Observations from the Road

Prairie dogs in Kansas, armadillos in Missouri, and opossums in Tennessee and North Carolina. What do they have in common? Popular road kill in their respective states. Sometimes you notice such things from the back of a motorcycle.

It’s been a good trip so far. Part of the fun of traveling across this great nation of ours, especially when you take the back roads and are riding a motorcycle, is the people you meet. We seem to attract some attention when we pull into a rest stop or a McDonalds to take a break or a motel parking lot. People like to come up, check out the bike and find out where we are from and where we are going. Sometimes we have to excuse ourselves so we can get inside and take care of the business for which we originally stopped.

Met an interesting guy at the Budget Lodge where I got a discount for the night’s room because I am a Vietnam Vet. Thanks. I appreciate that. He wanted to show me a 30 foot lodge pole pine he carved and painted to look like an American flag hanging at rest. Looked pretty good too. He was sure proud of it.

There was an old timer who came over to chat in the parking lot at a McDonalds. He was sporting a Harley shirt and cap and said that he was 80 years old and had been riding up until this year when his son took his motorcycle away from him. He wanted to know if we were part of a group of 400 bikers that were supposed to be passing through on their way to “the wall” in DC. I said we didn’t know anything about it. Said he made that ride a couple of years ago. He would’ve stood there in the hot sun until dark reliving his riding days if his wife hadn’t come over to drag him away.

We managed to get across the Big Muddy but had trouble getting across the Ohio and on to Paducah, KY. We got lost in the flooded neighborhoods of Metropolis, IL until a couple of fellas exchanging some money in a parking lot pointed us in the right direction.

Another guy in a new Camero pulled into the spot next to us at a rest stop in Tennessee. He went on and on about what he did and how he really didn’t like the Camero and thought that we had the better deal. I just smiled and agreed.

We'll be headed home on Friday looking forward to meeting some more folks and seeing what we can from the back of the Harley.

Ready, Set, GO!

If you remember, a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I had a bad case of cabin fever and decided to ride the Harley out to see my mother and sister in Charlotte, North Carolina in a couple of weeks. Well…I’ve got help at the shop up lined out and our house sitter is going to feed the gold fish for us while we are away…so we are gone, gone, gone.

The anticipation of the ride has been fun and has helped pass the time. Heck if it had been up to me, I’d have left when I first got the idea. Only problem was that the weather wasn’t real good, what with it still snowing in Colorado and tornados across the rest of the country.

I’ve ridden in some pretty sorry weather before and it’s no fun. I can do it but it makes for a long day. I remember a time, a couple of years ago, along the Lochsa River between Lewiston, Idaho and Lolo Pass just west of Missoula, Montana. Rained the whole way…some 150 miles of it anyway. A good steady, cold rain. Crossed over the summit of Lolo Pass with one gloved hand brushing the snow off of the windshield…and that was in the middle of June. I’d like to do that ride again as I’m pretty sure it is beautiful country. It was just a little hard to tell at the time.

Another time we were up in Canada and we started our day in the rain. This time it was combined with high winds and came down in sheets. Lasted all day too. Oh! I can’t forget just last summer when we got caught in a hail storm in the Snowy Mountains between Laramie and Saratoga, Wyoming on the way back from Sturgis. That might have been the worst I’ve been in on a motorcycle. We got literally pounded with that one.

I know. You are probably asking yourselves why we just don’t pull over and find shelter. That’s a good idea but it always seems we are out in the middle of nowhere when we run into bad weather. There is literally no place to get out of it so we just keep riding on. Besides, it makes for some pretty good tales to tell later.

There have been many more miles when the weather was just absolutely beautiful however and that’s what makes it all worthwhile. Just as in life or doing a painting, sometimes it works out just fine and other times…well you think it should have. Life should be an adventure to be lived…not a problem to be solved. I’ll be in touch, posting daily updates at www.facebook.com/simpsongallery and I'll try to do the same here. Stay tuned.

Spring is in the Air!!

Yup! Feels pretty good doesn’t it? There’s nothing like the fresh smell in the air after a spring rain shower. Everything even looks cleaner and brighter. Things are starting to green up a bit, a few bulbs poking their bright flowers out of the ground. Birds nesting here and there, new calves and lambs on the ground. Time to climb out of winter and stretch in the sunshine. Yah! Feels good.


