Saturday, February 28, 2009

Chasing Hillary

( Very rough draft: Chapter One)


President Clinton on Martha's Vineyard 1993

I often am asked "Why Hillary? Why do you admire her so much?"
I always answer with the same line. "She caught my attention long ago because she is an extremely smart, competent, and sincere woman who's politics I agree with". Although this is all true, the whole story is much more complex.

My love of the Clinton's isn't something I just plucked out of the air. It's not something I chose for political reasons. The truth be known, it comes from a feeling that they are "my people", people I can trust who are part of "my community". The "Martha's Vineyard community" that is.
I was born and raised on Martha's Vineyard, and the Clinton's consider this their home away from home. We share some of the same friends. I've always heard wonderful things about them from personal reports, friends of mine who think the world of Bill and Hillary. So early on I decided that that they were people I could put my trust in.

The first time I ever heard of Bill Clinton was in 1986, when my mother photographed Lani Guinier's wedding. Both Bill and Hillary attended. My mother was told to pay special attention to that "Arkansas Governor" because "he was going to be president someday".
My mother obliged and took some really great photos, many of which later appeared some years later in Time magazine.
I remember looking at the photos and thinking "Hmmm... maybe he will be President, who knows. Anyways, he sure is handsome!"
I don't recall hearing much about him again until his run for the Presidency. Although I could care less about politics, I decided to vote for him because he seemed cool.
Fast forward to summer of 1993, and Bill Clinton is President.
Bill and Hillary and daughter Chelsea came to the Vineyard for a vacation. The Island was on fire with excitement. It seems everywhere you went, this is all everyone talked about. The motorcade was a common sight that summer, and every summer for the next eight years.
Each summer I used to help cater small parties for the Vineyard's "elite" set. It was always the same party, the same guest list, only the location would change.
The guest list :Walter Cronkite, Carly Simon, Art Buchwald, Diane Sawyer, Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas, Mike Nicols, Mike Wallace, Beverly Sills, Bill Styron, and a few others.
The location: at any of the above people's homes.
The only variation on the guest list was the guest of honor.
Special guests such as Ladybird Johnson and Lady Diana were a delight, but the most sought after guest of all was, of-course, President Clinton.

To be continued...

Say what?

I'll bet you didn't think they made "Impeach Obama" stickers yet.



Who's car is this always parked beside the Hillcar?

Meet my brother Jon Baer.

You gotta love his "Global warming is junk science" sticker as well.

My brother is twisted... but in a good way.

For a laugh, check out our old band.....Diarrhea Roses

Friday, February 27, 2009

International flags

I added the first batch of International flag stickers onto the Hillcar today.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the idea to put on a new sticker for each country that Hillary goes to as Secretary of State, before ordering this batch.
Next time.

Flowers for Hillary

I'm coming to think of "Hillary" like a fine wine to the discriminating pallet.
Not for everybody, but a sheer delight for those in the know.
Or perhaps she's like an private club, exclusive to the 'Hillary In-Crowd" only.

All I know is that I'm a Hillary painter.
Hillary paintings don't exactly leap off the walls like, say, flower paintings do.
I'm pretty good at painting flowers and whenever I get around to painting them... they sell.
But most of the time I just don't feel passionate about flowers, so I don't get around to painting them.

Spring is coming so maybe I'll paint some flowers to support my Hillary habit.
I'll call them, "Flowers for Hillary".

Hillary, anyone?

I had a great time with the kids, as well as with the adults, at the Youth Advocate retreat tonight.
My Hillary Clinton show received a mild amount of interest from the kids.
I don't know if it was really their thing!

Face painting and making art were definitely their thing, though, and we all had a lot of fun doing that!





Thursday, February 26, 2009

The impossible is possible!

Tonight I will be giving a presentation to 70 or so teenagers about the Hillary Clinton Army. I will discuss why I started it, how I started it, and how I made it successful.
I'm the keynote speaker for the 2009 YOUTH ADVOCATE LEADERSHIP RETREAT!
This is a retreat where teens learn leadership skills and how to be "change agents" in their community. That's pretty cool!

I've got the "HILLCAR INTERNATIONAL" looking good, along with a colorful slideshow presentation of the H.C.A.

I hope I can help inspire these kids to believe in this years theme.... "The impossible is possible!"

I know I believe it!


(Hush! I'm trying to be serious here!)


