THE LAND of VAR

HELLO WORLD

2010-02-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I had time to post. Family first. My Father broke his leg and my Mother had a stroke and my time has been limited. I am still around and hopeful that someday some kind of inspiration will come my way..YOU GOT ANY ?......

TRIBUTE TO RUTH

2008-12-10T20:17:00.000-08:00

RUTH THE MULE-THE BEST FRIEND A GAL COULD HAVE

RUTH HAS BEEN MY BEST FRIEND FOR 5 YEARS !! IT MADE ME SAD BECAUSE SHE HAD TO MOVE TO A BETTER PLACE.

I DREW HER PICTURE IN PEN AND INK, I DREW HER IN PENCIL, PAINTED HER PORTRAIT AND PAINTED HER ON MY CLOTHES AND SHIRT SLEEVES. I THINK MULES ARE WONDERFUL FRIENDS AND SHE HAS BEEN MY ANIMAL SPIRIT GUIDE. I MUST ADMIT THAT SOME DAYS SHE WAS MORE AGREEABLE THAN OTHERS. SOME DAYS SHE DID NOT EVEN WANT TO TALK TO ME BUT OTHER DAYS YOU COULD SCRATCH HER BELLY AND SHE WOULD LET YOU PULL HER TAIL OR DO ANYTHING YOU WANTED. I LIKED TO DRESS HER UP AND EVERYBODY CAME OUT TO SEE THE MULE AND BRING HER PRESENTS. ................ SHE WAS SO FUNNY WHEN SHE WOULD GET MAD. SHE DOES NOT LIKE DOGS AND WOULD THROW A FIT WHEN ONE CAME NEAR HER FIELD. SHE LIKED ONE DOG AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE I TOOK THE DOG TO HER WHEN IT WAS A PUPPY AND TOLD HER NOT TO HURT IT. THE MULE IS SO SMART THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND YOU. BECOME THEIR FRIEND AND THEY WILL TRY TO PLEASE YOU...KIND OF LIKE PEOPLE. .......................................................................................... DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU GOT - THAT IS ALL A MULE CAN DO !

The 'Tater Lady

2007-07-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

I love potatoes. This is a potato inspired painting. I used acrylic paint.

A SIGN FROM THE SPIRIT WORLD

2007-06-15T21:27:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago
I got a sign from my dead loved ones...two white daffodils appeared amongst the yellow ones. The tall one was from Sam and the short one was from Bart. I thought they were saying hello to me- so I did this painting with the feeling that they had sent me a message from beyond.

FROZEN IN TIME

2007-01-22T21:19:00.000-08:00

I have been as if frozen in time since my step son died. I have not done any art since he died. I hope this sorrow and grief will ease soon. THIS OLD PAINTING IS KIND OF HOW I FEEL. I CALL THIS ONE THE ICE DRAGON, I PAINTED IT YEARS AGO. IT IS VERY HARD TO GET MOTIVATED WHEN SADNESS FILLS YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

PRIVATE DOODLE

2006-10-31T20:59:00.000-08:00

I JUST CANNOT GET MY SELF TO DO ANY ARTWORK SINCE THE KID DIED. I BEEN LOOKING THROUGH MY OLD STUFF AND FOUND THIS PICTURE... I DID THIS A FEW YEARS AGO JUST FOR FUN------- I DOODLED WITH A PENCIL AND THEN DABBED A LITTLE ACRYLIC PAINT HERE AND THERE.

THE SADDEST DAY OF MY LIFE

2006-09-04T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today my step son died. He was 24. I helped raise him since he was three. This does shatter ones life and I can not express the anguish I feel. His death is also a mystery. I never knew what LONELY was till the kid died. It may take me awhile to regroup as my creativity has abandoned me now. It has not been easy these last few years-what with my husband going blind, financial stress, and now this. I do not know when I will be able to produce art again. I work hard to be a positive person. This is not an easy job.

TO LEARN FROM THE MASTERS

2006-08-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

THESE ARE SOME PHOTOS OF MY EARLY STUFF.

THIS IS HOW I LEARNED FROM THE MASTERS-I LOOKED AT THEIR ARTWORK AND I PRACTICED COPYING THEM AND THEN AFTER THAT I HAVE TRIED TO DEVELOPE MY OWN STYLE. I just stumble and fumble my way through till I get it looking to suit me.

MY PET CHICKEN

2006-08-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

TWO PHOTOS OF MY PAINTING. THIS BIRD WAS ONE OF OUR BROOD COCKS. HE HAD BIG WHITE LEGS. MOST FOLKS DO NOT EVEN NOTICE THE COLOR OF A CHICKENS LEG. I PREFER GREEN LEGS BUT THIS WHITE LEGGED COCK WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO KEEP AND BREED. I DID A PORTRAIT OF HIS HEAD WITH HIS FEATHERS RAISED UP.

