Category Archives: Objects

Two-Tone Stone

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Don West
Two-Tone Stone

Two-Tone Stone

Sketch Text:
I saw this two-toned stone lying in a field of gravel covering the narrow strip of dirt officially cordoned off as the place where one can take their dog for his or her morning or evening constitution. The strip being behind the building where I am temporarily living.

Amongst all of this mix of gray aggregates was this one odd stone with three layers. Nice and rounded by…who knows what forces?

I got to thinkin’…

“What are the chances that out of all the stones lying around on the surface of the Earth, this one little two-toe stone would end up being spotted, sketched, and given far more thought than most any other stone lying in an area where no doubt hundreds of dogs have found relief?”

“And not only that, after no telling how many thousand years it has been a little two-tone stone, it becomes famous on the Internet!”

I think it’s all just “Happenstance”. “Luck”. “Good fortune”.

What do you think?

Posted in Introspection, Objects, Old Things, Sketches and Words with Questions, The Great Outdoors | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Bear Skull

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Don West
Bear Skull

Bear Skull

Sketch Text:
My boss killed a bear. My boss field dressed the bear. My boss skinned the bear and hauled it out of the wilderness in pieces (300lbs.). My boss cut the bear up into steaks, sausage, etc. so it could be eaten. My boss eats the bear.

My boss is a G-I-R-L. Yes!…a girl! And she is married!

Imagine if you will, what her husband must think about while falling asleep at night after a spat over not taking out the garbage or vacuuming the house…

I’d bet he is a very light sleep, uh-huh.

(f.y.i. – I do my best to stay on my boss’s good side.)

 

Posted in Animals, My Job, Objects, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Nakona Baseball Glove

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Don West
Nakona Baseball Glove

Nakona Baseball Glove

Sketch Text:
I found my old baseball glove while unpacking an old box after my move at the beginning of last month. I oiled it up for about an hour to get it working again. Then I struck a pose in front of the full length mirror, stretched out in full stride as I hauled in the only spectacular, centerfield, over-the-shoulder catch I ever made.

I still remember saying “I’ll be damn” as I came to a stop, turned, and fired the ball to the shortstop.

The shortstop, Dino, later told me it was “poetry in motion”.

I’m not much of a poet anymore.

 

Posted in Introspection, Nostalgia, Objects, Old Things, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Secret Agent Dude A-7

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Don West
Secret Agent Dude

Secret Agent Dude

Sketch Text:
Last weekend marked the end of the summer season in regards to the work I do. We always serve this rather secretive group that has been coming to Aspen this time of year for the last 23 years. Our company provides the transportation for some 250 people in attendance. I could tell you the name of this annual event…but I’d have to hunt you down and terminate you :-)

So this year, a major political foreign figure was in attendance and I was assigned the duty of hauling the luggage under the supervison of the Secret Service. Yes, the Secret Service.

For two days, I was a Secret Agent Dude…disguised as a lowly Luggage Van Driver Dude. You never would have recognized me. I was asked ordered to swallow a voice altering device which remained in my body for the duration of the assignment. No longer did I possess the calming lilt so characteristic of us Southern Gents. Instead, my voice was distinctly French…the only disappointment of the entire duty.

Thankfully, I’m now back to normal. Frenchness does not suit me.


Posted in My Job, Objects, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

That’s My Story and I’m Stickin’ To It

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Don West
Belt And Badge

That's My Story and I'm Stickin' To It!

Sketch Text:
I wear a uniform of sorts for my job. A knit pullover-green with company logo on the left breast-khaki pants, black shoes, a badge, and belt. Simple and easy. UNLESS you can’t find the badge and belt!

Hmmmm…Don to self…”Where’s my belt? Ah, must still be in my pants…nope. Ah, the bathroom doorknob…hmmm…not there. In the hamper by mistake? Downstairs? Under the bed? Dang Boy! Whad’d you do with your dad burn belt?!”

