TV and Movies

Children today are really missing out! They seldom experience the wonderful feeling of anticipation that we had, waiting for a movie to make its television premier. We had no DVDs, no VHSs, not even BETAs. We had an 8mm projector that had no sound. There were a few movies you could buy for those, but they were rather expensive. To see a movie, you had to go to the theater, or you had to wait for it to come to television, where it was riddled with ads. At least way back then (the Dark Ages, to my children), you only had two minutes of ads in each fifteen minute segment.

I seldom saw first run movies when I was young. We usually waited for them to hit the dollar theaters, if we were going to see them on the big screen at all. Most of my friends had been talking about them for over a month, usually two, or else they had already begun talking about the next movie. I was always hopelessly behind the times. Now, you might not even have to wait that long before the DVD comes out. It might be sitting on RedBox before I'm even aware that it has been released to the theaters.

See a movie a second time? Whoa! Now, that was radical. I never knew anyone who went to see a movie a second time. I did it once not long after I graduated from college (which was also in the dim, dark, ancient past). Most of us, if we wanted to see something again, waited for the late-night movies on TV (back when Tonight was the only live late night TV show, and the other channels ran movies).

Where's the wait? Where's the lesson in patience? Where's the opportunity to teach our children the value of delayed gratification? Gone forever! Children today are really missing out!

Crazy

When things get crazy, they get REALLY crazy.

If you're waiting for more historical tidbits, they are coming. Posting my art is so much easier, so that is what I will do.

My wife had surgery a few days ago. Hence the gap. Just enjoy the art, and be sure to tell me how wonderful it is.

You know, sometimes it's easier to draw than to write; sometimes it is easier to do work long and hard that to think.

Here is an example - just a tree, but I could sit and mindlessly add leaves or indications of sky, not having to think at all.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Haida Art

I have always been fond of very realistic art - like the grand masters (Rembrandt, etc.) or the early American classicists. But I was also a Boy Scout, a member of the Order of the Arrow, and a member of both the ceremony and dance teams. I made my own native American outfit - full leather with beadwork. During that time I was introduced to, and began to enjoy, Haida art.

Once my doodling took form and shape, I decided to try my hand at Haida art. The first one or two were weak attempts, but some of the latter I have enjoyed very much. Here is one sample. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Reminesce - 1

Our children grow up so deprived! We had to buy an old telephone from the thrift store so that they would know what it was like to DIAL a phone. When I was young, in order to make a phone call, I had to stick my finger in a shallow hole over the correct number, then turn the dial as far as it would let me turn it clockwise, then release. I had to do the same thing for each of the seven numbers.
When the dial was released, it created a series of pulses that the phone system recognized. These were later replaced by tones, and one could buy phones that could generate either tones or pulses (in case you lived where tones were not yet accepted).
On top of that, people usually told you their number was ULysses 59380 or TUlip 44345 - the first two numbers being 85 and 88, respectively. Some brainy individuals recognized the numbers and used those. The rest of us looked for the U written under, over, or beside the numbers.
Of course, there was ample compensation for the inconvenience of having to dial numbers. If you were calling someone within your exchange (852- or whatever), you only had to dial the last four numbers in order to complete the call. Now, I'm not sure there's an exchange out there that will still allow this. In fact, in most major cities, you must use the area code as well, even if the call is not considered long distance.
Long distance? Oh, my! You only used that for emergencies or extra, extra special calls (great-grandmother turns 100, or some such thing) when I was young. Why? It cost $1 / minute, and Dad only made $200 or $300 / month. That was such a waste! Why, a letter only cost 3 or 4 cents to send.
Hey! Wait! phones and letters have swapped places. Now it only costs 3 or 4 cents per minute for the phone call and a dollar to mail the letter! It's beginning to make more sense to me now!

Getting Started

I have never thought of myself as an artist. I am a software geek. As such, I work on a team of software geeks, and we have weekly team meetings. For several years, one of our team members would doodle throughout the team meeting. I don't know what took me so long, but I decided to give him some competition. At first it was just black pen on lined paper - geometric designs. Many of you have done the same thing.





Then I added a red pen. Then I switched to felt-tip, and added blue - red and blue, red and black, or sometimes red and blue and black. My designs started turning symmetrical or taking on shapes. I found a green felt-tip. I was having fun, but people were also saying the most remarkable things, like, "I like that."


You can do this. How do I know? Because I can. If I can do it, anyone can.

My art has taken several forms, and I will be sharing them with you over time. This is just one sample of the current form. I expect it to come out in several ways before I get tired of drawing.

By the way, I do sell prints of these, as well as signed and numbered prints. Contact me for more information.

Enjoy!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog.

My name is Rick Holman.

What? You've never heard of me? Well, we can change that.

I will be sharing my art, thoughts about history, some tidbits of writing, and other things that I
trust will make your day more enjoyable.

I'd appreciate your thoughts as well.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to the journey.