"Arrgh..."

Me Matey Mcmillin...

This little 9x12 goodie is for a friend of mine. It is entitled,"Me Matey Mcmillin." I hope he likes it. I've been back in the studio trying to find easy, fun things to paint. I've got four large paintings I started before Therese became ill and since then, I just haven't had the need or the energy to spend any more time in the studio than I had to. Just don't have the heart for it, right now.

But, in the last week or so, I took some advice, indirectly, from an illustrator turned fine artist, Craig Nelson, who was also an instructor I had at Art Center. It has helped put things in perspective... a bit!

Anyway, I painted a few pieces and tried to not get myself to attached until I accidentally ran into this photo. It looked to be lots of fun and with the exceptions of a few details, it was.

Hey Craig, I had planned to give this to you with many thanks, Monday, but Sunday, photographing it, I noticed two important details to fix. I apologize... I'm a nitpicker!

I wonder if anyone can spot the one important adjustment I made and the other two minor changes from the FB cover art I posted the other day?

For sure, Craig, let's meet today because a little birdie told me that today, Wednesday, February 24th is your birthday! What a coincidence!

Got together over a coffee with birthday boy, Craig Mcmillin, at GiddyUp yesterday to deliver the painting. He was touched, which is pretty cool to me. I apologized for not bringing the coffee mug Craig made for me a month or so ago. It was in the dishwasher. Craig forgave me for the ill timed decision.

We kicked around a bunch of subjects including solutions to my "painters version" of writer's block. Always enjoy our coffee conversations no matter where we are.

Copyright 2021/ Ben Bensen III

"Any Excuse To Have A Breakfast At Russell's...

Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby!

Well, I'm in New Orleans at Russell's Marina Grill... doing breakfast. I had to have an excuse to go, so I asked my wife what she wanted for her upcoming birthday. The conversation went something like this:

"What do you want to do for your birthday?"

"I don't know," she replied.

"Well, I ain't gonna buy you no clothes, for sure... You've got enough of that stuff you don't never, ever wear," I said.

Noticing the obvious and copious use of double negatives, she said," No, don't get me anything to wear, OKAY?"

"Okay," I said... how about some flash drives?" You always seem to lose 'em!"

Not appreciating my sarcastic compliment, she said," I don't want you to spend any money on that school stuff... and don't get me any more socks either!"

"Okay, okay!" Just let me know if you think of something, okay?"

Five minutes or a few batters from the KC vs SF game, Therese voted to have our home carpets cleaned.

"I'm not paying for the carpets to be cleaned, FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!" 

"That's just crazy," I said.

"Well, we haven't had them cleaned since Brian left," she replied in a rather subdued way.

"No way, no way! Thinking twice, I said, "Has it really been that long?"

"Geez, I guess I better check the AC filters, huh? It's really been THAT long, I inquired... rather sheepishly.

"I got it, I got it," she blurted out. 

"The PHANTOM"... let's go see it again! It's at the Saenger coming soon, I think," she said.

"Cool," I said, "I'll get 'em at the box office tomorrow!

And, that's why...well, I'm in New Orleans at Russell's Marina Grill... doing breakfast.

Copyright 2014/Ben Bensen III