Then I grabbed my cell phone and realized I had a message from…shall we say…”a friend of noteworthy significance.”

“You left your badge and belt over here :-) ”

Now, before you loyal readers start jumpin’ to conclusions, and I know you’ve already begun, I give you the standard excuse for this slip of the mind. “It’s NOT what it seems!”

I was simply uncomfortable with the belt and wanted to relax while at my “friend of noteworthy significance’s” home. Likewise for the badge. So the belt was hung on a chair & the badge was put on the coffee table. Upon leaving I forgot ‘em.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!

 

Posted in Objects, Sketches and Words | Tagged | 2 Comments

Mesa County Courthouse

Posted on May 26, 2011 by Don West
Mesa County Courthouse

Mesa County Courthouse...click for larger image.

Sketch Text:
I was sitting in an old courtroom today which had old late 1800′s wall sconces and hanging ceiling lights which were very elaborate. There were columns with gold embossing along their lengths. The ceiling was barreled and about 25 ft. in height.

I wish they still built in this style. There is beauty and craft in it that are not found these days.

Further Comments:
I didn’t kill anybody. It was a civil matter and all is well….so I’ll still be posting as usual. :-)

 

Posted in Architecture, Objects, Old Things, Sketches and Words, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Statue In The Park, Grand Junction, CO

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Don West
Statue In The Park

Statue In The Park...click for larger image.

Sketch Text:
Waiting outside on a bench for a meeting here, this bronze statue got my attention. When I was his age I didn’t read anything unless I was forced to by my teachers. I started really reading after high school. And that is when I truly started learning I’m sorry to say. I learned what I needed to make my way.

Further Comments:
Upon further examination, the piece is called “Bookworm” and was commissioned and placed as a memorial to a loved one.

Posted in Objects, sculpture, Sketches and Words, Travel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Blue Pepper Jar

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Don West
Blue Pepper Jar

Blue Pepper Jar

Sketch Text:
This jar was in a thrift store I was strolling through one day recently. I thought…

“Hmmm…should be a red jar shouldn’t it? Never seen a blue pepper.”
Perhaps there are blue peppers in the rainforest? Seems everything in the rainforest is rare, one-of-a-kind you know. So blue peppers may indeed exist there at least…

But not where I come from.

So, I made it red.

Makes ya wanna sneeze? Go ahead. I won’t hear it.

Don’t get me wrong. I like blue. Just not on peppers.

This is called artistic license. It works on anything. Try it.

Posted in Objects, Sketches and Words | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Roadside Tubs

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Don West
Roadside Tubs

Roadside Tubs...click for a larger image.

Sketch Text:
I was driving home from the grocery store and these plastic tubs were sitting by the road near a driveway. I thought the colors were unusual for plastic tubs and they just looked kinda cool…like somebody arranged them to look kinda cool.

But that would be silly wouldn’t it?…

Posted in Objects, Sketches and Words with Questions, The Great Outdoors | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

My Cheap Sunglasses

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Don West

My Cheap Sunglasses

My Cheap Sunglasses...click for larger image.

Sketch Text:
Not an easy object to draw, sunglasses. All curvy and slippery and smooth and sleek. Unlike these I sketched.

In fact, I don’t draw very well at all really. The best I can do is a loose attempt at whatever I draw.

The fingers and hand have always been a bit disconnected from the brain in my case. You can see it in everything I draw including this lettering. Part of it is a lack of patience. Another part is a tendency to not pay attention while sketching or writing on the page. And another is not having a plan for my sketch…or anticipating what I’m going to write about whatever I sketched.

Which clearly explains why I’m now writing up here and thus requiring the tacky little arrow you see below…down there at bottom right.

The truly bothersome thing to me is that I don’t even drink…which would be the best explanation for many things about me. So I really don’t have a good reason for my inaccuracy.

It also keeps me from being much of a musician. So I whistle.

Posted in Objects, Sketches and Words | Tagged , | 7 Comments