FAR OUT

2006-07-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

HOW ABOUT SOME FAR OUT ART ?

AN AMERICAN TRADITION

2006-06-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

This is my 'controversial' painting. I spent months researching this subject and discovered a hidden and colorful part of our American History. COCKFIGHTING is still going on to this day here in America. I wanted to upgrade the Image of AMERICAN COCKFIGHTING. This sport was once Americas National Pastime up until the civil war. It is well documented how cockfighting has been a part of our culture since before George Washington. They just keep this wonderful and colorful Part of our American History hidden.

BILL and BOB

2006-06-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

This is the portrait I did of two german wirehair pointers. I knew them both.

PSYCHO-DELIC ART

2006-05-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

I WAS LOOKING THROUGH SOME OLD STUFF AND CAME ACROSS THESE PICTURES OF some PSYCHADELIC ART I DID BACK IN THE EARLY 70'S. THIS IS ALL MY ORIGINAL ARTWORK-copyright by V.A.R.

PORTRAITS IN WOOD

2006-05-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

I USED TO DO A LOT OF PORTRAITS IN WOOD. I LOOK AT THE PHOTO AND THEN I BURN THE IMAGE ON A PIECE OF WESTERN CEDAR WITH A WOODBURNER..

I LOVE CHICKENS

2006-04-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

FOWL ART

I DO LOVE CHICKENS. .....................HOW ABOUT SOME FOWL ART ? ........................ COPYRIGHT BY V.A.R.

WOLVES PAINTED on a sawblade

2006-04-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

DO YOU LIKE WOLVES? I PAINTED THESE WOLVES ON A FIVE FOOT SAWBLADE.

This sawblade was so heavy that I could not pick it up. This was a privately commissioned piece of ARTWORK, as most all of my work has been. YOU SEE, I have done thousands and thousands of works of art over the years but they are all in private collections here in the U.S. and also England,Canada, and South America. I do not and have not been out in the public FOR A LONG TIME NOW. I have been in dozens of Art Shows and Exhibits. I have not had a positive experience when I showed my art to the general public so I stopped.

EVOLVALATOR

2006-03-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

OH TO GROW WINGS AND FLY...THIS IS A PART OF A LARGER PAINTING BUT I AM NOT YET READY TO SHOW YOU THE WHOLE PICTURE. PERHAPS THE TRUTH IS NOT FOR ALL EYES TO SEE. PERHAPS , THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN WHAT WE SEE. PERHAPS SOME MINDS CAN GO BEYOND THEIR OWN PAIN AND CONFUSION AND DISCOVER A GREATER LIFE.

THE BLUE CASTLE

2006-03-13T19:53:00.000-08:00

THIS IS A PAINTING I DID WHEN MY FOOT WAS BROKE. I WANTED A PLACE TO HIDE AWAY FROM THE PAIN. A PLACE WHERE NO ONE COULD SEE INSIDE. NO WINDOWS. NO PEOPLE. NO ANIMALS. NO PLANTS. SOMEONE LOVED THIS PAINTING SO MUCH THAT I FINALLY SOLD IT TO THEM. I AM PICKY WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEONE BUYING ONE OF MY PAINTINGS. I DO NOT DO ART FOR THE MONEY -AS I AM A TRUE ARTIST--- MY ART HAS MEANING, DEPTH AND PERSONALITY.

A BURNT BEAR

2006-02-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

I BURNED THIS IMAGE OF A BEAR ONTO A WESTERN CEDAR BOARD and THEN PUT WHITE PAINT ON HIS TEETH. I LOOKED AT A PICTURE IN A MAGAZINE AND THIS BEAR CAUGHT MY EYE. CAN YOU SEE HOW I BURNED AROUND THE EDGE OF THE BOARD USEING THE SIDE OF MY WOODBURNER? I only use one tip for everything when I do WOODBURNINGS. WOODBURNING IS SMELLY AND SMOKEY SO I ONLY BURN WOOD IN THE SUMMER WITH THE FANS ON. IT TAKES HOURS TO BURN A PICTURE IN THE WOOD AND YOUR HOUSE CAN FILL UP WITH SMOKE IN JUST TEN MINUTES SO YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU BURN. WHEN I USE TO TAKE JOB ORDERS FOR WOODBURNINGS I WOULD BE BOOKED UP FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS IN ADVANCE. I KIND OF GOT BURNED OUT ON BURNING PORTRAITS IN WOOD.

