Raytown Surrealist

Bo's Peep 2011

2011-10-12T22:38:00.000-05:00

arrangement with worm

2011-08-08T08:37:00.002-05:00

The Kiss

2011-08-08T07:26:00.000-05:00

Hard To Imagine 26"x32" Acrylic/Canvas 2011

2011-03-10T08:19:00.001-06:00

Composition With Figures and a Spider 2010

2010-08-04T08:07:00.000-05:00

The Little Bang

2010-03-20T07:30:00.003-05:00

Visitors Pass

2010-03-14T19:23:00.008-05:00

2009

The Party

2010-03-11T06:50:00.013-06:00

Of Mouse And Man

2010-03-10T06:19:00.005-06:00

3' x 7' 1996

Once Was

2010-03-09T11:25:00.002-06:00

Three Women

2010-03-08T14:41:00.004-06:00

YouTube - Iris DeMent--That's The Way Love Goes

Broadway Flower

2010-03-05T06:40:00.004-06:00

The Promise

2010-03-04T08:24:00.003-06:00

Woman With Head Dress

2010-03-03T06:03:00.003-06:00

1974

Composition With Flowers and a Green Onion

2010-03-02T09:14:00.012-06:00

1973

This is a early drawing (1970) that I did while in detention in high school. I spent many hours in detention for one reason or another. I found a piece of petrified wood/rock in the class and decided to draw it to pass the time.

Spring

2010-03-01T06:44:00.010-06:00

Marsh Mellow

Although it is still very cold I can feel spring coming. In the light, in the air. I have already seen a few small ants in my kitchen! It has been a long cold winter here in Missouri. I love to go walking in the early morning - watching the sun rise - hearing the birds wake up - seeing lights coming on in the neighborhood...

Float Trip

2010-02-28T07:17:00.001-06:00

John Wayne and Eskimos

2010-02-27T08:16:00.008-06:00

I went hunting a few times when I was young. It was a bad experience for me. Besides the fear and pain I inflicted on the critters I became haunted by thoughts of mothers and fathers who would not return home to their young. Or sons and daughters that never got a chance to grow up. Just so my friends and I could have some fun. I felt so evil. Back in 1982 I pulled up behind a trailer hauling cattle at a stop light. I looked in to the eyes of a cow staring at me. They were full of fear and dread. I never ate them again. I used to love to fish but can't anymore. They are poison because of the crap we put in our water anyway. As time went by I became aware of the pain and suffering animals went through for us. The horrible conditions they had to endure for our table. I won't eat any of them.
When I go to the grocery store I find so little that I want to eat. We are raised to believe animals are here for us to eat. I have observed meat being stuck in a baby's mouth on many occasions. It is hard to get past it. I do wonder if kids were shown the way animals are treated and killed at a young age if it would make an impression. That stuff is mostly hidden for a reason. Going out to eat is a real chore for me. Smelling burning muscle is not pleasant. So I cook my brown rice and veggies and beans at home most of the time.
I wonder if war is because man is full of death. I wonder if we internalize all the pain and suffering and if that makes us mean and aggressive. I don't like the fact that we have to kill anything, even plants. But something tells me that eating as low as possible on the chain creates the least pain. I hope so.
When I find a bug in the house I take it outside. But what about feeding my pets or the stray animals that come around? The cat foods and dog foods? Or wearing leather. Are the synthetic alternatives any better for the environment? Hell, my body itself is a feeding and killing ground for organisms of all kinds. This can of worms is a big one. I do the best I can. I bet John Wayne and Eskimos never had these issues.

Poetry and Songs by Don Van Vliet

2010-02-26T07:47:00.003-06:00

http://www.beefheart.com/walker/index.html

Phoebe

2010-02-22T07:47:00.004-06:00

This is a picture of Phoebe. She was a sweet girl and one of the best dogs I ever got to share time with. I named her after the wonderful Phoebe Snow .

