Thought i would treat you all to something a lil different.  As you know I have been talking and posting about the artwork i have done and shown some of it here.  Thought i would take a break from that and give you all something new.

As most of you have read I have many hobbies and one of them being building model ships.  These are not your typical Hobby Shop plastic models.  I enjoy the hunt for the different and unique.  All the models are wood and steel acquired from around the world at the most prestigious places.  Holland, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Japan, China and any place that i can find the unusual.

In the photo section are 6 of some of the best ones i have done.  They range anywhere from about 2 feet in length to 6 feet.  A few range over 6 feet tall.
 I take pride in the fact of being very detailed in the work done on them and as you can see time is not a factor.  Some have taking me years to complete.  Most are sold.  Some i have kept.  Just not enough room here to keep them all around. 

In the 40 something odd years of doing these i have managed to do over 60 of them and enjoyed taking the time of constructing each one.  The detail can range from just the minute detail of putting barnacles on the hull to grease spots on the wheels of the cannons.

The picture above is my best one and the one i keep in my main room of the house for show.  I built that one in my early 20's.  I found it thru a catalog in a hobby shop in my home town.  That one took 3 years to complete.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures of the ones i have posted and please feel free to post any comments on them. 

Geesh.  Didn't realize it had been so long since my first blog that I said I was going to start putting up some of my work.

Wound up taking the time to organize, catalog, catergorize and whatever I had to do to make some semblence out of it all.

So here is the plan.

Going to try to take you all thru the years and how my work changed and what fascinated me during those times.

Right now there are 5 watercolor paintings in my photo section.  Started these in the late 60's early 70's.  I was intrigued by seeing my first pin-up model at an air-show on the side of an old fighter plane. I began taking books out of the library and looking further into it.  Studying them and playing around with just pencil and pen at first until I got what I wanted to see on paper.  Once I was satisified with what I was doing I then took it to the canvas. I took a few liberties with a lot of them, as you can see, but this is what I saw in my minds-eye.  Total amount of pin-ups: 237 pen and pencil, 176 watercolors.  Hoope you enjoy.

One more thing.  6 months ago was travel the back roads around my area here in the mountains and saw the firetruck sitting in the back yard of a house that was out in the middle of nowhere.  I asked the older gentleman if he had plans for it.  Have to laugh at this.  He said no and for 50 bucks if I wanted it i could have it.  It's in my garage now.  Little off base for a guy who rebuilds VW's but hell, am always up for a challenge.  Enjoying trying to find original parts for it.

It has been a little over 2 months now since the Waldo Canyon fire but the aftermath is still lingering.  Taking weeks to finally getting it contained and as it spread northwest, town after town being evacuated.
Colorado Springs alone wound up with these stats:

over 18,000 acres burned
approx. 1,200 Firefighters from all over the country, including from Canada, battling the blaze
347 homes destroyed
2 persons found dead
22 burglaries and attempts in the evacuated areas
1 person arrested in the attempts
i person arrested for impersonating a fireman
990 homes with no utilities
est. cost at 8.9 million

Investigators just about 2 weeks did determine that it was caused by human hands. They are investigating if it was on accident or deliberate.  Won't release any details until they know for sure.

The devasted areas look like war zones.  Literally blocks of homes demolished as I have been witness to the aftermath.  My company and others are in the process of doing what we can to restore what was lost for some.  It will be a long process and can literally take up to years for all those that had a lost.  Tweleve construction companies, mine included, are taken on 10 homes each at no cost to the people to rebuild for them.  Its the least we can do.

