I Tried So Hard And Got So Far

Lavender

colored pencil, calbayog city, 2025

Ok, its done. I added one more layer of lavender just because lavender is lovely.

Even Sean, my nine year old son, and harshest critic, likes it. So.. it's done.

Leila Pinneiro - Chega de Saudada

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Only with spring

Watercolor & coloredpencil

Monrovia 1996

Oh sweet spontaneous earth...

How often have religions taken

thee upon their scraggy knees

squeezing and buffeting thee

that thou mightest conceive

gods.

But true

to the incomparable couch of death

thy rythmic lover

thou answerest them

only with

Spring

e. e. cummings

E. E. Cummings

Purple Haze

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

In 1967, when Jimi Henrix appeared out of nowhere, it was like an apparition from some other world.

We were all thunderstruck.

Jimi Hendrix

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Peyote memories

ballpoint pen and alcohol

Calbayog City 2024

I think the only mind altering substance that I truly miss from my misspent youth is peyote.

Way back then, back before life's crushing journey had forced responsibility upon me, I found that next to the emotion of love, the mental state produced by consuming the peyote cactus was perhaps the most wonderful thing this side of paradise.

We, my friends and I, used to blend the peyote buttons in V8 juice.

We called it V9 juice.

"Watch out for that 9th vegetable," we would say.

And crack up.

Totally unrelated but here are a couple drawings I did this morning..

I don't know why but they got me thinking about psychedelics.

Peyote memories

ballpoint pen and alcohol

Calbayog City 2024

And yes, they do look similar. That's because I drew one of the drawings on the backside of the other drawing.

Why not? 🤣

Peyote buttons

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So beautiful

The Blacksmith (Live in Cotopaxi) Lady Moon

This one

black sharpie on poster board

Rosemead 2012

This drawing exists, somewhere.

I did this drawing a few years back. After I finished the drawing I took this picture of it with my cell phone and then I gave the drawing to my brother. Never a good idea but I love him and he liked it so why not. He actually had it framed and he put it up in his office at work. Prominently displayed. For a few years and then he left that job and had to clear out his office so he took it home. My brother owns a big house with a lot of piles of stuff in the attic and in the basement and in the garage and in closets and last year when I asked him if I could borrow the drawing so I could get a better picture of it he said he'd look for it and then after a day or so he told me he couldn't find it. It's buried in one of the piles somewhere he said and well, he can't find it.

So it goes my friends.

I know it's there somewhere.

Drives me nutz.

I'm glad I took the picture.

Colored pencil on watercolor paper

Calbayog City 2024

I live in a small city on an island in the Philippines. We own an old two story building with a store on the first floor facing the street. We live on the second floor. In our bedroom we have a huge bed where we all sleep, my wife, myself and our two children, lying together Filipino stye. The second floor has a long balcony that wraps around three sides of the building. We have the balcony filled with potted plants. My wife hangs our clothes out to dry on the balcony. The colorful clothing gently blowing in the wind is beautiful. This morning I sat out on the balcony with my coffee and watched the sun rise.

colored pencil on paper inverse imae

Calbayog City 2024

colored pencil & pen, Los Angeles 2016

I'm a big admirer of Paul Klee.

I don't think Klee ever used this motif but as I drew this I was thinking about him.

Embrionic Journey - Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane)

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colored pencil & pen, Los Angeles 2016

I'm a big admirer of Paul Klee.

I don't think Klee ever used this motif but as I drew this I was thinking about him.

Embrionic Journey - Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane)

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Perfect day

LOU REED

pencil drawing, Calbayog City, 2025

Today is my birthday.

I'm 74 years old and it's a perfect day.

Live long and prosper my friends.

🖖

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