I know what you are thinking. Why would I write about this? Why would you want to read about this? Well it is what I have been doing for the last couple of weeks and I am totally done with the project.

It started for me when I spotted a poster to hang up at the library. I am the poster person at the library. No poster is put up without my approval. Many a time has happened when a poster is placed quickly on the bulletin board by using some other poster’s library approved push pins. There is also the occasional rummage sale sign tacked up with staples! The horror!

But anyway, there is a poster about a local event to raise money for scholarships in the area. People or artists need to decorate a plain chair and donate it to this auction and then they will be displayed at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc. A very neat idea and if you like that kind of art or just want to be inspired from it, come on over to Manitowoc around November 1st. But check the date for sure.

I asked my sister to see if she had an old chair I could use. Sometimes a chair can be found in the garbage or wherever and Jerry, her husband, may pick it up as that is part of his job. Anyway, she did have a chair and it was similar to a Captain’s Chair. It was shiny, with polyurethane and shellack and it had a few drips of paint on it already. Debbie was using it as a paint chair.

Now in the old days, I would have spent weeks getting that stain off the chair. Acrylic paint will not stay on a oil-stained surface. In high school I did the same project and used a heat gun to scrap off the used paint. It is messy and dangerous and did I mention messy and dangerous? To give a 16 year old a gun that shoots heat waves onto a wooden chair is not a great idea much less a WHOLE classroom of teenagers that have to do the same thing. But that was how you got paint off of stuff back them without chipping of grinding off old toxic paints into the atmosphere.

But here we are in a new era. There is a product out on the market that you paint directly onto any surface, and it makes a very good surface sealer. I am not so sure of the product’s name but it is called something to the effect 1-2-3. You paint it, you let it dry, you can paint another coat, and then you are ready for the main business of creating a painted chair. A lot safer and easier then holding onto a flamethrower and a chisel at the same time.

Now this paint is stinky and will get onto anything. It is water soluble and can clean up in a sink. But always wear old clothes. No matter what you paint, even if it is water soluble, paint can stain and discolor things you don’t want to stain or discolor intentionally.

After the second coat was applied I was narrowing down the choices of the theme I wanted to create for the chair. I kept thinking penguins but then I would have to glue a penguin on the chair or more of them and who wants that in their study? Plus the penguins take up precious sitting area, so that idea kind of fell flat.

I finally asked my dad if he had an idea as we were watching football on Sunday afternoon. A commercial came on about island resorts and my dad said “How about Hawaii?” How about Hawaii…yeah it just might work out.

You see, it is a straight sit down chair without arms. The legs and the crossbeams could be an ocean or coral reef. The seat area is the beach or island and the back with it’s spindles could be palm trees. The top of the chair are the branches in the sky. All items are painted and in detail. Plus it will make my mom happy that I added flowers as that was her idea.

I began designing it and looking up palm trees and thinking that a TiKi statue might make it more Hawaiian looked up as many photos as I could google. It took about 4 weeks to complete, but I am happy with the final product. I even added a few beachcombers and tanners and a very attractive blond in a bikini walking near the surf.

I finished the final seal of the protective coat today and added some felt pads onto the bottom and it is all set for the BIG Show. Hopefully I can find a way to put a picture of it on the website or the blog for all to see.

People ask me all the time on how I get my caricatures signed. The easy way out of it is just me shrugging my shoulders and saying “Idontknow.” That does not fly about 100% of the time.

I guess the real answer to to snag some autographs is just meeting the celebrity. On occasion I have caught a few stars performing at the local theater. The majority in my collection have been just writing to Mr. or Ms. Star. That would mean the celebrity not an actual person with the last name Star. Although Bart Starr is on my “caricature to be signed list”, but that is another story…

The real way of getting the autographs I need is fairly obvious. I subscribe to StarTiger.com. It used to be called Star Archive, but the guy who runs it thought changing the name would be a better way to differentiate it from other sites. I would have to say that 90% of my collection is from this site. But that is only part of the way I get my signatures.

