Just kidding!!!  I won’t be signing “Irises” any time in the near or distant future!  Van Gogh’s work is an influence on mine! Hello all you fine art tweeps and fans!  Here’s a picture of me with Van Gogh’s “Irises” (again) on the 8th at the Getty in Los Angeles. I like “Irises” and Vincent’s work a lot, it’s always a thrill to see when I visit the Getty.

Another real treat for me during my visit was the little Degas self portrait they have there:

Edgar Degas Self Portrait 1858 @Ebenlo at the Getty, Photo by Ebenlo

Seeing this made me want to try my hand at a self portrait again.  Though not sure when that’ll happen.  I’m busy with other work right now. However, looking at Edgar’s work here, I was touched by the sensitivity to light and color he displays.

He may be well known for painting ballerinas, but this Degas was no one trick pony. The realism and sparkles in his illumined eyes and soft color gradations in his cheeks are simply exquisite.  Click the picture to get an even better view!

Well, sorry I couldn’t fulfill your jones for witnessing mayhem today!  LOL  ;))  But look below for the culmination of my noog, or practical joke here!

Have you ever been to the Getty?  Which work was your favorite?  Or what art have you seen lately that you really like?

   Take a look at this nifty Van Gogh “Irises” puzzle I just found!  http://bit.ly/VGIrisesPuzzle

If you don’t appreciate my fine art practical joke, I guess I’ll just have to say “Vincent made me do it!”  X))

“”Still Noogin” Starring Vincent Van Gogh & Ebenlo Painterofsong” After Vincent Van Gogh by Ebenlo (2013)

I put the definition in the fine print of the piece, but a noog is a “prank, caper, escapade, antic, or shenanigan.”

If you happen to know who did the cover art for “Nothing To Lose” (1998), please let me know so I can add their name to the title of this piece!  I can’t seem to find that info yet.

Vincent’s Signature Is Safe And Sound!

Thanks for stopping by!  :D

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer – Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com     PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com    iReco8o.com Tastemaking

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Notice:  I am an affiliate for items and services featured on this site.

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Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

Tweet or message me anytime!  :)  I will respond to your message at first availability!

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Ebenlo’s Personal Likes

ORIGINAL ART:

Painter of Song Original Art
http://bit.ly/EbenlOriginals

If you’d like to be a part of a new art happening, a person who is seeking to make an art investment, looking to reward yourself or your top earner with that unique gift for the office?  Are you a discriminating collector simply looking for another elusive keeper?  Try art by Ebenlo, Painter of Song at http://PainterOfSong.com!  Cartoonified, Indirect Realism, Nouveau Pop Art!  Something new and different!

There are a handful of different selections for you to choose from:

Originals hang on the wall and attract the eye in vibrant, sparkling color in jewel tones.  http://bit.ly/EbenlOriginals

Limited Edition Prints make you feel like you made a most excellent art investment decision.  http://bit.ly/EbenloLtdEd

Standard Prints are great for sharing on your walls and make delightful gifts for friends.  http://bit.ly/EbenloArt

JUICE:

Woongjin Green Plum Juice

http://bit.ly/GreenPlum01

I finally found it!

This is my favorite soft drink that I drank regularly when I was stationed as a G.I. at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea.  This may sound a bit odd, but it tastes a lot like drinking a cold and refreshing green apple sweet-n-sour hard-candy juice!  However, it’s NOT THE SAME as drinking apple juice, period.  There is not a suitable American equivalent.  Your experience in tasting is simply incomplete until you’ve tried it!

I have no idea why this has not become a sensation in America or Europe yet!

I truly feel that soft-drink companies are missing the boat on Asian green plums, and I’m only too happy to be the person to introduce you to them!

This is NOT your grandma’s prune juice!!!

This is the sweet, sweet, nectar of Asian Ume Green Plums.  You are really going to enjoy this juice!  I brought home a cache of this juice when I returned from duty overseas, used several bottles as gifts, and was sure sad when I’d finished the rest and it was all gone.  I’m glad I’ve found a new supplier, Rakuten Global Market, and they have it in stock!

I’m so excited that I’ve finally found a source for this wonderful drink for my guests to enjoy!  You’re going to want a case of this to share with family and friends, so go ahead and start yourself off with 24:
Woongjin Green Plum Juice

Buy From Japan’s #1 Shopping Site!

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

BREW:

Do yourself a favor, and please check out:  Ballast Point Brewing Company “Sculpin” IPA  You’ll thank me later!

http://bit.ly/bpsipa8q

This is not the swilling man’s beer.  In fact, we don’t offer any of that around here.

This is the savoring man’s brew!  Imagine a complex India Pale Ale that dances on the tongue and informs you of the all the flavorful reason’s of just why hops, malt, spices, and water were created in the first place!

If you’re into pale ales, you know you’re the one in charge of the flavor reaching your taste buds, and likely, you’ve tried it all.  If you could only drink one beer, for the rest of your life, this is it.  

Because life’s too short too not drink the best.

Your new favorite brew?  It’s time for you to try this beer now!  http://bit.ly/bpsipa8q

MOVIE:

“5 Centimeters Per Second”
Directed by Makoto Shinkai

DVD:  http://bit.ly/5CMPSDVD

DVD (Another Link):  http://bit.ly/5CMPSDVD2

BluRay:  http://bit.ly/5CMPSBLU

This is a gorgeously crafted film, I don’t know how else to put it!  The visuals are all incredibly beautiful, and the story is excellent and interesting to follow.

When it’s late, and around time to sleep, and the last thing I want to watch is an action picture, I put on this movie and enjoy an art cocoon before bedtime.

It’s rare on Amazon, so don’t wait! 

Please do yourself a favor and buy one of the last few remaining copies available of this movie now!  http://bit.ly/5CMPSDVD

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

PLEIN AIR EASEL:

Pro Art French Plein Air Easel

http://bit.ly/PleinAir01

This looks EXACTLY like my first plein air easel and believe it is really all an up-and-coming fine artist needs who wants to try their hand at working outdoors.

I would attach a bungee cable at the bottom of the drawer and put a paper towel roll there and be good to go to paint all day!  When I’m oil painting I go through a lot of paper towels, so if you’re a new painter, be sure to stock up on paper towels and felt gloves (like the gardening kind).  Cut a bit off the index finger and thumb of your dominant hand.  The gloves are then great for both painting and are anti-smudging for drawing.

I enjoyed using it, and the reviews about it at Amazon are stellar, which, I recall is why I bought it in the first place!  Best wishes on your plein air adventures!  http://bit.ly/PleinAir01

GUITAR:

Takamine Supernatural Series TAN16C12 Dreadnought 12-String Acoustic/Electric Guitar

http://bit.ly/TAN16C12

This guitar is a whole lot like the 12-String Takamine I’ve owned for a little over a decade.  I’ve spent many an hour plinking away on mine over the years, searching for songs.

I would go so far as to say that this is the most excellent first guitar that there is!  If you can play a 12-string, an electric guitar is going to be a breeze for you to grow into.  This guitar will grow your callouses proper, but the Takamine neck-actions are so excellent, and the sound is so good, you’ll find you just want to play and play your amazing sounding guitar!  I played dozens of Takamines before I bought one like this, and was sure a happy camper once I did!  Isn’t it time you make one your own?  http://bit.ly/TAN16C12

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

MUSIC:

A LONG WAY TO FALL
~Ulrich Schnauss

http://bit.ly/USALWTF

This music is very complex and interesting, with a beat, yet relaxing at the same time with a dreamy feel.  Perfect for playing while you’re working, waiting for your connecting flight, or staring out the window in peace.  Buy this album today!

http://bit.ly/USALWTF

CAMERA:

Nikon D5100 16.2MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens and Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 SLD DG Macro Lens with built in motor + 16GB Deluxe Accessory Kit

http://bit.ly/NikonD5100FS

This is the new camera I got for Christmas that I’ve been so excited about lately!  You can do both ultra-high-res photos and movies with sound!  I really wanted this one because it has the time-lapse shutter feature which I can make stop-motion type films with for showing painting progressions.  It can also handle a host of photography tricks I haven’t scratched the surface of, but will likely spend the rest of my life learning and implementing!  A lifelong hobby that can grow into a lucrative profession in a bag (or much more if you like).  Get yours now!  http://bit.ly/NikonD5100FS

If you’re looking for a digital camera course, here’s one that people enjoy learning from:
http://bit.ly/CameraCrs

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

ELECTRIC GUITAR:

PRS DC 22 10-Top with Bird Inlays Electric Guitar Fire Red Burst

http://bit.ly/prsdc22

I’m still undecided as to the exact guitar I’m going to buy next, however I’m quite sure it’s going to be a PRS, unless I’m struck by lighting, the moon reverses it’s trajectory, or greek tragedy.  For someone like me who primarily paints for a living, I can afford myself the time to continue looking for the sweetest sounding instrument I can find.  I’ve been playing them for quite some time now, and every one I’ve picked up has been a beauty!  I have no qualms whatsoever recommending a PRS guitar to anybody, especially a 10-Top!

