It's been a good day.

Hello friends. Last time I blogged, it was a tragic day. Two american Icon's died, but today is a much different day. Above is the logo for Wicked kitty Studio (My Studio) that will be used in most all of our business ventures, with the exception of the young people's market, which we will use the more cartoon version I showed you a couple of weeks ago. With this done, i can no move forward with the website. The first part I want to get up and running is the business art side of it. You know, doing graphic arts, logo design and portraits to name a few things. It's official, I became a full time artist as of today.

Last night I turned in my rough work for the graphic novel as far as the writing part goes, and the company was so impressed with what I Had done with the story and my

imagination that they told me they would pay me to write the sequel to Mental Scars, as well as doing the story boards, movie poster, graphic novel and so on. How could I say no? The money is more than you can imagine, I'll be doing what I love and making money for mine and Cheryl's future, not someone Else's. So, the choice was very easy, and the person I had been working for was well aware of my plans and what was going on in my career. So, I wish them the best of luck with their future, but now it's time for me to be concerned with ours.

Today, I am working on the Viper production logo. I should have that done before the days end, hopefully. Cheryl and I are going shopping tonight though. I have to buy a new portfolio and printing paper to make up a commercial portfolio to get local clients.. I am going to start visiting them this next week. I will also be adding a link to the website to direct companies to commercial work I have done as well.

So, time to get busy. Peace and Blessings all.

Life is so good......

Above are some sketches for the new painting I mentioned yesterday. I thought I would show them to you like this first because since I've started working in Corel Painter, I just love working in layers! It really is the bomb. And now that I have the full version of it, you would not believe all the awesome things I can do, including making my own brushes for the program. On this new piece I might add a second skinwalker. In the story there are 2, but we'll see. Sometimes when you have to many elements in a pic like this, you can over do it. The scene will be night with a full moon, probably a little misty and in a desert setting.

I want to talk about happy things, but first i guess most of you have heard that Farrah Fawcett died this morning from her long struggle with cancer. She was and will always be remembered for her role in Charlie's Angels, but I was much more impressed with the movies I saw her in after the legendary show. "Burning Bed" was a classic and really showed the woman's talent as an actress. But like all teenage boys at the time of Charlie's Angels, I had that poster of Farrah hanging in my room. You know the one, her wearing the Red bathing suit and the "Just got out of bed" hairdo. May she find her way home and her loved ones find comfort. We''ll miss you.

There isn't a day that goes by that I am amazed at all the cool, new technology that keeps coming up. Just the Imac alone, I have about 2000 of my all time favorite songs downloaded so I can put Itunes on shuffle and rarely hear the same song twice. An this bad boy has some really awesome speakers as well. I can hear things in songs I never heard before. I can also do all my artwork here and in any medium you can imagine, and much faster than traditional means. I can have video calls to my friends, I can create music of my own. Almost anything the mind can think off, I can do here.

Ok, switching gears again. I just heard that Micheal Jackson died today as well. This is truly sad to me. I grew up listening to the Jackson 5, and have loved Micheal's music all my life, as well as Janet's. I know people say all these bad things about him, but you should never judge the art by the artist. The artist can never live up to their art, and today's news people have nothing better to do than to dig up trash on anyone that is in the spotlight, and anyone with money is a target for lawsuits. Try to remember all the wonderful music that he and his family has given us all.

I'm outta here for now, I'm just bummed out and I still have to do an article about myself for a magazine. We love you all. Peace and Blessings.

Our new logo!

Hello friends. I know most of you saw the new logo on Facebook yesterday, but we do have a lot of readers that are not from Facebook. I am thrilled with it. I didn't use the logo program I bought to do it, I did it in Painter. The new logo program is awesome, but it is going to take some time to learn. I think the wicked kitty thing fits me so well. I've always been a cat person, and this cartoon really speaks to me. So from here on out, everything I do will be under the wicked kitty banner.

I finally have the website started and have a page up. lol. It's going to take me months to get everything on there I intend to do, but for now it has a link to my art, blog, merchandise and my e-mail address. You can bookmark this, because this is where it will be forever. www.wickedkittystudio.com Please stop by a couple times each month and see what is new. We will be selling all kinds of merchandise on there, including original art. I will also be taking on personal work for clients. Things such as portraits and commercial work.

