Timothy J. Pruitt's Blog, page 129

iPainting Christmas Tree Nostalgia

iPainting A Partridge, A Pear Tree, And Five Golden Rings

On the twelfth day of Christmas, well you know lol.

iPainting Christmas Chess

One of my favorite Christmas activities growing up was playing Chess with my Dad and Tyler my brother. I have loved the game since my Dad taught me, whom I’ve rarely ever beaten.

I also loved the many Saturdays with coffee and the game while talking to Justin, or playing now with Brad and Jacob. Chess is even mentioned in A Christmas Carol in a scene with Scrooge and one of the Ghosts of Christmas.

iPainting Merry Christmas Cake Boss

As a fan of food in general, but of Food Network, I’ve watched the Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro for years. I love his story of family and work ethic, but I’ve also loved how he fought back against an injury that could have changed his life.

As I watched him talk about it recently in an episode of Buddy Vs Duff Christmas, I was impressed. He was thankful for the doctors who performed multiple surgeries, but he also thanked God that he was able to do what he once did. You could tell the sincerity behind it.

I love seeing people who realize that we all are blessed by God, even when situations happen that are hard, we know we didn’t come out of them on our own. I’ve been a fan of Buddy’s for a number of years, but his gratitude impressed me even more than his talent. A grateful person knows the blessings they have must never be taken for granted.

iPainting Jack Frost

My wife loves Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph, but she’ll tell you her favorite Christmas character is Jack Frost from the Rankin Bass special. This is my 2021 Jack Frost.

Capra, A Wonderful Life, A New Beginning

Seventy five years ago today in New York City, the film It’s A Wonderful Life was released. Most people at least know something about the film, but not as much about the filmmaker, Frank Capra. They also may not be aware that it was somewhat of a welcome messenger to the actor Jimmy Stewart as well.

Frank Russel Capra, born in Italy, traveled to America as a child. He was reared in Los Angeles from the age of five, and his story has been called the personified American Dream. Capra would go on to win three Oscars for Best Director, along with three other wins in different categories, as well as multiple nominations.

While he is known for many things, most of his fame today is connected with the actor Jimmy Stewart. Frank Capra directed him in both Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and It’s A Wonderful Life, as well as another film, but it’s what Jimmy Stewart said of Capra that I’d like to focus on.

The actor credited Frank Capra for giving the legendary actor something that his character George Bailey could very much appreciate, a new beginning. It’s hard to believe now, but Jimmy Stewart returned from the war a hero, and without any offers for roles. The man who had left an Oscar winner to fight for freedom, considered returning to Pennsylvania and running the family store.

Capra knew that Jimmy Stewart could play George Bailey, and asked his agent to read the story to him. When Jimmy Stewart heard the name Frank Capra, he agreed to play the part without reading the story. Capra’s name was enough for him, and history was made. I find it ironic that this movie gave a new lease on life to an actor I never expected to be lacking in options.

Christmas has it’s way of doing this, giving hope not only to the obvious needs, but the hidden ones. To the prayers that can’t be seen with the naked eye, or is it that we’re so busy we sometimes fail to look. Aren’t you glad that The One Who came to Bethlehem, knows that all of us have needs whether our name is Capra, the Stewart, or Bailey?

The message of It’s A Wonderful Life goes far beyond the magic of Hollywood. It even goes farther back than the story of A Christmas Carol, which it’s loosely based on. It goes back to The One Who didn’t just send an angel to George Bailey, but went to Bethlehem Himself, for all of us.

An Actors Christmas

He was alone for Christmas, he had to realize that. It was a first, it had almost happened before, but at the last moment something changed, and he found himself home for Christmas. This year was going to be different, it was Christmas Eve, and home was a few states away. Emil Clement was in New York City without any way to get out.

His friend was supposed to fly him home via private plane, until sickness grounded him. There was no time to get a flight out, now this husband, father, and grandfather of three was stuck in New York. In some ways it was his own fault, accepting to do a Christmas play on Broadway during December, you ran the risk.

Sarah had encouraged him to do it. “Honey, you’ve always wanted a Tony and been nominated twice, maybe this will be the one.” So he listened to his wife’s advice and had taken the play Nicholas Artic Craftsman happily. It was not her fault, she was just echoing what he had hoped she’d say.

Now, he had a choice as to what to do. Stay in his hotel room and sulk, or take his role to the street. Emil knew there were plenty of Santa’s on the corner, so he looked for a more ingenious way to play the aforementioned Kringle. He quickly discarded several ideas until he hit on one that made him smile.

There was a little Church across the street from the Frawley Theatre, perhaps, just perhaps. It was neither a Sunday nor a Wednesday, Christmas Eve fell on Thursday this year, so it was a long shot. When he walked over though, there was a car in the parking lot. A man was just getting ready to leave.

“Can I help you sir? I’m Pastor Rodriguez, I was just picking up some things before heading home to the family.” Emil quickly explained what he wanted to do, and if the Pastor could suggest someone. He said that he could, but was Emil sure that he would not rather be his guest for Christmas dinner.

