LAST MEAL / FLAME / BEER

TWT fired up the Last Flame so the steaks for the Last Meal could be grilled. This year, TWT enjoyed peppery tri-tip steaks, with Rice-a-Roni and white corn. The Wife had a Dungeness crab salad. The Child had pasta-and-cheese, carrots-and-peas casserole.



Teisnacher 1543 Festmärzen. Advent Beer Calendar day twenty-four.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.4% abv. • *****

Last Meal was accompanied by the final beer from the 2023 Advent Calendar box.

The pour was orange body and thin white head.

Flavors were broth, nuttiness, light orange, and light bitterness.

Medium mouthfeel leads into a brief bitterness. This was an excellent way to end the box and dinner.



After dinner, we played games: Betrayal at House on the Hill and Dutch Blitz. It was also time for the final beer of the year, as well as the final beer for a year!

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Aldersbacher Urhell. Advent Beer Calendar day twenty-three.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.1% abv. • ****

On the pour: yellow body and crisp white head.

Notes are leafy hops, yeast, undetermined spices, light butterscotch, biscuit.

Medium mouthfeel. Medium crisp and clean finish. Leaves and biscuits are on the end.

This is a great hell.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Black Forest Dark Lager. Advent Beer Calendar day twenty-two.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.7% abv. • *****

 
The pour presents a black body and a thin tan head.

Flavors include cocoa, burnt log, dark chocolate, light spices, cinnamon. Hints of vanilla and cream.

A medium and creamy mouthfeel leads into a brief dry finish.

This is most excellent and one of the best in the box. So enjoyable!

THE GREAT WAVE

Today, we visited the Seattle Art Museum to visit the Hokusai exhibit. The highlight for me was getting to see an original print of 神奈川沖浪裏 "Kanagawa-oki Nami Ura," "Under the Wave off Kanagawa," sometimes known as "The Great Wave." Hokusai's use of negative space and a mixture of outlined and "boneless" forms is exquisite. I also imagined it to be a much larger work than it is, so that was a bit of a surprise. Ultimately, though, it was one of my great moments experiencing art. A truly holy moment!

REBEL MOON

Rebel Moon (2023) directed by Zack Snyder. OMG. Spoiler alerts, maybe?

Odin the Robot narrates the tale of the Battleship Yamato as it makes a pit stop at a farm world for food. Space Nazis from BY express their cruelty upon the population.

Space Nazi troops attempt rape. Brooding refugee kills rapists.

Campout in front of fantastic Frank Frazetta planetscapes after riding horses-not-horses to seek rebels.

Cue slomo-slaughter battle scene backstory.

Then Old West saloon with aliens. "These aren't the droids" moment meets Greedo shot first.

Trope stumbles over trope stumbles over exponential filmed references. Accents galore! More slomo!

Insert griffin taming. (No joke.) It's Tarzan/John Carter of Mars meets How To Train Your Dragon.

Next up: Bladerunner mining world to pick up medieval Korean noble, yet a woman in men's garb. Plus lightsabers. Versus Hunger Games spider. Seriously. SERIOUSLY.

Then Frozen backstory.

Every scene we are given a wink. Or is it a fart?

One of the gladiators from Gladiator. Bounty hunters. Betrayal. Jar Jar Binks as quiet king. The Bloodaxe siblings arrive.

NOW we have our Seven Samurai.

Nazi goes full Negan. Sell out. Guns blazing. Denouement.

Standoff! "Shoot out!"

Mutated 2001 Star Child after meeting Dumbledore in the afterlife.

Resurrection?

Ready for part two in April.

Streaming on Netflix.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Hallertauer Hopfen-Cuvée. Advent Beer Calendar day twenty-one.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.3% abv. • ****

Notes forthcoming.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Herrnbräu Bayerisches Festbier. Advent Beer Calendar day twenty.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.5% abv. • ***½

The pour is a clear yellow body and a white head.

The flavors are crisp and clean, cereal grains, light leaves, and light fruitiness.

The mouthfeel is medium with a bit of buzzy bite. Short finish of light fruitiness.