World renown for it’s delicious sounds, eye-candy woods and hardware.

Imagine yourself exploring the sounds of this beautiful instrument, or giving the perfect gift to a guitar aficionado now!  http://bit.ly/prsdc22

CRAFT BEER CLUB:

http://bit.ly/CraftBeers

As near as I can tell, and I’ve searched relentlessly on the subject, this is the premier craft beer of the month club to be a part of!

Please do yourself a favor and take a  look at their mouth-watering “Recently Featured Beers” section to check out the great value this club provides.  Whoever is choosing the beers every month is doing it right, in my opinion.  A wonderful selection of IPA’s, ales, stouts, porters, lagers, and just downright rare brews are the mainstay of this program.

Because you should be drinking something fantastic tonight!

Imagine every month, having four varieties of interesting and delectable new beers to enjoy yourself, and to share with your friends!  You surely won’t find any of these micro brews in your local grocery store, which makes the experience of being a member that much more interesting and prestigious for the craft beer aficionado.  Order yours or your gift to a dad or grad now!  Free Shipping at CraftBeerClub.com- Get the Finest American Craft Beers! Click here!

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

YES STYLE – A NEW WAY OF STYLE:

http://bit.ly/YESSTYLE

If you’re anything like me when it comes to fashion, you go out of your way to creatively differentiate yourself from the people around you.  Imagine going to your closet and always having something cool, fun, and interesting to wear!  And fashions no one else will likely have for hundreds of miles.

Yes Style is a great source for ultra hot asian fashions for both men and women.  They offer clothing, jewelery, shoes, bags, accessories, beauty products, and more!  I’m currently in the market for a new jacket, and they’ve got some of the hottest looking jackets, hoodies, and outerwear that I’ve seen lately!  The designs are unique and different than what I’m used to seeing here in the States.  You’re sure to find something novel and exciting to wear.  Take a look at their site now!  http://bit.ly/YESSTYLE

DEXCLUSIVE - LUXURY WATCHES:

http://bit.ly/DEXCLUSIVE

Imagine you had a blank check but were only allowed to spend it on any three watches.  Which would you choose?  And wouldn’t you still want to get a good deal?  This is the place to go when you feel like buying the best while saving thousands on luxury watches!

Here’s exactly what I choose when it’s only a question of style:

A.  The Bvlgari Diagono 18k Gold Automatic 42mm Chronograph  DG42BGVDCH – I find this watch by Bvlgari striking with it’s contrasting gold and black tones.  If I were in a parallel universe and had to wear one watch all my life, this would be what I’d choose.  http://bit.ly/DG42BGVDCH

B.  The Rolex Submariner Men’s Automatic Watch 116610LV – This watch really caught my eye, as I like the fresh and vibrant look of the color green.  Because doesn’t too much gold get a little boring after a while?  http://bit.ly/116610LV

C.  The Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Black Sea 263-92-3C – I think this watch would look great with my favorite pair of black pants.  http://bit.ly/263923C  Save up to 75%, shop at Dexclusive now!

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

WINE:

Wine.com

I sought out a bit of help from a sommelier friend in choosing some excellent wines that I should try next.  I thought I’d pass on the info to my guests!

A.  Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Spätlese 2010 – I’ve come to know Rieslings for being enjoyable and sweet on the palette.  As a rule of thumb, I typically pair any white with white meat; however, in my opinion, none of that really matters: what matters is that you and your guest(s) simply have a good time!

B.  Krug Grand Cuvee (Any Year) – If you’re serious about celebrating, you’ll likely find a new favorite in Krug.  I’m looking forward to checking this one out, it sounds like it dances on the tongue!  The consensus appears to be that you should cellar it for 3 to 6 years, but the regardless of when you drink it, this champagne is a chart-topper that everyone raves about.

C.  Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 – I once recieved a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon as a gift and have liked it ever since.  I’m told the Silver Oak Napa Valley 2008 is an excellent vintage and I’d like to try some!  As a rule of thumb, I typically pair any red with red meat.

90 point wines under $20 at Wine.com. Shop Now!

AIR:

Virgin Atlantic
http://bit.ly/VIRGINatlantic

I find Richard Branson and the stories of his life fascinating, and always seriously consider learning if his businesses can help out me or my guests in any way at all.

The next time I fly to London, I’d consider using Virgin Atlantic.  They even have seats that turn into beds!  There are videos of the Virgin Atlantic experience.  Take a look, see if it’s for you!

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

PAINT PENS:

Uni – Posca Paint Pens

I was introduced to these pens by an amazing surf artist, Drew Brophy, who uses these pens almost exclusively for all his art.  If you’re a slower painter like myself, this is really going to help!  The fact that one doesn’t need to dip a brush makes painting and illustrating go much quicker.

Try them out!  I’m sure you’ll like them!

Available in several sizes:

Medium:

http://bit.ly/POSCAMd

Fine:
http://bit.ly/POSCAFn

Extra Fine:
http://bit.ly/POSCAEF

GREAT BOOKS:

Books I’ve read along the way.  I recommend you look at all reviews before you buy.

Wild At Heart by John Eldredge – I read this book five or six years ago.  It is an inspiring read.
http://bit.ly/WildAtHeartJE

Totally Guitar by Tony Bacon & Dave Hunter – My brother got me this for Christmas a few years ago.  I’ve enjoyed reading it and looking at all the amazing looking guitars in it.  Great for learning anything there is to know about electric and acoustic guitars, and for illustration references.
http://bit.ly/TotallyGuitar

I’d Rather Be In The Studio by Alyson Stanfield – This book has been a great guide to a step by step way to build any art career.  A great book to refer to when asking yourself “what should I do next?”  http://bit.ly/IRBITS

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

HAUTE COUTURE FASHIONS:

FORZIERI Italia – TRUE FASHION, TRUE STYLE, TRUE LUXURY

At Forzieri Italia, sure you can expect to pay a little more for the soughtafter luxury brands, but you’re going to have the absolute hottest in avant garde super-star-quality fashions on the market!
Shop JUICY COUTURE’s Bold Bags and Jewelry collection here at FORZIERI.com!

FINEARTCOUTURE.com – Haute Couture Fashion Designs by Ebenlo, Painter of Song

On the first minute, of the first day, of the first month of 2013, I introduced my first couture fashion designs, a collection of shirts I called “Lucky 13″.  View them at FineArtCouture.com!
Shop EBENLO’s FINE ART COUTURE for the hottest couture shirt designs at FINEARTCOUTURE.com!

Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

DILIGENT HANDS:

They say a man should have a talent in his hands.  Develop yours by working on art or learning to paint!  Is painting your self portrait on your bucket list?  Sarah Parks has an excellent drawing program called “Drawing Secrets Revealed”, and she weilds a classy looking style I could recommend to anyone!  Click Here! Learn To Paint Your Self Portrait!

MisterArt.com: The world’s largest online discount art & craft supply store!

Another thing we do with our hands is work on our homes!  Automate yours with stuff from SmartHome!
SmartHome Clearance Items Up to 90% Off

Better Lighting, Better Living.  At Lumens Light + Living, you’ll find the Web’s best selection of contemporary lighting, modern ceiling fans and modern home accessories.  They offer more than 15,000 items from the world’s leading modern lighting and design brands, in styles ranging from contemporary to classic, transitional to mid-century modern.