THE MAGICAL "VAR"

2006-02-14T22:28:00.000-08:00

THIS IS MY MAGICAL SELF. MY MAGICAL 'ME'. This is A recent photo of me and you can clearly see the magic is all around me. Everybody needs a little 'magic' in their lives. I am talking about GOOD magic,GOOD luck, and GOOD friends. I like to think GOOD things so to help GOOD things to happen. There are too many sad things going on around the world and it is up to us to think and ACT constructively and positive. We must face the world with some problem solving ideas and actions. Let us help the EARTH and Mankind with some focus on how we can have fuller and peaceful lives instead of collecting a bunch of stuff. TO SHARE YOUR SUCCESS IS AN ARTFORM. Lots of Money and material things are no measure of a 'man', IT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH IT.
It is so easy to stay where you are and complain how bad things are. You will allways be where you are unless you choose to Break out, Break on through to the other side of life. You have to make a CHOICE. I work hard to put the magic in my life. When I say magic, I mean the POSITIVE,the HAPPY, the FUN, and the GOOD. I CHOOSE to be a good person. CHOICE IS A 'COSMIC' THING.

VALLEY OF THE RAINBOWS

2006-01-30T10:55:00.000-08:00

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR A RAIN TO FIND A RAINBOW-- JUST GO TO THE VALLEY OF THE RAINBOWS AND ENJOY.

THIS IS A PLACE I IMAGINED.

FIGHTING MOOD

2006-01-13T20:58:00.000-08:00

I found an old print in an attic and drawed this picture from it. I do not know who did it - but I liked the MOOD.
I love to draw. Pencil is my favorite thing to work with.

HOW TO LOSE YOUR COOL

2005-12-19T02:18:00.000-08:00

WANT TO LOSE YOUR COOL? WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU DO NOT WANT TO CHILL OUT? This is a painting of my old wood stove. I SAT IN MY LIVING ROOM AND PAINTED MY STOVE.

HAPPY GRANNYS

2005-12-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

THIS IS A WOODBURNING OF HAPPY GRANNYS. I USED WESTERN CEDAR WOOD. I DRAW THE PICTURE ON THE PIECE OF WOOD, THEN USE A REGULAR HOBBY WOODBURNER AND BURN SO DEEP IN SOME PLACES ---THAT MANY THINK I HAVE CARVED IT. Someone gave me a card with this picture on it so I liked it so much I burned the image onto wood.

I LOVE DRAGONS

2005-11-28T21:13:00.000-08:00

I LOVE DRAGONS........DRAGONS.....ALL KINDS..........

I HAVE MANY DRAGONS. THEY ARE A SYMBOL OF MYSTERY.

I LOVE DRAGONS! I HAVE BEEN DRAWING THEM AND PAINTING THEM SINCE 1960- I HAVE DONE COUNTLESS PICTURES OF DRAGONS AND I LIKE TO GIVE THEM SOME OF MY PERSONALITY. I GUESS EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN IDEA OF WHAT A DRAGON SHOULD LOOK LIKE. THEY EVOLVE AND ADAPT TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS LIKE ALL THE OTHER LIFE FORMS IN THIS UNIVERSE. MYSTERY IS A PART OF OUR UNIVERSE--THIS MAKES THINGS INTERESTING.

INTO THE DRAGON - 1970

2005-11-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

I have very few pictures from the early 70's, as in 1969 I had tuned in, turned on, and dropped out of college. This was not the smartest decision I ever made but I survived- living on the streets and hitchhiking from coast to coast, party to party until I turned 21. That is when I decided to take my talent seriously and then began to develope my talent. I knew I was an 'official' adult and had to do something with my life. I was always drawing and trading art so it was obvious to me to continue to produce art. So at 21 I began my studies and then practiced art by copying the masters. Then I WENT on to develope my own style.

THE MULE GODDESS - BABY RUTH

2005-10-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

AFTER I MET RUTH, I HAD TO DO HER PORTRAIT. SHE IS SO MAGICAL SHE IS LIKE A GODDESS.

IT IS HARD TO BE FAMOUS WHEN YOU ARE A HERMIT LIVING IN THE WOODS

2005-10-02T19:26:00.000-07:00

HERE I AM....SITTING IN MY SHACK.....
YES, I LIVE WAY OUT IN THE WOODS IN A SHACK AND I DO NOT GO TO TOWN VERY OFTEN. IT IS HARD TO SHARE YOUR TALENT WHEN YOU NEVER GO AROUND PEOPLE. HOW CAN PEOPLE APPRECIATE YOUR ART IF THEY NEVER GET TO SEE IT? I KNOW IT IS MY FAULT THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW ABOUT ME AS I LIKE TO STAY HID IN THE WOODS MOST OF THE TIME. THIS BLOG IS A GOOD WAY FOR ME TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT I AM HERE.

REMBRANTS LADY FRIEND

2005-09-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

I really liked
that painting of Rembrants lady friend so I did my version of it.

