"Abita Springs Cafe And My Thoughts While Staring At A Church."

Fakin' it with negative shapes and great grub!

It's been a while since I've had the time to ease into the morning with some coffee, a pen and a sketchbook. Two weekends ago, my wife and I stood in an unorganized, but well behaved, line waiting for a table at the Abita Cafe in downtown Abita Springs, LA. We had to wait for about twenty or so minutes, but it really was our fault. It was Sunday brunch time and services at the little church across the street just exploded with the exiting faithful.

Faithful to get a seat at the cafe in time for brunch, that is.

When we finally got to sit down, it seemed the weather had changed. People who had no problem, twenty minutes ago, sitting outside on the veranda, slowly began to bundle up or request an indoor table. But, we were nice and cozy with a cup or two of the cafe's own brand of dark roast coffee. At $2.50 a cup, I made sure I got my free refills quite often. I think the waitresses understood, ha!

Anyway, I had a four egg Greek omelet with hash browns and it was excellent. The omelet comes with fresh basil apparently from their own back yard garden, and asking for a little extra created no turmoil or nasty looks. 

I'm always hesitant to order hash browns because every cook's idea of what that means is different. You really don't know exactly what state of mind the hash browns can come in, but these were great. I don't remember what my wife had, but she appeared to be awfully quiet on the other side of the table until her plate was empty. So, I guess she loved what she ordered.

The only problem I had with this meal, besides the crowded situation, was that I could not just sit and stare out the window and people watch. My partner in life can't sit that still, so we left the restaurant not too long after we finished eating. It would have been rather selfish, anyway, to hog a table on this Sunday morning.

But, a few wet aggravating days ago, I went back to test another omelet and calm down. The week hadn't started off to well, and I felt I needed some comfort food. It was almost lunch time, but they  were still serving breakfast. This time, it was their famous Alaskan Smoked Salmon omelet with scallions and dill sauce. Very nice tasty and rather light. And, again, the hash browns were treated with the same love and respect as they were two weeks earlier. 

I love consistency!

Of course, the coffee flowed, as my sketchbook and I enjoyed the time off to eat, think and stare, and capture what I could with pen in hand... southern styled!

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III

"We Don't Need No Stinking Resumes"...

Short thumbnail storyboard for Lincoln Aviator...

I'm an artist. It what I've done most of my life to earn my keep. It is pretty good money, but it is usually quite hectic with unrealistic deadlines and stressful situations. It usually is an adrenalin rush and not for the faint of heart.

Above, is one of the many on-site thumbnails I sent to the potential client. These little pieces of art are usually drawn in front of a pacing art director who wants his or her idea quickly visualized for approval before going to a final. Last week, I was asked to present along with a bevy of thumbnail sketches, a resume including a detailed story of my career. In all my life, I have only successfully used a resume to get a job, once. It was for a full time job at an aerospace plant where I work for just under four years.

I, then, went freelance and never again was asked for a resume. I have one, but I only occasionally revise it... once every five years or so!

Since when do we need to pdf a resume for a storyboard job. I'd much prefer googling an address, driving to the place, paying to park, walk into a lobby, present myself to the client and open up my "effin portfolio" and wait for a response or a conversation!

Proof's in the puddin'... not a resume!

And, besides, behind one's portfolio is a real, live, engaging and fun person who is looking to share his or her talents with another, supposedly, talented person. Why not a meeting face to face? It ain't like we will show up with explosives strapped across our waists to push the button if we, as artists, are not validated with love and candy kisses!

It is not like artists have never heard the word, "NO!"

In afterthought, I guess I'm rather put off that I am here in Louisiana, where no one really knows me like they do in Los Angeles. This is the ninth or tenth time I've been asked to present a resume. As I said, in LA, I've only once written and presented myself to a client in that manner. 

I must not be good at writing them anymore because I haven't been hired yet from any resume or pdf sent here in Louisiana. I once hired a company to formulate in words what I do for a living. It cost me a good penny or two. Made me feel like what was being said about me was totally fabricated. They embellished way too far and kinda went "Brian Williams" on me.

Said I was with the "special forces" when I actually was a mess hall cook!

Well, anyway, I now have a cleanup job to perform in my studio. And each sample has to be placed back where I found it, or it will never ever been seen again. I pretty much wrecked my flat files, my dvd's, and my slide trays to come up with some usable samples to "pdf"...

 ... along with a "resume!"

Copyright 2015? Ben Bensen III

"How Come You Never Draw Me?"

Keepin' it Real for Carl...

Just sittin' here watching a matchbox hole in my soul. 

About two weeks ago, a burly, scruffy faced senior, asked me why I never found his face pretty enough to sketch. I hadn't been at the senior center in almost half a year since my mom is now in a nursing home. Carl loves to harass and tease the ladies, and any guys who he knows can handle the teasing.