Lumens.com for contemporary lighting, modern fans, and home accessories.

FRAGRANCES:

Even a child will tell you that going on a date is going out to eat with someone and smelling each other!  Get premium quality scents for the best price at FragranceNet.com!  My most recent selections, have been:
Perry Ellis “360″,  Jean Paul Gaultier “Le Male”, and my latest is Bvlgari “BLV”.
              
FragranceNet.com Items at 50% Off Department Store Prices

FLOWERS:

The samurai of old were very into flower culture and even knew the meanings embodied in the different species.  You don’t have to go that far into them to know that a gentleman is going to have to buy flowers on several occaisions during his lifetime.  Get yours at iReco8o.com by clicking here:   1800flowers.com

CANDY & CHOCOLATE:

Everyone likes candy, and who doesn’t like chocolates?  Candy always makes a great gift!
Try:  Gourmet Chocolate Truffles and More Chocolate Gifts at Chocolate.com

GIFTS:

Whether it’s a gift for “your woman,” a friend, family member, or an entire family, we’ve got you covered!
Check out 3D Laser Gifts for some amazing gifts!  Also, I’ve found a company called Photoweavers that prints your pictures onto top-quality blankets.  Perfect family gifts!
3D Laser Gifts & Photoweavers – The Original Woven Photo Blanket

Another great gift selection to consider for the wife or girlfriend is GlossyBox!  Women LOVE this program!
Have a high-class lady? Debutante? Score MAJOR thoughtfulness and sophistication points on this one guys!

SupaTeez.com – Pop & Poker Tees – The Home of Your Next Favorite Tee!  Aww-YEAH, it’s SupaTeez! The hottest new designer t-shirt boutique that sells the latest and most sought-after clothing and apparel in the west!  They have a great selection of comedy shirts, movie shirts, sports shirts, poker shirts, girly shirts, vintage shirts, geek shirts, hoodies, and more!

       

WINE & BEER:

Whether you’re looking for individual bottles of top-rated wines or champagne, or would like to join
a wine-of-the-month club, you’ve reached your destination:  iReco8o.com!
Check out Wine.com and VirginWines.com!

BEER:

I’m an avid fan of micro-brews, especially India Pale Ales, and am interested in helping people find good beer clubs, learn to brew their own and things of that nature.  I’ve found an excellent beer of the month club, which features four beers a month and recommend  you check them out!
I’ve also found a beer brewing source you might also be interested in!

Free Shipping at CraftBeerClub.com- Get the Finest American Craft Beers! Click here!
Find everything you need to brew your own beer and make your own wine at Midwest Supplies.

TRAVEL:

If you’ll be travelling to and from a major airport, I’ve got just the solution for you!  Virgin Atlantic!  Whether you’re flying economy or would like an all-frills package, Virgin delivers!
Virgin Atlantic Airways

READING, SPORTS, & ENTERTAINMENT:

Be sure to visit iReco8o.com if you ever find yourself sitting around, waiting in a layover, on a bus, or simply looking for something new to watch!  We’ve got excellent sources for magazines, movies (DVD, BluRay, digital downloads & merch), snowboarding, and sports gear.  Get the fun stuff here!

I’m so excited at this moment at 7:20pm on 11MAR13, we just got approved by the W.B. to offer you the Warner Brother’s collection of movies, DVDs, BluRay, games, entertainment, and digital downloads!  Enjoy!
Take $5 off orders of $50 or more at WBshop.com! Shop Now!

Zinio Online Magazines, a 24/7 virtual newsstand for the world’s magazines. Instant access!
20% Off + Free Shipping on 20,000 Sporting Goods, Games, Fitness Products and More at eSportsonline

              

The-House.com: 2013 Snowboard & Ski Gear is In Stock Now! Burton, K2, Rossignol, DC & Many More.

JEWELRY:

I’ve found the perfect store to shop at when you’re looking for a gift for “a person who has everything.”
TitaniumKay are famous for titanium and tungsten, and do personalized engraving on items, including rings, necklaces, jewelry flash drives, and more!
Check them out:
TitaniumKay – Men’s Titanium Jewelry

AUTOMOBILE:

I remember flipping through the JC Whitney catalog for hours and hours as a young man, reading and dreaming about all the incredible things I could do with my car!  I wanted to put in a cb/vocal system, some train horns, make it go front-back-side-to-side, and you name it when I was done looking at their catalog!  It’s also a great source for gifts, I recall a friend recenly installed an automatic car starter in his wife’s car that he ordered from JC Whitney in order to help her beat the cold northwestern winters.
Save 10% off auto parts from JC Whitney using code “JCWPAT.” Offer expires Mar. 17, 2013.

HEALTH & WELLNESS:

I’ve valued good health pretty much my whole life.  I really got into fitness when I read the book “Body For Life” by Bill Phillips, a book I’d recommend to anyone.  His information on fitness, nutrition, and health make a great guideline for physical and mental transformation, and there have been many success stories documented in the Body-For-Life program.  He’s the man who taught me that it is impossible to “spot-reduce,” good info, and food for thought when witnessing everyone who tries to sell you something with the tagline “how to remove bellyfat.”

Over the years I’ve learned how valuable homeopathics and dietary supplementation can be to one’s health.  I’ve experimented with several homeopathic remedies and wish to share what I’ve learned, I think it will help.  I’ll be adding more links as we go along, but for now, I’ll add a Health & Wellness superstore I like called the Institute for Vibrant Living (aka IVL Products).
$15 off $50+ orders and free shipping on orders $125+ at IVLProducts.com!

ALGAECAL CALCIUM:

I have a severe lower back issue having ruptured discs a few different occaisions when I was younger.  I take calcium to keep my teeth, bones, and back strong.

AlgaeCal Calcium Supplement Will Increase Your Bone Density in 180 Days …Or Double Your Money Back!

TECHNOLOGY:

Here are a selection of Ebenlo  Painter of Song iPhone and iPod Touch cases.

Bob Dylan iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/BobDylaniPhoneCase
BB King iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/BBKingiPhoneCase
Beatles iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/BeatlesiPhoneCase
Jimi Hendrix iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/HendrixiPhoneCase
U2 iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/U2iPhoneCase
2Pac – Tupac iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/2PaciPhoneCase
Eminem iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/EminemiPhoneCase
Taylor Swift iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/TaylorSwiftiPhoneCase
Justin Bieber iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/JustinBieberiPhoneCases
Venice Beach iPhone Case
http://bit.ly/VeniceBeachiPhoneCase

VIDEO EDITING SOFTWARE:

I recently had an uncle buy a new computer specifically because he wanted to create videos for his friends and family members.  He found the software for video editing very complicated.

In fact, I know how to use one of the most advanced video editing suites, and find myself not creating videos because of how complicated it is.

Here’s a great solution to this issue!  Give the gift of your cinematic creativity with the help of Muvee!

Storytelling made easy with 3 simple steps using muvee Reveal X

Xiao Zhi Gadgets Leather Fashion

iPad & Tablet Accessories

http://bit.ly/XiaoZhiLeatherFashion

Leather Fashions

Fine leather briefcases, laptop computer cases, business totes, handbags, wallets, and business cases.  Jack Georges Handmade Originals.

http://bit.ly/LeatherBagsAndMore

Leather Briefcases – Many Styles, Prices & Colors!

http://bit.ly/iReco8oSignUp
Any questions at all? Please send me a web-based VOICE MESSAGE!

Stay tuned to @EBENLO for more iReco8o Tastemaking

“Finessing Lucille” – B.B. King by Ebenlo [@Twitter and domain name not on final prints]

Sketch of B.B. King completed while waiting in line for concert tickets – Buffalo Bill’s Resort & Casino, Primm, NV (16FEB13)

Well, my mother and I went together to go see B.B. King play in concert this past weekend!  We had a great time!

We got there to Primm Valley Casino Resort on Friday evening around 8:30pm, and had a bit of a wait getting checked in; a line of about 15 people with two working the desk.  We had to be patient, but I didn’t feel we had to wait an inordinate amount of time considering the busy weekend.