You see, it is not only the writing of the celeb you have to do, but making your requests stand out. I have read about people sending in custom made baseball cards, or photos they Pro-Painted on their computer at home. For me it has always been the caricature. I draw all the details and basics by hand. I color and paint the whole picture by hand. I airbrush the background, by hand…and an airbrush. It is about 4 hours of work to get one painting done. But that is not the whole process.

I guess you can call me a show-off. I want the celebrity to sign the original painting and get more of a reaction then just a signature. So I make plenty of room for a comment or salutation from him or her. Now in the autograph business, that is looked down on. You never want any personalization on the item. It ruins the resale. You know what? I don’t care. I am not in the market to see my caricatures that are signed. I like to keep them. The celebrity took the time to read my letter and look at my painting, they can sign their name and add a comment too. I even tell them too if they want. I have no qualms about a returned painting with a personalization. To me that is a bonus and an honor to have.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not a complete narcissist. I include a copied print of the painting for the celeb to keep. Sometimes they like it so much they sign that one instead of the original. Or they might send them both back signed. Or they never send anything back.

Now lately I have been in the convention market. I send my caricatures to appearances at conventions and whatnot. So far, not that good. Most of the stars are there and you know where and when they will appear. You also know how much they charge. That is the kicker. By writing through the mail, it is essentially free. (Except for the fact that you are paying postage twice, one going out and another hoping to come back. Don’t get me started on the numerous paintings I had lost due the fact that the celebrity holds on to it forever. Or chucks it)

Getting back to the convention scene, I have done this 3 times and I am not totally sold on it. By being in the StarTiger.com community, you know who will be at certain conventions and who will go. I have mailed my caricatures to these nice people and for a minimum price they will bring my caricature to get signed. They do their job, don’t get me wrong. They truly helped me out.

BUT….

The old expression “If you want the job done right, do it yourself,” definitely is true. No offense but the Star Trek universe people must have warped into a different dimension. My Spock, who I paid a pretty penny for is useless. I specifically painted an area for Leonard Nimoy to sign and he goes ahead and signs his oil-based pencil colored uniform. With a big space to his right totally devoid of a signature; it’s open. I also had a Star Trek character sign the detailed hands I had worked on meticulously. Why? I guess they decided that man has gone nowhere before in signing caricatures, so an oil-based rendering of furry hands is the optimum space to sign a very well used sharpie marker on essentially colored oil. Yeah that works out real well.

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the help that my fellow collectors have given me. It just is a big letdown seeing a half-done signature on a caricature that I really researched and took time to do, compared to just buying a photo off the web.

One last experience: I was going to send a caricature to a professional purveyor of sports signatures. I won’t mention names but it is close to what Germans drink beer out of. Anyway, they had Hank Aaron, the Home Run King and former Milwaukee Brave/Brewer icon signing items. I thought great! I will draw Hammerin’ Hank and send it in with my check. Granted it was much more then I expected to spend but Hank was worth it.

I drew a young Hank ready to hit a homer out of Old County Stadium in Milwaukee. I researched his uniform to the pinstripes and brave patch on his shoulder. Drew him up, colored him, and added a neat background. All ready to send. I looked back at the website and the German beer drinking device name, doubled the price. You got to be kidding.

Needless to say, I won’t be able to send my Hank to meet the real one. Too bad as I was ready to take down my Ron Dayne to show off Mr. 755. But like the title of this blog states, sometimes it is all about luck and that also includes bad luck.

Everyone has time to accomplish things. Everyone has work to do. Today I feel like have both, but I feel like I do not want to accomplish anything today.
I do not have the get up and go, the vim and vinegar, the hot and spicy, the yin and yang of doing anything today.

I have one project that I know I should do, but I do not feel the inspiration to do so. I would describe what I have to do but it is one of many commissions and I do not want that customer to feel slighted. I will tell you this, I am not looking forward into drawing and designing it, but it has to be done.

