GraphicGumbo...Daily: #Ben Bensen Sketches

Showing posts with label #Ben Bensen Sketches. Show all posts

Saturday, August 9, 2025

"Cataracting My Age..."

Good Saturday morning, all bodies

Well, last night was the last time I had to put medicated eye drops in my left eye. I thought I’d celebrate by doing a sketch of the eye patch and the little bottle that, believe it or not, actually had maybe one or two more drops left in it. In my last visit, I asked the nurse if the bottle would make it to the end of session and she guaranteed me that it would. And guess what??? It did!.

So on Monday, our anniversary day, I will go and get the last check up to make sure everything‘s OK. In my opinion, the jury is still out. But we’ll see…

Old coffee for now!

Sunday, June 1, 2025

"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...

Thursday, April 17, 2025

"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!

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

"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.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

"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...

Saturday, July 20, 2024

"Ch-ch-ch-Changes..."

Good "glue factory?" Saturday Morning, y'all.

At one time, our former next door neighbor raised thoroughbreds. He was into the horse racing scene and had a foreman that cared for the horses and the entire property. The owner, an architect, rarely visited the place, but the foreman, Harold Fresh took great care and I got to know him over time.

One of the great treats every spring was watching the births of one or two foals from across the driveway that separated our place from the architect's. I believe his first name was Ernest.

In the morning, yesterday, Therese noticed a standard loader digging on the southern end of that property which is now owned by the new neighbor. In the five years that they've resided here, two of their four horses have died and have been buried there.

At one time, the daughter used to ride one of the horses, but now she's been in college and haven't seen much of the home... or the horses!

Kinda sad. I have to assume the horses were cared for and it was just their time to see a "new pasture." But the joy we once shared looking out of our kitchen window has long since disappeared.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes...

Thursday, June 20, 2024

"It Don't Matter None!"

Badass Hat

Well, Good "I guess" Sunday Morning, all bodies.

Lost a good Giddy Up friend over the weekend. Larry Leonard, aka: "BadAss Larry", passed away from a life long struggle with Mesothelioma...

Please refrain from posting those praying hands icon. It's not that kinda thing. Larry managed to enjoy life as much as anyone considering his illness. He certainly will be missed here at the coffeeshop and most especially by me. Over the four or five years that I knew him we shared the good, the bad and, well, the sometimes ugly.

Hopefully, Larry, you've found that mythical Montana that eluded you for so many years... Love you!

First melancholy cup!

Thursday, March 21, 2024

"Does This Mean Our Relationship Is Over?"

Glovey Wovey...

Well, I really have no one to blame but myself. Three Wednesdays ago, I received a third “invite” to visit my urologist. At first, it was with the phone call. Then, a text message. Both of each, I ignored. Finally, through My Chart, the front desk requested an interview of some sort.

At last, I walk through the door of the doctor’s office and is handed a list of pages I am suppose to fill out.

“Ma’am, why do I need to fill these forms out?” You guys have been harassing me for over a month and therefore, I assume you have all the information you need on me!”

“I’m sorry,” is all she said.

“Yeh, me too!”

Signed, sealed and delivered, I was seated in one of the rooms after another inquisition and a good pee in a cup, I await the urologist, and peruse the many interesting models and all the wonderful things that could go wrong with one’s “pleasure machine!”

The urologist enters a few minutes later to tell me that my urine is fine and that all systems seem fine, but…

“Mister Bensen, I am curious as to why do you have two urologists?”

“I do?”

Laughing, I proceed to tell him the shortened version of my “Tales Of Testosterone” epic. I could tell from the look on his face he was only slightly amused.

“So, you are seeing this doctor and he is monitoring you levels every six months… Correct?”

“Yes, I guess so. It’s about time to see him soon,” I said, a bit apologetically. I thought that guy was you guys!”

“So you won’t be having a need for our services, I assume,” he said.

“I am told because of my age that I won’t be needing a PSA exam for another five years, so I guess not”…

“Not with you guys, at least!”

“Well, okay, but before I let you go, let’s make sure all is well and have another look anyway!”

I thought,”you mean for old time’s sake” but I didn’t say it.

As expected, I passed the test with a quick poke from the blue fickle finger of fate. Pulling my pants back up, I turned to the man, looked him straight in the eye, and as he ripped away his gloves asked him with a slight smirk on my face…

“Is this the end… Does this mean our relationship is over?” Will I ever see you again?

“No,” he said.

First loving Giddy Up cup!

Sunday, March 3, 2024

"A Different Kind Of Tip Jar!"

Collection Plate?

Good Sunday Morning, all bodies.

The bluegrass band was great the other night. I found it rather interesting that the banjo player used his case as a tip jar. It was placed right at the edge of dance floor in front of the New Heights tent.

I went to the car and retrieved one of my sketchbooks to record the "banjo bank." It was a rather cold, damp night, so I didn't spend much time obsessing over any details. Satisfied with my 20 minute sketch, I closed the book, dropped a five dollar bill in the case and headed home.

First cup!

Monday, February 5, 2024

"Total Ellipse from the heart... ha!"

Here’s today’s product from the Lacombe Art Guild sketching get together, today at the Giddy Up coffee house in Folsom!

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

"Super Duper DeFlation!"

De-Flated...

Good "Super Duper" Day after, Monday morning, y'all.

I'm feeling rather deflated about the entire game... Though I love football, the game, especially the NFL, is impossible to watch nowadays.

Congrats to all the teams that made it to the playoffs, and, I guess, congrats to the teams playing in the Super Bowl, but I have no real interest in the outcome this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't these two teams in the Bowl game four years ago?

C'est la vie...

What’s the problem w NFL games nowadays?

I never watch it (well that’s a lie, I do watch the Super Bowl each year maybe the last few innings of it anyway

Author

Ben Bensen III

It's a bit difficult to explain to those that really don't follow it on a game to game way. There are way too many changes by the networks to accommodate the female audience.

It's like a boy's club house that displays a sign which says,"No Girls Allowed." Sure enough some female is gonna want to know what's going on and why can't I join.

It doesn't take long before they start making changes and accepting the "softer side".

Understand, I am not against football loving women's participation. It's the NFL and the major networks need for a bigger audience that has caused the slow decline ... As far back as the late 1980's!