Though they didn’t have a buffet going on that late, we were alright because we were able to get a sandwich at their main restaurant after settling in to our room.  I had the pastrami with sauerkraut and enjoyed every bite!

The rooms were clean, beds were well made, nice, soft and cozy.  I enjoyed watching a little late night TV before sleeping.

Saturday morning we decided to try the buffet at Buffalo Bill’s!  I liked the service there quite a bit!  There is a short order line for eggs and omelettes in the middle of the buffet area, with a friendly cook you give your order to.  I was hungry for eggs over medium and had four of them with cheese and ham sprinkled on top!  All diets are OFF after we hit state-line!  I do have to mention, I tried the OJ, and I thought it had a bad aftertaste.  Maybe I caught a bad batch.

It was fun talking with people in the buffet line about B.B. King and his music, as we were all going to the concert that night!  The concensus in the chow line was that we couldn’t wait to hear B.B. play “The Thrill Is Gone,” and I was sure hoping he’d play “Help The Poor“, which I’ve liked ever since the Riding With The King album with Eric Clapton.

My mother and I played a couple of slot machines we thought we’d try and won some!  After winning a bit we thought it was time to go and get in line for the concert tickets.  I went and got us a place in line, and my mom went and won $75 bucks on her third pull at a Michael Jackson machine!  She sure was lucky on that one!

I started sketching as I’d brought my trusty sketch journal and knew it was going to be a long wait, which it turned out to be.  I drew a sketch of B.B. King (seen above).  I spent about an hour or more shaping it to look the way it does now.  Later, while in the arena waiting for B.B. to play his music, I added the lighting effects that were seen on the stage to the background of my drawing.  We made friends in line after a while, and a nice couple told us about an old-timey candy shop in Barstow that we really should try!  We’ll have to learn more details and check it out sometime.

Here is the gesture sketch I made of B.B. during the concert!  This is what I call the “guts of an illustration.”  It was quite dark, and I drew by the light of the stage.  I knew it was near impossible to draw his face in the dark, but I was able to capture what details I wanted for a potential larger piece.  After I completed the sketch, I also managed to write down some visual cues that could help me later should I decide to turn the work into an illustration or a painting.

B.B. King Seated In Concert – The Guts Of An Illustration by Ebenlo

Well, thanks for visiting my fine art blog!  I hope you’ve enjoyed your time spent here and hope that you’ll come again!  :D

Do you like B.B. King and his music also?  Which is YOUR favorite song, and why?

Sincerely,

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer - Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com     PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com    iReco8o.com Tastemaking

Guest/Fan Email: Ebenlo[ a t ]PainterOfSong.com

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iPhone and iPod Touch Cases by Ebenlo

Sport a stylish new iPhone case of your favorite musician!  An excellent assortment of Ebenlo’s images are now available as iPhone and iPod Touch cases!

http://www.redbubble.com/explore/ebenlo

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer - Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com     PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com    iReco8o.com Tastemaking

Guest/Fan Email: Ebenlo[ a t ]PainterOfSong.com

Twitter:  Twitter.com/Ebenlo

Facebook:  Facebook.com/EbenloArtist

Fine Art Blog: Ebenlo.Wordpress.com

I posted a review on Harry Perry of Venice Beach California fame, on his album “Video Commander.”

http://www.examiner.com/review/the-music-of-harry-perry-of-venice-beach-fame-video-commander-album-review

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer - Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com     PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com    iReco8o.com Tastemaking

Guest/Fan Email: Ebenlo[ a t ]PainterOfSong.com

Twitter:  Twitter.com/Ebenlo

Facebook:  Facebook.com/EbenloArtist

Fine Art Blog: Ebenlo.Wordpress.com

(Photo: Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times May 31, 2009)

Well, officially, this never happened, because it’s against the law:  But unofficially, there is a small couch in the studio that I got too tired on to move anymore for the day.  The James McDemas “Art Service of California” studio is in downtown Culver City in Los Angeles at the main 10 freeway to the 405 interchange, said to be one of the busiest freeways in all of America.  James recently passed away, a month ago, and the place is being taken care of by one of his best friends, Arist Niciforos, a minimalist artist who shows and sells his beach themed pieces at Venice Beach typically near the Venice Ale house on Rose Avenue, who recently had a work published by the Hammer Museum; Arist’s “syringe anti-drug piece” was displayed at the Hammer http://jcohort.uscannenberg.org/fall1/2012/10/01/the-battle-over-drug-abuse-in-california/.

Niciforos and I stopped at Ralph’s on the way to the studio for some salad, avacados, ramen, skim milk, crumb doughnuts, and a small pile of ready-made sandwich rolls from the deli department.  A typical artist’s party kind of spread.  We made our way through Venice into Culver City through Arist’s thorough knowledge of the back streets, and got there pretty quickly, within about 15 minutes.

As we pulled up to the building, I noticed a theatre like sign, and another that said “Theatre Entrance,” with an arrow pointing at the door.  It made me laugh, and noted certain “Life As Art” overtones present in the modern day art vernacular.

As I walked into the door I noticed there was stuff everywhere you could look.  Growing in piles up from the floor, hanging off every wall and window, eeking it’s way down the ceiling, stored in free-standing shelf units.  Tons and tons of salvaged metal letters from building projects.  Metal letter molds stored in a loft area, large and small.  Metal pouring ladles, hanging from the wall.  A Louisville slugger sits next to a couple of old b.b. guns in a bin near the door.  African wood art hangs on the back wall.  Two neon signs hang near the kitchen area, one says “SEX” in capital letters, the one below it says “artist,” and we have a chuckle about that.  Two aluminum fine-art-style rocking chairs hang from the ceiling and I’m told they’re worth about a grand a piece but they look to be worth closer to 4 to 5 grand in my opinion; they’re so meticulously crafted and sanded.

The office area features no less than 15 lamps hanging from the ceiling, all unique with colored glass and metal features twisting this way and that.  We walk out the back door into a garden with a statue of Neptune as it’s focal point, sitting above a once working fountain.  Out back we find rows upon rows of conserved neon lights from building salvage projects, huge hand painted signs, and bunches of metal signs that likely belong in a museum somewhere, a designer home furnisher would have a field day in there if they could only get McDemas’ parents to sell.  Whom, understandably, may not be interested, considering the loss of their son is still so fresh.

Niciforos talking art on Venice Beach (by Kaysie Ellingson)

Niciforos and I toured the grounds then had a bite to eat.  Our sandwich container smelled of pungent meats and tasted delectable.  We drank Diet Dr. Pepper and talked about all things James McDemas:  The old-school work ethic, the precision of the metal containers holding his pens and pencils, the odd things he collected, like a color pencil set with all kinds of different colors of lead heading into the same stylus.  The rows upon rows of metal letters in the shelving  unit makes for some entertainment as you attempt to write a complete word.  And the tiny plaster rabbit, or elephant stands out in a sea of metal oddities, large and small.

We retired to the garden area and sat in two chairs and just talked and talked about James and his legacy of neon and metal art that he shared with the people of Los Angeles.  Arist said someone had photographed the studio and took well above 1200 photos and still walked away wondering if they’d got it all.

It was offered to me to sleep in a loft bed that looks to be about a queen-sized space, but once up, I honestly would have feared for my life getting back down on a ladder going straight up and down.  I opted to read books until “accidentally” falling asleep on the day bed, covered with a mexican style blanket with the red, blue, green, and white among other color stripes; “it wasn’t my fault officer,” fashion, so to speak.

Well that was my latest trip into the Art Land that is found in the highways and byways of Los Angeles.  I hope you enjoyed reading, and will tune in next time.  Cheers!

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer - Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com     PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com    iReco8o.com Tastemaking

Guest/Fan Email: Ebenlo[ a t ]PainterOfSong.com

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Facebook:  Facebook.com/EbenloArtist

Fine Art Blog: Ebenlo.Wordpress.com

Ronald Jenkees at the Papa Roach Studio ©2011 Ronald Jenkees

Howdy Folks!