It's good.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Memminger Brauerei Hell. Advent Beer Calendar day nineteen.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 4.9% abv. • ****

Clear, clear, clear light yellow body sits beneath a crisp white billowy head on the pour.

Cereal grains, leaves, sage, other light spices, and a hint of toffee are the noticeable flavors.

The mouthfeel is medium. The finish is short with a bit of lingering leafiness beyond.

This is a bit more subtle than some of the other Hells I've had, but rather enjoyable.

BONSAI SOLSTICE

Tonight was the annual Bonsai Solstice at Pacific Bonsai Museum, an event I anticipate each year. This year's display of trees had three that were adorned in lights. One was dressed in "classic" Christmas bulbs, another was framed with angular blue LED tube lighting that looked like neon tubing, and my favorite looked like it was draped in radioactive yellow pasta noodles.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Alte Liebe Dunkle Weisse. Advent Beer Calendar day eighteen.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.2% abv. • ***½

On the pour, a brick-red-brown body is topped with a thick and bubbly light tan head.

Flavors are bark, broth, berries, earthiness, nuttiness, and light spiciness. 

The mouthfeel is medium. The finish is medium and very vegetal. This is interesting but a bit unbalanced.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 顎

Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of 顎 (ago / jaw), my "Musashi oar" suburito.



I took advantage of some rare late-fall sunshine in the backyard dojo today to celebrate with it.



We ran through some suburi (practice swings), as well as shonen sozoku (literally "true awareness," a series of kamae (stances)).

WALKING

I took up walking during the COVID-19 pandemic of a way to escape my house, my work, and the fact that everything somewhat collapsed onto my art desk. What was once a space for me to visit and lose myself in the creation of art became the focal point of every day. I spent time there on what felt like constant Zoom video calls and conferences, as it was one of the main ways to stay connected to family members, coworkers, friends, and other members of organizations I belonged to. So walking became a way to just get out.

For more than three years, it has been something that I've turned to frequently. It's become somewhat of a habit. On days that I don't workout (and even on some I do), I choose a "vague" destination in one of the quarters of the city where I reside and head off. I never know exactly what path I will take, although I oftentimes have a street or landmark or two that I plan on passing.

These walks are ways to ground myself, to meditate, to pray. These walks are moments of connection to my body, my mind, my spirit, my breath, nature, the other, God.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Schwarze Tinte Collab Stout. Advent Beer Calendar day seventeen.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 6.2% abv. • ***½

Pour = black body + tan head.

The flavors are heavy of broth and earthiness, with hints of dark chocolate, cocoa, and coffee.

The mouthfeel is medium, with a short cocoa finish. This is good, but I remember it being more—more flavor, more mouthfeel, more body and fullness.

THE FAREWELL

The Farewell (2019) directed by Lulu Wang, is a family drama exploring a family trying to have final moments with their dying matriarch without telling her she's dying. Everyone's in on the lie, including her doctor. It's about East versus West; wedding versus funeral; living versus dying; the individual versus community, family, and society. Melancholy dominates much of the celebration, but Nai Nai's (the matriarch) joy of life and family is infectious. Ha! Ha! 

Streaming on Netflix.

LEAVE the WORLD BEHIND

Leave the World Behind (2023) directed by Sam Esmail, is a dystopian black comedy that visits territory similar to that of Melancholia, White Noise, and Don't Look Up. We never have all the answers to what is going on because we inhabit the same chaos and lack of control as the characters. (And there's plenty for everyone.) There is a bit of hope injected into the fray as an innoculation, but whether or not it works for you will depend upon your worldview. Getting to watch Julia Roberts play a misanthrope was worth the price of admission for me. "I fucking hate people." The four principal actors were great, as was Kevin Bacon.

Streaming on Netflix.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Klosterbräu Bamberger Rauchbier. Advent Beer Calendar day sixteen.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.3% abv. • *****

I love me some Rauchbier, and this particular beer does not disappoint!

The pour is a dark brown (almost black) body capped with a thick tan head.

The smell is of smoked sausage. (Yes!)