I started a new illustration for Darc karnivale today for a story called "Anatomy of the Terrible" This one I am jacked about. It involves a witch doctor and a "Skinwalker" which is basically a werewolf. In the next blog I will start showing sketches of that.

Tomorrow I also start writing the graphic novel version of "Mental Scars" So I am pumped about that as well. Tonight we are going to watch the movie again, so I can start doing breakdowns.

It's been a long day and my neck is killing me, so I'm outta here for now. Peace and Blessings all, and thank you so much for your support, kind letters and just being interested.

"Blood on the Walls"

This one has been a long time coming, but finally it is done. This is for "Darc Karnivale" and the story is called "Blood on the Walls" written by Dave Rex. Two things I really love about this one is that the model is my buddy Suzi Lorraine and the building in the background is the Waverly Hills Sanatorium somewhere in Kentucky. Anyone that watches any Ghost Hunter type show will be familiar with this place. This is where the story takes place.

Tonight and Tomorrow I will be working on new Logo's for everything we have going on. The middle of the week, I will be starting on the breakdowns for the "Mental Scars" Graphic Novel. I have a week off from carpet laying and I'm going to be busting my fanny getting as much done as possible. Scott and Kim are taking a trip back to NC for a week to see friends they made while they lived there and I think they are going to spend a few days at the beach as well.

I will be getting the website up this week, I want to tweak on it some more. Cheryl has already set up a Zazzle shop for us, and there is a link to it on the top right. Now you can get your favorite Nick art on about anything you want. So please check out the shop. I know money is tight for everyone these days, so if nothing else, just check it out and let us know if there is something you want to see that we don't have on there yet. She will be adding new things weekly, and some of it will be the old classic stuff you haven't seen in years.

Well, that's it for now, but I will be posting a good bit over the next week, keeping you updated on all the new stuff coming. Peace and Blessings everyone.

Updates and News..

Hello Friends. I have been more busier than a starving tick on a dead hound dog, or a brain sucker on a headless Zombie. Lol Things are moving at a very fast pace and I am doing everything I can to keep up with them. I've been trying to get a new website up, and man that has been a nightmare. Just trying to get all the FTP code right is a real pain in the butt. We got our new domain through GoDaddy, and I can't say enough good things about them. They have and excellent support system where you can actually talk to a real person on the phone when you have a problem, and they don't charge you! . But the problem was that we bought the domain name through a partner of theirs, and the website through them. So they're are 2 sets of user names and passwords and that was causing me havoc trying to figure out where I was messing up. But now it is straight and unless I've done something else really stupid, the site should be up sometime on Monday, at least part of it. It is going to take a while to get it all done, including original art for sale and prints. Cheryl has still got to tackle the Zazzle and CaFe Press thing.

The bad thing is, we've both been sick. Me with a chest infection and my baby with a pulled tooth and then a tooth infection. It's been a rough week, but the world goes on and people still expect you to meet the deadlines, show up for work and so on. We understand that and accept it. It is the nature of the beast as the saying goes. The world has been good to us, and we still have to perform sick or not. I have been slowly getting better, but it has gotten warm here in Michigan, and going out in the heat makes it very hard for me to breathe right now.

I've got a decent shot at doing some cd art for a new hip-hop/rap album and I am going to post the link to the main song. I personally like it a lot, but it is not something I would want Cheryl's kids to hear. There is language and the theme may be offensive to some of you. So, I would save that I would give it a "R" rating, and it is for only mature listeners. The song is called "Come get some" by Big Koz and Aztech. Here is the link

http://www.vimeo.com/4711605 I really think this song is going to be a big hit.

Another big hit I believe is going to be "Mental Scars" The story is very original, and it is very well done for a first time effort. They even shot it in 35 mm. Another thing is the 2 producers Richard and Mischa. These guys are not fooling around. They are sparing no expense in the promotion or anything. I am so proud to be part of the Viper Production Team. Good things are really coming our way, and they are some surprising changes I didn't expect, but that is something to talk about another day.

I got a BIG check this week as well from the Evil Nerd Empire. I will have that new illo put together in the next couple of days, I promise. This week I am also going to start looking into doing some local commercial work as well. We just got a very nice logo design program and I will be making some kick butt logo designs for me and my friends, and as you can can guess, that is big money in the commercial world, and Michigan has a large commercial market. A heck of a lot bigger than in NC. (Which reminds me, I sure am glad I'm not there, the heat index there is 104 today) I love Michigan.