The Clown and the Princess

2010-02-21T06:44:00.006-06:00

1976

Another "stolen" painting

Maryjane

2010-02-19T10:47:00.004-06:00

My lovely kitty Maryjane

The Expandable Diminish

2010-02-18T08:12:00.007-06:00

The Expandable Diminish 1974

YouTube - Miles Davis - He Loved Him Madly part 1.wmv

YouTube - Miles Davis - He Loved Him Madly Part 2.wmv

YouTube - He Loved Him Madly Part 3.wmv

YouTube - He Loved Him Madly Part 4.wmv

Stone Age

2010-02-17T06:40:00.005-06:00

Stone Age 2001

YouTube - TRACY CHAPMAN - ALL THAT YOU HAVE IS YOUR SOUL

YouTube - Emmylou Harris ~ "All That You Have Is Your Soul"

Tom Reads Charlie

2010-02-16T05:57:00.005-06:00

YouTube - Tom Waits reads Charles Bukowski

Encounter

2010-02-13T07:45:00.022-06:00

Encounter 1999

YouTube - Smog - I'm New Here

La Mer

2010-02-12T16:38:00.006-06:00

La Mer 2001

Spirits

2010-02-11T21:14:00.009-06:00

The Bridge

2010-02-10T08:35:00.003-06:00

1973

Stag

2010-02-09T13:41:00.003-06:00

“I Have A Dream”

Will

2010-02-04T17:10:00.004-06:00

YouTube - Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Dawn McCarthy, and her baby
YouTube - I Gave You

Landscape With Two Figures and a Dog

2010-02-03T17:59:00.004-06:00

1974

Sorry about the poor photograph. This painting was stolen in Memphis back in 1979 and all I have left of it is a crummy Polaroid.

Circle Of Friends

2010-02-03T07:16:00.004-06:00

...love your neighbor

ONE

2010-01-30T09:09:00.002-06:00

Raytown Cold

2010-01-08T12:43:00.005-06:00

The Prayer

2009-12-28T20:18:00.000-06:00

The Prayer

RIP: Vic Chesnutt

2009-12-26T13:15:00.000-06:00

YouTube - #41 Vic Chesnutt - Supernatural

Merry Christmas From Raytown

2009-12-22T12:22:00.012-06:00

neighbor's house

Angry Samoans

2009-12-21T15:38:00.001-06:00

Ran across this on YT and thought I'd share ...being Christmas time and all.

YouTube - angry samoans [1/3] @ the bottom of the hill (sf) 3-24-07
YouTube - angry samoans [2/3] @ the bottom of the hill (sf) 3-24-07
YouTube - angry samoans [3/3] @ the bottom of the hill (sf) 3-24-07

Punk Flyers and Charmin Kids

2009-12-17T10:07:00.012-06:00

In the late 50's you could get these prints from buying toilet paper.

Caving

2009-12-06T12:42:00.008-06:00

In 1972 I used to go cave exploring in Southern Missouri with a couple friends from Raytown. They were always intense trips (literally). I remember a time when we went to the very bottom of a very curvy, tunnel filled cavern. It took about an hour and a half. There were passages where we had to blow our air out to squeeze thru. When we reached the bottom we sat in darkness for what seemed like hours but was only minutes. The thing I remember most was how the total silence became a loud roar.

One Of The Very Best

2009-12-03T16:11:00.006-06:00

...show's I ever saw was the Minutemen at a little church in Venice Beach, Ca. Late 80's sometime. Spunky, artist and drummer in my band, lived down the street so we just hung out before the show getting wasted. The place was packed. Nip Drivers opened with a fantastically heavy show. We went out n got some more beer and got back just in time for the Minutemen. I had seen them a few times before but they were totally on this day. They were flying and so was I. I vaguely remember running around in a circle spitting beer straight up in the air and people hitting and yelling at me. D Boon was jumping around like he weighed 90 pounds instead of 300. They were loud as a fuck! I got scolded the next day for being such an ass hole but man did I have a great time. Glad I don't drink anymore though.

Dad

2009-12-01T17:06:00.008-06:00

I spoke with my dad from his nursing home last night. He told me about a guy there that told him I might have a better chance of selling my paintings if I put frames on them. He said a frame can even make a bad painting look good.

Vacation

2009-11-29T09:07:00.045-06:00

Vacation 36" square / acrylic on canvas.

James Brown

2009-11-25T10:01:00.013-06:00

James - I first heard his music on the radio at my grandma's house sometime in the 60's. I liked listening to the Motown station in Kansas City and when James and the Flames came on the funk element was so obviously different. The beat and voice grabbed me and never let go. It was tight and loose at once. The first album I bought was I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me). I loved the extended version of that song with the funky drums. Then Live At Apollo followed closely by Sex Machine. I still remember my mom's expression when she told me to pick something out as a gift and I stick the Sex Machine cover in her face. But she was cool. Part of that album was lame but the long jam was wonderful. I played it over and over until somebody banged on the floor. Live At Apollo was good all the way through. "Peelin' fallin' from the ceilin' and gettin' the feeling" over the tightest, funkiest band. I tried to get most of his work through the years and finally got to see him several times in the 80's and 90's. He was funky in his sleep. Star Time is a great boxed set that contains most of his important work.

