Day 5, and finished

I've put down my brushes; my oil painting of Ted Neeley is done after 5 days (I actually took a few days off as I was not in an artistic mood).

I think I like this one better than my first:

I really struggled about how to do his hair; then it hit me today to shadow it... I think it worked.

Painting, Day 4

A lot more work yet to do on the hair and beard... but it's coming along, albeit slowly:

Painting Day 3

Just a bit of work done yesterday; touching up more on the face, adding some finer details to the mustache, beard and starting on the hair. Lots yet to do, but here it is as of yesterday:

Painting Day 2

Just had a short time to work today; a bit of work on the face, and blocked in the background and hair. I need to let this set before I actually paint the hair with details. I also have yet to do the beard and overall details. But here it is so far:


Lots of work left to do, but I don't want to rush it.

At it again

Don't know why, but when I came across this photo, I knew I just HAD to paint it... so here it is, so far this first night painting:

Not your typical Easter eggs

Although daughter kept the family tradition of doing her eggs in Ukrainian style (hot wax and dyes), I decided to do two eggs of my favorite men. Unfortunately, they look so distorted when photographed; because of the curve of the egg, they look much better in real life. Done in oils, they actually dried quite quickly!

Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar (singing Gethsemane)

Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Mini Album

Instead of just making a thank you card to Ted Neeley, I decided to make him a mini-scrapbook album. Inside I wanted to add photos of him with daughter and I, some images from the show, and samples of how he has inspired me and how much he is admired. The book measures 4 inches square.

Here is the cover, make from heavy book board covered in a white "suede" paper. Inside is 12 pages of white Bazzil cardstock, edged in gold ink. The cover has a gold-stamped image of angels (the Superstar logo) stamped on cardstock, raised on a solid piece of foam and glued in place. The binding has a gold star dangling from it as well. The book is bound with a gold wired ribbon.

Pages one and two include an inked envelope decorated with ribbon, a brad and star. Inside is a personal note backed with gold cardstock. The pages are stamped with fillagree and "blessing" stamps. Gold eyelets are threaded with gold cord as well. The image of Ted is from the current Superstar production.

Pages two and three are thank yous for autographs, both from 1994 and 2007. On the left is a photo of my original soundtrack album he signed tucked into a pocket, and on the opposite page, held on with a hinge are copies of the autographed programs he gave us.

Upon opening the hinge, the autographed program from 1994 is revealed with both Ted and Carl Anderson's autographs.

Photos of my coordinated scrapbook layouts (now hanging on my wall) from 1994 and 2007.

Photos of our meetings with Ted in January of this year.

Artwork and a file folder inked with gold with more artwork and a note tucked inside.

Last pages. The photo of Ted singing "Gethsemane" (my favorite song in the opera) framed with a photo mount which was covered in a metal sheet. A gold cross, ribbon and brad also decorate it. The final page has a personal message to Ted (which I blurred out here for privacy) wrapped with ribbon and the underlying page is stamped with gold fillagree too.

What fun this was... my first mini-book made from scratch. It's now on it's way to him. I hope he likes it!

Not quite finished...

.. but it's getting there.

Still have a few details to finish, but here it is as of today.

I just realised today as well, the paints I am using are nearly as old as the movie the original photo is from. I am still using my set of oils a friend from high school got me in Holland in 1976. Yup, only three years younger than JCS itself. Weird....

Scrapbook pages then and now

Since I had the great opportunity to see Jesus Christ Superstar for the second time (the first was in 1994, then again last month), I decided my scrapbook pages documenting these two events should match. Because they also housed my autographs from the stars, I didn't want to file them away in an album where I couldn't enjoy them. This is something I haven't done before; acutally mounting my scrapbook pages on the wall:


Along with my signed Jesus Christ Superstar album, here are the four pages that I completed. I redid my 1994 pages so they match this year's event:




And here are 2007's pages (last one is just showing the booklet open):





I found five frames at Micheal's specifically designed for record albums for only $8 each.. these worked great to fit both the album and the scrapbook pages!

Oil painting progress

Not quite done yet, but here's a shot of the progress so far:




I now have to wait a few days to let this layer set so I can finish with the fine details (hair, crown of thorns, robe). And yes, that's a glass of red wine at my work table... the trick is to quit EITHER the painting or the wine before you ruin your work! ;)

Can't wait to get this finished...

Fan Art Then and Now

I wasn't lying... when I got up the nerve to tell Mr. Neeley I had been a fan since 1973, I could prove it. Other than my original long-play record (complete with inserts), the only other JCS item I had I made myself. I may not have the original anymore, but I kept a photo of an oil painting I did shortly after seeing Jesus Christ Superstar when I was just 13. When I met Ted Neeley for the first time in 1994, I actually screwed up the courage to show him the photo... he was impressed with the "sculptured" neck I gave him! ;) I have such mixed feelings about this painting; it really looks NOTHING like Mr. Neeley, but I think it was my first attempt at portrait painting... ah well.

1973 oil (when I was 13 I had this hanging in my bedroom!)