Well, It's family night and we have the pizza and gonna watch a good movie. me and Cheryl will probably cuddle up on the couch. Love is a wonderful thing, I hope that you all have love in your life as well. I went so long with out it, i do appreciate it much more than I ever did in the past. Of course, being with the right person is everything, right Tracy?

Peace and Blessings all.

The Business end......

Business is something. I never knew that so much could go into a contract. Darn. Richard and Me spent the better part of the day just trying to get the contract right for Mental Scars Graphic Novel. But the ink is signed, and I'll start working on it very soon. I want be able to show you much art from it for now though, everything is Top Secret in this business. I got the screener today, and Cheryl and I are going to watch it tonight. Above is a promo sketch I did based on material that the public has already seen. I just wanted to start getting a feel for it. I think the mood is awesome. Let me know what you think.

I've been watching tutorials on Corel Painter today as well. Now that I own the full version, I am learning to make up my own personal pallets, brushes, colors, ect. Awesome program for any "Real" artist out there. It doesn't do the work for you, but it makes it much easier, faster and economical for all us starving artist types. I've also bought some really nice Logo/font design programs, as well as ones that I can create my own pages for the website, facebook or any place I go to promote the work.

Everything is coming together. Tomorrow I will get a page up at wickedkittystudio.com to let folks know that its coming, and for now just promote the blog and my photobucket site. Cheryl is going to be putting up merchandising sites for products, and outside of promoting Viper Productions, all the wonderful things that Wicked Kitty Enterprises has in store for any fan of my work. I know I say this a bunch, but I am very thankful that you all keep up with I am doing, and I really love the letters you leave me. On Facebook you all leave me a good deal of messages, and thank you for the well wishes when you all found out about the chest infection. Your just to cool, and I'm like anyone else, nice words from your friends make you happy.

These last 2 years have been one heck of a ride for those of you that knew me back then. I practically disappeared from publishing and the web. I made the decision just to work hard, and I worked very hard, putting a lot of negative things out of my life.. Last year, I decided to make a comeback, and Its just so wonderful how many of you have stayed with me. Now I have Cheryl and the Kids, all these fancy new tools, and a very happy life. If I died today, i would die being happy for the first time in my life.

I'm gonna have to git in a little while to pick up Cheryl from work, so once I get the website started, I will post about that, and I still have to put together that pic for Darc Karnivale, plus finish the wicked kitty logo, and a new logo for Viper Productions. Peace and Blessings Friends.

We are Blessed.

I am sitting here feeling very loved and very blessed, and I think it is safe to say Cheryl feels the same way. Moving to Michigan changed my life in so many ways that it still blows my mind. My art has improved in leaps and bounds, I finally feel like I have found my voice as an artist, and now it will only grow. My love for Cheryl grows everyday. I never truly thought I could ever feel this way about anyone. She has brought out all the good things in me again, including the dark side I love to draw from. Life is giving me the things that I truly need to be very successful in my field. The Imac (you all really need to get one of these) the expensive programs that make me look good, including ones for font and logo designs. I know this sounds corny, but when I think about all the wonderful things that have happened for me in just a few short months, I can't help but to cry and give thanks to the lord for all the wonderful things in my life.

Today has been tough though. I have been feeling bad from quitting smoking, but Cheryl had to get a tooth pulled, and her body has not reacted well to the medicines they gave her. I haven't been able to keep food in her, but i am working on it. She will be fine. Andrea and I have been taken good care of her. She is well loved. If you want to know what kind of wonderful woman she is, she has a blog, and she is very honest about things and I think you will find it interesting. The link is to the right. For me please, stop by and say hey to her. We're just normal folks like those of you. Things like that mean a lot to us.

Business has changed so much in recent years, and I've been having a blast doing the Ichat thing. It's straight out of a science fiction movie. I've been seriously been thinking about setting up 2 nights a month to talk via Ichat to young artist, or just curious people in a group setup. I would love to know if this would interest you. We could talk about art and all kind of cool things.

