AUGUST
Visit here often to see what's on Kendal's mind, and issues being painted here in the Bevil Studio.
In the studio today
TUESDAY. AUGUST 30. 9:15 PM
I'M HALFWAY THERE
Having now seen the Greetings From New Jersey cover develop from a blank envelope to this point, you can begin to understand the amount of time and important decisions that go into an issue, even before I ever reach for the airbrush. This doesn't include the research, along with the writing and assembling of the newsletter. Thankfully, Janice and I enjoy every step
along the way. During this stage, I sit. During the painting, I stand. All day.
MONDAY. AUGUST 29. 7:00PM
ESPER'S NEW WEB SITE
I had the good pleasure and privilege of working with Clarence McKnight and the good folks at ESPER,
in designing and building the banner on the home page of the all-new ESPER website. This is a top-notch run organization headed up by the best people our hobby has. Click on the ESPER logo to visit their new site.
SUNDAY. AUGUST 28. 10:00PM
ONLY IN NEW JERSEY?
I have knowledge of at least two states in which motorists have in recent decades not been allowed to pump their own gas, that being Oregon and New Jersey. However, in 2015 Oregon passed Bill 3011, allowing motorists to pump their own gas at gas stations located in the rural areas of the state, and only between 6PM and 6AM. Bill 3011 became law in Oregon January 1, 2016. So, yes, presently Oregonians cannot pump gas in the city. And during the day. The ban, though, in it's strictest form, might be ebbing away. To confirm, has anyone pumped gas this year in Oregon? On my New Jersey GFA cover I've stated, "The Garden State (NJ) distinguishes itself for all other states, with it being illegal for citizens to pump their own gas."
I want that to be a correct statement. One of you put on your Google hat and shed some light on this topic. I'll post your findings.
SATURDAY. AUGUST 27. 10:30 AM
BANNERS ADDED
Done. I like the banners. They add some fun and provide some activity
in the background. Now I'm ready to duplicate this image onto the New Jersey GFA
covers. Then, you know what happens; I paint each one by hand.
Here we Go! Enjoy your weekend!
SATURDAY. AUGUST 27. 10:15 AM
STOP THE PRESSES!
Actually, there's only one press. So, "Stop the press!" I was about to
produce this image onto my stack of blank New Jersey GFA covers,
when I remembered I intended to place some of those old-fashioned
flags in the background. You know the ones I'm referring to-
the triangular banners on rope. You were just going to stand by and let
me forget completely about it? Give me a while. Be back in a bit.
FRIDAY. AUGUST 26. 2:45 PM
WRITING THE COPY
Here's pretty much the completed rendering for the New Jersey GFA issue.
I'll insert the micro message, then write and drop in the copy for the empty text box on the right. I inked the thumbs-up guy from an illustration in an old ad. I believe he wore an Amaco cap, so I gave him a Sinclair patch. Seems many of the gas attendants wore ties, or at least they did for the photo-op. Interestingly, some of the Sinclair attendants wore the more traditional straight long ties.
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 24. 10:45 PM
WHAT WILL MY MICRO-MESSAGE BE?
I quietly embed a very tiny message in all the Greetings From America issues.
They are created hoping you cannot read, or even locate them, with the naked eye.
Here's the GFA Florida issue, maybe the most popular thus far in the set.
The most loved Ringling circus clown shown here, was affectionately called "Papa Lou".
So, what will the New Jersey GFA message be, and where can I possibly place it
so that you'll have an extremely difficult time locating it.
All in fun. I believe I forgot to place one in the GFA Virginia issue.
TUESDAY. AUGUST 23. 6:15 PM
LUCY THE ELEPHANT
The New Jersey banner subject may be the most peculiar yet in the Greetings From America set. The silhouette portrays Lucy the Elephant Hotel, a national landmark, built in 1881.
As you can see from the photo, Lucy is doing very well. All eyes of New Jersey were recently on her as she held her own against Hurricane Sandy. Janice?! I know where we can spend our next night in New Jersey! I'm inking tonight, after I mow the yard. We have St. Augustine grass on our lawn down here on the Gulf Coast. St. Augustine loves two things- sunshine and water. When it rains in the summer, our grass grows like lightening. And it's happy. So it's thick. Didn't I just mow the yard?
MONDAY. AUGUST 22. 10:45 PM
JUST ABOUT DONE
All I have remaining to ink is the portrait of the gas attendant and insert the text.
Responding to Ron's comments of HESS, I just did a quick glimpse on the internet of HESS toy trucks, and that would have made a great New Jersey GFA issue. You can read about
them here- https://hesstoytruck.com/story.html
SATURDAY. AUGUST 20. 5:15 PM
GETTING THERE
I flipped the image, so he's now
pointing toward our right, directing us into the middle of the cover. I'll do all I can to have the subjects located on the left end of the cover, pointing to the right. Now I'll begin inking the portrait. I had several gas pumps to choose from, with this one adding some bright green to the cover. I'm still thinking about those colorful banners. I'm going with Sinclair. I remember the green dinasour as a kid. I don't recall though ever seeing the big
life-sized "Dino" on the roadside. In my research on the web (3 minutes on google),
I've learned Sinclair was in New Jersey during the fifties and sixties. That's a fifties era nozzle, I believe.