I was taught in art school that you can do just about anything if you have the passion behind it... and it doesn't even have to cost money! Thanks to a lot of crazy artists who were my mentors and teachers, I've done a lot of things in my life that people said where impossible. I did them anyway, and they worked out just fine!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A good day of painting

I am happiest when I'm painting.



Today was a particularly good day because I painted my favorite subject all day long.





I painted until was getting dark.
Then I laid on the ground and watched the clouds.

Big head

My eyes hurt from the glare of the bright Arizona sun so I'm taking a break from repainting the Hillcar.
I can't wear sunglasses, because they mess with seeing the colors correctly.

Today I am re-painting Hillary's face(s). Four faces to be exact.
I've never really been happy with the Hillary portaits on my car, and today is no exception.
The fight continues.
One thing I know for sure though... Hillary has a big head!

No matter how big I think I'm painting it, it's never big enough.



They say famous people generally have a larger head than normal people.
I've noticed this to be true.
I wonder why this is?

This is the second dumbest question of the day.
I was asked the dumbest one this morning.
"Do you hope she's going to win"?

International flags

Here's my latest ideas with the ( dump da da da!) "HILLCAR INTERNATIONAL!"

With each country that Hillary goes to I will add a flag decal from that country.
These flags naturally lend themselves to the project.
Simplicity, color, form.
Did someone say colorforms?



I will also add actual flags for a more formal look.
If anyone would like their country to be represented, and would like to send me a flag, sticker, or a trinket that has to do with your country to glue on the Hillcar,
my address is:
Gretchen Baer
P.O. Box 605
Bisbee, AZ 85603

O.K., back to painting!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

HILLCAR INTERNATIONAL!

Today a man came up to me as I was painting on the Hillcar and said " You must be very disappointed that Hillary isn't President".
"No, not at all!" I said, "She's Secretary of State, and I think that's fantastic!"
I decided then and there that I have to up the "Secretary of State" thing on my car so I don't have to hear this comment ever again.
So, with that in mind, I started painting flags from other countries on the Hillcar.

I plan to put stickers of flags from all over the world, and flag holders everywhere.

That way, on any occasion, I can put International flags all over the car.
I think that will be indisputably bad-ass!






Frankly, think Hillary got the best job out of the deal. It's clearly the most colorful, and full of International intrigue!
Poor Barrack has to stay in the boring old U.S.A.!

The Hillcar is going INTERNATIONAL!

Why didn't I think of this before?



I''ve started painting International flags, brocade, gold tassels, and anything regal looking onto the Hillcar today.

Check back later to see some photos!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Repainting the Hillcar

Today I began work repainting the Hillcar. I need to make it into an "Art Ambassador for Hillary Clinton" car, instead of a H.R.C. campaign car.
After all, it is my only car and I do have my standards.






My trusty friend Charlene helped me paint.
I love painting with friends, it just makes it that much more fun.


Here's the start of some new additions...











We were very fortunate in that my neighbor, Roman, came down and treated us to some live music.





Keep an eye on this up-and-coming guy,,,,he is truly an amazing musician!


Hillary Clinton Army retrospective

Here's a look at life on the campaign trail.

It looks like a lot of my other videos. I'm just trying to get it right!


Sunday, February 22, 2009

Hillary musings

As I sit here and draw my ump-de-umpth piece of Hillart, I find myself musing... what is it?



What is it about Hillary Clinton that inspires so many people?
A new pole has Hillary as the number 11th most popular person on the planet. "God" is the 10th.

If Joseph Campbell were alive today, I wonder what he would say?
I don't pretend to understand the Hillary phenomenon, I just know in my life... Hillary is always welcome.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Where in the world is Hillary?

For the last week or so since Hillary has set off on her Asian adventure, I wake up every morning and ask myself this question....
"Where in the world is Hillary?"
First I go to some of my new favorite Hillary blogs like
All Things Hillary Clinton and Secretary Clinton,
which I find informative, colorful, and entertaining.
But unless your an insider traveling with Hillary, no one really knows exactly where Hillary is.... like... right...NOW!
This poses a problem for Hillary extremists everywhere. So after much contemplation, I present to you this possible solution.

We turn the Hillcar into a Hill-tracking satellite and launch it into outer space.



We equip it with a GPS device that detects the whereabouts of Hillary's Blackberry at all times.
Assuming Hillary is willing, of-course.

This could prove to be quite expensive, but Hillary is always worth it.
In the meantime I'm considering adding satellite antennas onto the Hillcar.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Shirley Clinton/Hillary Partridge

I've been longing for the day when Hillary would finally go all out and fully embrace her inner Shirley Partridge.

