Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Train on an Island: Close-ups
Here are some close-ups of my new painting: Train on an Island
Close-up 1: This shows the steam engine similar to one that would be found in the 1920s when the song was first recorded. The engineer who "can't hold the wheel" can clearly be seen looking down from above at his true love who is walking on the other track. The train is going over a railroad bridge (coming) from an island. The colors are poor as this is taken in the shade.
Close-up 2: Depicts J.P. Nestor rising from the smoke and ashes to sing "Train On An Island." He's in the smoke cloud above the engineer. This shot was taken in the shade.
Close-up 3: Here's the full smoke picture
Close-Up 4: This was take in the direct sunlight so the colors are much brighter. This shows fiddler Norman Edmonds, who recorded the song in 1927 with J.P. Nestor, appearing magically from a bush on the bank of the island shore. Crazy, I know!
Close-up 5: This shows a girl walking down the track looking wistfully over her shoulder. Above her the engineer looks down. The lyrics can be seen at left- the porportion of the train is skewed becaue of the camera angle but you get the basic idea.
Close-up 6: the lyrics
Close-up 1: This shows the steam engine similar to one that would be found in the 1920s when the song was first recorded. The engineer who "can't hold the wheel" can clearly be seen looking down from above at his true love who is walking on the other track. The train is going over a railroad bridge (coming) from an island. The colors are poor as this is taken in the shade.
Close-up 2: Depicts J.P. Nestor rising from the smoke and ashes to sing "Train On An Island." He's in the smoke cloud above the engineer. This shot was taken in the shade.
Close-up 3: Here's the full smoke picture
Close-Up 4: This was take in the direct sunlight so the colors are much brighter. This shows fiddler Norman Edmonds, who recorded the song in 1927 with J.P. Nestor, appearing magically from a bush on the bank of the island shore. Crazy, I know!
Close-up 5: This shows a girl walking down the track looking wistfully over her shoulder. Above her the engineer looks down. The lyrics can be seen at left- the porportion of the train is skewed becaue of the camera angle but you get the basic idea.
Close-up 6: the lyrics
Friday, April 24, 2009
Update: Train on an Island
Hi,
I've posted about 100 blogs on my new art site MattesonArt: http://www.mattesonart.com/
There's some good research on Rene Magritte, one of the artists featured on my site.
I'll be back to the Carter family someday.
The good news is I've finished my painting "Train on An Island." It features J. P. Nestor playing the banjo in the sky forming from a cloud of black smoke and Norman Edmonds, magically emerging from a bush, playing fiddle.
Nester and Edmonds made the first enigmatic recording on August 1, 1927, in Bristol, Tennessee, for the Victor company and Ralph Peer. Ironically it was the same session that the Carters and Jimmie Rodgers did their first recordings.
I'll have some pics soon.
Take care,
Richard
I've posted about 100 blogs on my new art site MattesonArt: http://www.mattesonart.com/
There's some good research on Rene Magritte, one of the artists featured on my site.
I'll be back to the Carter family someday.
The good news is I've finished my painting "Train on An Island." It features J. P. Nestor playing the banjo in the sky forming from a cloud of black smoke and Norman Edmonds, magically emerging from a bush, playing fiddle.
Nester and Edmonds made the first enigmatic recording on August 1, 1927, in Bristol, Tennessee, for the Victor company and Ralph Peer. Ironically it was the same session that the Carters and Jimmie Rodgers did their first recordings.
I'll have some pics soon.
Take care,
Richard
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
New Happenings
Hi,
As usual I'm getting a bit overloaded. Lauching four new web-sites is challenging! I've entered some detailed info and research on Rene Magritte, one of my art heros on my art-site blog:
http://www.mattesonart.com/blog.aspx
Some other news... I'm getting rolling on my next Mel Bay book, Acoustic Guitar Source Book, a collection of old-time and bluegrass songs. It's being engraved and should be out later this year if all goes well.
My blues/old-time/rock band Crossroads is still playing some and I've got a solo gig next week. Things are going better with my teaching at Mom's music.
I'll be writing a few more bluegrass articles later this month for an on-line publication and I'll get back to the Carter Family soon, promise.
Take Care,
Richard
As usual I'm getting a bit overloaded. Lauching four new web-sites is challenging! I've entered some detailed info and research on Rene Magritte, one of my art heros on my art-site blog:
http://www.mattesonart.com/blog.aspx
Some other news... I'm getting rolling on my next Mel Bay book, Acoustic Guitar Source Book, a collection of old-time and bluegrass songs. It's being engraved and should be out later this year if all goes well.
My blues/old-time/rock band Crossroads is still playing some and I've got a solo gig next week. Things are going better with my teaching at Mom's music.
I'll be writing a few more bluegrass articles later this month for an on-line publication and I'll get back to the Carter Family soon, promise.
Take Care,
Richard
Monday, March 2, 2009
Updated Bluegrass Research
Hello,
I've started 4 web-sites in the last week and altho I'm have a few technical problems with mojoportal operation system now, I've still managed to put a lot of info on my updated site:
http://bluegrassmessengers.com/
Check out my roots section with biographies:
http://bluegrassmessengers.com/roots.aspx
In the biography section there is song research too:
http://bluegrassmessengers.com/original-carter-family-songs--alphabetical-order.aspx
I've got a start on the details of the Carter family songs and will be putting lyrics and song details.
Don't forget about my new bluegrass art site:
http://www.mattesonart.com/bluegrass-series.aspx
That's all for now,
Richard
I've started 4 web-sites in the last week and altho I'm have a few technical problems with mojoportal operation system now, I've still managed to put a lot of info on my updated site:
http://bluegrassmessengers.com/
Check out my roots section with biographies:
http://bluegrassmessengers.com/roots.aspx
In the biography section there is song research too:
http://bluegrassmessengers.com/original-carter-family-songs--alphabetical-order.aspx
I've got a start on the details of the Carter family songs and will be putting lyrics and song details.
Don't forget about my new bluegrass art site:
http://www.mattesonart.com/bluegrass-series.aspx
That's all for now,
Richard
Thursday, February 19, 2009
McMichen in Louisville
Hey,
On the left is a photo circa 1948 of Pappy McMichen's place (click to enlarge).
I moved to Louisville in June 2008. The house I bought is on Spring St. just a few houses from the Spring St. Bar and Grill which was previously owned by Clayton McMichen.
Who was Clayton McMichen? Clayton, nicknamed Pappy, was from the Atlanta region. He was probably the all-time greatest fiddler in Country music. He was a founding member of the Skillet Lickers one of the most popular string bands in the 1920s.
Pappy moved to Louisville in 1932 and his bands featured some of the best musicians in the country including Merle Travis.
More later,
Richard
Thursday, February 12, 2009
New Art Site, MattesonArt Is Up
Hi,
My new art site: MattesonArt is finally up and running. I'll be adding all my paintings eventually. All 14 of my Bluegrass Series paintings are on the site.
Now you can purchase them directly from me through PayPal with a creditcard.
Here's the link: http://www.mattesonart.com/ Check it out!
Richard
My new art site: MattesonArt is finally up and running. I'll be adding all my paintings eventually. All 14 of my Bluegrass Series paintings are on the site.
Now you can purchase them directly from me through PayPal with a creditcard.
Here's the link: http://www.mattesonart.com/ Check it out!
Richard
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