“That’s very kind of you Pastor, but this year God has blessed me to be outside of my normal element on the celebration of His birth. I would very much like to do something on behalf of His service, and something outside of my element as well.”

The Pastor suggested a small diner about two blocks away called Haggerty’s. “On Christmas Eve Hannah Haggerty and her kids feed anyone that comes in whether they have money or not. Most don’t, it’s a great blessing, but she could probably use a little blessing herself. If you could do something for them, and tell them I sent you. That way she’ll know it’s not a scam.”

Emil smiled and thanked him, then headed off to make plans. An hour later he showed up at the diner in full regalia, with his “elves” in tow. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Haggerty is it? May I speak with you a moment? I assure you I’m not senile, though I may look it. Pastor Rodriguez sent me, I come bearing gifts.”

The actor said all this before Mrs. Haggerty got a chance to comment because her face had said a lot. Mainly her expression went from “what does this conman want”, to “this dude is crazy”, to “oh Pastor Rodriguez sent him, he must be harmless.” Instead, she quietly nodded, then smiled.

“Thank you so much. Yes please, I’m not sure what you had in mind, but if Pastor says it must be okay. I’m Hannah, this is my son Randy, his wife Eloise, my daughter Lisa, and her husband John. Can we do anything for you?”

Emil quickly thanked her, and asked for only three things. A small table, a good corner, and a glass of water. In a short time, he and his “elves”, a few actors he knew that had no families themselves who he paid handsomely, set up. When ready, Emil addressed the crowd with the little portable sound system.

“Fellow Christmas travelers, like you I find myself away from hearth and home on this Christmas Eve. Rather than reflect dismally on my circumstances, I choose to be thankful, and to hopefully share a little Christmas spirit with each of you if you’d allow me to.”

Emil began by reciting different Christmas pieces he knew, starting with The Night Before Christmas. In between, he would hand out small gifts that his “elves” had bought and quickly tucked in gift bags. The baritone had a beautiful voice, and would intermix it all with a Christmas carol or two. Having played him in a biopic years earlier, Emil did a pretty good Crosby, and included a little of it in his White Christmas.

Every forty five minutes or so, he would take a fifteen minute break and mingle with the crowd. Some recognized him, most didn’t. His star was waning somewhat, having appeared in a few hit movies, a sitcom or two, and earlier than all of that a hit science fiction show a couple of decades earlier. Emil had not been in anything big in the last five years so his ego wasn’t expecting a boost.

The ones that did recognize him though were not so much awe struck as they had a sense of closeness. Some had grown up watching his performances, and they viewed him a bit like an old family friend, or at least familiar acquaintance. They thanked him for what he was doing, gave their condolences for what he was missing, and requested a specific piece for him to perform.

All of this was pretty much the same until he met someone he had not expected to meet, the woman he knew as Ann Glover, his cousin. “Annie girl, Annie is that you? What, how, it’s been thirty years.” He looked at her for a minute, almost sure his eyes were wrong.

She had a look on her face as if to say, “Do I run away, or do I stay?” In the end she chose to stay, “Hello Emil, it’s good to see you. I think it’s been more like forty years, but you were always kind.”

Annie didn’t look very different, except her hair was white. Same youthful appearance, simple but elegantly dressed, and a happy smile on her face. This was not a lady who lived in tragedy, but someone that knew true happiness. That was the part Emil couldn’t understand.

“I’m happy Emil, I truly am. I wrote to you but I’m sure that your agent never sent you the letter.” He assured her he had not gotten it, but wished he had. This time she read his face, and began to explain what all had happened.

“Most parents don’t want you to marry an actor. Mom and Dad were lifelong actors, and they could have handled me marrying anyone except who I did. When they gave me a choice, I chose love, and Robert and I were happy for fifty two years. He’s gone now, but his son followed in his footsteps, he’s a Pastor now.”

Emil laughed, “His name isn’t Rodriguez by any chance is it, I never knew Bob’s last name. I liked him Annie. I never agreed with what Aunt Sally and Uncle Darren did, refusing to approve of a man because of his Faith.”

Annie smiled. “Yes, I’m Annie Rodriguez, do you know Robert Jr? Is that why you’re here? I don’t blame Mom and Dad, they were adamant against religion of any kind. They told me if I chose Robert and his God, I was walking away from my family.”

“Had it just been Robert, I think I would have stayed, but they missed something. I didn’t just fall in love with Robert, I fell in love with his God too. I reached out to them, and they mellowed in their later years some, but I’m sorry we all lost touch.”

Emil hugged his cousin. “I met your son today, though I didn’t know it was my nephew. Annie, there’s so much to tell you. You know early on I had my issues, Sarah introduced me to Faith at my lowest point, and it changed me.”

“I’ve not been the same man since, that’s part of why I’m here. I felt this was a God moment to do something for someone else. I had no idea He was planning on something for me in the whole process, but that’s His way.”

They both smiled, knowing first hand that God far exceeds your expectations. The cousins made plans for Emil to join them the next day, after he was done with his mission. For tonight, he continued his performances, ending with a beautiful rendition of Luke 2 from memory.

“ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. My friends, I’m one of those who needed a Savior, and I was in no shape to reach out to Him. When He found me, I had a cocaine addiction on top of an alcohol problem. I had just ruined a million dollar chance, and had no hope of getting it back.”

“Desperation made me listen to my wife’s request to go with her to Church. I had almost lost her, so I was willing, scared to death, and not very hopeful. There was something in the way the Minister spoke to me that night, and I’ll never forget what he said. He said, He was wrapped in pieces of cloth, so He could bind up the pieces of your life. There’s hope, if you’re not too proud to ask for help.”

“I was a lot of things, and definitely arrogant, but at that moment I was more desperate than anything else. I found hope, and it has sustained me through the ups and downs of life. On this Christmas Eve, I’m not a Pastor, but I would like to offer you one thing more, a prayer. Unlike the other pieces, this is not rehearsed.”

“Lord I’m out of place tonight by my own account, but not by Yours. You knew I’d be in a strange place on Christmas Eve, but You also knew someone else may be too. Tonight I ask that they will find the same peace You gave an out of work actor who was slowly dying from his own desires and addictions in Jesus Name Amen.”

When he opened his eyes, tears filled them, and he was not alone. That night, though they didn’t all vocalize it, more souls met The Savior, and an actor far from home understood why he was in the city. His “elves” experienced more than an acting job that night, as they asked him about his conversion on the taxi ride home.

Emil’s sleep was peaceful that night, but his mission was not over. Haggerty’s wasn’t open on Christmas Day, it was one of the two days a year Hannah took off, or rather didn’t open the restaurant. She was up early cooking for her family when the messenger dropped off a special gift for each one, and a card.

“Mrs Haggerty, thank you for giving me one of the best Christmas’ I ever experienced. I missed my family deeply, but God Who always answered prayers, gave me the gift of family in an unexpected land. May you have a blessed and wonderful Christmas just as special as the one you gave me.”

Emil spent the morning volunteering at a local shelter, playing Santa for the kids and adults alike, passing out more gifts with his “elves”. Finally when he was done he gave Tom Cunningham and Susan Evans a check, and a gift a piece.

They thanked him, but wanted one thing more. “Mr. Clement, what you said last night was all that on the up and up, or were you playing to the crowd? Were you saying what you thought they needed, or was it as bad as you let on?”

His voice got very serious, not in a rebuke, but in a soft firm way. “My wife had divorce papers in her hand. Sarah said you either go with me tonight, or you don’t go anywhere with me ever again. I didn’t go to the altar because of her, and she didn’t tear up the papers right away.”

“That took a year. When she saw that I was really changed, we burned those papers on our next anniversary. We’ve shared many anniversaries since, and we thank God every moment that those papers were God’s letter of introduction to me.”

The two didn’t say much, but while Emil could tell their time with him was over, their time with Him wasn’t. He smiled and thought to himself. “Lord, You helped a ham like myself get passed me to see You, please help them to do the same.”

That afternoon, Emil found himself with family on Christmas. His cousin, her family, and a video call on Annie’s big screen that introduced Sarah, the kids, and all the grandkids to their cousins. Before the call ended, the youngest grandchild upstaged her Grandpa one more time.”

Adley, the youngest said “Grandpa, next time you play Santa, get a gps for the sleigh so you’ll get home in time.” They all laughed, and he agreed. Adley was too young to understand, but sometimes you have to miss home on Christmas.

Sometimes you have to play the role you are cast in, so that others can see The Star. After all, The Writer chose the role of a baby to introduce Himself to a world of sinners. You never know what will happen on an Actor’s Christmas.

Sketch Santa Rides

Art Unboxed Line Drawing

For this week’s Art Unboxed, our fresh look at familiar tools and concepts, I’d like to consider the classic line drawing. Whether you are planning a painting, a digital piece, or an old fashioned coloring book, it usually starts with a line drawing.

How can you use this in a different way? I would suggest using it almost as a window. First, pick a subject, and draw it, but from a different angle than normal. If your first thought would be to draw a busy scene, draw only one or two elements.

If you typically focus on a minimalist drawing, go the other direction, and add more detail. Notice I said detail, not shading. I would suggest keeping it as a line drawing, resisting the urge to do anything otherwise.

Next, place it in front of you, and without doing anything but looking, allow your mind to imagine everything from an oil to a sculpture of the idea. Even if it’s a medium you do not use, imagine it. This exercise will help you to see an idea with fresh eyes.

Whether you put it in a drawer, or snap a picture, keep a copy of the line drawing. Build a library of idea pieces, this way the next time your brain is finding it hard to come up with an idea, you have an idea bank. If you do nothing else but practice the same picture you did a year ago, it will show your improvement.

Line drawing can do so much more for you, as many artists find success with a series of images on the same subject. It serves the same purpose as sharpening a knife in the kitchen. This will improve your drawing skills, as well as helping to maintain them.

It may not have the pizazz of a watercolor, but it will improve any artistic piece you attempt. You won’t be focused on the instrument, the color, or the medium, you’ll be focused on your subject. If you’ll pardon the pun, seeing your subject better, will line up all kinds of possibilities you may not have taken the time to consider lately.

iPainting Red Christmas