Today, in Beijing, was that day.



Well, bless my ba da da! It's a lovely, red Shirley partridge ruffle!





Here's my version of Hillary in Beijing.



Come on, get happy!

Next, stop China!

Hillary's next stop on her Asian tour will be China. I don't know what time she will arrive, so let's just kick back and listen to "China Girl" by David Bowie.
This one goes out to my friend, Wendy Layton!




On a personal note regarding China, I am one of the people on the pet food poisoning law suit.
My dog Nico was poisoned and died from the melamine the Chinese put into our pet food.


Nico

I know this is one of the issues Hillary will address. I don't think it's purely the fault of the Chinese, we buy the stuff from them because it's so cheap. We have to take responsibility for the fact that America purchases the cheapest products available on the planet.
This has to be stopped. So...GO HILLARY!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Hillary goes to South Korea!

Today Hillary will be in South Korea.
Here's my speed drawing of Korean Hillart for you!



Hi-ya!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A visit from Sir Cheese Puff!

This afternoon we had a surprise visit from SIR CHEESE PUFF!





He has sailed his Cheese Puff ship from far, far away to bring us his latest creations.
He insisted we sample them.



Sir Cheese Puff gave Charlene and I our own private Cheese Puff tasting.

To find out which Cheese Puff we loved the most, please visit
Charlene's Bisbee blog

Everybody loves Cheese Puffs!






What kind of Cheese Puff is your favorite?

Hillary Clinton Batik

Mother Eagle has landed once again...this time in Indonesia!

I admit I don't know a thing about Indonesia except that it's Batik central there.




Here's today's attempt at faux batik ala Hillary Clinton.



Enough already, I've got to get back to repainting the Hillcar!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Let's go dippin'

Looks like I'm dippin' into another round of "Hillary Clinton Army" this week.
I'm tackling the Hillcar today, and all week long.
It's needs to be sanded, scraped, and repainted in full-tilt Hillary.
The Hillcar must look fresh and amazing for the big "Hillshow" next week.



Every time I think I'm going to let this "Hillary thing" go, and "move on", as some tell me to do, something awesome happens.
So, after two years, one month, 15 days, 7 hours and 57 seconds ( but who's counting!)... I continue on.

I thank my family, my boyfriend Shawnee, and all my friends for putting up with me, and continuing to encourage me, to chase all my rainbows... or as my mom calls it ..... "Chasing Hillary"!



So, everybody, I've got a really cool car... let's go dippin' through the streets!




And speaking of dippin', check out Hillary's new blog ... DIPNOTE

Need I say more?



O.K., I will! But just this....

Monday, February 16, 2009

Anime Hillary Clinton

Mother Eagle has landed!

Hillary has landed in Tokyo, the land of the rising sun.



I"ll bet Japan is going to fall in love with Hillary if they haven't already!
That's because Japan is the height of cool.

I don't really know anything about anime, but in dedication to Hillary, I decided I should try my hand at it today.
Here's the result:


( This bad-boy, painted in gauche on 11" by 13" 300 pound archival watercolor paper can be your for only 75.00! E-mail me at
gretchen@gretchenbaer.com if your interested!)

Here's my attempt at becoming a live anime character:


I know, Ah-so!
Happy President's Day, everyone!

Hillary Clinton Army Floorshow

It's time to start planning the "H.C.A. Floorshow", coming Feb. 26th!

I am to be the "keynote speaker" at a retreat for around 150 teens. The theme, "The impossible is possible!"
The fact that I will be the keynote speaker proves the point!



Today I am blowing the dust off the "Hillsuits" from the campaign trail. I wore these pantsuits everyday for months.



Each suit is signed by Hillary.



Does anyone know where I can find 90 feet tall video screens?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

It's my Mother's birthday today! Happy birthday Jackie Baer!



Jackie is an artist, a professional photographer, and just a wonderful open-hearted and open-minded person who loves to have fun.

Whatever form of art she decides to try her hand at, she excels in.
For instance, this summer she decided to try one of my favorite kinds of art, the art of gluing found and collected objects.
She made this table she calls "The Garden of Good and evil".



Here's some close-ups:





You should also see her photography, the jewelry she makes, the teddy bears she sews, her drawings and her paintings!

I consider myself extremely blessed to even know Jackie, never mind the fact that somehow I won the golden ticket and landed on this earth with Jackie and Gene as my parents!

I love you Mom, happy birthday!