Fun and Loose: Thee Billy Childish and "Skip" Spence (2011)

"Oar" (Alexander "Skip" Spence
acrylic and house paint on found wood
12" x 14.5"

"Thee Wild Billy Childish"
acrylic and house paint on found wood
16" x 16.5"

So I have really been diggin' the portraiture of Barry McGee lately. His use of line is gorgeous and jaw-dropping. Line is the fundamental element of all things art, so I tell my Kindergartners. I have even been doing mini-portraits on old liquor bottles. Of course they are totally gutbucket and raw, not as beautifully polished as Mr. McGee's. Oh well, I do however, love getting back to just line and a few colors. These pieces are fun and relaxing.
Thee Wild Billy Childish has been an idol of mine for quite some time. The dude makes killer punk-blues-folk-calypso sounds, paints and makes art in general, he's a writer, a producer, a publisher, and all around renaissance man with a penchant for anarchy...love'm.
Alexander "Skip" Spence was a casualty of drug culture in the 60's and never quite recovered after a stay in mental hospital...a wild story involving a fire axe and possible black magic and a lot of drugs, but in a moment of sheer genius and lucidity, he crafted one of thee greatest albums ever, by himself and a producer...Oar. Check it out, if you haven't.

Huzzah Huzzah a Snow Day

Crying Bludd: A Blues Reliquary for Billy Childish
39" x 47.5"
ink, acrylic, found objects, found wood on the back of a found dresser
1.28.09

My whole family had a snow day today!!! Instead of sleeping in, I got up and painted. I realized I could do this everyday, all day. I spent nearly 5 hours straight on this piece (which hasn't happened for awhile). It was great to spend the day with Reggles and Beanie!

Anyway, this is Wild Billy Childish of Thee Milkshakes, Thee Might Caesars, Thee Headcoates, and the Pop Rivets fame. He is a kinda garage-punk renaissance man. He is a prolific painter, printer, poet, and music maker and music producer, and a favorite subject of mine. This may be the fifth portrait of Mr. Childish I have painted in about 4 years. I really enjoy his work with the Chatham Black Hands and the Singing Loins...check'em out. This is number 12 for the year!!
PS I ain't lookin' forward to cleaning of the CRV tomorrow at 6 a.m...