Wednesday, January 29, 2014



January 29, 2014 (Happy B'day, Mum)


NEW PIECE!!!




"Ghoti in a Cube o' H20"


_____________________________



A LIST OF ENDEAVORS I'VE RECENTLY ACCOMPLISHED:
 
1) Changed my youngest son's name from Sam to Shamus (he was not amused)
 
2) Renewed my love and admiration for Walt Kelly's work
 
3) Shaved my cheeks
 
4) Remained confused as to the purpose of "LinkedIn"
 
5) Flustered my woman (a daily endeavor)
 
6) Started work on a new book: "Bad Homophones"

                         SAMPLE: The benign armadillo
                                 was feeling quite fine.
                                 Too late to be four,
                                 but glad to be nine.
 
7) Accidentally stumbled upon a great, new (to me) band: Les Tailleurs de Notes (http://inpolysons.free.fr/en/tailleursdenotes.html)
 
8) In so doing (see above) discovered a couple interesting musical acts:  http://inpolysons.free.fr/index.html 

Monday, January 27, 2014




January 27, 2014




Post of the Day




"A Well Hung Man"
-from "Random Commands, A Well Hung Man & Other Claptrap"


_______________________________


"Elsewhere" is a virtual magazine which reviews cultural phenomena, primarily music. It's run by a great fellow, Graham Reid, based in New Zealand. A few years ago (March 28, 2010 to be exact) Graham reviewed The Coosters' CD, and we've carried on a trans-global friendship ever since.

Today he ran a piece on me 'n my art. Check it out, if you feel so inclined, and subscribe to it:

I am trooooly indebted to his 'zine and his good taste!

Friday, January 24, 2014


January 24, 2014 10:20 p.m.




RANDOM COMMANDS

read a crooked book
throw a wretched stone
know the marks of cults
gnaw on strangers' bones

laugh at awkward mantras
sleep on dirty sheets
wriggle like an earthworm
lather then repeat

wrestle with your conscience
chew on tootsie rolls
maintain a 3 point average
burn the dead sea scrolls

fix the country's problems
treat your neighbors rude
schnizzle on the dizzle
eat some bacon nude

mark your turf with pudding
let your parrot fly
make a 3 egg omelette
then eat it off your thigh

read some Lewis Carroll
build a swiss cheese tower
tie your undies in a knot
and take a golden shower

write on snotty tissue
let your dog be lazy
float on towards nirvana
convince your aunt you're crazy

change the course of hist'ry
land on both your feet
read the bible backwards
grab a stranger's teat

recognize your presence
call on Yoko Ono
dip your toes in choc'late
buy some land in Bono

lick your best friend's ice cream
raise the roof beam high
never trim your toenails
forget that you will die.

-From the book "Random Commands, A Well Hung man & Other Claptrap"
by Steven J. Athanas





Pray for the birds





Monday, January 20, 2014





Post of the Day, January 20, 2014



some of us eat each other
we're not proud – it's just what we do
at least we know just what we taste like
which is more than you know about you

our m.o. is plain and it's simple
we do what we need to survive
more often than not we are leary
of just how long we'll be alive

we lack any ethics or morals
we live without guilt or regrets
we harbor no sense of a hist'ry
no ancestral line as of yet

the past is the same as the present
time is a word that means nil
here at the end of the ocean
time is just something we kill 

Sunday, January 19, 2014





January 19, 2014

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013, my first book saw the light of day. "Random Commands, A Well-Hung Man & Other Claptrap," was welcomed by a reception at the Typographic Laboratory in the Field House at the University of Toledo. Prof. Timothy Geiger and the students of his bookmaking class did a SUPERB job of putting the project together, and I couldn't be happier.

I will post pages from the book intermittently, and I hope that you enjoy. As I've stated previously, I am hellbent on getting the book and my other work, out into the world at large. All comments, advice, criticisms and cash donations are welcome.

But most importantly: enjoy.

Thanks.



Clothes

My shoes are shoes
and that I say
because of each and ev'ry day
I put them where they seem to goes
to cover my heels, and all 10 toes

My shirt's a shirt
of this I'm blessed
it covers up my hairy chest
no doubt, I'm sure, if it lay bared
all my neighbors would be scared

My pants are pants
they're nothing more
I thank the Lord they have a door
if they didn't, you could bet
sooner or later I'd be wet

My hat's a hat
it doesn't roam
it covers up my shiny dome
it keeps the heat right up there
a job once held by all my hair

Clothes are clothes
that's for sure
someone was cold they found the cure
or was it 'cuz we all were nude
and someone's mother found it rude? 

Thursday, January 16, 2014

January 16, 2014

This is a small compilation of various photos that, more or less, make up my (mostly) current existence. I do this as a means of documentation, so that after the aliens abduct me, you will have something to laugh at and scratch your dome.

I promise I won't do this self-indulgent pap too often.



.

The O'Thanas Ranch Quadpeds

These are the protectors of the fort, the guard dogs. The large black one is Ghoti (pronounced "fish" . . . Google it) and the white one is Bijoux. They rule the roost.






