THUNDER BELOW THE HORIZON

Every so often it is nourishing to revisit those early,  earnest attempts at capturing on paper the incontinent emanations of youth- I am not referring to anything organic- that so enthralled their audience of one. Most examples of my own efforts perished in the conflagration, and not the ones I would have chosen, either; but as I cherish authenticity above all other virtues there is nothing I can do except honor the past as it was.

This drawing will give you an idea of the sort of chaos that pounded away at me during the days of mouse-in-the-water. Looking at it I can easily remember the pleasure I felt at getting the upper hand of the situation and dragging into the quotidian world such souvenirs of my exclusive corner of the beloved shining realm. At the time I wouldn't have traded my problems for anyone else's success; though of course I now feel differently, having realized the terrible price one pays for being isolated.

This image is circa 1968, my own Summer of Clut.

AT THE PRINTER

Yes, children, FRANK in the 3rd DIMENSION is finally at the printer! It should be in stores in early January, so if you want that holiday gift-giving frisson, pre-ordering it will have to do. As if that's bad. Charles Barnard did the 3D and you will excitedly admit it is the best and most astonishing 3D you have ever seen. Get some glasses and check this one out!

MEN

The image below was painted and abandoned because, like a dead horse at a clambake,  it just wasn't assertive enough. Know what I mean? It isn't sufficiently awful. It needs to be really, really loathsome, and it just isn't there. I need models for this one. Any offers?

I HAD A DREAM OF PERFIDY

At this point in its development the drawing lost all meaning for me and I could not remember what the point was that I was trying to convey. The girl on the tip of the tongue, the first of her clan to step onto the shore of this new world, was to be bright yellow; her parents brown and bluish. The crown, or exit-wound, shape on the frog's head was to be a translating organ; frogs can only hear the croaks of their own species. There is a pendant drawing of equally delighted people being swept into the frog's mouth. But who wants to see that?

There must have been some point to it but it has dissolved into the air and been blown away with the wind. I am ashamed.

LOVE THAT WORD!

Your Uncle Jim has a pal who went to Cal Arts in the 70's and, after receiving his education, went around telling everyone there was no such thing as "genius". I don't know where he is today, but me, I'm in the upcoming "GENIUS" show at Seattle's Frye Museum along with dozens of other geniuses. So put that in y' goddam corncob pipe, buster.

GENIUS; 21 CENTURY SEATTLE, FRYE MUSEUM, September 26, 2015, to January 10, 2016.

Just look at that roster of of local talent! And how will JW represent? Suffice to say you will need to put on special glasses to the full looty.

The image below will not be included in the show. It has nothing to do with the show. It's just a little something I was playing around with.

ULTRA-POS NY TIMES REVIEW OF YOU DRIVE SHOW STUNS HATERS

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/arts/design/jim-woodring-you-drive.html?_r=0

FROGS AT NIGHT drawing

Here is a drawing for a painting of an army of frogs convening in the woods on a moonless night. Viewers will have to peer deeply into the varnish to see the details.

Because frogs lend themselves so uncannily to anthropomorphism, and because as Lenny Bruce said on PLAYBOY AFTER HOURS (I'm paraphrasing from memory), "I would never satirize the obvious," it was deemed necessary to keep their actions and expressions as natural as possible within the demands of cartooning; the faces, hands and feet must be expediently expressive, but it can stop there. And so they are not drinking, kissing, dancing, fighting, smoking or doing any of that teddy-bear's picnic stuff. But they are doing something; there is a real event going on here. Up close you hear their breathing and the faint rubbery squeaks made by their jostling hides.

This drawing is 38" x 24", the exact size of a canvas I prepared years ago and am finally ready to use. It has a mirror-like finish. So much sanding! I need a transparent siccative layer to grab the paint and lay the foundation for oceans of oil and varnish. Any suggestions? Don't mention shellac.