Category Archives: painting

Portrait of Fernanda and Notes on Process

Posted on May 15, 2015 by rick mobbs

This is an edited re-posting of of something I wrote a few days ago, hopefully free of blather. I picked up a virus from the kids and while they recovered quickly I developed pneumonia, a condition I am predisposed to. … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art and alchemy, maria fernanda sosa, painting, portraits, Process, recovery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Damyanti Writes

Posted on February 5, 2011 by rick mobbs

I lifted Damyanti’s story from her blog, the Daily (w)rite : a daily ritual of writing. She wrote the story from the image I put up Feb 3rd. She spins amazing stories out of just about anything, just for exercise. … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Daily (w)rite, Damyanti Ghosh, ekphrasis, hat chick, image prompts, painting, poetry, stories | Leave a comment

work in progress

Posted on October 10, 2010 by rick mobbs

Moved into new studio in the Spring of 2010 and started new canvas (6′ x 20′, minor monsterpiece). (Pics should be 2 post down from this one.) That work interrupted shortly thereafter by life and work. Finished in September painting on … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Broadus and Ada, cowboys and aliens, painting, poetry, Saturn Return, set painting, stories, the art of recovery, wall sized sketchbook, work in progress | Leave a comment

work in progress

Posted on September 1, 2010 by rick mobbs
Posted in addiction, art, below the line, Broadus and Ada, charcoal drawing, cowboys and aliens, new studio, painting, Saturn Return, set painting, wall sized roughs, work in progress | Leave a comment

How Many Stories Can A Picture Tell?

Posted on August 21, 2009 by rick mobbs

Catherine Nesbitt called the other day to buy a painting. It was her husband’s birthday and the painting gave Jim pleasure so she wanted him to have it. If the truth be told it wasn’t her favorite. The other painting … Continue reading →

Posted in art, childcraft books, collaborative storybook, Crayola crayons, creative process, Doug Palmer, ekphrasis, image prompts, institutional racism, Jim and Cathleen Nesbitt, painting, poetry, selling art, the wheelbarrow woman, whypaisley, Wilmington NC | 7 Comments

image prompts

Posted on August 12, 2009 by rick mobbs

Nanda Sosa just emailed me the pictures below, which are of paintings hanging on the walls of her home in Caracas. I had forgotten them. Which means it has been too long since I visited that beautiful, amazing, troubled country … Continue reading →

Posted in art, below the line, ekphrasis, image prompts, maria fernanda sosa, painting, storybook collaborative, Venezuela, work in progress | 5 Comments

song for amuirin

Posted on July 18, 2009 by rick mobbs

Now Cleo faced the nighttime she thought the urge a little strange her pencil and papers in a stack before her hoping darkness her thoughts would arrange. . She stared out of the window thought of her lover sleeping alone … Continue reading →

Posted in amuirin, children, cleo, gerard manley hopkins, image prompts, paint dept., painting, passion, poem, poetry, relationships, stop and wander, with warm breast and with ah! bright wings. | 4 Comments

firecracker girl turns one: (some of) the year in pictures

Posted on July 5, 2009 by rick mobbs

Happy 4th (now 5th) of July, everyone, and Happy Birthday, Ada Corinna Meridian Swinton. She is a fierce and funny newcomer, strong and determined. The universe is her home, and for now, we are her country. Who knows where these … Continue reading →

Posted in ada corinna, ada's first birthday, amuirin, broadus aurelius, callings, egnima, family, homebirth, joyce ellen davis, logan bunting-mock, love, naomi swinton, orson scott card, painting, uncle pepek, works in progress, yael naim | 3 Comments

home again home again

Posted on February 11, 2009 by rick mobbs

What a treat to have this time. I’ve been living out of a suitcase in a motel while working in Albuquerque on “The Book of Eli”. My co-workers are extraordinarily gifted and easy to be with and the sets are … Continue reading →

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, art for film and tv, Broadus and Ada, family, John McCutcheon, naomi swinton, new mexico peace works conference, painting, storybook collaborative, uwc-usa | 17 Comments

alone time

Posted on November 29, 2008 by rick mobbs

is hard to find these days but I have some now and I am puzzling out how to use this blog. I stay away from writing and painting too long – which happens whenever I take a movie job – … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art for film and tv, babelfruit, birdie jaworski, Broadus and Ada, callings, citylights, collaboration, ecphrasis, ekphrasis, faith, film work, first presbyterian church las vegas nm, gallinas magazine, georgia o'keefe movie, homeless shelter, homelessness, image prompts, las vegas nm, let's hope, love, making a difference, naomi swinton, painting, pertussis, picture prompts, poetry, protestpoems, Rev. Randy Campbell, Rosie Lopez, samaritan house, san miguel county, sharon seto, sizzle, spencer and janet swinton, storybook collaborative, Uncategorized, uwc-usa, whooping cough, why does good change take so long?" | 21 Comments

georgia o’keefe

Posted on November 5, 2008 by rick mobbs

Lunchtime, and wireless! I’m writing from Santa Fe. I started a new movie this morning of this new day in our country. The sun was rising overr the mountains as I drove through the Glorietta Pass. It is a beautiful … Continue reading →

Posted in Ada Swinton, art, film work, georgia o'keefe movie, painting, poetry, scenic artist | 6 Comments

rollercoaster/whooping cough?

