Category Archives: Old Things

I-70 Abandoned Silo

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Don West

I-70 Abandoned Silo

I-70 Abandoned Silo

Sketch Text:

Rural America is fascinating. You come across scenes and objects that can only be described as “unusual”. In a city, structures that are no longer of use are either torn down and replaced, or repurposed for a new use. But in rural America, things are just abandoned. Usually, Mother Nature finds a way to “use” them.

I can only surmise that this grain silo was abandoned while 3/4 full of grain…or some other organic material suitable for growing cottonwood trees. It’s masonry, so in another hundred years, it may collapse and the trees will again call Terra Firma home.

For now though, it is a testament to the ever changing lives of humans and the need for structures to suit the need of the moment. Big ideas gone some other direction.

I wonder if the builder is aware it is now a very large vase?

 

Posted in Architecture, Old Things, Sketches and Words, The Great Outdoors, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Arches National Park

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Don West

image

Arches National Park


Sketch Text:
Back in mid-February a friend and I took a weekend trip over to Moab Utah. Arches National Park is near there along with several other marvelous sites to behold & wonder over. The theme in Arches is rock formations that are simply striking in nature.

Huge stones perched high on delicate pedestals. Enormous walls of layer upon layer of sediment packed and hardened under the weight of each successive layer…then revealed by erosion…the weaker layers succumbing more rapidly.

All over millions of years. One realizes how fast and tiny our own existence is in comparison to these symbols of patience. I think about what it means to truly wait on something to happen…

Posted in Old Things, Paintings, Sketches and Words, The Great Outdoors, Travel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Red Rubber Stopper

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Don West
Red Rubber Stopper

Red Rubber Stopper

Sketch Text:
Sometimes I go find an interesting consignment store to wander around looking for stuff to draw. For some reason, I seem to gravitate towards bottles.

Some of them exibit a great deal of design thought that went into their coming to be. Seems like the older the bottle, the more thought went into the design.

Yet another by-gone era I suppose.

For all you artist types:
I tried a different sketchbook for this one. It was a Canson XL multimedia sketchbook. I like it for using a pen. But for watercolor it’s a bit thin. So I reckon they were thinking light washes and no “on the paper mixing” when they decided to call it “multi-media”. I almost saturated the paper enough to break through it. But I tend to mix on the paper. It was also a bit too absorbent as the first strokes are hard to release for mixing with another color. It reminded me a lot of bond paper but a bit thicker. Too bad. I liked the soft cover.

For you ink and pencil and colored pencil folk…it would be great! Not enough tooth for charcoal I don’t think but I didn’t try that.
Keep on drawing!

 

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

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

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

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

Sheep Creek Geological Loop, Utah

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Don West
Sheep Creek Geological Loop, Utah

Sheep Creek Geological Loop, Utah

Sketch Text:
I took a little road trip to see a part of Utah I’d never visited. It turned out to be a 700 mile loop by the time I got back home.

Hint: If you don’t like to drive, don’t go to Utah.
Hint 2: If you like rocks & Dinosaurs, go to Utah. There’s plenty of both.

The scenery was both beautiful and monotonous. I thought the rocks in this little loop [Sheep Creek Geological Loop] were amazing. A billion years exposed.

Additional Comments:
Mother Earth is truly amazing and unfathomably old. Utah provides many areas where Earth’s geology is exposed, showing literally billions of years of rock layers visible in one scene. I find it fascinating, but also hard to grasp…out of reach. I’ll say this: spending a few days around these truly ancient rocks made me feel very, very fortunate to be here for my own little speck of time.

Posted in Old Things, Sketches and Words, The Great Outdoors, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hotel Colorado 1893…

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Don West
Hotel Colorado 1893

Hotel Colorado 1893...click for a larger image

Sketch Text
One of two bell towers as seen from the front. Glenwood Springs Colorado. Lots of famous visitors over the years. Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft. Leased as a hospital during WWII for the Navy.

The old hotel has GHOSTS! When I save a little extra money I’m gonna see for myself. If I stop posting for a long time without reason…you’ll know they got me….Waaaa-haa-haa-haa-haaaaaaaah!

Posted in Architecture, Old Things, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Carnival Glass

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Don West
Carnival Glass

Carnival Glass...Click for larger image

Sketch Text
There is a circular piece of plain white paper on the bottom of this decorative bowl which my mother put there. It reads:

“Clyde’s Grandfather, Harvey Holman, won this at a county fair and brought it home to his wife, Ada Holman.”

Clyde is my father. So Harvey is my Great Grandfather. A little quick math would mean it’s probably at least 110 years old. 1900 or so…hmmm…this bowl has seen a lot of my family’s history.

And now it’s on the Internet.

Added Comments
I just want to say…I love my dad and miss him…

Posted in Nostalgia, Old Things, Sketches and Words | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Big Chief Soda Bottle

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Don West
Big Chief Soda Bottle

Big Chief Soda Bottle...Click for a larger image.

Sketch Text:
So I was snooping around in an antique store today and I see this soda bottle on a shelf among several others of lesser character.

Its murky green color & the bust of the Indian & the words “BIG CHIEF” got my attention. I will often call people I like “Chief”. (It’s a Southern thing.)
Examples:
“How ya doin’ Chief?” or “Hey Chief…your fly is open for all the world to see.” or “I like those socks ya got on there Chief…where do ya keep the batteries that make ‘em so bright?”

Anyway…the particular bottle was made for a bottling plant in Nachitoches, Louisana…as is molded into the bottom of the bottle. And it was patented on Dec 29, 1926. So it’s both old and I figure sorta rare…being from such a small town.

From what I found on Google, one could kick up their feet, wiggle their toes in a nice southern breeze, & sip on a Big Chief for a measly two cents. I can picture myself right now in a white three piece suit, white hat & white brogans…sittin’ on a big wrap-around porch in a white rockin’ chair, lookin’ out over the cotton fields and enjoyin’ one.

 

Posted in Nostalgia, Old Things, Sketches and Words | Tagged , , | 5 Comments