I just thought I’d mention here that I wrote an article for Examiner.com about the rising music producer and artist, Ronald Jenkees.  Check it out at:  http://www.examiner.com/review/ronald-jenkees-star-is-rising

Also, if anyone else is interested in making money writing articles, you can have your own writing business with Examiner.com.  Check out this link for details!  http://exm.nr/SmBv8J 

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer - Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com     PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com    iReco8o.com Tastemaking

Guest/Fan Email: Ebenlo[ a t ]PainterOfSong.com

Twitter:  Twitter.com/Ebenlo

Facebook:  Facebook.com/EbenloArtist

Fine Art Blog: Ebenlo.Wordpress.com

Ebenlo – Painter of Song

I’ve written down my story a few times lately on other sites, but I’ll start from scratch.  I’ll do my best to keep it interesting by including pictures and perhaps music file links as we go along.

I’m originally from a small town of about 35,000 people: Rupert, Idaho.  One of my favorite things about my home town is a place called “Doc’s Pizza!” [ Click here to visit Doc's on Facebook ]  Most people I know from Rupert who’ve moved away, always have to visit Doc’s for a pie or three when they go back to town for a visit.  My little brother recently brought a pizza from Idaho to California during the holidays and we ate it up!  Try the taco pizza, it’s incredible!

They call Rupert “Christmastown U.S.A.”  and the quaint square park in the center of the town attracts people from all over the area.  During the holiday season, it’s always filled with wonderful and colorful lights, decorations, and nativity scenes.  In the summer the Independence Day parade is held there, the summer carnival is also held nearby while roads close and food booths set up; it’s the chief gathering place for meeting old friends and new.

Christmas lights at a Rupert country home.

As a child, my earliest memory is laying down, playing under a church pew.  I could hear the sounds of the 200+ people in the church worshipping God in song.  My great uncle, “Tio Roy,” was the pastor, and my cousin Myrtha or her sisters would help to lead the singing.  I was under the pew, putting my fingers in my ears and making beats and playing with the music as I opened and closed the hearing canal.  I had a strong sense and a thought at that young age: that God and his music were absolutely amazing.

Little E eating ice cream, Lagoon.

Here’s a picture of me as a child, my family had taken all of us kids to the Lagoon Amusement Park in Salt Lake City, Utah.  My favorite ride was the skyway seats that allowed you to transport yourself from one side of the park to the other.

I was a huge fan of Super Man and Star Wars, and was always either playing with legos,  drawing pictures, or playing with my Star Wars and G.I. Joe characters in the back yard garden that hosted a patch of dirt that served as a play area.

I became attracted to the cartoons that I saw in the Sunday newspaper, and learned to draw Garfield the cat in just about any pose I wanted to.  This was how I typically made friends back then: people would see what I had drawn, and were attracted to it because they liked the content matter too and it served as a point of conversation.  I have to say, in that regard, not much has changed!  *laughs*

Garfield’s at it again.

One year, around the age of 6 or 7 years old, I decided to make my first jack-o-lantern from the face of Garfield, the pizza loving cat.  Likely because he liked pizza just as much as I did.  I think that was a strong reason for the attraction, *more laughs*.  I was born with the “desire to make a masterpiece” syndrome, and all it entails.  Well, on the last cut of the jack-o-lantern art work, my fingers slipped on the smooth surface of the knife handle, and it cut the pinky tendon in my right hand down to the bone.  It was a horrible ordeal at the time, I had to have stitches, and I think my mom threw away the pumpkin, scared of encouraging a behavior that would hurt me so.

I felt bad to have my masterpiece thrown away, but I knew I was an artist.  I remember tearing apart my game boy, painting it blue, and customizing it with Bart Simpson graphics and reassembling it.  I had the coolest game boy in town!  *laughs*

Growing up, my family and I went to a Penecostal Assemblies of God church every Sunday, and Wednesday nights.  It had a lasting impact on my life, and remember many songs and wonderful experiences from that time.  Surprisingly, I was allowed to listen in on the sermons and sketch in my sketchpad.  I remember one time I drew a caricature of our pastor.  I’m not sure if he was pleased, but I admired him and believed it was a respectful likeness; and it sure gave me a chuckle.

In my early teens, around Christmas time with snow on the ground, I remember buying my first sketch pad at the Shopco market by the mall in Twin Falls, Idaho.  My mother had given each of the four of us children of the family $20 dollars each, and I bought myself a sketchbook and the 40 pack of Pentel markers; I sure felt happy about it and like the legitimate young investor in my future.  The rest of the kids bought candy, but I just smiled and told myself that I was going to be taking “the road less traveled,” and in my naivete: “become a famous artist one day.”  I was a determined young man.

Not long after that, I met a new best friend who was an exceptional artist named Ted.  We thought we were the greatest illustrators around because we didn’t really know of many others in our area who could draw and paint the way we could.  Boy, were we clueless to the talent that existed both inside and outside of our little “Magic Valley” world.

I was sitting in a Biology class in my sophomore year of high school, and Ted said “Hey man, what you got there?  Let me take a look at your sketch book!”  This was the beginning of our life-long friendship.  I’d only met him once before at the “East-West” junior high dance, and upon first meet, I knew we’d be great friends in time, and sure enough, that’s just what happened.

“Homies” L to R: Neal, Ebenlo, and Ted – Circa 1998

Ted and I were art geeks but quite popular kids in school, if that matters at all.  We hung out a lot with Neal, a fearless country boy who could do just about anything on a snowboard.  The first day I went snowboarding with these guys, they had me going for back-flips.  I was pretty fearless too!  I paid for it with now having a bad lower back; go easy young fellas!  Ted was pretty amazing on a snowboard as well, one of his claims to fame was back-flipping on a huge kicker buck naked.  *laughs*  That, and he’s a professional video game designer now.  We also hung out a lot with Brian and Mark, Ted’s neighbors, and their skills on snowboards were pretty legendary as well.  We hung out with pretty much all of the first people to snowboard in our area.  We were art geeks immersed in the snowboarding and video gaming culture.

Todd Richards in the half pipe.

One year, our home hill of Pomerelle, got such a huge dump of snow, people from all around the region heard that we were sitting on top of near 100 feet of fresh powder, and this drew in snowboarders from all around the region.  My friends, Neal and Ted, were both snowboarding instructors, and were the go-to guys to show the professional snowboarders around when they showed up.  I got to tag along but ended up hanging out with Todd Richards, the future snowboarding half-pipe champ of the world.

I watched Todd take a jump on a smallish jump, but he turned it into a beautiful double back-flip and landed it perfectly.  I told myself, “I wouldn’t have tried a SINGLE back-flip off that jump, let alone a DOUBLE!  There’s a reason these guys are the pros!”  Even the famous photographer, Trevor Graves, from TransWorld Snowboarding magazine was there to take a picture of me going for a backflip and landing flat on my back.  I shook it off and we all laughed like boarders do, and it was a pretty great time.

Now, I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth: as a boy I mowed lawns, delivered newspapers, and later worked in fast-food places like most young people now adays, however, my friends and I were privileged to take the ski bus every winter during junior high and high school (thanks in large part to my mother’s commitment to her children’s education and well being:  THANK YOU MOM!!!)  We’d go night skiing.  We’d get 8, 15, or 20+ friends all in a pack pulling stunts and watching each others jumps.  It was an incredible time for each of us who got to be there!

One time, I pulled an incredibly high, 15 or 20 feet vertical Japan-Air that I’d seen Jeff Brushie do in a snowboarding magazine.  I cranked it hard and tweaked the tail out for as long as I could hold it, and let go wondering if the base of my board would land on the snow in time to pull it off smoothly.  I touched down safely on the tarmack and my friend Ted congratulated me with high fives and my brother hooted and snowboarded down the hill and hug-tackled me, they thought it was really something!  We were all yelling and laughing, and carrying on about the trick.  That was one of my best stunts ever!

I used to take big poster boards over to Teds, and our Friday nights might be spent filling up the entire page with various sketches, creatures, characters, and concept art.  We were portrait and caricature virtuosos and sometimes drew friends when we went out to restaurants at night.  I still often leave a napkin sketch on the table when I go out.

Around that time in high school, I became very interested in playing the guitar and singing.  I’d worked at McDonald’s and later Burger King in high school, so I could afford a car.  My mother came home one day and gave me a light blue ’78 Buick Regal along with the monthly payment, so I welcomed it and took it over, just glad to have some wheels to get around in.