Posted on November 3, 2008 by rick mobbs

Hello everyone, all of you who have left such kind notes since my last post. This is just to let you I have no intention of disappearing from the blogging community, nor of laying this particular blog to rest. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Ada Swinton, art, basic training, Broadus Mobbs, Dr Maryann Luchini, ekphrasis, kids, nm, painting, pertussis, picture prompts, poetry, san miguel county, social justice, stories, storybook collaborative, Uncategorized, useless stupid leaders, useless stupid war, why does good change take so long?" | 14 Comments

10/24/08 closing a chapter – one last prompt

Posted on October 24, 2008 by rick mobbs

I’m writing from the coast of North Carolina as tropical rain and winds lash the house and the lights flicker inside. My extended family is gathered for a reunion here. There is something comforting about working while the winds rage … Continue reading →

Posted in art, completion, cucaloris film festival, ekphrasis, image prompts, independent art company, male nudes, painting, picture prompts, poetry, storybook collaborative, wabi sabi warehouse | 28 Comments

Google’s $10 million, revisited

Posted on October 18, 2008 by rick mobbs

A couple of weeks ago I posted a notice about Google’s 10 to the 100th project. You know, Google’s call for ideas that could change the world and offer to fund the most popular to the tune of $10,000,000. Deadline … Continue reading →

Posted in 10 to the 100th, anger management, art, Bartos Institute, callings, changing the world, collaboration, conscientious objector, draft resistance, ekphrasis, faith, google 10 million, making a difference, pacifism, painting, questionable rights of the state, refusniks, swords into war toys, uwc-usa, war and peace, war tax resistance, war toys | 6 Comments

10/16/08 image prompt

Posted on October 16, 2008 by rick mobbs

I’m actually posting these images on a Thursday, like I said I would. Life gets a little hectic here with a new baby, workaholic parents, a wild 9 year old. Almost 9. Okay, about the baby. Omygod, what a baby. … Continue reading →

Posted in ada corinna, art, broadus, children, collaboration, ekphrasis, halloween, image prompts, painting, poetry, Rockheads, stories, storybook collaborative, works in progress | 10 Comments

10/9/08 image prompt, a poem, and marcia abigail ryder

Posted on October 9, 2008 by rick mobbs

We’ll call this painting this week’s image prompt. I’m in Agua Prieta, Mexico, on the border with Arizona with a group of UWC-USA students who are doing a week-long Border Issues study. Internet is sketchy so while I have it … Continue reading →

Posted in art, cape cod, ekphrasis, friendshp, image prompts, kittery maine, love, marcia abigail ryder, painting, picture prompts, poetry, roger cole, storybook collaborative, teaching art, walking on water, wellfleet mass, winchester high school | 11 Comments

10/3/08 day late image prompt

Posted on October 3, 2008 by rick mobbs

Oops. It’s been a topsy turvy week. I apologize to those who have sent work in that I have not yet put up. I’ll try to post it later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, here is something Broadus and … Continue reading →

Posted in art, broadus aurelius, collaboration, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative, works in progress | 9 Comments

9/24/08 image prompt

Posted on September 24, 2008 by rick mobbs

A day early but I’ll be out of town tonight (off to Santa Fe to hear Isabel Allende with my son, Broadus, who loves her children’s stories, and a van full of international students from UWC-USA). And besides, this is … Continue reading →

Posted in art, ekphrasis, image prompts, isabel allende, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative, supernatural bridge, Uncategorized, works in progress | 13 Comments

9/18/08 image prompt

Posted on September 18, 2008 by rick mobbs

This image was inspired by the spirited freedom always evident in the artwork produced by my son, Broadus. If a dragon needs four eyeballs, or double jaws, or teeth in its belly he does not hesitate to add them. It … Continue reading →

Posted in art, broadus, collaboration, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, quesrtionable rights of the state, stories, storybook collaborative, stupid war, tell us a story!, the children's hour | 5 Comments

openhand’s story

Posted on September 12, 2008 by rick mobbs

.the dragon prince Mister Openhand, I think maybe it would be okay to quit your day job.

