TOC - Biblical References

This week's Theme of Consciousness was Biblical References, being Easter weekend and all.

I thought of a lot of ideas. "Thou shall not kill", Noah and his rainbow, and my favorite, "Love One Another." Had to go with the disobedient Eve. That woman really messed things up for us females, but I love her still! She's a free thinking rebel, and I love that about her.

So here's my quick little painting, done in acrylic in my larger sketch book.

TOC - Heart

Theme of Consciousness for this week - HEART.

Here's my little doodle embellished with watercolor.

Got one song played... Grateful Dead - "Easy Wind".... really cool Pig Pen song.

TOC - Home

This week's Theme of Consciousness was "home." A very warm and fuzzy theme, really. The tribe chose some great songs that Jim loves, and some great sets were made.

Here's my little creation for the theme. Easy enough to think up, and doodley-fun.

And I had some requests played... Dead "Throwing Stones", Stones "Prodigal Son" (a sharer), and the rare, unusual honor of the Opening Song.... Ten Years After with "I'm Goin Home." Yes, I was a little spoiled this week. But I requested a whole shit-load of perfect, Jim-type-of -songs, so it was bound to happen!

Who knew the Dead had SO MANY songs that mention Home!

TOC - Radio

In honor of the lovely Radioactive Glow's birthday, last night's TOC was "radio".

I'd had this idea in my mind for sometime, and since "Only a Lad" (OIngo Boingo) has "radio" in it (she had a radio that Johnny wanted oh so bad, so he took it the first chance he had... and then he shot her in the leg), I thought it was a good time to do it. Plus my time was limited and I'm realizing it's far quicker to just do a digital pix than go ahead a create from scratch some painting!

As usual, also always good to practice the Photoshop a bit more.

No, Jim didn't play the Oingo Boingo song, but I did get a couple other requests played... "Around the Dial" - The Kinks, and "Hang on to Yourself" - David Bowie. Kind of personal songs for me. My first concert with my friends as a teenager was The Kinks near the era of that song. And "Hang on to Yourself" is on one of my top 10 albums - Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.

TOC - Sweet

Last week (Feb 13) the theme for Theme of Consciousness was "Sweet".

I did this little painting much inspired by my number 1 model, my sister.

I got a request also..."Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine", by Country Joe and the Fish. Pretty good one, I thought.

TOC - Weather

This week's TOC was weather. Lots of weather happening in So Cal right now. That's always different!

I'm just happy we've been having lots of rain and no real snow the last couple days. Pretty enjoyable to fall asleep with the rain falling. And then waking to more rain, and no snow. I love it! I'm also prepared for the snow that's expected though. It is still February after all.

OH and I got some requests played for the theme, 3 of them -- "Cold Rain and Snow" and "Box of Rain", Grateful Dead (resident tribal Dead Head) ... and "Sunny Afternoon" The Kinks. While the snow is gorgeous and very romantic as I watch it fall, I'm also looking forward to Lazin on a Sunny Afternoon -- in the Summertime!

This is ACEO sized, acrylic.

Tribal Art Show

I'll be down in Long Beach this Saturday for the Tribal Art Show. How fun is this? These are people I've met through my wanderings on Jim Ladd's radio show. Yes, I've met them through radio, how cool!

The featured artists are Al Bondigas, KiKi (Coyote Acolyte, aka The Tribal Chef), Radioactive Glo, There It Is There Johnny, and myself!

These gorgeous posters were created by Al Bondigas. WOW! Is all I can say about this creative guy, and also his artistic and quite lovely wife, Radioactive Glo! KiKi has some wonderful oils in fabulous colors, and Johnny is a unique character with a wonderful spirit who has some fantastic rock-n-roll stuff!

So come on down to Long Beach and see us. There will be excellent food, coffee, and some live bands too!! Not to mention the very entertaining Tribal Members.


So maybe all my TOC scribblings have paid off after all!

TOC - Believe

I've been wanting to do something with this quote for a quite a while. What better excuse than TOC? First I snazzed up this little painting. I think I'll make some magnets with it.