My ’78 Buick Regal looked exactly like this one.

I remember that I eventually broke the stereo player in my car.  Actually all it could do was play the radio at one point in time, but again, I ended up breaking it, and just decided to leave it broke.  Instead, I chose that I would simply sing music that I knew in the car wherever I would go.   It was like taking constant singing courses, as I would refine my technique everywhere I went.

Around my sophmore year in high school I began to become interested in playing songs on the guitar.  My dad had a guitar with a lot of old poetry and things he’d written down to sing, back when he was in his late teens and early twenties; but he really didn’t play it much anymore, he was more of a trumpet player (he continues to play trumpet in church to this day), and really didn’t mind me and my older brother using his 6-string.

The guitar was a jumbo acoustic made by Kawasaki I believe.  It may not have been the finest of it’s time, but it sure was fine to my brother and I!  Not knowing any better, my brother Isaac and I learned to finger-pick immediately, regardless of the difficulty, we struggled on to get our fingers to learn the proper string and fret locations in order to play our favorite songs.  Finger picking was one of our favorite things to listen to at the time.  The first thing I learned to play was the finger picked intro to White Lion’s “When The Children Cry” song:

The Unforgettable Fire by U2

Then it happened.  I checked out “The Unforgettable Fire” by U2 from a class that hosted this feature I’d been attending in high school, and it was musically life-altering.  I heard sounds on that album that I never knew before were possible.  They were painting musical landscapes of places I’d never seen before and I loved it!

This began a life-long obsession with making vocal music and painting pictures with sound, as well as graphically of course!  I would eventually make paintings while listening to my favorite sounds, an effort to inject love into the process and at least hopefully influencing the outcome of the overall image.

I eventually learned all the songs on U2′s Auchtung Baby album and would sing the whole album back to back while riding around in my car.

I became involved with a church singing group called “Son Zone,” hosted by the high school’s christian class, a group in which I would share in a solo from time to time.  I also eventually helped form a high school band called “Core,” with some of my musician buddies.  We’d mostly just get together and rehearse music all the time, but played a few parties here and there.  One of our biggest hits was a song about snowboarding called “Ride”; a song in which the chorus exclaimed “I’ll ride, ride, ride ’til they drag me home.”

I’d been involved in student government since I was an 8th grader.  That’s when I beat out who I considered to be the coolest kids in school for the 9th grade class presidency.  There was Heath, my classes’ first string football quarterback, Brad, arguably our best running back, and Amber, pretty much the most popular girl in school.  They had all teamed up and were running together as a unit.  It was a bit intimidating, I have to say.  But I decided to give it my all, and I believe I shined when I gave my speech.  I was heckled by someone after my speech, and managed to maintain my composure under the pressure.  I was told that I won by a landslide and that people were expecting to see great things from me in the future.

I later became the junior class president of my high school and also was awarded a delegation to attend the American Legion Gem Boys State.  The same group that a lot of presidents, senators, and house representatives go to in order to learn the ropes of what it takes to be in the government.  We would spend a few days doing bill-writing, then we’d run for offices, and become elected officials and take over the Capitol Building for two or three days.  My first year, I was a delegate, the next year I was a junior counselor, the next, I was a senior counselor, and finally I became the judicial dean of the program.  It was an honor to be a part of that program for so many years.

Boise, the state capitol building. Boise, Idaho

There in Boise, I happened to meet Jim Dalton, a future fellow Phi Delt, though I don’t think either of us knew that at the time, who had been the governor of our delegation’s collective group.  I enjoyed that time of learning and meeting people.  Spending a week in Boise in the summers away from moving water hand-lines in pastures was fine by me!

So I’d been involved in student government for quite a few years, but during my senior year of high school, I decided that my path was definitely different than that of governmental political leadership.  The student government classes stood in direct conflict with some studio art classes with my teacher Karen Hansen.  I threw myself into art my final year of high school, and some 12 of 15 classes that year were all art.  Mrs. “H” was the first person to relay the concept of serendipity in art to me, and she taught me more of Van Gogh and the way he enjoyed japanese art and prints the way I did, and he has become one of my favorite artists since.  I was such a frequenter of the art building and the art computer lab, working on logos and such after hours, I was honored to even receive a key to the building.  I greatly enjoyed my senior year at Minico with Mrs. Hansen and all my fellow students there.

I earned a few scholarships (Again, Thank you Rotary Club of Rupert, Idaho, and Thanks Again Image de Idaho, as well as Thank You To The Boise State University Art Program for recognizing talent) and was privileged to go to the University of Idaho, in Moscow, Idaho to both study art and to get away from the Southern Idaho area I was kind of tired of at the time.  I was just so ready to see some other slices of life!  I greatly enjoyed going to the university and taking classes such as art history, composition, sculpture, silkscreen printing, taking vocal lessons, and the like.  I also liked being a pledge and eventually became a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.  My pledge bros and I and the members there had a lot of great times together.  I made a lot of life-long friends there.  While I was there, I especially enjoyed being the lead singer of the house band, drawing and painting, and playing frisbee golf.  There was a frisbee golf course that went all the way around the campus!  A very fun activity.

Frisbee Golf

I’d been working on a professional art portfolio since my high school years.  I had bought myself an air brush, and used it from time to time in illustrations and such.  I made a huge 24″ x 24″ book that I’d stiched together and completed the book binding on.  It had a furry dark brown cloth around the binding that I’d bought to look like buffalo fur, and a light tan cloth covered the rest of the book.  I used to flirt with girls by asking if they wanted to come and “check out my portfolio.”  The rest of the guys thought I had it made with the ladies because of the attraction to artists, but I was still quite shy; and had no idea how to progress past a female saying “Oh, well that’s a nice drawing!”  *laughs*

I was restless at the University.  In my naivete, I thought that my talent was being wasted there, and believed I would go farther if I could get accepted into an art school such as the Art Center School of Design in Pasadena, California.  I eventually went on to apply to the school two times and was accepted on both occasions, but could not find a funding solution that would make the equation work out.  I was frustrated and felt like I needed to find a way to break through a ceiling that I felt was being placed on my potential.

“Audrey” by Ebenlo (completed in 1995) is in the Minico High School Auditorium, Rupert, Idaho (Photo by Kallie Walton)

When I returned to the Rupert area for the summer I immediately recieved an invitation to paint an Audrey Hepburn which was to help decorate the newly remodeled auditorium at the high school.  I gladly accepted the challenge and was honored to make a contribution.  Here is a photo of the work, which is approximately 4′ by 6′ in size.

I spent the next half a year working for a metal fabrication company, Wasco Hardfacing, saving for school.  I attended the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls for a semester as an art student, and enjoyed classes in ceramics, photography, and choir, though I just wasn’t very happy at that time.  I suppose I felt a bit restless and a little out of place.

I returned to the University of Idaho and enjoyed more art classes and took vocal lessons, continuing with my art and music interests.  The trouble with my studies was that I didn’t envision myself ever using a degree to teach art or work at a design company, though, I’ll admit there were times I had wanted that, I was not actually attracting that into my existence.  I knew I wanted more out of my life, I just couldn’t put a finger yet on exactly what, or how to get there.  I only knew that I wanted to make something “impossible” happen, though I didn’t know what it would be.

I had left school a bit disillusioned and spent the rest of the summer fly fishing, sketching and drawing, and housekeeping in West Yellowstone, Montana.  There is some very pretty country up there in them hills.  I loved being out there.  However, I did not catch and release a few smaller sized fish I caught, a major local faux pas.  I think my mind was caught up in the act of hunter/gathering that day.  I left them in my friend’s mom’s freezer; they are likely still there!  Don’t be that guy!!  *laughs*

After that summer, I was driving back to my family’s home in Rupert, and I felt the urge to pull over to a church and ask the Pastor if there was an oil painter anywhere nearby.  I wanted to find someone who could use a young artist’s help.  Sure enough, there was a painter that the pastor knew and sent me to.  His name is Robert C. Moore, who happened to graduate with honors from the Art Center School of Design in Pasadena!  I was very blessed to find Robert, he is a very kind man, and I loved painting with him for roughly 6 months.  Here is a picture of Robert:

Robert C. Moore, American Impressionist

Robert of http://www.rmoorefineart.com/ is a fabulous and prolific Impressionistic painter whose favorite subject matter is aspen trees in the forest.  He has a four wheeler with a painting rig on the back.  The surprising thing about Robert is that he is color blind, so you often find interesting colors on the canvas that nobody else would have thought would work there, but for some reason for Robert, it just works! He’s also the only artist I’ve ever encountered who can paint ambidextriously (with both of his hands at the same time)!  His paintings are found in homes all across America and most notably, even Arnold Schwarzennegar has a painting or two in his home(s).