Posted in art, birth, ekphrasis, image prompts, myths, openhand, painting, poetry, stories, the children's hour | 6 Comments

9/11/08 image post

Posted on September 11, 2008 by rick mobbs

Maybe someone can find a story here? Or a poem? This painting belongs to Broadus, and he would like a story, please. It’s almost bedtime. Sept. 11, 2008 image prompt . The Dragon Prince, by Openhand . A Not-story, by … Continue reading →

Posted in art, callings, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative | 15 Comments

9/4/08 image prompt

Posted on September 4, 2008 by rick mobbs

Wanted to call it, “Bruno Goes To War”, but that’s not really what it’s about. So, for lack of a title I’ll just call it “The Fight”. Have fun with it. Next week I’ll get back to, heck, I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in anger management, art, ekphrasis, image prompts, law, painting, poetry, race in america, stories, storybook collaborative, Uncategorized, vegetarian pacifist boxers | 3 Comments

Praise, pepek the assassin

Posted on August 31, 2008 by rick mobbs

hmmm… can’t seem to let this one go. Joyce (pepek) has changed a line in her poem, Praise, written to accompany the image below. I am posting both versions below. Would love to hear your response to the change… . … Continue reading →

Posted in art, callings, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, joyce ellen davis, painting, pepektheassassin, poetry, stories | 17 Comments

8/28/08 image prompt

Posted on August 28, 2008 by rick mobbs

(Backstory) 4′ x 3′ approx. mixed media on linen. This picture came out of another time. It grew out of a loose scumble of color on the back of a piece of printed upholstery fabric. The fabric was a fine … Continue reading →

Posted in art, callings, carol roberts, egnima, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, poetry, red shoes, storybook collaborative, supernatural bridge | 18 Comments

this is the post that opened the storybook

Posted on August 26, 2008 by rick mobbs

I am catching up here, having been distracted by some 8 weeks on a film crew, and having a baby (well, Naomi had the baby. At home! Welcome, Ada Corinna Meridian Swinton!), followed by driving a moving truck 2000 miles … Continue reading →

Posted in Ada Swinton, alice o'leary, art, art for film and tv, big-time collaboration, Broadus Mobbs, callings, collaborative storybook, damn cat, ekphrasis, friendshp, Grand Canyon, image prompts, making up stories, myths, naomi swinton, painting, picture prompts, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative, tell us a story!, who the heck is alice?, with ah! bright wings, xpalla | 3 Comments

new writing / catching up!

Posted on August 25, 2008 by rick mobbs

. Here is Grand Canyon, a poem from Tiel Aisha Ansari, creator of the blog, knocking from inside. The poem is from her 3 trips to the Grand Canyon and accompanies this week’s image. . And flesh and rock, from … Continue reading →

Posted in art, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, footprint of the creator, geology, Grand Canyon, image prompts, myths, painting, picture prompts, poetry, Rockheads, Uncategorized, works in progress | Leave a comment

image post 8/22/08

Posted on August 22, 2008 by rick mobbs

Hello everyone, Broadus and I are just returned from from our 8 day AzRa rafting trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Some rafting groups are put together by AzRa and people get to know each another over … Continue reading →

Posted in an embarassment of riches, AzRa, Broadus Mobbs, collaboration, collaborative storybook, Crand Canyon, ekphrasis, family, geology, god's footprint, michael thomas jones, painting, picture prompts, poetry, Rockheads, with ah! bright wings | 15 Comments

early image prompt

Posted on August 14, 2008 by rick mobbs

I am once again on the road. This time with my 8 year old son, Broadus. Today we drove to Flagstaff, Arizona. Tomorrow we leave on an 8 day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, a trip that fell out … Continue reading →

Posted in art, bruno, Coach, coach morgan, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, painting, picture prompts, poetry, sherridale morgan | 12 Comments

pepek the assassin

Posted on August 8, 2008 by rick mobbs

I haven’t singled out a poet’s work and talked about it specifically, but Praise, by Joyce Ellen Davis struck me powerfully and I wanted to bring it up and see what feedback came in. I love the painting but it … Continue reading →

Posted in art, callings, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, joyce ellen davis, painting, pepektheassassin, poetry, stories, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

8/7/08 image prompt

Posted on August 6, 2008 by rick mobbs

the summer is flying by. Hope it is a good one for you. Here is a summertime prompt I hope will elicit a story or two… …and they have. Here are some… .thresholds, from lirone (words that sing) . sisters, from … Continue reading →

Posted in art, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, my four sisters, painting, poetry, stories | 25 Comments

