"Grown Man's Tonka Toys... A CASE Tractor!"

Forgotten Junk or a Storefront Icon?

About six months ago, someone decided to park this old tractor in front of a supply store on LA Highway 59 just aside of Abita Springs. Two days ago, someone moved it from the left of the building to the center which means the store owner or manager either wants it to put out to pasture somewhere else, or they are centering it as an attention getting icon.

Well, the move got my attention.

Ever since its first appearance, I've been wanting to stop and sketch the red, rusted "Tonka Toy." But, I'm never, it seems, in the right frame of mine to give it the justice it deserves. It seems my "muse" isn't lately and so days, weeks and months go by and still, I haven't taken the time.

Well, two days ago, on Sunday, I decided to sit in my parked car and sketch this baby. I "sumized"that there would be no traffic in the store's parking lot which gave me time to do some kind of justice to the tractor.

Well, this is a nice edition to my "Grown Man's Tonka Toy" series and now, whenever I drive by, I will no longer suffer that irritating feeling that comes to artists when they have sense they have missed a rare and monumental moment.

If you're an artist, you know what I mean.

Copyright 2014/ Ben Bensen III

"Man With The Sculptured Hair."

I am not sure I quite captured this man's face, but I know I captured his beard because it seems to be well manicured… almost sculptured! His name is Malcomb and is a part of the card playing group.

Copyright 2014/Ben Bensen III

"Rose, The Benevolent Kind."

The cool, calm, collective Rose!

It is just my opinion. I really don't' have any right saying this, although it is not such a bad thing. This lady's name is Rose. Many people gravitate towards her, and confide in her, maybe, because she is such a good listener. She always seems so calm and collected. She reminds me of a few nuns that I have had in grammar school. Maybe, Rose is a retired nun. She's got that "saved composure," ya know?

I wonder, how do you ask someone if they are a retired Catholic clergy... especially if they are female? I wonder...

Anyway, if Rose was, at one time, a nun ( not intimating that she is or was! ) I bet she wasnt 't the kind that patrolled the isles with a yardstick or weighted rosaries… She'd have been one of  the benevolent kind.

Like the "Good Witch from the West."

Copyright 2014/ Ben Bensen III

"I Like It Except For The Double Chin!"

Amy, the COAST representative for Mandeville...

This is Amy. I don't know her last name though she has told me many times. We kinda had a rocky start, at first, because I'd forget to call her if my mom decided to not go to the senior center. Amy is responsible for and manages the lunch menu each day of each week of each month for the last ten years or so. She hates wasting food!

She told me how long she's been the COAST representative ( Council On Aging for Saint Tammany ), but I've forgotten that also. But, I didn't forget to include her portrait about a month ago when I spent the lunch hour hanging with the seniors.

When I showed my sketch to her, she asked, "When did you do that?"

"I caught you about a month ago. You had a pensive moment or two between lunch and the cleanup,"
I replied.

"I like it, she said. That's really me… except for the double chin!"

I apologized!

Copyright 2014/Ben Bensen III