The flavors are campfire, smoked meat, roasted malts, and a hint of cocoa.

The mouthfeel is medium, with a smoky and dry finish that lingers.

Most excellent. My favorite of the box so far.

DARUMA

This is the fourth "Daruma doll" I've made. It is cut paper, mailing labels, art marker, and adhesive gems on a spray painted beer coaster. 

I ended up claiming this one for myself because I was smitten with him, and have already put him to work, hence the pupil colored in on his left eye.

What is it that he sees for me? Time will tell.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Husaren Trunk. Advent Beer Calendar day fifteen.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.3% abv. • ***½

Golden yellow body and a generous white crown appear on the pour.

Primary notes are graham cracker, bitter leaves, and leather. There are also some light caramel notes.

Medium mouthfeel. Good.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Schnitzlbaumer Lagerbier Hell. Advent Beer Calendar day fourteen.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.0% abv. • ****

The pour provides a clear light yellow body and a white head.

The flavors are lemon, light and airy (yes, it's a flavor), leather, hint of leafiness, light spices.

Medium mouthfeel and a short, fleeting finish.

This is good.

THE FORTRESS

The Fortress (2017) directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk is a film of court intrigue as the king of Joseon (Korea) and his people hunker down in the fortress of Namhansanseong during the 1636 Qing invasion. Battle scenes are few and far between, but when they occur they are brutal. The story moves at a glacial pace (to mirror all of the snow) but is a perfect match for the siege the characters endure. It's as though we are behind the walls with them. This won't be for everyone, but I was intrigued throughout and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Streaming on Netflix.

LIGHT

We attended LIGHT: A PLU Christmas this afternoon. It was two hours of holiday music performed by Pacific Lutheran University's Choir of the West, University Chorale, and University Symphony Orchestra. We got to watch our favorite violinist play, as well as other students we know that participated in the performance.

MAY DECEMBER

May December (2023) directed by Todd Haynes is a slow intense burn of a character study. It's both an allusion to the relationship between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau and a meditation on acting. The acting by Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman is phenomenal, especially in scenes where they share the screen. There's a Single White Female undertone at play. Cinematography is spectacular, with a bright, bleached, desaturated tone throughout. And, as with most films by Haynes, plenty of nods to other films and directors. I will definitely be seeing this again.

At times, the movie is uncomfortable to inhabit as it explores damaged individuals, family dysfunction, the nature of truth (and lies), but all aslant.

See this!

Streaming on Netflix.

ADVENT QUIET MORNING

This morning, I presided over my annual Advent Quiet Morning prayer service. The 2023 version of AQM was one of the most difficult to put together, but I think it was ultimately one of the best presentations. The content was probably the most "conservative" of those I've put together but I think that worked in its favor. It was also the most structured version of AQM, with each of the three sets structured in the same manner: song stanza, scripture passage, devotion/reflection, prayer, poem as part of each.

I used the three verses of the carol "What Child Is This" as the departure point and (loosely) built upon them.

—

The set lists:

Mother

• Verse one of "What Child Is This."
• Psalm 139:13-16.
• "Vulnerability" from Honest Advent by Scott Erickson.
• "Prayer for Women Who Endured Abortions" from A Book of Uncommon Prayer by Brian Doyle.
• "A Penitent Considers Another Coming of Mary" by Gwendolyn Brooks.

Manger

• Verse two of "What Child Is This."
• Luke 13:31-35.
• "Jesus Our Mother" from Unscheduled Grace by Katherine Fleck and Matthew Marohl.
• "God Became a Child" from God Is in the Manger by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
• "The Infant Jesus of Prague" by Paul Claudel.

Myrrh

• Verse three of "What Child Is This."
• Matthew 2:10-12.
• "Christmas Joy" by Emmy Arnold, as found in Watch for the Light.
• "As a Child Enters the World" from To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue.
• "Star of the Nativity" by Joseph Brodsky.

—

There was a joint baby shower for three young couples who are expecting infants in December and/or January that followed a couple of hours later in the church. The theme of Advent Quiet Morning was selected prior to this event being scheduled, but the connection was perfect!

