Motorsports Artist Rob Ijbema

There is no way I can add anything to this phenomenal article on the art of Rob Ijbema from MotorSportRetro ... so I will just tease you with a few images of Rob's art, and leave you to follow the link to the full article!

The Art of Fred Folsom

I first read about Fred Folsom and his painting in Issue #2 of the arts journal, IMAGE, which was published in the Summer of 1992.  This issue is still available at the IMAGE web site, for the price of $12.  I would urge fans of Fred Folsom's art to get this while they still have them.

When that issue of IMAGE arrived in my mailbox, I devoured the article on Folsom immediately.  Mostly, I was stunned by his paintings.  They were exactly what I would have wanted to paint.  Here is the center panel of his master work, "Last Call" (at the Shepherd Park Go-Go Bar), which was featured in the article.  It is a triptych consisting of three 6-foot by 6-foot panels.



I got the impression, both from the article and from the images of the paintings themselves, that Folsom identified with his subjects.  Indeed, that he knew and loved them, warts and all.

I wouldn't say that, in my novice art "career" at that time, I emulated Folsom exactly.  But I will say that from the first time I saw his work, he has steadily occupied a certain portion of my mind, and of my vision of what it is to be a Christian artist.

Recently, as I have contemplated the creation of a somewhat Folsom-esque painting of my own, I have had reason to go back and do further research on Folsom and his art.  In doing so, I have come across two excellent documentary videos on YouTube.  The first is about 8 minutes in length, and the second is longer, about 27 minutes.  I recommend them both.  They give you a good sense of the artist and the world which he inhabits.  Of particular interest to me were interviews, many years later, of some of the patrons captured in the "Last Call" painting.

Also of interest to me was the fact that Folsom continued to "touch up" this painting for 9 years after its completion!

 

Here are the two documentary videos:

Book of Memory (Chrome Folk Bar-B-Q)

Here is a rough demo track from my band, Chrome Folk Bar-B-Q, of my song, "Book of Memory". Even for the little demo CD we are making, it needs a bit of tweaking, but I am happy that the spirit and energy of the song seems to come through well.
 
It is a departure in style for us. It is located at my own musical epicenter of 1967-ish Garage Rock, but I'm the only one in the band with a passion for this music. Fortunately, my band mates humored me, and let us record this!




Book of Memory
 
Frozen moments, sparks were flashing,
Smiles that pierced me to the core.
But I'm nothing to you now, and 
Never shall be any more.

All you taught me is forgotten,
All I taught you, gone the same.
All that’s left is endless sorrow,
Every time I hear your name.

But in God’s own book of memory,
Everything we vowed, still true. 
Nothing can erase our chapter. 
God remembers I loved you.

All our days of secret sharing,
All our times of joyous prayer.
All our highest hopes and fancies,
Faithfully recorded there.

Each is captured, none forgotten,
Like a jewel of great price.
Every promise, kept unbroken,
Every act of sacrifice.
 
There in God’s own book of memory,
Still we live beyond the pain.
All our kindnesses remembered,
All our love was not in vain.
 
(© 2011, by Paul Erlandson)