Sun Ra

2009-11-21T12:26:00.008-06:00

SUN RA

Trout Mask Replica

2009-11-18T21:18:00.013-06:00

Forty years ago, when I was 15, I was hanging out at a Katz drug store in Raytown Missouri. I liked the record department. This cool girl worked there. She was a big person with big dippidy-doo blonde hair and lot's of make-up. She liked listening to music and always ordered new stuff to try. It was around 1969 when this double album came in that had a guy holding a fish head. It was Trout Mask Replica by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. She put it on amongst all the suburban shoppers and turned up the volume. It was like a blast of pure anarchy. "My smile is stuck, I cannot go back to your frownland", hollered a frantic blues voice in front of what first sounded like an untuned band all playing something different at once. We both listened almost in disbelief. I liked it much more than she did, in fact she wouldn't finish it. If I remember correctly she gave it to me. I went home and listened again from start to finish. I didn't understand it but I liked it. There was something in there. I played it for my friends who all hated it. I remember clearing out a room with that album. To this day I love it and always hear new stuff in it. It has been inspirational to my art and music. I liked the idea of getting away from the "momma heart beat" of modern music. The next record was named Lick My Decals Off, Baby and is equally good. The whole story of his life is amazing and can be investigated at length at The Radar Station. Get some for your children today. A wonderful Christmas idea! ( Lick My Decals is only available on vinyl).

Goat Heaven

2009-11-15T13:16:00.017-06:00

Been listening to lot's of Beatles and Buckley. Miss my mom.

cool song: Goddamn Gallows "Don't Feed Me"
Here are some pics of Ziggy, my recently deceased alpine mountain goat. I got him as a baby and he lived a long life on the ranch in Texas. Almost got killed by my two German Shepherds twice and ended up out living both of them. One tough SOB. May he rest in eternal goat heaven!

Family

2009-10-26T22:10:00.003-05:00

All In The Family 2009

Drawing

2009-10-17T09:42:00.006-05:00

Drawing from 1987

Jandek

2009-10-07T12:45:00.001-05:00

Here is a link to a recent Jandek show.

New Neighbor

2009-09-12T22:54:00.003-05:00

Early Art World Experience

2009-09-06T13:18:00.048-05:00

Way back in 1976 I took a 3,000 mile bus trip to San Francisco with these six paintings tied together with rope. When I arrived a guy at the bus terminal had some Hawaiian bud stuffed in a cigarette pack I got for 25 bucks. Trip weed. I checked in to a really cheap hotel downtown. I watched a guy through his window across the courtyard. He stared at himself in a mirror holding a gun to his head laughing. A woman walked the halls moaning and the person above me coughed and spit out the window. I walked the streets of SF with paintings in tow. I don't remember many folks wanting to look at them. After a few day's of that I stashed the paintings at the hotel and went to see Tom Waits in Berkley. All I had left after that was half an energy bar and a bus ticket home.

Punk

2009-09-04T16:47:00.010-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgWDYlGvyZk Beatniks, hippies, punks...all the same to me. I debated with a nun way back that I believed we were all born like a blank book waiting to be written. She argued that we were born with talents and traits and that something couldn't come from nothing. I liked her. We were both right. I have always looked around and seen a world of numbing stupidity. Not that I ever thought I could do better. But I couldn't do worse. I remember as a young kid going to coffee shops and hearing poetry reading and jazz. There was a vibe to the place unlike home. It felt freer. I knew quite a few hippies growing up. Long hair, tapestries, cinder block tables. Beyond that was an awareness of things outside the TV and radio. The true stuff. Or they were dumb as stumps. The whole style of it got old real quick but the idea of a simpler life outside the mainstream stayed with me. My first real punk records were probably The Damned and The Clash but The Sex Pistols grabbed me. It sounded so fresh and so real. Very aggressive. Johnny was a pussycat. I like the old sod. I would say the whole punk movement just re-affirmed and encouraged my path in life. I was always in to having my own look. Cut my own hair, thrift store everything and a sneer for all the dumb asses. My latest look is old man gnarly. Think I'll listen to some Minutemen.