Over the next 2 months you are going to be seeing a lot of cool things from our end. Including updates on twitter and Iphones. A whole lot of things with Viper Productions, including things in their new magazine. The first issue includes an interview with one of my favorite actors Bill Mosenly from The Devil Rejects., (Otis) and so many more movies. It want be long i will have a lot more info about the company, news, interviews, ect. they're already working on a sequel for Mental Scars 2. I'm telling you, this movie is the bomb. it will be a horror classic, and for me to get in on the ground floor and working on all aspects, including writing most of the graphic Novel, and If i do good on that, who knows. I know my writing skills are lacking in the grammar department, but I can tell a darn good story, and I do have a lot of editor and writer friends that I know will see me through.

I have been getting so many letters from my friends wishing me well that it has just been overwhelming and has warmed my heart in big ways. One of the things they have been saying is "It is so wonderful to see a hardworking man finally see his dreams come true. You have inspired me and I will work harder because you are proof that it can be done with hard work and Patience." To me, that is one of the greatest things someone could ever say to me. It has always been my goal to help others and motivate them to keep at it.

An there is so much more good news happening right now, but I will save that for later, I think all of this is just overwhelming as it is. As always, thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read about what is going on in our world. Next time, I will have the very first art for Mental Scars to show you. Peace and blessings my friends. Your all the bomb!

Notes and News

There is always a beginning, and this sketch is the beginning of something big for me and Cheryl. I just want to tease you for the moment, but you will be seeing much more of this sketch and all that goes with it, including our new web domain. Yes, finally there is going to be a new Nick Rose site, and it will keep you updated on all the things going on with links, art, original art for sale, prints, t-shirts and on and on. There is so much going on right now, I can't even keep you updated on it all here. Cheryl will be helping now keeping everything up to date.

I want to talk about a lot of things while I enjoy some Rum, darn I need to unwind. The first thing to talk about is the woman I love, the woman I have waited all my life for, my mate, my best friend, the one that keeps me going, working hard, and takes care of me, Cheryl. Some of you did good young and found your perfect mate, mine I had to wait for for 51 years. But she is here now, and we are gonna kick some serious ass and build an empire. Think I am kidding, just watch. She bought our domain name last night and our new website. This was thought about for a good while, considering all the things we want to do, and all the things that we need to protect legally. I do have a history of so called friends stealing my idea's from me, and trying to take credit for them. That ends now. Cheryl is a hard ass, and she will not put up with such crap anymore. You cross the line, you will be sued and in some cases go to prison. We work hard on our idea's, developing them, promoting them, putting money into making them successful and we will not let some no talent take them from us anymore. Yes, hard ass is the new attitude.

I have quit smoking, finally for the last time. I am doing really good with it, my breathing is much better, I have more energy, all of it. I feel much better, and Cheryl says I am not waking up at night coughing like a mad man. I know this was worrying her really much. For the first time I can remember in a very long time, I want to live. I really want to live and see where Life's road takes me, us. I know most of my personal friends never thought I would ever take a mate, but when destiny stares you in the face you best grab it while you have the chance. Life doesn't give you to many chances at the "real Deal" so when it happens, you best grab on and hold on for dear life. Damn this rum is good, and so is the Pizza. There's this pizza place here in Michigan called "Jets" and it is the bomb.

Another blessing is the kids, Andrea 10 years old, and Luke is 7. I love them dearly. Andrea is showing really big signs of being a creative talent. For instance, at her age she is writing, drawing and acting. Luke, I haven't figured out, but at this point I would say it has something to do with computer games or Disney movies lol. Seeing their young innocent faces, knowing they are looking up to me just makes me want to work harder to give them the future they deserve. Andrea is adding a lot of input to our new company, and a lot of it we are going to give a shot.

Some friends I don't talk about much are Scott and Kim. They are the reason I moved to Michigan, and in a lot of cases have been more family to me than most of my real family, except for Christina. They have been great to me, and made sacrifices on my behalf to give me a chance at a new future. Now that that future is happening, they are very happy for Cheryl and me. I am eternally grateful to them for all they have done for me.

But all my friends, mostly, have been stood behind me and encourage me all the way down the road. I love them and will always hold them dear in my heart. The main ones are George, Daniel, Mark and Suzi. Unfortunately, you make a lot of friends that are there just for what you can do for them, and I do have a lot of them. Sorry guys, but the truth is the truth.

