in fact, I made a wind-ow for it. The font style used is representative of a vintage book cover font.

"MADMEN"  28 inches x 16 inchesSOLD

So I watched Ken Burns' Documentary, Prohibition. And I feel my home resembles a Speakeasy.

I don't know if  a speakeasy is where I lay my head at night but what a neat 3 part documentary by Ken Burns. Never failing at creating an interesting and educational flick, Prohibition talked about some of my subjects: whiskey, speakeasies, jazz, and Cincinnati. Check it out.
Here we have a similar representation of fonts that were used in banks and government offices around the 1910s, 1920s. This is a great thick window that has a refinished frame.
Perfect for a bar, or above my front door.

Speakeasy Measures approx. 34in x 14in with a refinished wood frame SOLD