Then I made this poster for Jim Ladd. It's a little joke for the people who get so upset if they don't get mentioned for a request by Jim on Friday Night's TOC. I got one played tonight... Bob Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues."... I do believe I've had enough.

Later a couple more requests in... Desolation Row-Dylan... and Wesley's request God-John Lennon.

Jim Morrison's 65th Birthday

December 8, 2008.. Jim Morrison's 65th Birthday.

Over the weekend I watched The Doors in Europe on KCET. It reminded me of how I was completely infatuated with Jim Morrison when I was a very young, near-adult. I was a little obsessed, as young people become, and I enjoyed making art of the overly-attractive, highly sexy man.

I was so good at duplicating things, but not sure if they had much style. It was good practice, but I like more imaginative things better. Although a lot of people think "good art" is something that looks like a photo. I think differently.

In honor of Jim's Birthday, Jim Ladd and KLOS had a webcast with Ray Manzarek and Robbie Kreiger (of Doors fame) tonight. I watched it and saw some of my tribal friends enjoying themselves.

Because of that event, the TOC on Friday was "door". I didn't do any new art, but posted a few of my ancient portraits. And I got a request in.. Grateful Dead's "I know you Rider." This has one of my favorite lines..."The sun will shine in my back door someday... March winds will blow all my troubles away."...well I try to think optimistic like this anyway.

TOC - Pony Names (Girls)

This week's Theme of Consciousness theme was "Pony Songs". Now if you've never listened to Jim Ladd you might not know what a "long legged pony" is. It's a lady, of course! So this theme was songs that are about a certain girl, like Maybelline, Gloria, Maggie, you get the picture.

My day was a marathon day at the school. 8:30-8:30, with an hour break in the middle. Just one of those exhausting days where I feel a little hung over at the end of it. Dreaming up and doing a little art work was nearly impossible, and this theme didn't make it very easy. So I thought I'd just practice my digital skills a little, and did this much-to-be desired creation. I used wordle and a little PhotoShop. I wasn't happy with my color scheme in the end, but after a few tries, just had to go with it. Those who listen to TOC will understand the big name of "Sue".

I see I've only been posting TOC "art" lately. I've got some other things going on too, and am sorry to say am a little behind. It's just that time of year where life gets too crazy to blog as much as I'd like :(

TOC - Drinking Songs

Tonight's Theme of Consciousness was Drinking. I whipped out this little painting. Who else likes to shake it with a drink, while listening to Jim Ladd and TOC?

I made a lot of requests this week, and did get credit for one... Ball and Chain by Social Distortion. There are a lot of great drinking songs out there!

TOC - Guitar

Jim Ladd's Theme of Consciousness this week was "guitar". Here's my Guitar Man. A little different than most, but I enjoy trying different types of art media and styles.

I actually doodled this last summer, while watching a local band play down in town. (For you locals you just might recognize MR). I enjoy TOC so much, and get inspired just to do any kind of art to go with it. So I threw this together. I digitally colored it and posted on Jim's site.

TOC - free

The theme on Theme of Consciousness this week was "free" or freedom, of course.

I painted a Free Form Freak. I also got some requests in, "Revolution" by Beatles, and "Blowin in the Wind" by Bob Dylan. Listen and you'll hear free mentioned.

Interesting that this week's theme was about freedom. I feel the new principal at our school is taking more freedom from the kids. And today I had an unsuccessful discussion with him. I'll be ranting about that probably someday soon. I'm pretty fumed about him, and I don't see my dissatisfaction ending any time soon.

TOC - spirit

Last night's Theme of Consciousness was "spirit". Here's my very humble doodle. I realize I just don't have time to get a drawing done when I start at 9. I finished this at 12:30.

I did get a request played. It was "Come all ye rolling minstrels" by Fairport Convention. Where else can you hear Fairport Convention on LA commercial radio? That's why Jim Ladd is so great! I'm still waiting to hear some Willie Nelson, Old Crow Medicine Show and some Hank III. Then I'll know it truly is free-form radio! He plays Johnny Cash, so why not Willie?! And I always make a request for OCMC, maybe one of these days he'll think "wow, I should give these guys a try!"

