Glimmer Twins' 70s decadence

It has been raining for a week here, and this piece shows one of my favorite autumn scenes: the ripening bean field contrasted with an overcast sky.

For this one, I strayed from my original constraint of working for only one side of an LP (20-25 minutes). I listened first to both sides of the Rolling Stones' Sucking in the Seventies, with great live versions of "Mannish Boy" and "When the Whip Comes Down" along with some of their funky dance tunes. Perhaps I spent too much time strutting around the studio like Mick, for I still wasn't happy with the painting. Then I put on side one of It's Only Rock n' Roll and finished up.

"Beans in October Rain," pastel, 6 x 9 image, $75 unframed

Stop gap

My inventory system leaves a lot to be desired. When I went up to the studio this evening, I couldn't find anything to draw on. Then it occurred to me: "I bet The Public would be fascinated to see photos of my studio." Or my mother might, at least.

Where the creativity mixes with the bubble wrap

If I had a decent camera, you would see

• the Rolling Stones poster I bought at the Macon Mall Record Bar
• Vine-Ingle Little League team photos to remind me of my glory days
• Bill the Cat throwing up (Who do you think emptied all those beer bottles in the studio sink?)

In addition to painting,  I am trained to use a litter box.

If after hanging one of my paintings you notice a cat hair inside the frame....

The Band, side two

After a long day at the Menokin Music Festival (and after one rain shower ended the festival and a second kept us cool as we cleaned up) this sky appeared and made me forget how wet my socks were. I love the mix of the violet sky with the glowing oranges and pinks reflecting the setting sun.

I listened to the second side of the Band's second album. I think I bought this record at a used record store in Chapel Hill. While Big Pink is considered by many to be a classic, I like this one just as well.

Time Fades Away, side two

As the music festival at Menokin wound down, a couple of storms passed through. It was an inconvenience at first, but, after the rain stopped, I was glad to have a sky worth painting. This is a view from the visitor center looking toward the ruins.

I listened to the second side of Neil Young's Time Fades Away, a raunchy, live recording. Side two is only about 18 minutes long, so this study was quick and turned out a bit raunchy too.

Bridge Over Troubled Water, side two

I've incorporated all my favorite elements: water, shoreline, marsh, cedars, farmland, treeline, and a muted, gray sky.

This painting was accompanied by Bridge Over Troubled Water, side two. I used to listen to my father's cassette of Simon and Garfunkle's Greatest Hits when I drove around in his Chevrolet Impala in high school, but I never heard "The Only Living Boy in New York" until about a year ago when I started listening to this album.

Silk Degrees, side two

A marsh at dusk. Am I repeating myself?

Boz Scaggs was very popular for a couple of years when I was a kid. I bought Silk Degrees at a used record store on King Street in Alexandria, Va. I was pleased to hear my son singing along to "Lido Shuffle" while I worked on this piece.

Exciteable Boy, side one

Another treeline at the edge of a field. The glow behind the clouds is the important thing here.

Excitable Boy, from Warren Zevon. "Werewolves of London," "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner," "Excitable Boy"—all songs to lift the spirit.