I took a picture of Carl on my clamshell cellphone because he seemed overly concerned about his bridgework and how it makes his mouth appear crooked. It's one thing to sketch a person that possibly can't sit still, it is another thing when you're sketching a heckler with about a half dozen seniors looking over your shoulder.

I promised I'd get back to him in a week or two as he only visits the center on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Today, Tuesday, I remembered to bring the sketch, but when I walked into the center at lunchtime ( I really should know better! ) everyone asked me to sit down and have a knosh and be a part of the group like mom and I used to. I thanked them, but decided to just sit down and have a cup of coffee. Naturally, they asked about my mother and I let them know how she was getting along at the nursing center... and how she was not. My mother has always been a difficult person to deal with and it only took a few months for other seniors to realize Mimi's true sobriquet. For sure, I pretty much had everyone's sympathy especially Carl's. She was one of Carl's best targets.When they asked me about why I was again visiting without my mother, I showed them my sketch of old codger.

As I did, I noticed a slight groan in their perusal of Carl's likeness. I assumed that they knew all about Carl's denture work and fear, possibly, he wouldn't approve of my interpretation. Instead, they informed me that he was in the hospital with pneumonia. Some folks said, in rather hushed tones, that he was also suffering from prostate problems.

"Darlin, Cynda said, "go see him at the hospital and show him your portrait. I'm sure he'd love to see you and your sketch!"

Everyone agreed and I promised that I would go visit him today, and if not, certainly the next day and that I would also bring the portrait along for him to enjoy. Still, it kinda puts a hole in your soul, ya know?

Ben Bensen III/ Copyright 2015

"A Tough Nut To Crack, So I'm Told..."

Sketched from a coffee house nutcracker... edited, ha!

My chiropractor says I'm a tough nut to crack. We "crack" each other up every time we get together. After about two months of C, he suggested I see his massager to tenderize me. This has been my fourth session with the guy. He put me into this glute isolation position and pounced.

Oh man, it hurt so good!

Like a worn clutch or brake that you didn't realize needed an adjustment until you actually feel the results, I now remember what it is supposed to feel like when walking.

"Damn," he said. "Freddy, ( the chiropractor ) was right!" You ARE a tough nut to crack...you've got no flex!"

"I don't know," I replied..."Is that supposed to be a good thing?"

"No"... he huffed!

"Sorry," I laughed!

Copyright 2015/ Ben Bensen III

"Making The Best Of A Really Trying Day!"

A flyable gas power model...

Two weeks ago, I had to replace my tires. It was hard to believe I actually put fifty thousand miles on my 2012 Honda, but catching two nails driving in a construction zone in downtown New Orleans, was the deciding factor in buying a new set.

A few days ago, while stopping for gas, I noticed one of my brand new tires was almost flat. I searched around the gas station for the water/ air pump, to add some air to what I thought was a defective tire. As I was pumping air into the tire, I was hearing air, somehow, escaping. My first thought was that I was being ripped off with a leaky air hose, but it was a nail puncture that was allowing the air to escape as fast as I pumping air into the tire.

I won't go into the difficulty of explaining the extraction process of the spare tire from behind the main console and under the floor board. It would be interesting to learn who thought this design concept was a good one.

I postponed my doctor's appointment and called the dealership. They assured me that there's was no problem in caring for the damaged tire. In the back of my mind,  I felt this care was gonna cost me more money.

Arriving at the dealership, and discussing the damage and the warranty, I asked how long it would take to replace the damaged tire with the "free"and warranted tire. About one hour past the half hour the agent told me it would take to complete the exchange, I'm informed that my rear brakes need to be replaced.

"Okay, well, I guess it needs to be done, but if it is gonna be any longer, I'm gonna need a courtesy drive to a coffee shop or diner," I said, rather with a heavy sigh.

The dealership complied after they realized it was gonna take another two hours. I suggested a restaurant near the dealership, so they took me to the Southside Cafe in Slidell, LA... http://www.southsidecafe.net

Even though, I had eaten two bags of complimentary buttered popcorn and a couple of cups of coffee at the dealership, I broke my gluten free diet and ordered this wonderful looking reuben sandwich with some Cajun coleslaw.

The cafe has a nice mural in the outdoor patio, created by local artist, Phil Galatas. The dining area has a military theme with aviation posters, soldier memorabilia and model aircraft. I walked around the dining room checking out the patriotic decor while awaiting my late lunch. Hanging amongst the rafters and air conditioners vents were banners, tee shirts, weapons and two rather large radio controlled aircraft.

This sketch is the result of another phone call, "Mid-Reuben" from the dealership. Apparently, the front end had a "shimmy" to it and needed adjustment. Never mind that I have been complaining about that problem way before I totally replaced the old set of tires.