I haven't painted a portrait in years; and today I was so in the mood to draw. So I have begun my second Neeley painting - 33 years later... so far I've just done the underpainting on a small 8 X 6 canvas board. Next I'll do the color overlay. Obviously, this JC is much more "scruffy" than the simple style I had in my early teens!

2007 painting begun (right side)

Excited doesn't even come close to describing it...

In September, 1994, a dream of mine came true. Jesus Christ Superstar had come to town and I had tickets to see, in person, the two stars of the movie I adored since I was a teenager. Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson gave hubby and I goosebumps as we sat in that darkened concert hall, mesmerized by all the talent before us. After the show I couldn't believe my luck in being able to meet the two stars and getting their autographs and a couple of hugs. Ted was a real sweetheart and spoke to me for a long time, even missing his ride back to his hotel room (it was after 1 am) to talk about the show with me. I was literally in heaven that night.

Fast forward to today. I couldn't believe my luck to get two FREE tickets to the "Farewell Tour" of Jesus Christ Superstar next week. This time, I am taking daughter, who was only two when they last came to town. Unfortunately, dear Carl passed on a few years ago, but it will be amazing, I know, to see Ted Neeley once more. I fell in love with this man years ago on the big screen, and even though he is over sixty now, and I am nearing 50, I feel like a teenager again.

Thank you D. You don't know how thrilled you have made us.

Scrabook pages from the 1994 show I re-did tonight ... tickets (that hinge up to reveal journalling on the other side) and newspaper clippings on a white and gold page.

Ted and Carl's autographs on my program in 1994. I couldn't believe my luck in finding the stamp below that perfectly matches the JCS logo! I used it to stamp (in gold) the background sheets of gold-bordered paper.

2Peas Monday Challenge

If you became a scrapbooker-for-hire, who would you want to work for and scrap their life story? Why? This can be a distant relative, friend, celebrity, or historical figure...living or not.

Oh, I am SO glad my husband hasn't figured out this whole blogging thing... actually, he hasn't got a clue about the Internet OR computers. Mwuahahah! Now I can safely state the obvious answer to the above question without his knowledge:

Mr. Johnny Depp

Actually, I realize I haven't been all that discreet so he may in fact have an inkling of my secret crush ... I mean, really, other than playing Pirates multiple times over on DVD, trying to watch any Depp movie that may come on television, or nearly killing myself running to the TV when I hear his name mentioned.... well, he MAY in fact not be too surprised at my answer.

I mean the man has so many great stories to tell...(Mr. Depp silly, not my husband) I think it would make for one amazing album.

But that's not what's important. No, no, no.

The important thing is that I would actually get to meet him (again, Mr. Depp, NOT my husband).

Now THAT'S what's important here.

Gad, now I have to hone my skills to Supreme-Master Scrapbooker® and somehow get the word out to France of my availability for hire.

2Peas Saturday Blogger Challenge

Have you ever met any one famous? If not, who would you LOVE to meet?
Well, I have been most fortunate enough to meet a few celebrities; and I have even had the pleasure of WORKING with a few actors as well!

If you haven't guessed by now, I am a huge Star Wars fan. I have also had the great opportunity to speak on my custom toy creations at all three Star Wars Celebrations conventions over the past seven years. While there, I also worked at the autograph booths and because of this, I've met quite a few Star Wars actors, from Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) to Kenny Baker (R2-D2). Warwick Davis (Wicket, Willow and Professor Flick in Harry Potter) and I have met a few times, he has autographed Star Wars and Harry Potter items for me. For a list and more pics of who I have met and my collection of nearly 150 Star Wars autographs, take a look at my VIP page on my Star Wars website, The Tantive IV.


In 2005, I actually worked with Ray Park (Darth Maul) all weekend at his autograph table (I was only scheduled to work a couple of hours early Saturday, and he asked me to come back and stay with him the rest of the weekend.) That was great; I also got to escort him to events and he personalized autographs and the booth’s huge banner for me too.

Beside us was Billy Dee Williams, and I got to meet and help him out a bit too. I also worked closely with and still keep in touch with Barrie Holland, a British actor who has done many parts in Star Wars, Indiana Jones and more.

I’ve been kissed by R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), the late Michael Sheard (Empire Strikes Back, Dr. Who, Hitler in Indiana Jones), the late Peter Diamond (stuntman on Star Wars), and of course Ray Park…so that’s pretty cool too.

2005 was a banner year for me too, as I got to stay with Steve Sansweet from Lucasfilm. He gave me and my co-workers at Rebelscum a tour of Lucasfilm at Skywalker Ranch…something very, very few people get to see close up. I felt like a celebrity myself!

Before Star Wars, I went to see the live production of Jesus Christ Superstar, in 1993. I really wanted to see it, as it starred the two original actors from the movie, which I loved and had seen many times, the first being on the big screen when it came out in the 70’s. Anyway, I had the opportunity to meet Ted Neeley (Jesus) and Carl Anderson (Judas) after the show. They were great; we talked for a long time and I got their autographs too…I will do a separate post about that experience later.

So yes, I have been truly lucky to have met quite a few celebrities!