"Hindu Elephant" Ride Sally, Ride"

Cherried up his ride!

Tuesday Morning, y'all. It's gonna be another wet one... Seemed to be a pretty wet in Omaha last night... Did they ever resume playing?

I call this sketch, because I couldn't find any other influence and the saddle adornment doodily-wops didn't look Oriental.

Anyway, it was getting pretty intense for a sketch, and I was losing interest in finishing it, FAST... but, I did. I actually started the sketch with a Razor Point Pentel... the shading with cross hatching would have drove me crazy.

This was one of the six pieces I did from our Hawaiian stay. All were done from photos I took.

Second cup...old coffee!

Copyright2025/ BenBensen III

 

"Measuring Up!"

Feets Don't Fail Me Now!

 Good "not quite measuring up" Sunday Morning, y'all.

We took, once again, our GPS guy to find our way to a friend's house and found ourselves creeping ever so slowly toward our own stomping grounds, South Pasadena. So, we decided to visit a few stores, make a few calls to friends that apparently no longer live there, and eat.

Naturally, we had to drive by our SoCal home to make sure everything was still in great shape... the way we recreated it. That great orange tree is still there pumping out incredible juice.

It was time well spent.

One of those places was a shoe store that's been a fixture for as long as I can remember. "Lucha's Comfort Footwear" https://www.comfortfootwear.com/ is right on Fair Oaks Avenue in downtown. I went there to see if they had a shoe I was looking for. They did, but not in my size and that's when I saw that foot measuring tool called, I later found out, a Brannock Device. Maybe, I shop at all the wrong shoe stores, but I have not seen one of those devices in years. As a kid, I always found the tool fun to mess with.

Well, I may never see one again, so I took a photo of it to later sketch...And, I did.

While there in the booming metropolis of South Pasadena, we stopped at one of our favorite late night or early morning haunts. The Salt Shaker, which is now called The Shaker (for obvious marketing reasons) had one of the best chili with eggs ever. You could ask for extra chili at no cost once upon a time.

When Art Center moved from West Hollywood to Pasadena, we late night procrastinators had to replace Canter's with another venue. I believe Linda Harris (Sellheim) first sampled and loved The Salt Shaker if for no other reason because it stayed open till 2am.

When I checked out the menu, the dish was no longer advertised as, "The Great Eggs Incognito... A local favorite!"

I believe I was that "local" they were talking about... ha!

Second home brewed...

Copyright2025/BenBensenIII

"Hard To Find Polynesian Art Here!"

Ancient Carousel Horse?

 Good”TBT” Thursday morning, all bodies!

Had a nice welcoming back to the Monday-Wednesday- Friday gang yesterday at Giddy Up. Nothing quite like laughter to chase away those "jet lag" blues.

This horsey sketch is one of a few I did from our trip to Hawaii. I found that there were more icons and statues displayed from the Pacific Rim than there was art from the Polynesian area. Anyway, this is a sketch, like the many I drew from, had no plates with a description, a title or origin. For all I know, it could very well be a copy of the original.

No matter, it was still a fun drawing to do.

Apple pie and home brewed CDM...

Copyright2025/BenBensenIII

"Just Sit and Sketch!"

A view from the balcony out of our window.

Good flying home Saturday morning y’all.

Lately, I don’t do so well cramped up in an airplane for 4 to 5 hours so the flight from Hawaii to San Diego was less than stellar.

On Thursday we were supposed to go on a boating tour but the boat had mechanical problems and they called to tell us that they could set up a new dinner cruise, but Therese and I decided to not go.

So, yesterday I decided with a cup of coffee while Therese was snoozing and do a sketch of the view from our balcony window. Obviously it’s not technically correct. It was an emotional thing more than anything else, and I’m glad I did it…

On to San Diego and some good fish!

First “weak sauce” dark roast! 

Copyright2025/BenBensenIII

 

"Just A Spot Of Tea"...