Listen to Jim on the web, Mon-Fri, from 8pm-1am PST. here's the link to get to the stream.

and in case you haven't heard the magical Fairport Convention, hear ya go...

TOC - Blood

Tonight's theme for TOC was Blood, on account of the KLOS Blood Drive in So Cal. I wasn't able to give blood this time, I just couldn't go off the mountain for it at this time.

So I whipped up a little vampire for the bloody theme. Not sure why I do these little pieces for TOC. Sometimes I just need an idea to kick me in the butt.

I'd better get to bed, I've got to get up in 6 hours. I hate early morning risings!!

TOC - Royalty

Tonight's theme for TOC was "royalty", in honor of the return of Helene "Queen of the Tribe."

I did a quick painting of Queen Helene for the night.

TOC - Peace - Pendant

Last night the Theme of Consciousness on Jim Ladd's radio program was PEACE. I requested, and heard, "Throwing Stones" by Grateful Dead. I cheated this week on supplying any art onto his site. I had so many "peace" images already available, so I used them instead. I painted this Peace Girl about a year ago.



Just last week I made a print of this image into a resin pendant. I'm so happy that I got a new mold for making my pendants. It's nice to have a variety of shapes.



I also just recently made the packaging for them. They're all ready for gift giving, and are available in my shop now.



This is a vintage drawing of mine from 1990. It was perfect last night while "Imagine" was being broadcast. I like the Strawberry Fields Forever clothing. It's one of MANY Beatles images that I've done over the years.

Theme of Consciousness-TOC-World

My drawing for TOC this week was a little hokey! But it's pretty fun, and light also, so I like it.

Jim Ladd and Theme Of Consciousness started streaming this past Friday. In honor of Jim finally going world wide, the theme was "world," of course. Anyone who enjoys free-form rock and roll should listen to Jim. They only allow him to stream on Fridays, 8pm-1am (Pacific Time). He's on 95.5 KLOS.

I just love any theme/challenge to try and think up and create a piece of art to match. Some might be clever, others are just fun.

Theme of Consciousness-TOC-Ride

Tonights TOC theme was "ride". I made a lot of requests with a lot of them being "cowboyish." Near the end of the show, Jim played one of my requests, and I even got the credit for it. It was "Me and My Uncle" by the Grateful Dead. He was playing a very cowboyish set, so I hammed it up. During the Dead song, I commented "Yee-Haw" on Jim's Myspace page. So when Jim came back to announce who had made the requests he said "Me and My Uncle was requested by Saffron on MySpace... Yee Haw!" That was pretty funny! I knew being corny would get some kind of notice! Not sure if my humble, drawing addition to the comments was noticed or not. But I do like the little cowgirl ridin her pony!

The good news is Jim Ladd's show will start streaming next Friday. I'll be sure to post the link when it's available. He'll only be streaming on Friday's because of some weird laws that keep him from completely being himself while streaming. I take it, since Friday is all requests, he's found a loop hole to jump through, and bypass this restraint. So that will be cool. Although it could be late for you out on the East Coast since he's on from 8 pm - 1 am, Pacific time!

Theme of Consciousness-TOC-Questions

The theme for TOC this week was any song with a "question" in the TITLE. That was challenging to come up with a drawing to go with the theme. But I did come up with this. I wanted to get this posted when Jim played one of the many "who do you love" songs. I even had a feeling he'd do a set with a variety of them, and I was right. Luckily he did these songs later in the night, so I was able to get the pix on during the second one, The Doors version. I like that one and the Quicksilver Messenger Service versions a lot. I would've posted it during the first song, but so many hang ups kept going on. You name it, it malfunctioned. It's so frustrating when I'm in a hurry and dumb little things go wrong with the computer!!

Anyway this is just a simple little doodle that I love to do on a Friday night. No pressure to sell, just have fun and be imaginative.