That is a lesson I try to teach my students. There are things in this life you are expected to do. Doesn’t matter if it is your job, or your hobby or doing your taxes. The best way to avoid all this hmmphing and hawing about is just do the work and get it done with. BUT in art if you go in with that feeling, the art tends to suffer. Get your mind on something else and then focus your energy into finishing the project.

Sometimes I feel like I am just walking in the mud, going nowhere. I had a plan today and it had nothing to do with painting or drawing for myself. I was going to go to Algoma for the Shanty Days. My dad was going to play in his band and I was going to go through the art displays there to get some ideas on displays and whatnot. I was going to spend the majority of my time with my Mom, but things changed. Mom was not feeling good and decided not to go on the trip. I decided to stay home and watch after her and maybe get some work done too. Mom is up and about not feeling the greatest, and I am not feeling that inspired for this project.

So I give you a sure fire way to inspire anyone to get going. A Top Ten of Inspirational tips from yours truly….
10. Think of all the talents you have and focus your energy into the one that will accomplish your goal.
9. Have a goal.
8. Make sure to get your plans in order. An example would be a Top ten List and make sure you state facts that could previously build on the others mentioned.
7. Music and good moving “up” music helps the cause. I bet the Founding Fathers needed music to inspire them and I think BTO’s “Taking Care of Business” actually helped them write the Constitution…
6. Take a break. Eat a Red Vine.
5. Watch a movie, then get back to work. Do not repeat this step though, otherwise your day will be shot.
4. Get on your website and start writing a blog. Doesn’t matter what it is as you should be doing this too!
3. Spell check your favorite magazine.
2. Take a power nap. 10 minutes and just relax. I can wait.
and finally the way to accomplish a goal when you do not feel up to it is…....
1. Just do the dang thing! The more time you waste the less time you feel accomplished. Not eveyone like what they do but you gotta do it.

Michelangelo was a great sculptor. Known throughout the European community of upper echelons. What did the Pope ask him to do? Paint a little chapel. He’s not that great of a painter, but the Pope did not mind. So then old Mikey ran away. A few times. The official protectors of the pope, The Swiss Guards brought him back again and again. He actually knew them by name.

Finally he finished the Sistine Chapel and his mark was none throughout history. And yet he does not want any recognition to this day! Why? Well because he is dead. But still he accomplished what was considered a great task. He had back trouble, but still he accomplished his goal.

So what are you waiting for a pep talk? What the hck do you think this is? I am not Vince Lombardi! Get the heck back to work….

- See I think this actually worked. And I didn’t have to send out the Swiss Guards either.

Around this time of year, it usually seems like this is the last hurrah for Summer. It is hotter, stickier and usually uncomfortable in a closed room, like a classroom. But for most teachers, it is time to get prepared for the upcoming school year.

I myself have been visiting my classroom for the last 2 weeks. I have been bringing in supplies and cleaning out the things we do not need for the upcoming school year. I was also replacing the RENUZIT air fresheners in the storage areas as those “cloakrooms were built in the 1960’s and they smell like they were unearthed back then too. Nothing wrong with the 1960’s as it brought many great things in that era, but do you wear any of your clothes that you wore in the ‘60’s now? And why is that? BECAUSE THEY SMELL….case closed.

Seriously, all teachers have to reorganize or should reorganize their rooms every year. It keeps it fresh and clean and a new set of students makes the whole learning atmosphere unique. Here are a few of my tips for teachers that feel that they are in the same old rut.

1. Change the way the students are arranged. Move the desks in a different pattern. Move work tables if you can. Sometimes you can do this quite often during the year so if you keep the same arrangement for most of the year, maybe it is time to change it up.

2. Enjoy the weather, while you can. I enjoy Fall and most of the other seasons. I like to take the kids out of the classroom sometimes to just experience the seasons. My kindergarten class does a project with changing colors on the leaves. Why not take a quick field trip around the school to see some changing colors? That way the ideas could grow into great ideas for projects and assignments.