I mentioned last week that we are planning a ride out to Charlotte, North Carolina on our Harley in a couple of weeks. Several of you good folks came by and commented on that. This Sunday we oiled up our leathers and I changed the oil on the bike and washed it. Enjoyed a brewski on the deck afterwards while leafing through the worn pages of Rand McNally, plotting our route. We spent a little time planning the summer as well. A few short overnight camping rides here and there. Some trailer camping squeezed in and an art show to boot. After spending the winter holed up in the shop/studio, it’ll be good to get out and about again gathering material to paint and write about, although it’ll be closer to home this year.

In years past I used to do more summer art shows than now. The cut back is strictly an economic one. I’ve been invited to a paint out and show in Crested Butte this summer in July and I will plan on it, however. Getting out and painting on location is absolutely one of the best activities I can think of. I really enjoy it. There is a wealth of material right here in my back yard and I think this spring and summer I will take advantage of it.

I’ve been getting a few touristas in the gallery lately and that’s a good sign. People are starting to get out. Had a nice lady in the other day, coincidentally from Charlotte, NC. I have a blog that I write and she had found me on the internet, subscribed to the blog and wanted to stop in and meet me. That was nice. It’s interesting what exposure on the internet will do. Unfortunately I had another customer in the gallery at the time and didn’t get to chat it up as much as I would have liked. I hope she stops in again sometime if she is in the area.

Spring is like a time of renewal isn’t it? Of course it is. Time to stand in the fresh morning air, breathe deep and let the warmth of the sun shine on your smiling face. Life is good.

Cabin Fever

I don’t know about you folks but I’ve been getting a little itchy to get out and go somewhere. While it’s nice to have the days getting a little longer and we have been teased with some nice warm weather off and on it has only served to make me a little edgy.


Maybe it’s because I haven’t gotten out and done any painting for some time. Hanging out in the studio all winter has given me the opportunity to get a lot done at the easel but I think it is time to venture out. Explore new territory or at least revisit familiar haunts of past. Do something.

With that in mind, I’ve decided that a road trip is in order. My kind of vacation. The last one I took was back to North Carolina to visit my sister and our mother in October. It was great. I’ve driven the route in the car or our pickup several times but this time we are going to take the Harley. While this isn’t the farthest we’ve ridden the bike, it’ll be the first time in that direction.

This is something I’ve wanted to do for a couple of years now but for one reason or another I just haven’t been able to make it happen. The truth, I suppose, is that I’m a procrastinator. Too many excuses not to do some of these things. I finally decided if not now…when? There has always been a list of reasons why “not” do it but let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger and for the most part, there is never a perfect time to do anything. Besides, the end result is worth it. So, we will wait a couple of weeks for the snow to get off of the passes and then we go.

We’re going to take 3 or 4 days to go out there which won’t leave a whole lot of time to dally along the way but we will take the scenic route as much as we can. If I take my watercolor kit along I might even find something to paint during a break at a roadside turn out. In fact I’m pretty sure of it. I just have to do it.

The weather between here and there can be a little dicey this time of year but that’ll just add some “adventure” to the trip. If we have to hole up in a mom and pop motel along the way to let a storm pass that’s what we’ll do. Besides, it’ll make for a good tale to tell. I’m already feeling better and looking forward to seeing family. Good times are just down the road.

Eskimo Masks and Yo-yos

Here was a fun project I finished up last week. These are some genuine eskimo masks and yo-yos a customer bought at the native co-op in Fairbanks while touring Alaska. I mounted them on a suede backing and set the museum glass off of the masks with a suede mat and gold fillet. I had to customize a shadowbox frame that was deep enough to accommodate the depth of the masks.

Two Suns

Here are a couple of photos of another of the Abstract Impressionist paintings. This one is also a 12x12 oil on a gallery wrapped canvas with the addition of gold metal leaf. The painting is titled "Two Suns" and is for sale at my gallery for $145. The bottom photo is of the painting at an angle which better shows the reflective properties of the gold leaf. Again thanks to Don for the inspiration.

The Sound of Color

Here is another of my Abstract Impressionism series. This is a 12x12 oil on a gallery wrapped canvas with a square of gold metal leaf added for interest. It is titled "The Sound of Color" and is for sale at the gallery for $145.

I have to give credit to my cousin Don Stec for the inspiration. Previously I have mentioned that I use gold leaf, both in 23 kt and Dutch (fake) gold leaf in the making of my picture frames. Don emailed me and mentioned that he used to put gold leaf on motorcycle tanks and then spray candy colored paint over it yielding an original and unique look. With that in mind, I thought I would try it on these abstract paintings. I applied thin washes of oil color over the gold and I think the result is very interesting.