"5 Things We Could Use Less of in Our Country"
(multi media)

Once upon a time, there was an agency that I chose to represent me - they shall remain nameless. The person who ran this operation saw me as a political artist, primarily based on this piece. [They] prodded me to make more political statements through my art, and as you may know, that's like telling a person they should grow more hair in their ears . . . it's just gotta happen, man.

It is one of my favorite pieces, though, and did make the Toledo Area Artists' Show 2012
.




S & K American Gothic 2013

This here is me 'n my woman (and da dog). She offers me strength, growth and a kiss or two when needed. We are intending to be betrothed in July of 2014, God willin' and the crick don't rise. 



Da Boyz

My sons, the other 2 bipeds who keep my world turning.



And now for something completely different!!!


"The Lunatic Quads from Helsinki Escape the Asylum to Show Off Their Paintings in Lake Oulujarvi"
(watercolor)

(There really is a Lake Oulujarvi, y'know).





"Mr. Rogers Tumbles Barefoot Thru Space"
(drawing/mixed media)

This is but one sample of an art form that I call "BOING!!!!!!!" Art. They are drawings/musings that are mounted on 3 strips of lathe by means of a handmade spring - hence the "boing" aspect of it.

Did I mention that a lot of my work is available to be seen @ https://www.facebook.com/artofstevenjay and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelly-OBrien-wSteve-Athanas/1410053135893477 ?

Did I mention that said work is up for sale???



Me 'n Larry Entertainment, Summer/Fall 2013

The other way I exorcise my creative demons (and make a buck or two). The Homewreckers is a 7 piece, rockin', dancin', laughin', no socially redeemin' enterprise that's been doin' its thang for longer than I care to remember. Whodda thunk I'd still be perpendicular and doin' this, lo these many years? Available for your dancing and dining pleasure. 

(http://www.thehomewreckersmusic.com/)




Rob Fetters "Saint Ain't"

My latest point of pride: my good pal and fellow rabble-rouser R.P. Fetters asked me (OK, I sorta suggested . . . ) to take a swat at designing the cover to his latest BRILLIANT output. Seriously, do yourself a favor and put these toonz into your auditory canal. You won't be disappointed.


OK, 'nuff.  I got schtuff to do. Again, may I ask so humbly to spread this blog far and wide? I ain't gettin' any younger, y'know.

Sayonara for now 








Tuesday, January 14, 2014






First (completed) work of 2014 . . . tip o' the iceberg, baby.



"Constellatious"

The night was constellatious
from what I can recall
I felt no inhibitions
no holding back at all.
it could've been the night breeze
it could've been the wine
it could've been the time and date
that made the stars align.
still the night was constellatious
Orion, Pisces, the Bear
whatever was the reason
I'm glad that I was there.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Here are a few of my works:

"Why I'd Rather Not Live in a Ranch House"
(watercolor)


"Cuppa Lights"

These are made using a rusty wire aperture, with tissue paper applied, using a 50/50 combo H2O and Elmer's. When dried, I can paint on them. A votive candle (in a votive cup!!!!) is placed within. I must confess, they do glow quite nicely - custom orders accepted.


"Angry Heads"
(Sculpey & Shoe Polish)



"Enraged and Sick"

One of many drawings with "pomes" (since I don't consider them worthy of the actual spelling). Prof. Tim Geiger and his bookmaking class just released a collection of these on the UT Aureole Press. Called "Random Commands, A Well Hung Man and Other Claptrap," there are a limited number of copies available. Here's the pome from "Enraged and Sick":

Enraged and sick of the world's decline
he strove to right its wrongs
by eating all performers of
annoying, bad pop songs

Like Journey's songs - they're all so bad
(he knew this to be true)
so he chopped up lots of vegetables
made a hearty Journey stew

And Neil Diamond's songs weren't bad
until “Sweet Caroline”
so the hardest part of eating Neil
was choosing the right wine

Then all those awful '80s bands
he tried to eat them all
but after Poison, Ratt and Crue
he coughed up 12 hair balls

And who would argue? Who could stand
the drech of “Macho Man”?
So the Village People he ground up
and fried them in a pan

Sometimes drinks would help digest
(mostly wines and beers)
but he made a thick, sweet choc'late shake
when he ate Britney Spears

And Lady Ga Ga, Justin Beiber,
the whole damn cast of “Glee”
throw in Simon Cowell, too
a tasty potpourri

By now, I'm sure you've gone quite pale
and think this scene pathetic
but then again, it would improve
our musical aesthetic.

More to come.


A New Thang . . .









This is how I look on the day I start this blog, January 12, 2014.


Just so you know, if you choose to read this thang, you'll hafta put up with my foibles, imperfections and slanted views - but ain't that what a blog does? The purpose of "Wrath O' Ath" is to (hopefully) expose my creative side(s) to new and bigger audiences.

There is no doubt in my mind that 9/10 of what I post will make me cringe somewhere down the road, but so be it.