3. Let the students pick their spots to sit, for the first couple of weeks. I have tables in my room and the students can sit anywhere. Eventually there are problems with differing ideas and personalities. It is a good bet to let nature go its course and by the 5th week (or maybe sooner), THEN have a seating chart. That way you kind of know who gets along well or too well.

4.Have general supplies. Keep your room filled with general supplies like paper, construction paper, glue, etc. I like to keep a gallon of Elmer’s glue on hand just in case if during the year the glue runs out. I also have plenty of scissors, pencils and crayons from previous years. The problem for me is organizing it all and that is why I go into my classroom early to organize. Another thing to do, is look at your pencil sharpeners. Mine are set too high and some are too old. Maybe a fresh pencil sharpener and a convenient spot might make the school year go more smoothly?

5. Be excited about the school year. Nothing is more of a downer then a disappointed teacher who does not want to get back to school. I see students come into the library and they look down and out. A happy and reassuring face makes a jittery and scared student become a calm and inquisitive mind.

There are many more tips that I have, but because most of you are enjoying the Summer, I will cut this short. Get ready for those students and have a great School Year!

Well I was looking at a few blogs I had written earlier and thought I should conclude this one.

I left off with finding the right surface to create friction for a golf ball to travel on cardboard. Balls of any kind do not travel well on cardboard alone. Painting it does not help. So after some running around a store, I found some big rolls of model train scenery. Basically green wood-chips glued on paper. Granted it was old as the rolls were in no way wanting to be unrolled and more of the chips and dust would come off of the paper, but once we glued the super contact glue on the cardboard and backside of the paper, we could glue both parts down just right. A little bit of ironing out the wrinkles with a piece of wood, and we were all set.

Now out of 18 holes, 2 of which did not need the green train set approach. One was Jill F’s Egypt. I told her that I wanted a sand-like hole, and instead of actually bringing in buckets of sand and ticking off Don the Janitor, I had went to the dollar store to pick up some sand paper squares. It worked great. The squares were small but putting two people on the project made it go faster.

The other hole was Antarctica. That was one of my responsibilities. So noticing that the green wood-chip paper does not paint well, I decided on some insulation panels. Preferably one that was cut so I could fit it in my car. The nearest place to get one was Koss Building Supply. They got me a nice sheet and it was 2 inches thick. Prefect for the ball to fall down into. They sliced it for me and and I glued some wood sticks on one of the ends and lined it up just right, dug some holes and I had a portable “snow island/continent”.

Now no matter what type of skill you have as a golfer or putter, chances are that the ball will fall off the cardboard. If you remember I had the whole school save toilet paper rolls so the class could cut them in half and glue them on the bottem of the cardboard/greens. By gluing a Styrofoam bowl where the hole goes underneath, makes a perfect cup. Of course with Antarctica, I just dug a hole out. But to make the ball stay of “course” we had to create some blockers or dividers. Insulation for pipes worked the best. A bag of 3 foot insulation tubes ran close to $12.

Some students created unique bumpers that did the same trick. Catherine T had picked China and her hole was essentially the Great wall of China with a dragon on it. The dragon was actually the green and the Great Wall was the cardboard. She had glued cardboard squares on it and then painted the whole thing gray/brown. Then she glued a dragon green on top. The leftover circles created by the holes everyone made were cut in half and created scales for the dragon which also kept the ball on the playing surface which was the dragon/green.

Emily C had Italy and she cut slices of pizza out of cardboard and glued them around her course. Danielle D did a similar thing except she had made mini loaves of bread out of paper and scrap paper for France. Brett K had England and glued Hotwheel cars as bumpers on his black topped streets of London. For the Styrofoam Antarctica, I saved my water bottles, took off the labels, and glued them on the surface. It made it look like ice on top of snow. Most of the other students used the piping I had purchased.

Now it was basically up to the kids and myself to decorate each of the holes as a country or region we were previously assigned.