 

 

 

MINDFULNESS in McDONALD'S

Practicing mindfulness in McDonald's. Seriously. Trying to be present in the moment and engage the meal for what it is.

These are probably the worst two (McDonald's) cheeseburgers I've ever had. Is it because I'm focused on them as food? Because my awareness is directed upon them? Or because they were simply bad this time around? (Or all of the above?) They were overcooked and the edges were burnt. Is the equipment they were cooked in to blame? Or the person operating the equipment? Were they cooked more than once?

•

I need to do better than indulging an appetite that is addicted to sugar, salt, and fat.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Wildbräu Grandauer Weißbier. Advent Beer Calendar day thirteen.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.1% abv. • ****

There is a hazy orange body and a finger-thick off-white head. The body is very carbonated with many streams of the tiniest bubbles.

There are a lot of flavors at play: broth, berries, biscuit, pretzel, leathery yeast, light spices.

The mouthfeel is medium with a very bubbly bite, followed by a short sweet finish.

This is quite good!

THAI BUDDHA

The Nephew had an opportunity this past summer to travel around Thailand with friends from college. Before he left, he asked me if there was anything he could bring back for me. A small Buddha statue is what I told him. "Really?" "Really."

So he brought me back a small Buddha statue from Thailand. This Buddha has a stylized topknot/crown, sits in a meditative state, and has his right hand reaching toward the ground symbolic of renouncing the world.

It's a beautiful holy object and a welcomed gift from The Nephew.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Fürst Carl Kellerbier. Advent Beer Calendar day twelve.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.1% abv. • **

Slightly hazy yellow body (barely) capped with an almost non-existent white head. And what was there on the pour is gone so quick!

The flavors are too faint. What I'm picking up are leaves, buttered bread, and light spices.

Medium -light mouthfeel, with essentially no finish.

There is nothing to offend, but that's the problem: nothing.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Flötzringer Hell auf Rosenheim. Advent Beer Calendar day eleven.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.0% abv. • ****½

Yellow body and thick white head on the pour.

Leather and light lemon, Seabreeze and sage. Grains of Cheerios.

Medium mouthfeel. There is a short finish that speaks of leafy bitterness.

Excellent.

TROY'S WORK TABLE

Taking Troy's Work Table 2.1 on it's inaugural run. 

First, I sprayed the underside with KILLZ to keep mold at bay and protect the wood. 

Next, was taking advantage of some long-shadowed sunshine to spray paint base coats on beer coasters. 

Now it's time to make some "Daruma dolls" out of said beer coasters.

SPIDER-MAN

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) is quite the wild ride. It's a coming-of-age animated superhero film that is frenetic most of the time and tops it's predecessor, as far as I'm concerned. It's more than two hours in length but feels just right. Questions about identity and belonging abound; one person's superhero may be another's villain. 

Streaming on Netflix.

THE RITUAL

The Ritual (2017) is a buddy film that quickly degenerates to a "lost in the forest" horror film. I hear/see echoes of The VVitch, the epic poem Beowulf, Midsommar, and European fairy tales and myths. It's plenty weird and I liked it, but I'm not sure this will be everyone's cup of tea.

I keep thinking about the creature that is eventually encountered. It is like nothing I've ever seen before and that allows for some crazy things to take place!

Streaming on Netflix.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Gmoastier Weisser Bock. Advent Beer Calendar day ten.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 7.1% abv. • *****

Hazy gold body. Finger-thick white head.

Flavors noticed include butterscotch, dried sage, dried cilantro, summer savory, Fruity Pebbles, leathery yeast. Is there a hint of white grapes? Maybe. Is there a hint of nutmeg? Also maybe.

Medium mouthfeel. The finish moves from sweet to dry, from butterscotch fading into herbs.

This is WOW!

(I also appreciate "Black Philip" on the can!)

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Turbo Prop Imperial Pils. Advent Beer Calendar day nine.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 6.5% abv. • *****

The body is a hazy golden yellow on the pour, capped with a finger-thick head. 

The nose is fruity and floral, almost a scent of candied orange.