Taking a break from my larger painting, I decided to go ahead and sit in a comfortable chair and sketch something different since today is the day I try to get something new drawn.  The ellipses were many but I didn't obsess over them. It was just for fun. This is a sketch of a miniature tea set that bought when I was in San Francisco working for Saturn.

I had been away for about a week and thought it’d be a cute gift to give to Therese who, at that time, was really into different kinds of tea.

Copyright2025/BenBensenIII

"Sketching A Toy Model"

 Good "westful wetweet" Sunday Morning, all bodies.

It was a real stressful time getting one painting on the wall of the Abita En Plein Air show, so I decided to cool it for the morning at Giddy Up, yesterday.

Tee, having little stomach distress like the night before, decided to have a good time the Car Show at Magnolia Park with her Kiwanis crowd most of the day.

Later, in the afternoon, after attempting to replenish the hummingbird feeder and breaking it, I went to the "Backyard Birds" in Covington to buy a new one and stock up on some mealworms. I always find a good time there.

https://www.facebook.com/BackyardBirdsandGardens/store

It was a good day for a drive so we decided to get some of the best ice cream on the Northshore at, what used to be, "Just Chillin'". Therese did the driving!

Yum!

One of the three sketches I did yesterday was of a closeup of my P-38 model that hangs on the studio wall. It turned out quite nicely. I don't know why I haven't yet drawn the entire collection after all these years.

Copyright2025/BenBensenIII

"WidowMaker!"

 Good Wednesday Morning, all bodies.

This is my entry for Monday's sketch group at Giddy Up. It is a pinecone from the three we brought home here in Folsom from SoCal half a decade ago. It is from the Coulter pine tree.

Coulter pines produce the largest cones of any pine species, and people are advised to wear hardhats when working in Coulter pine groves. The large size of the cones, combined with the claw-like scales, has earned them the nickname "widowmakers" among locals.

The pines prefer higher elevations along the California Coastal Range like the Los Padres National Forest, and the San Bernardino Mountains. I found a grove of these trees on Mt. Wilson in and around the Mt. Wilson Observatory while biking up there and decided to bring a few home with me!

First cup reheated!

Copyright 2025/BenBensenIII

"Behind The Glass"

 

Good "sketchie" Thursday Morning, all bodies.

Yesterday, while attempting to coordinate our schedules, we had to drive thirty miles or so back from Mandeville to Folsom for an appointment that we both thought would take fifteen or twenty minutes.

It took over an hour and I ended up cancelling a later doctor's appt. in the process. But, I made the best use of my time by sketching the woman behind the glass with the many reflections of the admit window. I couldn't get as involved as what my eyes saw because I didn't know when Tee would be finished with her doctor.

Cutting corners actually made it a more interesting piece!

Copyright 2025/BenBensenIII

"As She Poured Me A Second Cup"...

 Well, good TBT Thursday Morning, y'all.

I arrived at GiddyUp first thing to get an early start on the day and spend some time creating a post about my storyboard days, but I didn't expect Badass to show up a day after the funeral of his wife.

"Hey Ben, you here kinda early, he said.

"My daughter and I really appreciate the card, man!"

I bought a sympathy card and was gonna mail it to Larry, but Therese suggested we just bring to the funeral... I'm glad we did!

Larry introduced Tee and me to two of his three kids. It was good to put the faces on to the many conversations Larry and I had about his family. I felt it necessary to apologize for not staying very long. Tee had a conflicting doctor's appointment, but he was just thankful that we decided to make it.

I was very surprised to see him at Giddy Up

I didn't want to say something like "What the hell are doing here today" but instead asked him what his plans were for the morning.

"I planned to have a cinnamon roll and some coffee, take it to the cemetery, and visit my Peggy," he said.

"Well, that's not a bad idea, man! Why don't you grab a seat while you're waiting for the cinnamon roll?"

He sat with me for a little over an hour, eating, staring and talking about the funeral service. He seemed at peace with it all. With a big sigh, he looked at his watch, got up and moseyed out the front door.

Mary, "don't call me a barista," O'Day, asked me where I've been as she poured me a second cup.