For all of you that I know and do not know, Colorado Springs and surrounded areas are are now under the scrutiny of the nation.  What started out as a single fire situation on Saturday the 23th at aproximatly 12:00 pm was a small fire.  At that point with as dry as it has been here and with the 100+ degree temps the fire grew, threating several homes just over the ridge not more than 5 miles from where my home is situated. Since that time, evacuations were mandatory in areas and the Fire Command Station was set not even half a block away from where i am.  The city and near by towns have been watching this closely and ready to depart at any time when told that they had to evacuate.  By Monday things had not changed much.  Containment 0%.  Only for the reason that with the way this fire has been acting the Fire Commander had said he has never seen a fire such as this with the way it was acting.  Suburb towns were evactuated, Highways shut down.  Neighborhoods shut down.  But luckily no lives or structures had been lost or even injuries.  At that time, the fire coverage was a little over 1,500 acres and approxiamatly 5,000 people evacuated.  I live in the mountains but most my work is up north.  My crew and myself kept an eye on the fire all day as we watched it work its way up the mountain ridge further north.  The winds had sarted hitting speeds up to 50 mph and it had everyone concerned.  Including the fire dept.  The fire dept, forest service, and even the utility companies have been fighting diligently trying to keep the devistation from spreading to all the homes that were around all these areas. Channel 11 here has kept a 24 hour report on the whole thing so that everyone could be aware of the situation and what was going on.  The animal shelters were taking in small animals, the local rodeo facility was taking in large animals.  So you can see that things were under control.  The fire dept was not attacking the fire as there main concern were structrues and the safety of people and once they could get there fire lines establishedand be assured of trying to keep homes from igniting they would not attack the stituation.  By early this morning the fire had been about 5% contained.

At 4;45 today the wind shifted.  While the news media was getting information from the mayor, police cheif, and the fire commander withen 15 mins of that meeting there was a mandatory evacuation of homes along the west side of the interstate.  It was stated that an estimated 7,000 people would have to be evacuated.  This was done quickly, efficeintly and with great vigor.  I praise our local boys in blue, the fire dept and so on for there quickness and alertness.  And praise to everyone who moved quickly upon that report.  It was withen mins that several homes, actually and uncountable number homes immedately, fueled by wind and so on at the final evacuation, went up in flames, even more so as i sit here while still watching the news coverage.  The toal of evacuees now, over 11,000 people.  The fire is only 5% conatined. Over 5,200 acres have burned and at the present over 600 fire fighters are putting their lives on the line.The fight has continued, with most of it being shifted over to the new area. IF it jumps the interstate, Colorado Springs will be in the hell hole.

So far, with as close as we have been to the whole situation we have been in a safe zone.  The winds either blowing to the west or northweswt of us.  But  there has been a concern as large pieces of ash have been falling here.  At times snowing lightly. Several years ago we had one other fire, the Hayman Fire.  But now.  That one is being labeled a baby to this one. But in regards to this fire....the state of Colorado has 9 other fires going as well.

I just saw that when the fire jumped to this side of town that an area called The Flying W Ranch which has been here for over 60 years and opened to the public for families.... is now gone...Everyone had time to get out. 

My prayers, my heart, my deepest thoughts go out to all in this time. The kindness, the response from people has been overwhelming.  Help has been coming from all over the nation.  People here have taken the time out to help those that have been evacuated.  Food and shelter have been established.  I myself and my crew have had many occasion to have had the honor to help where we could and with what we could.  Just wish there was more we could do.

Ok, so I will admit that posting blogs has not been on my forte'.  But, chatting with some of you, I thought it was time.  So here it is.  Yes, I am an artist.  Some of you have seen my artwork and the comments have been overwhelming.  Thank you all for all that.  It pleases me in knowing that people enjoy viewing something that I enjoy doing for pleasure and not for profit.  This has been a passion of mine since I was 14.  So 44 years of doodling and such has brought my collection to over 1,500 pen, pencil drawings, and a little over 3,000 paintings.  Which makes it kind of hard to find places to store them as I have no desire to toss any of them.  I have had only 2 art showings within the last 15 years.  This was due to a lot of persuading from friends and I will have to admit that they went quit well. (even tho I was nervous as all hell).  So dear friends, as soon as I can go thru most of them and decide which one's I think most of you will enjoy, I will post them here on my profile so all of you can enjoy them.  So stay tuned.  Should be up before Christmas.