Bernie's Ramblings: "It's IN him and it's GOT to come out!"

I love the Blues... not the color as much as... the MUSIC...

Everything from the acoustic toe tapping riffs and raw vocals of Lightnin' Hopkins to the twenty minute electric stratocaster jams by Jimi Hendrix. However, if I had to pick one favorite blues artist it would have to be John Lee Hooker (1917-2001). I did this portrait of him as a tribute.

My artistic release is much like a line from one of John Lee Hooker's songs, "Boogie Chillen"...

"I heard Papa tell Mama "LET that boy boogie-woogie! It's IN him and it's GOT to come out!" And I felt so goood! Went on boogyin' just the same!"

"It's IN him and it's GOT to come out!" ... that's exactly how I feel about creating artwork! God put the desire and passion in me to create my artwork... there's a sense of completeness and fullfillment when I do.

Image:"The Bluesman"... 8"x10" Oil Pastel on Gessoed Panel, 2003. Private Collection

Thanks for listening and looking...
Bernie

"St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland" by Bernie Rosage Jr.

"St Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny, Ireland"... 30x15" Oil on wood by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

Tami and I thoroughly loved the old city of Kilkenny... it's old world charm was enchanting. The architectural treats like this one seemed to lurk down every alley and around every corner. We would have loved to have had more time to explore this medieval city in detail. Check out the links below for virtual tours...

St. Mary's Cathedral

Kilkenny: Ireland's Medieval City

A Kilkenny, Ireland Photographic Tour


NOTE: Bernie is currently working on a series of paintings inspired from a recent trip to Ireland. The series is titled "Enchanting Ireland" and will be on exhibit in August 2009 at the Baysden Gallery in Jacksonville, NC and in September 2009 at the New Bern Artworks Gallery in New Bern, NC. Read about his adventures and see the progress of this series at Enchanting Ireland.

"Ha' penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland.." by Bernie Rosage Jr.

Ha' penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland.. 16x20" Oil on stretched canvas by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

This is the best known of Dublin's bridges. It was built in 1816 and was the first iron bridge in Ireland. It is a single span structure with cast iron railings and decorative lamps and crosses the River Liffey. It was originally named the Liffey Bridge but is now called the Ha'penny because until 1919 to cross it there was a half-penny charge.

Tami and I must have crossed this Dublin landmark a hundred times (for FREE) in our three day stay there. It was so strange to see it finally get dark around 11 o'clock at night... this was painted from a photo I took... proof that we really stayed out LATE that night.

As you cross the Ha'penny bridge you enter the Temple Bar district through the Merchant's Arch which can be seen in this painting. The Merchant's Arch is a formal entry point to the area and dates from the days when ships sailed up the River Liffey to dock here and trade with local merchants.

NOTE: Bernie is currently working on a series of paintings inspired from a recent trip to Ireland. The series is titled "Enchanting Ireland" and will be on exhibit in August 2009 at the Baysden Gallery in Jacksonville, NC and in September 2009 at the New Bern Artworks Gallery in New Bern, NC. Read about his adventures and see the progress of this series at Enchanting Ireland.

Video of HA'PENNY BRIDGE Dublin Ireland set to U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday"