"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