New Paintings

2009-08-29T15:40:00.023-05:00

The Spell 2009

Nest ll 2009

Spirits?

2009-08-19T10:12:00.002-05:00

When I was very young I was visited in my bedroom by a spirit, or something. It appeared at the foot of my bed hovering and was made of transparent bluish light. We just seemed to look at each other for several minutes until I yelled for my folks. It waved it's arms as if telling me to stop and then disappeared. I really believe this happened because it has remained so real a memory throughout my life. It has always informed me that there is something else going on. But that is it. Nothing else has happened. I am now living alone in the same house. Nothing has happened out of the ordinary. My Mother Marlin died in April. I feel like she is here. All of her belongings are still here. I call for her and wait but no reply. Sometimes I look out the kitchen window, remembering how much she liked to look out of it, and I sort of become her for a second. Weird.

A Couple of Cats

2009-08-18T09:29:00.000-05:00

Besides Maryjane and Clancy, my two inside cats, I feed a couple of stays along with possums and raccoons. One of them is beat up all the time. I got some pink medicine and put it in his food to help the puss coming from his eye. The other is skinny as a rail. Clancy used to be called Nancy. I gave him to a gay guy at work and that's what he named him. He returned him about a year later. He didn't look like a Nancy to me so I named him something close, Clancy! Maryjane showed up on my doorstep back in 1999 pregnant and hungry. She sort of adopted me. She is such a wonderful cat and a good friend. My girlfriend has a dog named Spencer. We got him from a family of alcoholics. They had named him Sniper Terrorist. I thought Spencer was better. Love animals day. Everyday.

MUSIC

2009-08-17T09:45:00.013-05:00

Music is so important in my life. My earliest memory is of my dad bringing home a 45 he bought at KATZ drug store. It was Greenfields by the Brothers Four. He turned out the lights and I watched his cigarette glow in the dark to the music. It was wonderful. I became interested in any music I could hear. I loved the Motown station on the radio. James Brown became a favorite. I was probably the only white kid in Raytown blasting Cold Sweat out of their basement. I loved that hard funky groove. When the Beatles hit I got on the English Invasion bandwagon for a while. I really liked the Animals. When I was 14 a friend took me to see CCR. The Litter opened and blew them off the stage. Not that CCR were bad...they played all their hits. Seeing The Litter got me in to loud hard rock. That concert was also the first time I smoked pot. I started playing in bands and going to as many shows as I could. A radio station from Little Rock called Beaker Street with Clyde Clifford played the best music in the middle of the night. (I was always sleepy at school) That is where I heard bands like Black Sabbath and King Crimson. Captain Beefheart was also a favorite. His music was the most creative. In 1971 I saw Sabbath live and it was loud and very heavy. Blue cheer were also very heavy live. So many bands came through Kansas City between 1968 and 1976. I love jazz and blues and saw many of the masters. Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker. Earl Fatha Hines. I wanted to see Hendrix but was broke. Miles Davis was great. I moved in 1976 and eventually ended up out west. I liked all the punk stuff and saw many shows of that period. Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedy's, Flipper, etc. First punk album I bought way back in 1970 was Funhouse by the Stooges so I was ready for this stuff. Beefheart and Dylan are probably my top. Bill Callahan, Will Oldham, and Jandek are a few folks I've seen more recently and find interesting. Saw Jandek's first show in Austin. It reminded me of a friend I had in high school who had a SG and Marshall stack and was tone deaf. I had to wait for him to play before I could have my turn.With Jandek I didn't want my turn. That guy is way out there. He is also a hell of a businessman. Sunn o are kinda cool in a hilarious kind of way. High on Fire were very good live. Another whole world is classical music which I love dearly. Maria Callas, Bartok, Schnittke, Gubaidulina, Penderecki, Ives, Partch, etc. I have seen Tom Waits 7 times. George Jones is the best American singer we have. Iris deMent melts my heart. I used to talk to her when she shopped at a store I worked at. A real sour puss. Got high in Eugene Oregon with the guitarist of Nazareth. Played poker with Keith of the circle Jerks in Venice Beach. Shook hands with Billy Joe Shaver. Patted Jeffery Lee Pierce on the back and got a dirty look. Got spit on by Wendy O Williams...

Paintings

2009-08-13T23:10:00.001-05:00

Below is a link where you will find examples of my work through the years.

Picasa Web Albums - paintings