The tongue is orange, leaves, caramel, buttered bread, and a hint of broth.

The mouthfeel is medium-heavy, which is welcome.

This beer is complex and balanced—sweet and dry, bitter and malty.

Awesome!

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Graminger Kirta Dunkles Weissbier. Advent Beer Calendar day eight.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.0% abv. • ***½

The pour is a hazy orange-brown (nut brown) with a thin white head.

The flavors are broth, graham cracker malts, light molasses, raisins, and light spiciness.

Medium mouthfeel. This has a syrupy sweetness on a short finish.

This is definitely the sweetest of the box so far.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Bambule Pilsener. Advent Beer Calendar day seven.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.0% abv. • ****½

The pour is a hazy butter yellow capped with a white head that soon departs.

The tongue is yeast, grains, grass, and leafy bitterness.

Medium mouthfeel that is a bit buzzy on the tongue. A bitter bite leads to a somewhat drying finish.

This is excellent and easily drinkable. More, please!

HOLIDAY ALE

Holiday Ale, a Winter Warmer by New Belgium Brewing.

12 ounce can served in pint glass • 7.5% abv. • ***½

The pour is a ruby red body with an ivory head.

The main flavors are tree bark, cinnamon, other spices, tart cranberry, and dark fruits. 

Medium mouthfeel. It has a sweet start then dries on the finish with bark and spices.

I like it, but other than the cranberry the flavors make it feel too similar to Jubelale. And, if I'm going to have a Jubelale, then I want to have a Jubelale.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Hösl Märzenbier. Advent Beer Calendar day six.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.3% abv. • ****

Marzen was my "gateway" beer out of big brewing and into craft brewing, so it always holds a special place for me as a style.

The pour is clear golden yellow. It's capped with a finger-thick white head.

Flavors include pretzel dough, leather, beef broth, apple, light leafy bitterness, light spices, and a "clean" airiness.

The mouthfeel is medium. Sips open leaning toward sweetness and then end with a medium-length lightly bitter finish.

This is very enjoyable.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Erlkönig Hell. Advent Beer Calendar day five.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.0% abv. • ***

Another Hell!

The flavors are intriguing but overall the taste waffles a bit and feels slightly unbalanced. Hay, lemongrass, leaves, sage, savory, white pepper, leather.

Medium mouthfeel. A drying finish with most of the bitterness being spicy and herbal. 

THE VIOLENCE of CLIMATE CHANGE

I attended "The Violence of Climate Change" by Dr. Kevin O' Brien, professor of religion and environmental ethicist at Pacific Lutheran University. His presentation was hosted by Christ Episcopal Church of Tacoma.

He posed two main questions to us:

1. How should Christians respond to climate change?
2. What kind of problem is climate change.

He tackled the second question first, and admitted that it was so complex that anyone who claimed they completely understood climate change is lying. Instead we defined it as a multifaceted problem:

• It's a justice problem.
• It's a youth movement.
• It's a problem of colonialism.
• It's a religious problem.
• It's a political problem.
• It's an economic problem.

But, more importantly, it's a "wicked problem." That means that climate change (a) has no single definition; (b) adapts and changes across time and space; and (c) has no ultimate solution, although it embraces many responses.

And, climate change is a problem of violence. Creation bears our violence. Creation suffers our violence. Climate change is destroying homes, destroying land, destroying livelihoods, hence, it is violent. Ultimately, climage change is a problem of structural violence.

Some symptoms and problems of structural violence:

• All are complicit, but not equally so.
• Those who perpetrate and benefit from violence are often unaware of it.
• Multiple forms of violence intersect. 

To answer the initial question of "How should Christians respond to climate change?" Professor O'Brien highlighted the mission and ministry of two examples of pushing back against structural violence: Martin Luther King Jr. and Dorothy Day. These two modern-day prophets were shown to be beacons of hope in a difficult issue that can birth a lot of despair. But MLK and Day also didn't puch back against the extremes of the problems but those in the "middle" or mainstream.

"If you are fighting the extreme, you are more likely to feel the despair I'm talking about."