7/31/08 image prompt

Posted on July 31, 2008 by rick mobbs

Hello from the road. Tomorrow we’ll start burning it up. Here is a prompt that reflects the chaos of the moment. Actually it was a fun collaboration with my son, Broadus, but when I look at it now it seems … Continue reading →

Posted in art, broadus aurelius, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, myths, painting, picture prompts, poetry, road-burn, stories, storybook collaborative, Uncategorized | 21 Comments

the kids these days

Posted on July 28, 2008 by rick mobbs

Greetings from Wilmington, NC! A hot and muggy, beautiful city by the sea. I’ve added a page for photos for those interested in week to week baby progress. More later. It is good to be off the movie. More sleep, … Continue reading →

Posted in ada corinna, art, broadus aurelius, family, friendshp, kids, painting, poetry | 10 Comments

7/24/08 image prompt

Posted on July 24, 2008 by rick mobbs

It’s the dog days of summer, inviting musings on loyalty, long walks and rolls in the grass, unspoken friendship and the simple satisfactions and creature comforts that make up some of the good things in life. Next week I’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in art, collaboration, collaborative storybook, dog days, dogs, ekphrasis, friendshp, image prompts, loyalty, naomi swinton, painting, picture prompts, poetry, stories | 12 Comments

new work!

Posted on July 22, 2008 by rick mobbs

and still more to post… I is for Bugs . I is for… by Lirone, author of the blog Words that Sing. (Lirone means “song is mine, joy is mine”…) . Tiel Aisha Ansari, author of the blog, knocking from … Continue reading →

Posted in art, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, image prompts, nanda, painting, poetry, stories, storybook collaborative | 3 Comments

something new from the art predator, and more…

Posted on July 21, 2008 by rick mobbs

Lunch-break. The show is winding down and I’m working myself out of a job. That’s the way it works and we are usually ready to be done with the movie at this point, anyway. It never was a calling, just … Continue reading →

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, art, callings, collaboration, collaborative storybook, ekphrasis, film making, film work, image prompts, maria fernanda sosa, nanda, painting, pepektheassassin, picture prompts, poetry, scenic artist, script writing, stories, works in progress, you can't say you can't play | 4 Comments

the (friday) thursday image prompt’

Posted on July 18, 2008 by rick mobbs

We are a little scrambled here, with days and nights, hearts and minds full with work and children – so I am a little late with this one. But with kids in mind, here is a prompt to make up … Continue reading →

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, ada corinna, art, awakening, birth, children, collaborative storybook, completion, ekphrasis, faith, family, image prompts, love, painting, picture prompts, poetry, portraits, stories, Uncategorized, works in progress | 11 Comments

lunchbreak!

Posted on July 14, 2008 by rick mobbs

I miss the circulating I was doing up until the time I took this movie. Not much time for blogging now, with the arrival of little baby wonderful, and work. Spent the day aging and generally messing up a meth … Continue reading →

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, ada corinna, art, ekphrasis, film work, home birth, lullabies, mariacristinapoesia, painting, poetry, scenic artist, works in progress | 15 Comments

7/10/08 image prompt

Posted on July 10, 2008 by rick mobbs

Good morning! Time for work, gotta go. Here’s a picture. Backstory, and more about Ada, later! . praise, by joyce davis (pepek the assassin) . The Condor Soars, by Lirone, on Words that sing . Bystander, by one more believer, … Continue reading →

Posted in 'tis a gift to be simple, ada corinna, art, awakening, birth, callings, children, collaborative storybook, damn cat, ekphrasis, faith, home birth, image prompts, kiss of the wind, myths, new baby..., painting, picture prompts, poetry, prose poem, stories | 18 Comments

7/3/08 image prompt – harbor lights

Posted on July 2, 2008 by rick mobbs

Hello everyone. Those of you who frequent here know we have been expecting a baby to arrive any day for the last 11 or 12 days now. Maybe it will be tonight, maybe tomorrow. Who knows? In the meantime it … Continue reading →

Posted in art, birth, callings, collaborative storybook, completion, ecphrasis, faith, home birth, image prompts, kids, light, painting, poem, poetry, prose poem, stories, storybook collaborative, thursday prompt | 18 Comments

6/26/08 image prompt – soup kitchen witch

Posted on June 26, 2008 by rick mobbs

Hello everyone. Since we never really know what the day will bring (or when we will knock off and go home), I am putting this Thursday image prompt up early and offering both the original and a later (scribble witch) … Continue reading →

Posted in angels, art, collaborative storybook, ecphrasis, ekphrasis, faith, image prompts, light, myths, oil painting, painting, picture prompts, poem, poetry, portraits, prose poem, soup kitchen witch, stories | 20 Comments