Robert taught me the ropes of the painting business.  I used to pack and ship his paintings to galleries all around the U.S.  I would also do as many “block-ins” for him (as we called them) as I could.  I would help to create the basic paintings from Robert’s chosen images, and block-in the basic colors of what would be in the scene, and then Robert would come over the top and do all of the fancy oil paint and impasto work.  I loved working with Robert, I had the time of my life painting with him!  I liked to paint well into the night back then, and I used to just put down a sleeping bag in the upstairst of the studio house to sleep after I was done painting.

Late in the winter season, Robert began to worry that he might not be able to afford me to stay on, so I made a drastic move to improve my situation.  I decided to enter the U.S. Air Force and gain more discipline in the process.  In addition, I thought I’d gain the money to possibly attend a professional art school.

Ebenlo, as a basic trainee of the USAF, in San Antonio, Texas.

Basic training was tough.  We weren’t allowed many personal items, I remember having a notebook, but for whatever reason, I don’t remember sketching anything during that time.  I was more focused on the task at hand, success in basic training came with a certain amount of adapting to a robot mentality of adhering to the set social structure and learning to not fear in the face of chaos.  Artistic freedom was the last thing on my mind at that time.  Free time was spent practicing sit ups.  I remember I would sneak into the bathroom at night and do sit ups, and because of an injury, I had some catching up to do in that department.

I was made a “flight leader” (the leader of a row of men in bunk beds) and one night, a group of guys who wanted to get kicked out of the military pooled together some money and gave it to one of the guys to go downstairs and get some candy from a candy machine, all of which was strictly forbidden.  I remember getting racked out of bed around midnight along with three the other flight leaders to go answer for what had occurred.  We stood at attention for three hours straight and got yelled at again and again.  We were fired from our positions as flight leaders for allowing the incident to happen.

The next day, our training instructor told us that we could have our jobs back, and all but one declined.  I decided that being punished for the deeds of others in such a circumstance was for the birds.

I enjoyed technical school though, even as challenging as it was.  Riding the bus over to Biloxi, Mississippi was exciting.  I was a Mad Duck though the unit name slips my memory at the moment.  We were a group filled with potential Computer Operators such as myself, and Air Traffic Controllers in training.

While I was in Mississippi, I bought myself a black acoustic guitar made by a company named Montana.  The string action was terribly high and it hurt my fingers to play, but I was determined to keep learning chords and used to really enjoy playing in the stairwells of the military barracks.  I’d play all the songs I knew and then go back to my dorm room to study computer technology and information systems.

After tech school, I was off to Mountain Home Air Force Base.  There I purchased a computer and began learning how to create digital art, learned html, and eventually became one of the bases web masters.  I also went in with my dad “halfers” on a Takamine 12-String guitar for Christmas one year, determined to keep learning to songwrite and perform music.  [Thank you Dad!]

Here I am with friends on Biloxi beach at night. 1998.

I eventually began to record music on my computer and started learning to engineer sound using a program called Cubase.  I recorded an album I called “Dream Landscapes.”  It was an easy listening album that was something peaceful to work on after a long day at a stressful calling center help-desk office; I worked as a computer operator and messaging technician in the bases Network Control Center.  A friend of mine, Chris, bought a copy of “Dream Landscapes” and he loved it!  Eventually an ex girlfriend of his stole the album from him upon their breakup.  I thought it was a hilarious compliment and made sure to get him a new copy.  You can listen to track samples of the album and purchase either tracks or the whole album by visiting http://bit.ly/DreamLandscapes.  [My apologies: Technical Difficulties, CD and track downloads currently not available.]

It was during this time in which I wrote the song “Good Night”.  I had fallen in love with an Air Traffic Controller, and wrote this song in my head one night while driving home to Mountain Home Air Force Base (MHAFB) from visiting my sister in Boise for the weekend:

Unfortunately, “Dream Landscapes” was recorded primarily in my military dorm room in MHAFB and I didn’t allow myself to open up my full vocal range during the recording of the album because I simply didn’t want to disturb my dorm nieghbors.  But for what it is, I think it’s an interesting album filled with finger-picking and is the kind of music that goes great with a soothing bath or near bedtime.

I continued honing my Photoshop skills throughout my time in the military.  I got stationed for my last year of service in a place called

I created this digital image with Photoshop, it was one of my first major computer works, completed circa 2000, while stationed at MHAFB, Idaho.

Kunsan (aka Gunsan), South Korea, and though I was far away, I still received excellent art training, and continued learning the art of songmaking.  Each illustration was critiqued by my friend Ted who was now a student at the Art Center of Pasadena.  He eventually let me know that my art was just as good, if not better than any student who was graduating the Art Center, and that mostly what people went there for was to make excellent connections in the art industry.  I felt good about that, and decided I no longer needed to attend an art school to go where I was wanting to go.

Sitting in one of my military barracks stairwells in Kunsan Air Base, Kunsan, Republic of Korea, I wrote the song “Kiss The Ground Kind Of Day” around two or three weeks before I returned to the U.S.:

After four years in the Air Force, I was given the decision of accepting a tax free $30,000 bonus to sign on for another six years, and a promised two year tour to Aviona, Italy.  It was my “devil’s at the cross roads, and he wants you to sign on the dotted line” sort of moment.  Would I damage my soul in the line of work I was in (that I wasn’t particularly fond of doing full-time), take the money and enjoy myself to the fullest in Italy, or go back home to help out with a bad situation, and learn to become the artist I’d always wanted to be.  I chose the latter; and believe it was the road less travelled.

After working for two years at Mac’s Springs in Highland, California, http://Macsspring.com , I chose to attend school at Crafton Hills College, Yucaipa, CA, as a business administration major.  The MGI Bill wouldn’t allow me to study art, so I had to make do.  During that time, I had the distinct privilege of winning a music major’s scholarship though I was a biz-admin major; The Raymond F. Ellerman Music Scholarship [Again, Thank You To The Ellerman Family, and the scholarship board,] I was very happy about that!

After that, I spent some time learning to sell by selling cars for a while in Indio at the I-10 Toyota/Mazda dealership, and eventually started taking classes again in Palm Desert, near Palm Springs at the College of the Desert, this time in Economics (again forced to study within the MGI-Bill’s parameters) with a focus in accounting; I wanted to learn about what was going on in the world of economics and how it effects the common man, and as well, to learn to run my art business.  I was determined to become a successful artist, and not another “starving artist.”

During my time at school, I created a t-shirt company called SupaTeez, found at http://www.SupaTeez.com.  Over the years, I had grown tired of always saying in conversations with friends:  ”We should turn that into a t-shirt,” so I began collecting t-shirt ideas and finally designed a lot of them!  I haven’t sold many thus far.  I haven’t yet advertised really, but prefer to rely on word of mouth. I enjoy designing shirts when I’m inspired to, however, my main business focus is in making fine art.

I worked for a while at the Spotlight 29 Casino as an I.T. Technician, but it didn’t work out.  After my employment there was complete, I soon had to move from the apartment I was keeping in Palm Desert, CA.

While packing my things from my apartment, I noticed, once again, that I had a huge portfolio filled with hundreds of drawings of characters and all of my friends, and I wondered why I hadn’t just shared and given the drawings away to them?  I had some sort of breakdown.  I felt so completely and utterly selfish and disgusted with myself!  Moreover, I felt as if my fine art career would go nowhere if I displayed these images though I was fond of them.  I loved the people in the drawings, but absolutely not the fact that I still had them in my possession.  I felt like I should have given them to each person.

