Circle Tree

Circle Tree is my latest oil on canvas, measuring 8"x10"x1".  At first I tried painting candy in the style of Wayne Thiebaud with no success so I painted over most of my crummy attempt and drew circles over the rest using my Kern mathematical instrument set. I then painted in some of the circles with Schmincke's Bronze powder, which creates a rich pale gold color that glitters nicely in the sunlight.  I've had the Kern set since childhood.  It must have been one of many odd items E.A. Autrey acquired at an auction or Bekins sale in Santa Barbara years ago.  The one I have looks just like the one manufactured between 1914 and 1926, as seen via the Kern & Co. link above.  It is amazingly useful as an artist's tool.

Three Foot Sun Seeking Dandelion

There are a lot of beautiful images of dandelion weeds on the web but this one I scanned is the tallest I've seen. 

On The Road Again

Bird Tree Shadows

Birds create their own personal yoga tree.

Playing Games

Giraffe, zebra, cougar, bear, lion and ibis at play on the streets of San Anselmo

Giraffe Asleep at the Wheel

Photo and art composite done for Illustration Friday's word "Asleep."

Latest Oil Painting

Seattle in April was swimming in a sea of colorful tulips.  This one flower, on its own in front of a white fence, caught my fancy so I painted it in oil on a 20"x16" canvas and added glitter.

The Tortoise and the Hare

No matter whether you are a tortoise or a hare, you'll get someplace in the end.

J.A. in 1977 in a Watercolor of Montecito by J.L.

Autrey Art Apparel Anyone?

Geckos, lizards, alphabets - you name it and you can wear it here.  Just click on "Products" to see all the choices. 

Mama Being Goofy in 1965

Fortunately my mother never smoked which is why she's still healthy at 92.

Chameleon Mirrors Native California Iris

Sulky Girl with Headress

Messing around superimposing a silly abstract face by J.L. Autrey over a photo taken by E.A. Autrey

East Beach

East Beach, oil on canvas 24"  x 18"

First in a series of childhood oil paintings.  This one based on a watercolor painting of East Beach in Santa Barbara painted by J.L. Autrey in the 1950/60s

From Chrome to Rust

Digital composite done for Illustration Friday's word Bicycle.

The Art of Cloning

Amber and Wilson 28 years apart                               

Chicken in San Francisco Bay

Well this chicken is doing my first ever Marin Open Studios Saturday May 7th and Sunday May 8th from 11Am to 6PM.  More info available at the Marin Arts Council website.

Elsa and the Blue Ball

Come with me on a journey into a fantasy world

Laura in the Garden

Photo of Laura taken by E.A. Autrey around 1949, flower garden and heart-shaped water puddle shot today in San Anselmo and on the sidewalk in front of a bar in Fairfax.  The blue jay was digitally painted with a map of California awhile ago.

Palm Tree Magic

Lucy and Susan in 1954 are transported to a world of magic in Florida in 2011

Bottled Autrey Sisters 1956

One way to contain memories is to bottle them!

Crows in Death Valley

Most recent oil on canvas (20"x16") painted in Chester Arnold's class at the College of Marin.  I combined a photo of Death Valley taken on a camping trip in 1982 with a recent photo of a great looking green truck in my neighborhood.  Then I added some crows from the book "The American Crow and the Common Raven" by Lawrence Kilham and a sky from a painting by the phenomenal Caspar David Friedrich.

Tree Frog

Trip to Texas 1958

My Back Garden - A Transition from Detail to Abstract (in reverse order)

The Ladybugs and the Daisys Version 2

The Ladybugs and the Daisys

At the Zoo

Why I Try Not to Invest in Mutual Funds

In the recent April 2011Vanity Fair poll, 54% of all respondents said Tobacco was the least likely industry in which they would invest their money.  But guess what?  They probably are invested in Tobacco through their pensions, 401ks, IRAs or college funds.  And, in addition to owning a product they don't approve of, they are paying from 1% to 2% in fees for the favor.

Altria Group Inc., which owns Philip Morris, is a favorite of large investor funds and institutions including VA CollegeAmerica, Capital Research Global Investors, Vanguard 500 Index Investors, State Street Corp, Vanguard Group, Blackrock, and on and on.  Details on the stock and its owners can be found at Morningstar.com. (see quote for MO to get Altria details). 

When I was blogging about death statistics for the book Cause of Death, I became more aware than ever how bad cigarettes are.  In fact, a high % of medicare costs could probably be attributed to tobacco since it is often the culprit behind most cancers.  So, the last thing I want to do is own the company that manufactures and sells this poison.  And the only way to do that is to stay away from the funds that own it.

Childhood

Playing around with old photos for the book project "Growing Up Autrey."  These are from Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin, summer of 1949. Photos by E.A. Autrey, Photoshop tints, masks and other adjustments by me.