SATURDAY. AUGUST 20. 1:30 PM
ADDING THE NOZZLE HANDLE
I like this gas attendant. He gives that retro,
happy times feel. Only thing is, I wanted him
pumping gas, as that's the theme of this issue;
in New Jersey it is against the law to pump
your own gas. I've located this 1950s era
ad and you can see from the
illustration below I have used it as a
reference for altering my ink rendering.
I just noticed the flags flying overhead.
Hmmm, maybe I should consider
adding them into the cover's design.
Have a great Saturday.
FRIDAY. AUGUST 19. 7:45 PM
"FILL 'R UP MA'AM?"
Here's the service attendant. I believe this shot is from the 1950s. If that is so, I need to pair him up with a gas pump from that era, along with a gas brand which was sold in New Jersey. It's my guess that those of you living in New Jersey aren't being served by men wearing bow ties. My goodness, we don't wear ties at my church anymore. Well, I'm off to locate a 1950s gas pump.
FRIDAY. AUGUST 19. 2:45 PM
"PUMP YOUR OWN GAS? NOT SO FAST!"
Responding to the most recent blog, Bob McDermott let me know New Jersey is the only state that bans you from pumping your own gas. That's what the Greetings From New Jersey issue will be all about. Two objectives I'm hoping for while producing this set; I look for an event or subject that is unique to that state, and want a retro 1950s, vacation feel. This subject will deliver in both those areas. I'm not sure if Gulf gas was in New Jersey in the 50s. There's Texaco, Sinclair, and a few others.
Enjoy your weekend.
FRIDAY. AUGUST 19. 1:30 PM
"ANOTHER HINT"
We're still playing for a color study. To catch up and get the details, read the posts below.
Here's a more complete rough of the layout of the cover for this state. A state I haven't yet produced for the Greetings From America set has a law that no other state has. Guess the state and law and the color study's yours. C'mon, this is a big hint.
THURSDAY. AUGUST 18. 10:15 PM
"INKING GREETINGS FROM .....?"
Here's a rough sketch from the Greetings From America issue I began inking this evening.
If you can tell me what state I'm inking, and the topic, you'll receive a color study from this issue. See the details in Tuesday's blog. This is not some obscure, ancient law. This law is enforced every day upon the citizens of this state. No other state has this law. If I don't receive the correct answer by tomorrow, I'll post the remainder of the illustration as another hint.
TUESDAY. AUGUST 16. 8:30 PM
I'm laying out the design for a Greetings From America issue state. It is a state where it's against the law to do something, that is legal to do in every other state. The law banning the practice was passed in the late 1940s, and in spite of several attempts to be overturned, still stands today. If you drive through this state, you'll be made aware of the law probably within the first 24 hours. Tell me the state and the law, and you'll be adding a GFA color study to your Bevil collection. I'll divulge more tomorrow if I don't hear from you.
Clarence says,
We are glad to see you back in the studio. Everyone loves the banner you created for ESPER. People ask me all the time who did your banner. Thanks for creating it for us. Our website is doing well with a new look and layout. Take a look at esperstamps.org Thanks again Kendal!
Mark
(an Oregonian) says,
Kendal, I looked up the Oregon gas pumping law. It came into being in 1951. Attempts to repeal it have been many and have always failed. The law now includes 12+ reasons why the law against self pumping gas is in place. Very similar to your information on New Jersey! Love the cachet design!
Allen says,
Good to have you back Kendal!
David says,
Finding your "micro messages" aren't as easy as I thought they'd be. Some are tougher than others. I've located about half of them. Thanks for telling us Virginia doesn't have one. I'd be looking for it forever.
Ron says,
Great research. I think HESS was a sizeable retailer (remember their big deal was the metal trucks made for collectors) became a very popular & demand to this day. HESS now gone.
Steve says,
"I can't figure out
why such a law
exists. Seems out
of date. I don't know any other
state that does
that.
Bob says,
"New Jersey Individuals can't pump their own gas. No self service stations."
MONDAY. AUGUST 15. 10:00 PM
"NOW BACK TO WORK"
"Hello" from Bevil Studios. After an 8-month sabatical, I'll be on a schedule of painting up to 2 issues per month, as Janice and I will continue to be serving as children's pastors. In addition, Janice is returning to school this fall. We look forward to discovering what you all have been doing with yourselves. I'm setting aside the Chamberlain 2-cover set, focusing on the remainder of the Greetings From America set. So let's get started!
The game (defined below) is still on, so think about it and EMAIL ME!
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IN THE STUDIO TODAY