The portfolio felt like a selfish blob of goo in my hands, and I came to believe that the publication of the drawings and illustrations inside the portfolio were not going to be help me as an artist.  This was my version of a “Van Gogh slices his ear off” moment, when I took this enormous 2.5′ x 2.5′ book of a portfolio, and heaved it into the dumpster in the back of my Palm Desert Country Club apartment.  It was both one of the darkest and yet one of the most liberating moments of my life.

I eventually decided that what I really wanted was to condense my art and find my most desired niche as a fine artist, I felt like I needed new parameters for creating my favorite styles of work instead of just stabbing in the dark for any and all images, and I’d known it for a long time, it just took a good while for me to figure out just exactly what I really wanted to paint, I decided to revisit my favorite subjects of my youth and I realized that my favorite things to paint were either musical artists or things of a musical nature.

I thought long and hard about it, and eventually landed upon the “Painter of Song” concept as a descriptor of who I actually was in my heart.  I checked if the http://PainterOfSong.com domain was available, and sure enough, it was!  I was stunned that it hadn’t been taken yet, and knew that I was looking at a vehicle for my future that would take me exactly where I wanted to go.

I also decided to condense my name into one easily memorable name that would serve thereon as my unique artistic identity, and became Ebenlo to all who enjoy my art.  I would later learn that this “one artistic name for art masters” concept is a somewhat common practice in the Asian culture.

Here is the first Ebenlo graphic that I made around 2010, though my logo has distinctly changed since this time:

Ebenlo – Painter of Song – Ebenlo.com / PainterOfSong.com

By 2011, I’d had enough of school, and was ready to become a full time artist.  I decided to make several marble-paneled birch canvasses, suitable for egg tempera work, that I took with me to Venice Beach and began drawing.  I lived and camped out in my car for two months, just to explore and learn what was going on in the Los Angeles area; the only place I knew there was a fine art market nearby worth learning about.

I had a fabulous time, despite the ruggedness of camping and danger in L.A.  I did a lot of drawing at the beach, but primarily at the Libraries: the Santa Monica Public Library, the Venice Library, and the Marina Del Rey Library, because I enjoy creating my paintings and illustrations by doing a lot of research on the people I’m about to paint.  I also input as much comedy as I can into the works that call for it.

“Finessing Lucille” BB King, “Dusky Resolution” Bob Dylan, & “Sonic Exploration” Jimi Hendrix by Ebenlo

After living on the beach I returned home to the finest hot shower I’d ever felt in my whole life!  I never want to camp out in my car ever again.  However, now that I’m safe and sound at home, I must admit it was quite an adventure!  I valued experiencing every slice of life I could, meeting so many people, and hearing all the stories I was told. I also got to know the area pretty well with all the walking around I did.  Venice Beach is one of the most interesting and artistic places on the planet.  While I was there I completed about 20 drawings in preparation for fine painting.

Now here I am, some while later, after having completed the paintings on those panels, continuing to live the art life.  I do some form of art or another every day, sometimes producing music in my spare time or in support of my endeavors, ready to share my work with people such as yourself.

I have prints and originals available online at  http://PainterOfSong.com as you may already know.  I also share and sell my music to friends and fans at: http://Soundcloud.com/ebenlo [download currently disabled] in addition to licensing my music to music supervisors for movies and television via my agents at the http://www.MusicSupervisor.com website; just click on the “NEED MUSIC?” button, get inside, and look me up!

Thank you for reading!  I hope you enjoy my work, as well as your new song mp3!  (see below signature)

Cheers!

Ebenlo

[03Jan2013 Addendum:  I have decided since this was first posted, that my life's goal is not one of being a musical entertainer, and in terms of business profession: am focusing on fine art and fashion design (which typically features my art: http://FineArtCouture.com ).  Though, being a sometimes vocalist/musician and an ASCAP member, will remain a non-performing songwriter to some degree for the rest of my life.]

Free MP3, “Kiss The Ground Kind Of Day” by Ebenlo:  http://bit.ly/KTGKODDL

p.s.  If you’re one of my amazing friends and your name was not included in this condensed bio, I apologize!

ALSO:

Who else wants to join the iReco8o.com Luxury Tastemaking Email Club?!

This is THE HOTTEST NEW FINE ART & LUXURY TASTEMAKING CLUB TO BE A PART OF! Be first to hear about new Painter of Song art, haute couture fashions, and likes!

FREEBIES! BE THE FIRST IN YOUR TOWN TO OWN A NEW PAINTER OF SONG DESKTOP SCREENSAVER, A FREE EBENLO SMARTPHONE ART WALLPAPER: “DREAM LANDSCAPES – AURORA GREEN”, & FREE SONG MP3: “GOOD NIGHT” BY EBENLO! ALL YOURS FREE, JUST FOR SIGNING UP!
CLICK HERE——-> http://bit.ly/iReco8oSignUp

Originals and Art Licensing, voice mail:  http://bit.ly/VoiceMAIL   (fyi: bit.ly is case sensitive)

Guest mail welcomed at:  ebenlo[at]painterofsong.com

OFFICIAL LINKS:

My Story (Here):  http://Ebenlo.com

Original Paintings, Ltd. Ed., Framed Prints & Cards Site:  http://PainterOfSong.com

iReco8o Tastemaking:  http://iReco8o.com

Main Twitter:  http://Twitter.com/EBENLO

Facebook:  http://Facebook.com/EbenloArtist

YouTube:  http://YouTube.com/EbenloPainterOfSong

Discussion Group: http://bit.ly/EbenloGroup

Articles On Music: http://examiner.com/user-ebenlo
Would you like to get paid by the click to write articles also? Opportunity At Examiner.com: http://exm.nr/SmBv8J

MUSIC:  [3APR2013 - TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES:  MY MUSIC ALBUM CD AND MP3 DOWNLOADS AT THESE SITES ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE [Links kept here only for reference].  I WILL ANNOUNCE FUTURE AVAILABILITY FROM THE iRECO8o TASTEMAKING EMAIL CLUB:    http://bit.ly/iReco8oSignUp]
Albums Available at:  http://bit.ly/EbenloAudio
MP3s Available at:  http://Soundcloud.com/Ebenlo
PROFESSIONAL MUSIC LICENSING:

Full-Length Tracks, Studio Movie & TV Licensing Sales & Distribution: Click “Need Music?” and search for Ebenlo at: http://www.musicsupervisor.com

Licensing Ebenlo’s music for your small business and personal youtube videos (search:  Ebenlo ):
http://www.wegetmusic.com

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer - Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com     PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com    iReco8o.com Tastemaking

Voice Mail:  http://bit.ly/VoiceMAIL

Guest/Fan Email: Ebenlo[ a t ]PainterOfSong.com

Twitter:  Twitter.com/Ebenlo

Facebook:  Facebook.com/EbenloArtist

Fine Art Blog: Ebenlo.Wordpress.com

My latest painting took a year off and on to complete, it’s an egg tempera work is called “The Testimony Of Ron Wyatt;” who claimed he discovered the very ark of the covenant in a cavern somewhere under Jerusalem, Israel.  His story is facsinating, learn more at http://www.ronwyatt.com/

If you would like a print of this image, you can get one at http://bit.ly/TORWyatt

Just in time for Father’s Day! This video contains print images of Bob Dylan, BB King, Buddy Holly, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, U2, Tupac Shakur, Eminem, Taylor Swift, or Justin Bieber? On sale for a limited time at just $14.99 for an 8×10. Take a look! http://PainterOfSong.com or http://Ebenlo.com

Also, my music can be found at http://bit.ly/KTGKODSet, where my most popular song, “Kiss The Ground Kind Of Day,” can be found in a 4 song set for just $3.49!

Ebenlo PAINTEROFSONG (1976)
n0uVe4u Pop Artist - Fashion Designer - Tastemaker – CEO
Ebenlo.com    PainterOfSong.com   SupaTeez.com  FineArtCouture.com   iReco8o.com Tastemaking

Guest/Fan Email: Ebenlo[ a t ]PainterOfSong.com

Twitter:  Twitter.com/Ebenlo

Facebook:  Facebook.com/EbenloArtist

Fine Art Blog: Ebenlo.Wordpress.com