—Kevin O'Brien

In a call to action, we were reminded that because problems intersect, they need to be confronted by coalitions!

WU SONG

Tonight, I learned a new set of relaxation techniques in Shaolin Qigong: Wu Song (Five Loosening Methods). Afterward, I first felt like I'd been "beat up" but within a short amount of time did indeed feel relaxed. I slept like a baby.

The five methods were Shou Song (hands), Xiong Song (chest), Fu Song (belly), Tun Song (buttocks), and Tui Song (legs). When working on a particular area, those muscles felt like they were on fire and the release at the end was wonderful.

I laughed through most of Tun Song, as we were imagining cracking a walnut with our buttocks, and ensuring our insides didn't leak out.

This is a good tool/resource to have in my "box" of martial arts workout routines.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Helle Aufregung. Advent Beer Calendar day four.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.0% abv. • ***½

A giant white head, which mostly sticks around, floats on top of a clear straw yellow body.

On the nose, there are raspberry and floral notes. On the tongue, there is grains, grass, an ephemeral antiseptic spice, and a whisper of flower petals.

Medium mouthfeel. Each drink starts with a crisp bite, then a bit of grassy sweetness, and finally a medium-length bitterness.

This is good. I just wanted it to be a bit more.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Kurpfalzbräu Kellerbier. Advent Beer Calendar day three.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.0% abv. • ****

The pour presents as a clear straw yellow body and a finger-thick white head that quickly dissipates.

Flavors are graham cracker, (indeterminates) spiciness, leaves, light citrus, and pear.

The mouthfeel is medium. Each sip starts a bit sweet and then delivers a short finish.

This is excellent. The most intriguing piece is the flavor of pear lingering beneath everything.

SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES

The two week, ten store quest to locate a copy of the Sunday edition of The New York Times in my area is complete. A paper is finally secured!

Why is this such a difficult task?

I appreciate the physicality of a newspaper. I don't want to read it online.

And home delivery isn't a viable option. The company that distributes for them can only get it delivered to me half the time, at best.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Käuzler Helles Lager. Advent Beer Calendar day two.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.2% abv. • ****

The pour is clear light yellow capped with an inch-thick white head.

A plethora of flavors mix and match. Biscuit, floral petals, grains, light and leafy bitterness, honey, sage, a hint of white pepper.

Medium mouthfeel. An initial lightly bitter bite leads mellows into a medium-length finish of leafy bitterness.

I like this immensely. It's nicely balanced, complex, and very drinkable.

2023 ADVENT BEER CALENDAR

Falter Export Hell. Advent Beer Calendar day one.

500 ml/16.9 oz. • 5.3% abv. • ***½

If we can jump from Halloween to Christmas as a culture, then I can surely start my 2023 Advent Beer Calendar early.

The pour is clear buttery yellow with a thick white head, the latter of which leaves behind a lot of lacing.

Biscuit, lemongrass, grains, bitter leaves, and the faintest antiseptic bite of Seabreeze. 

Crisp intro leads into a longish bitter finish. Good.

BUMPKIN and BATVIS

Bumpkin



Batvis

•

I lost my "pumpkin partner" for this year. I also decided to paint a couple of smaller pie pumpkins rather than carve a larger gourd as in many prior years. Even so, I had a lot of fun with these two.

Both were inspired by cartoons.

Bumpkin was influenced by the artful craziness of John Kricfalusi, the creator of The Ren and Stimpy Show.

Batvis was influenced by the character design of Beavis and Butthead by Mike Judge.

I didn't use any photos or images as reference. Instead, I just let what I remembered about these cartoons and characters and their worlds to manifest in acrylic paint on a couple of pumpkins.

Bumpkin is just a hyped-up country pumpkin, who I could easily imagine running around with the Shaven Yak or Stinky.

Batvis is a mash-up of Beavis (the name), Butthead (the look), and a bat. He has ears, tiny wings, and a forked tail; although you cannot see them in the photo above.

Happy Halloween!

•

UPDATE: We had zero trick-or-treaters, so no one was able to gaze upon the glory of these two in person. Sad.