Quo Vadis Habana 4 X 6.75

"You get the thinnest lines I've yet found in a notebook," write Blackcover.net, "and it lays totally flat."

Clairfontaine Paper

Rhodia Webnotebook 3.5 X 5.5

WGF has written down on a small scrap piece of paper some details about he Rhodia Webnotebook he finds interesting.

Orange cover
Ebay $14.97 free shipping
3.5 X 5.5
Lays flat

David Copperfield

This little portrait is of the young David Copperfield, a character created by Charles Dicken's. WGF is almost through with the novel and he shared with me while laying on the couch the other day, "I cried when little Jip died."

Cloud Formation inspired by Albrecht Durer

I think this sketch was inspired, or copied from one of Albrecht Durer's painting or drawings. WGF has been copiously working on trying to learn how to draw clouds with pen and ink.

Mr. Collins of Pride & Prejudice

This is one of WGF's favorite actors in the movie Pride & Prejudice, adapted from one of Jane Austen's novels. I overheard him say one evening, while fixing three quarts of iced tea, "That Collins fellow...He makes the movie. I look at him and laugh. Look how short he is."

He is Faithful

Mbembe and the Elephant

This email was in WGF's inbox, forwarded to him by his father. It's a real knee slapper!!!

In 1986, Mkele Mbembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University Law School. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Mbembe approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee and inspected the elephant's foot and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it. As carefully and as gently as he could, Mbembe worked the wood out with his hunting knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments. Mbembe stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. Mbembe never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Mbembe was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teen aged son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Mbembe and his son Tapu were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Mbembe, lifted its front foot off the ground, then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man. Remembering the encounter in 1986, Mbembe couldn't help wondering if this was the same elephant. Mbembe summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder. The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Mbembe's legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

Cross ballpoint and pencil set

While rummaging through some receipts in WGF's trashcan, i came across a purchase he made from Office Depot. Evidently he got this set for around $10. I wrote with the ballpoint and the pencil, and man do they write smooth.

Ink Well Sketch

I found this sketch in WGF's small, Piccadilly sketchbook. I think this may be the first ever sketch completed using his new Lamy Safari fountain pen, with extra fine nib.

At the Library

While sitting in Taco Bell yesterday, WGF commented, "Ya know, I've got to return those library books sometime. It's really weighing on me. It's been like two years."
I asked if he wanted me to return them, but said no because it's the same as if he has to return them because, "I have to drive you." he ended.
Well, here's a little poem of the frustrations involved in going to the library....

Lamy Safari Extra Fine

WGF received his new Lamy Safari extra fine this afternoon. I was able to take this photo as he was going #2. I read his journal entry regarding this acquisition and it's favorable, very favorable indeed.

I Hate You Don't Leave Me... Understanding the Borderline Personality

I found a copy of this book under WGF's mattress while I was sneaking around the other night and forgot to post it. I'm not sure what it's about or what it has to do with art. But evidently it's important to him.

Barack Obama Sr.

WGF told me that he's not fully convinced that this is Barack Obama Sr. But that's what the Internet says.

Oh Friend of Love, Forever

This poem, Oh friend of Love, Forever was recorded live with WGF himself providing the reading. After we played it back he told me was upset with how he sounded, especially his pronunciation of the words "eternal" and "damned".

He told me he wasn't finished with it yet, but I convinced him to go ahead and get this one out to the public. Graciously he consented. WGF does not know I added some background mood music to this poem, and I'm not sure what his opinion is of this method.

One afternoon, while sipping a caramel macchiato at Border's bookstore, WGF commented to me, "Hey. You ever heard poems being read with some mood music in the background? I'm thinking about doing that sometime. My stuff could use a little spice. But on the other hand I think it's a crutch for shitty poets."

I took our brief conversation as permission to do edit his poem. Comments welcome on mood music, not WGF's poem...please.

Senior picture from Reitz High School

William sketched this portrait of his father from a photograph that was scanned and saved to his Blackberry. He told me, "I was laying on my stomach, looking at some photos on my Blackberry when I came across this one of dad, when he was a senior in high school." WGF used a Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen (SX) to complete the sketch without using graphite first. When asked how he pulled it off, he replied "It was tough, but I was committed to the job."

The WGF blog is pleased to present this sketch for your pleasure and viewing.

Anton Chekhov - Stories

I was able to sneak this volume of Chekhov story's away from WGF while he was sleeping on the living room couch. His hands were resting on the book so I gently eased it out, using a feather to tickle his nose slightly. When WGF began to scratch, I was able to remove Chekhov's short story collection from his grip, snap off a photo and then return it secretly to WGF's chest. This photo was very difficult to obtain. WGF's been reading Chekhov along with some de Mauppasant and T.C. Boyle.

Desk plan sketch

I think WGF is hatching a plan to build some type of writing desk. I overheard him talking to his mother on the phone yesterday, while he was baking one of his homemade pepperoni pizzas. "Yeah...I know what you mean. I need a better desk to write on and stuff...." He paused for almost an entire minute, listening to his mother on the other end. "Exactly mom! That's exactly right, you get it now." Needless to say, his enthusiasm for a new writing desk of sorts propelled me to sneak a photo from his sketchbook.

Woman sleeping

I can't tell you who this person is but WGF and her are intimately intertwined in a legally binding, long-term relationship. She wishes to remain anonymous. While driving up highway 41 to visit WGF's in-laws one evening, during a nasty thunderstorm, WGF yelled back to me in the back seat. "Hey Ronny. Show her that sketch I did last night while she was asleep." I said "Sure thing bro." and he corrected me, "Don't call me bro Ronny.
And then, as I showed her the sketch she yelled, "That's not me!".
"What do you mean it's not you... yeah it is."

Not sure what medium used for this sketch and I can't really share my true opinion on this one, as far as capturing a likeness is concerned. Too many risks and nuances involved...."Gotta go... WGF is coming!"

I'll drink us a new home

I don't know for sure what he intended for this poem, but I think it's about struggling with alcoholism. I know that WGF went through some pretty rough years caused by abusing alcohol and I think this poem is about a drunk who's proud of 'drinking his wife a new home'.

This audio recording, and only known reading to exist to my knowledge was buried in a hidden folder on his computer marked "photos of snails". I was shocked to come across it and it's making me wonder what else he has hidden in falsely named folders on his computer. I've never even read this one in his notebooks.

No Matter What We Say

No time to comment, gotta be quick on this one. I just heard WGF open the front door and holler my name. "Ronny, get up fast... I got some great news!" WGF just shouted.

Mamma I'm Guilty

Lamy Safari Fountain Pen Extra Fine Nib

While going through WGF's online banking account, I noticed he made a purchase to LamyPensUSA. I got the phone number off the website, called it, pretended I was WGF and learned that he's made a purchase of a Lamy Safari Extra Fine Nib Fountain pen. He didn't say anything about this pen, and it may be a gift for me, for Christmas!!!

John Ruskin Sketch

This is John Ruskin. He wrote "The Elements of Drawing", a book that WGF is studying to "improve my drawing skills" he said. I told him that I didn't think he needed to improve anymore, but needed to get down to some real art and he scolded me saying: "What the hell do you mean... real art?"