Tribute to a Muse

February 6, 2015

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow beings.” – Herman Melville (1819-1891) So where did these teenage drawings of fashionable sophisticated women come from? Was there a muse in my world who provided the inspiration for them?. Absolutely, although I didn’t recognize it at the time. Her name […]

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Eyes Wide Shut and other anomalies

February 3, 2015

“Art is meant to disturb. Science reassures.” – George Braque (1882-1963) 1962: As a senior at Thornton Academy taking College Prep classes, studying physics with Mr. Chandler was a prerequisite. “Hap” Chandler was a great man of humor who had been our Chemistry teacher junior year. He was a breath of freer, more invigorating air […]

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Critters and Beasts

February 2, 2015

“Serenity of spirit and turbulence of action should make up the sum of a man’s life.” – Vita Sackville-West 1934: Although there’s not much turbulence of action in the accompanying snapshot, there’s definitely serenity of spirit on the faces of both my father Richard Cole and my grandfather Harris, aka ‘Pa’ Cole; no bull. When […]

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Weymouth Harris Cole (1879-1983): Part 2

January 31, 2015

“Men who have lost heart never yet won a trophy.” – Greek Proverb Focus on Forebears: Weymouth Harris Cole (1879-1973) Part 2. 1890s: Three Cole brothers played winning football together at Thornton Academy in the late 1890s. Pictured left to right: Harris, with older brother Winfield Lee Cole (1872-1944), and younger brother Wendell Phillips Cole […]

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Revelations now about drawings done then…

January 30, 2015

“Good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste at all.” – Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) 1961-62: My last year of high school was an intense period of attempting to peer into the future, wondering what I was actually going to do when I grew up. Maybe there was a […]

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Common Denominator? Butter Crunch for Valentine’s Day

January 28, 2015

“Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, Love, thou art every day my Valentine.” – Thomas Hood (1799-1845) Valentine’s Day is only 17 days away! What better treat for your sweet than a pound of AC’s extraordinary Butter Crunch? Better yet, gift them with a four-flavor sampler similar to the one above*, […]

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Weymouth Harris Cole (1.14.1879–11.19.1973)

January 26, 2015

“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24 My grandfather Weymouth Harris Cole was the fifth son in a family of six sons and one daughter born to Clark Remich Cole (1.1.1841 – 1.21.1915) […]

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Familiar Skies in Different Guise

January 25, 2015

“It is the essence of genius to make use of the simplest ideas.” – Charles Péguy (1873-1914)

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They raised sheep too…

January 25, 2015

“Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” – Mark Twain (1935-1910) 1921(?): Richard Cole at ca. age 11 feeding lambs Mutt and Jeff, while an unidentified pooch looks away. Photographer: most likely Gertrude Sherman Cole. 1920s: a new flock of lambs, in a photo by Dorothy Tenney […]

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Eye to Eye, Let’s Dance

January 23, 2015

“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.” – Les Brown (1945- ) 1962: Here’s lookin’ at ya’, eye to eye. Fourteen full frontal pencil drawings on 8-1/2″ x 11″ bond paper, from junior and senior years in high school, all looking directly at you the viewer. Reviewing […]

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Loads o’ Hay – Happy B-day Missy (& Tony)

January 22, 2015

“Beauty is power; a smile is its sword.” – John Ray (1627-1705), English naturalist Happy Birthday to friend Melissa (Missy) Puterka-Braber, who is blessed with a beautiful smile, and is owner of the painting seen at left, which was completed just about a year ago. (And while I’m at it, Happy B-day to Tony Heyl, […]

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Facing Front: Eyes Right… Eyes Left…

January 21, 2015

“Prosperity depends more on wanting what you have than having what you want.” – anonymous 1961: Divas ‘R’ Us – Eyes Right… Eyes Left… Four sets of drawings done as a junior/senior in high school to amuse myself between bouts with homework and occasional depression about being an oddball seemingly intent only on developing my […]

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Maine Family Gatherings & Winter Scenes

January 20, 2015

“Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art.” – Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

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Drawing profiles, profiles, and more profiles…

January 19, 2015

1961-62: Of the 76 pencil drawings on 8-1/2″ x 11″ bond paper that date from my last two years in high school, over 20 of them feature single figures drawn in profile as seen at left. These drawings of pretty women dressed in clothes, either contemporary fashions or costumes inspired by variety shows and movies […]

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Dreams of Being a Beauty Queen

January 17, 2015

“I’m a little boy now, but when I grow up I’m going to be a beautiful woman.” – Don Brewer, paraphrasing lyrics from Anthony and the Johnsons song For today I am a boy. 1961: As a junior in high school, I tried to feel normal about myself and appear normal to others by participating […]

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