So, I decided to just enjoy the afternoon, and my lunch, by sketching one of the hanging models, a beautiful North American T-28 "Trojan."

Somehow, I just knew this "free" tire was gonna cost me something...

... About $349 bucks!

Copyright 2014/ Ben Bensen III

"Hey Mister, You Wanna Buy Some Popcorn?"

It's for a good cause!

This is a sketch I drew while waiting for my wife to finish shopping at a local thrift store. Therese is always looking for bargains for her class, either for projects, gifts or supplies. So a few weeks ago we drove up to Franklinton, LA, which is only about ten or twelve miles north from "downtown" Folsom to checkout the deals going down. A friend, at Gus's restaurant, suggested she go there if she was looking for some inexpensive spiral bound notebooks for the class.

With our crazy schedule, if I want to spend some quality time with my teacher/wife, I have to occasionally go hunting for bargains with her, but I can only "circle" the tasty tidbits so long and then I get really bored... especially if I'm not buying, but looking.

I, begrudgingly, moseyed from the parking lot to the thrift store where I was intercepted by the young, cute as a button, but rather scruffy nine or ten year old Cub scout. He was being chaperoned by his grandmother, who looked very thin, weather beaten and world weary with a few missing teeth, wearing a rather worn and disheveled "hoodie." With a "ciggie" in her hand, she guided the rather elf like Cubbie in my direction.

"Go ahead, go ahead, ask the man if he'd like some popcorn." Tell him, it is for a very good cause!" she said, encouraging the boy to put his best salesman act on.

It was a very cold Saturday morning, dark, damp and cold, and therefore,  the little guy was so wrapped up that I really couldn't tell if indeed he was a true Cub scout. Therese, who was on a mission, continued towards the door since the budding salesman had singled me out.

"Hey Mister, you wanna buy some popcorn for free?"

"Free?" I inquired. "Now, how much is the free popcorn?"

He stopped in his tracks, looked back at his managing partner, and mumbled something to himself, as I smiled and waited for an answer.

"Well son, said his grandmother, That's not exactly how we practiced it, is it?"

Now, grandmother, every now and then, taking a toke on her cigarette, explained to me in a rather raspy voice about how we are letting down our younger generation and losing them to the devil.

Oh boy, I thought to myself, as the little lost soul was trying his best to remember his sales pitch amongst his chaperone's preaching. I decided to intercept her oncoming Bible recitation by asking the little guy, how much are you selling that big can of candied popcorn... with the nuts!

"Uh, um... twenty dollars, sir," he said, looking for approval from "management."

As the grandmother backed away from her "hell in a hand basket" sermon, I turned to the Cubby and told him, that I'd give him another try when I come out from shopping at the thrift store. Thirty minutes that seemed to go on forever, I decided to go the car to snooze and listen to sports talk radio,  since my wife was still on her mission, but before I got past the exit door, the little guy hit me again.

"Hey Mister, you wanna buy some holiday popcorn... for free?

I spent the next hour, in my car, sketching and chowing down on a tin canister full of candied popcorn with nuts as I observed the little capitalist raking in the dough...  and, all for a good cause, ya know?

And, it's free!

Copyright 2014/ Ben Bensen III

" My Veteran's Day Finale... A Sketch!"

My Veteran's Day sketch...

On Veteran's Day, November 11th, I decided to paint a static display of a Vietnam era aircraft, the McDonnell/ Douglas F-4N Phantom. The aircraft is a two-place, twin engine, all-weather jet, with top speeds more than twice the speed of sound, It was one of the most versatile, multi-role fighters ever built and served those roles in the Marines, Navy and Air Force. It also served in the first line of more Western air forces than any other jet. Just thirty-one months after its debut flight, the F-4 was the U.S. Navy's fastest, highest-flying and longest-range fighter. It first flew May 27, 1958, and entered service in 1961.

This particular Phantom is situated off I-12 just east of a Louisiana town called Walker, which is about ten miles from the state capitol of Louisiana, Baton Rouge. In an attempt to paint the plane, one of the three days I visited the site, it was cold, dreary and wet. It was supposed to eventually clear up, but it never happened. This sketch is the opposite side of painted aircraft I was rendering En Plein Air.

I stayed long enough to sketch this piece and then went to a local Mexican restaurant for some warmth... and some margaritas, chips, guacamole and salsa. 

I eventually completed the on-site painting about one week later. You can see the finished piece and read about all the visitors that came by while I was painting this beautifully restored monument to all those who flew and all those vets who served in Vietnam as well as everywhere else to preserve our freedom at: http://graphicgumbo3.blogspot.com/2014/11/painting-some-veterans-day-conversations.html

Copyright 2014/ Ben Bensen III