A PICTURE OF PAIN

2005-09-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

HOW CAN ONE EXPRESS PAIN? I PAINT IT. This IS HOW I COPED WITH MY BROKEN FOOT. THE PAIN WAS SHARP AND INTENSE..MY MULE DID STEP ON MY FOOT AND SQUASHED IT FLAT.
SO I DID THIS PAINTING TO EXPRESS MY PAIN AND ANGUISH.

THE HOMELESS TIGER

2005-08-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

This TIGER picture was a special order, I first used a woodburner and burned the picture into the piece of wood, then I painted on top. I thought this looked real good but the person that ordered it did not like it because I did not make the TIGER angry and mean looking enough. So I just kept it. I could of went back and repainted it but I like this MELLOW FELLOW. So this beautiful art work was rejected, one of the few times I could not completely satisfy someone. I used to please everybody and give them just exactly what they wanted, but now, I am old and do not have the need to please anymore. BESIDES THAT, I felt like this person did not give me the appreciation that I thought I deserved. I never wanted to be number ONE, I just want to be ONE of the best.

I LOVE MULES

2005-08-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

I LOVE MULES AND DONKEYS TOO.

IDO LOVE MULES---AND DONKEYS TOO. THEY ARE SO INTELLIGENT AND HAVE SUCH STRONG PERSONALITIES.
THIS IS SOME MORE OF MY ORIGINAL ART.

A MULEYCORN and FLYING DONKEY

2005-07-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

THIS IS FROM A FANTASY PAINTING I DID CALLED LAND OF THE LONG EARS. I GOT MULEYCORNS AND FLYING DONKEYS AND ALL THE OTHER CRITTERS IN THIS PAINTING HAVE LONG EARS. IT IS A HUGE PAINTING AND THIS IS THE RIGHT HALF OF IT.

THE ART of VAR

2005-06-07T22:58:00.000-07:00

May I show you some of the things that I have done? When you have produced art as long as I have, you forget how many thousands of pictures that you have created. I love to trade and barter. Years ago, when I was in my 20's, I would live with different families for a while and do art for them- for room and board. I loved it. Usually I would spend an average of two months and then move on to another family. I would do this in the summers. I had the privilege of observing families and learning how different people respond differently to life situations. The definition of ART -to me, is your quality of life, quality of living, depth of character and the sharing of your quality with others. ART is the AVENUE that the HUMAN SPIRIT rides in on to prove its existance. Some people need proof of LIFE. ENJOY my ART.

ADVENTURES in ART

2005-05-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LOOK INTO THE MIND OF A NATURAL BORN ARTIST? I HAVE MUCH TO TELL YOU. I have been an artist all my life and been doing art for other people since 1960. I have learned a few things along the way. ART has many forms,levels,depths, and FACES. EVERYONE IS AN ARTIST OF SOME KIND. I KNOW this to be true. Everyone has some kind of talent, tho, most people do not explore the depths of their own being to DISCOVER this TRUTH. I have been exploring the mystery of life for many many years now and have some interesting ideas about what is going on and what IT is all about. I also have some theories on exactly what IT is. If you are looking for some different perspectives on life and ART just come back and see what is going on here.

NEW YORK CITY

2005-05-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

I went to NEW YORK CITY a few months after 911 to see for myself our BRAVE NEW WORLD. There was still so much toxins in the air ( Febuary) that the top layer of my skin peeled off the first 3 days I was there. The Energy and noise was very intense and I tried to capture the movement and activity in this painting. I call it - NEW YORK CITY! It was so sad for MY COUNTRY to be attacked by strangers from a strange land. I do not approve of the killing of innocents for any reason, political or religious. As an ARTIST I have learned that not everyone sees life like I do, nor do they give it the same respect as I do. I value HUMAN life above all the other life forms..This comes from a BASIC LOVE of Ones own kind.

PEN and INK

2005-04-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

I JUST USED A REGULAR INKPEN TO DRAW THESE.

I USED TO LISTEN TO THE DOORS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL ON MY TRANSISTOR RADIO, AND PLAYED THEM AT HOME ON MY 45 record player.

IN THE BEGINNING

2005-04-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

WELCOME !

The LAND of VAR. This is the place to see and experience the exceptional talent of VAR. VAR has been around a long time. Here is an old business card from 1980, and an old photo. All the ART you see is original ART by VAR. Friends all call me VIC. I do not look like this picture, now. I am OLD, wrinkled, lumpy, and hard to get along with. In the third grade I began to trade little drawings for candy, pencils and erasers. I have been quietly doing privately commissioned art work since about 1960. Now I would like to find a new avenue to show and share my art. I have not had a positive experience with the general public. I have been in dozens of ART SHOWS and exhibits since 1975 and I never sold one piece of art that way(,except once when my mother-in-law bought one, so that does not count.). I can and do have all the work I want through word of mouth. I used to take on every art job that came along and faced every challenge with success. After I turned 50, I slowed down. I want to show you some of the art I have done through the years so please come back.