Well, lately, lots of early morning doctor appointments, but yesterday, I said, Tee and I went to Larry's wife's funeral!"

WHAT? When did all this happen? Why didn't Larry tell someone? Ya know his wife's been sick for years," she announced.

"Oh that's so sad," she said.

Luckily, Badass was long gone and just the way he'd probably prefer it... Montana beckons?

Second cup!

Copyright 2025/Ben Bensen III

"Memoirs?"

On site sketch...

 Good cloudy Friday Morning, all bodies.

A few days ago, I got to the coffeehouse late kinda on purpose. I just wanted to sit outside, catch some sun and have a late morning dark roast.

As I walked toward the door, I noticed a rather well dressed middle age woman sporting a pageboy hair style scribbling notes in a spiral bound notebook. I said hello and she looked up and replied. When I came back out with my coffee in hand, I noticed that there wasn't too many pages left to her notebook. It was almost time for another book.

"Memoirs?" I asked. It seems lately that many people, usually middle aged, are writing down their thoughts. I noticed four people doing it in the last couple of days. Interesting!

"No, she said. I belong to a self help group and writing down my thoughts is part of the therapy."

The woman told me the name of the group that she belongs to, but it went into one ear and out the other.

"You know, it's a group that helps people with their insecurities. Some need more help because of substance abuse, alcohol, oxycontin, and the like!"

"Some recuperating from childhood trauma, divorce, and spousal abuse!"

"I just jot down my thoughts about my perceptions," she continued.

As she put her head back down toward her thoughts she said, "I have lots of insecurities!

Trying to find my out of the conversation, I replied.

"I guess we all do, ma'am." I prefer to try to sketch them away!"

I grabbed a table, kicked up my feet and slowly sipped my coffee. It was a warm breezy morning with fluffy white clouds separating the blue. An unplugged outside fan's blades gently turned with the wind occasionally spinning faster as the speed of the wind changed.

Copyright 2025/ Ben Bensen III

"Because He Had An Interesting Face!"

A Giddy Up sketch

 Good "sunny" Sunday Morning, y'all.

Yesterday, I had a fun time with what I call, "The Demo Flyboys" very early in the morning. Besides talking about Boeing's vertical stabilizers in the early years, we also laughed about our teenage awkwardness with dating.

Three hours went by fast. So fast that I forgot to use my Giddy Up gift card to buy Tee's breakfast. (They sell a great Greek Frittata!) I felt bad returning home without breakfast, so I returned to the coffeehouse to pickup that frittata, and while waiting in my favorite "saddle" I noticed this very white haired man with an Andy Warhol hair cut scrolling madly on his iPhone.

His quiet intensity was just begging a sketch, and because I was sporting my briefcase, I had just the right tools to capture him, and the time to do it.

Tee enjoyed her frittata and I was happy with my time well spent.

First cup... old Giddy Up coffee from yesterday!

Copyright2025/Ben BensenIII

"PICKIN'."..

 Good "picking up 'da pieces" Wednesday Morning, all bodies!

Putting a bunch loose ends together and placing them where they're supposed to be I found these crusty, and rusty finger picks.

I never really got the hang of using them which is the reason I discovered them stashed behind a Tommy Lasorda bobblehead!

Second cup...

Copyright2025/Ben Bensen III

"Here today..."

 

Nothing left...

Good "cloudy and fuzzy" Sunday Morning, y'all.

The other day, after being away from Giddy Up for about a week because of the flu bug, I noticed the house that stood in shambles for an eternity behind The Paddock stage was finally razed to the ground. Many, like my wife, loved the house and hoped that it could be saved.

At one of the Lacombe Art Guild Monday sketch classes, I decided to break out some old gray markers and see what I could come up with.

Sometimes, sketching in something else that is not so linear, like a Pentel or Sharpie, is a fun way to go.

Seeing the shapes and not the lines!

Well, there's nothing left but the fireplace. Maybe, who knows, I'll decide to sketch that... with shapes or in line, before it crumbles to the ground!

Copyright2025/Ben Bensen III