Another thing to other bloggers out there. Quit using so much bad language in your blogs. Do you not realize that young people are reading it too, and in some cases they look up to you. Your right to blog is developing the talent and leaders of the future. Do you really want to try to impress on them that a foul mouth with no class is the voice that may be influencing them? The world is messed up enough, so how about let's teach them about class, manors and the responsibility that they may have on the generation after them. Quit acting like arrogant jerks to try to make yourself look like something your not.

I am just touching on a few things in this blog that I will be touching on again. So, thank you for stopping by and reading the rants of a hard working man. As I said before, and I will say over and over. I am no one special. I am just a carpet layer who has always had a dream to be able to make his living doing what he loves which outside of Cheryl and the kids, is art. Peace and Blessings to you all, and as always, I would love to hear your thoughts.

The really big news.

Hello friends, really big news tonight. I just signed on with a class act horror movie company. There first movie is called "Mental Scars" due out later this year. Even Fangoria magazine is doing write ups on this company. I am going to be doing a graphic comic book on the movie, and about everything art wise you can imagine. It looks like we are going to have a very fruitful relationship for a very long time. I am part of the company now, and Cheryl and I are both very excited. We are having a partyyyyyyy tonight. Another dream come true. There website is http://www.mentalscars.com/ and there is a link to the right. okay back to acting like kids!!! Thank you all for keeping up with my career! Peace and Blessings.

Demon Nurse Fini

Hello again my friends. Here is the finished version of the nurse that is the 3rd element of the painting "blood on the Walls" I wanted to show it to you like this, because in the painting, it will be faded to look ghost like. Give me a couple of days and I will have the finished painting for you.

A lot of great things are going on right now, one being the possibility of me doing a graphic novel based on a movie. I have to make a phone call tomorrow night to talk about the details, if all goes well, I will fill you in. Another thing is that a friend is helping me get into the movie business in a big way, so you will be hearing about that in the future as well. Moving to Michigan was my good luck charm. Since I have been here, I have meet the love of my life, Cheryl, and my art career has just went crazy. So many awesome things are going on, it just blows my mind. Carpet Laying is becoming a nightmare of the past very quickly.

My art is improving in leaps and bounds since Cheryl got me the Imac. Trust me, windows has it's limits when it comes to art, on Mac, I can paint just like using oils and so, so much more.

I am not bragging at all. I think of all of you as friends, and I am just sharing the good news. i am just a simple man who has worked on his dream for many many years, and now I am getting noticed and I will finally be able to do what I love and be able to pay my bills. Cheryl has been huge in this as well. She will be handling a lot of things that I just don't have time to do, like merchandising for one, and much more.

The bottom line here is this, if you have a dream, work hard on it, be patient, learn all you can and practice, practice, practice. Peace and blessings all.

Blood on the Walls WIP part 2

Hello friends. This is an update on "Blood on the Walls" This is the 3rd element of the painting. When It is done, It will appear as a ghost image over the hospital. Again the model is the one and only movie star and model, Suzi Lorraine. Time and time again she has just been an awesome friend to me. Cheryl and I are hoping to make her wedding to Mark next summer.

This drawing is not done yet, but I am very happy with the way it is coming out. Let me once again also say how awesome Imac is. If your an artist and you enjoy doing digital art, save your nickel and dimes and buy one. I swear, you will love it.

I want to give a HUGE heads up to my friend George. He landed a job with a new book company, and I am SO Damn Proud of him. To see him come this far and to start getting gigs like this, is just one of those things in life that you just cherish. George, you deserve the Biggest "OH HELL YEAH" ever. You are tha man!

I'll have more art to show you in a day or two. Until then, peace and blessings and may your dreams come true.

Where Monsters come from....

        Hello friends.  I am slowly getting the new illustration done.  It is for a story called "Blood on the Wall's" by Dave Rex for Darc Karnivale.  The story takes place at the Waverly Tuberculosis hospital in Kentucky.   For those of you that watch shows like "Ghost Hunters" and "Ghost Adventures" you will recognize it.  Once the hospital is painted, I will show it to you again.  There will be a 3rd element, a ghost and the model will be my friend Suzi Lorraine. I will show you some more Tuesday night.

       This last week has been pretty rough on me. I've really been pushing myself, and I paid for it Friday. I fell out.   Between exhaustion and a flair up of Ulcertive Colitis, my body just couldn't take it anymore.  It's gonna take a few days of rest before I can get back to laying carpet, and even then I am going to have to take it easier or find a new job.  

       Cheryl, Me and the kids (Andrea and Luke) had a great weekend.  We went to see that movie "A night at the museum 2"  It was actually pretty good. I liked it better than the first one. I know all my horror friends out there would have pins stuck in their eyes than sit through a movie like this, but the kids wanted to see it. Sooooo.  Next week, Cheryl and me are going to see Star Trek.

       I get asked a lot about where I come up with idea's for monsters and such, and the answer is simple.  The world around me.  Whenever I watch the news I see monsters and demons, and on occasion, an angel.  But the monsters seem to rule these days. 

      I was raised by a monster.  A man that always put my mother and me down. Told us how stupid we where, and off course the occasional beatings.  He never could handle that I was born with an IQ of 164, and his had to be around 90 or so. At 10 years old, I was beating him at chess.  So I paid for being a genius by being constantly abused by him.  No one back then could understand why I had constant nightmares.

      As I got older and went out into the world, I saw horrible things or heard about them. Like children being abused or murdered so they couldn't tell anyone about the sexual abuse that adults would put them through.  I saw terrorist kill for no reason (watching those people jump from the World Trade Centers changed me forever), I saw wars over the stupidest things like who's religion is right.  It seems that man still wants to show that his balls are bigger than someone  Else's, and they will kill each other to prove the point.

     I have seen people tortured because of the color of their skin, their beliefs, or sexuality. I have seen people who call themselves your friend, and stab you in the back the first time they think they can take what you have. So yes, everyday, I see monsters and demons.  It's not that hard to draw them. I just look at their souls and the images come to me.

     But ever so often, I meet an Angel, and they give me hope.  Ever so little, but hope just the same.  But the truth is, the world has become a very dark place.  The very people who tell us that they are trying to help us are usually the cause.  If only the world could be the way John Lennon sang about it in his song "Imagine"  He was a brilliant artist and saw things for what they truly where and still are., only to be shot down by a jealous madman in front of his home.

      So as long as the world is the way it is, I will still see monsters and demons.  If there is a God, then this is the gift he gave to me.  If there is no God, then life turned me into what I am.  "When fighting Monsters, be careful not to become one"  This is something Daniel said to me a couple of years ago and I know there was a reason for it.  After all, he is one of the Angels of the world.

      I'm not saying that my views are the right ones, not by a long shot.  We are where born with a different point of view, and each of us are entitled to our opinion.  So, these are my thoughts and I just wanted to share them, right or wrong.  I would love to hear yours.

     On another note, my friend Mark Helwig's mother passed this weekend. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you all for stopping by, and please stop by anytime. May you find peace and love.

      

Working hard, Exhausted, but never quitting.

 Hello friends.

           I am working on a new illustration for "Darc Karnivale" and its gonna be a good one. George, you'll love it.  I'll tell you more about it when I post the roughs in a few days, but once again I am using my friend, model and movie star Suzi Lorraine as the model.  Well, it started as her. lmao.

           I have been working my bu@@ off laying carpet so I can get a house for me and Cheryl.  We're staying in an apartment for now, but we don't have the room for me to set up a studio that I can paint with oils in.  But soon, very very soon. Plus, I am going to buy a new car. Probably a SUV for traveling to art shows and cons in.  But all of this is to set me up as a full time artist.  More on that later as well.

          Today is my dear friend Daniel Horne's birthday.  For those of you that are on facebook, please wish this man a happy birthday.  He is one of the best people I've ever known, and because of him, I am here now.  Check out his photobucket account, the link is to the right.  The man is so wonderful and talented, it will just blow your mind.  Him and his family took me in when I started training me.  I think of them all as  family.

          I am thrilled that so many of you are reading my blog and I would love to hear from all of you.  If there is something you want me to talk about, just let me know.  One of the things I plan on talking about very soon is how new artist can break into the field.  I spent 2  years being an Art Director for 3 small press magazines and a book company, and the advice I am going to put out there will start your career if your new to this, and if you have been around for a while, it will help you move up the ladder.

         I am going to be building a website soon as well.  Give me a month, and it will be up.  It will feature art for sale, merchandise for sale, and a huge collection of art that most of you have never seen, plus a few surprises.  

         But for now, time is short, and I have to get to painting. Bless you all and may your dreams come true!