1994 CALIFORNIA LICENSE

Plate, vintage, $8.

Hey, did you know that back in 1994 the renowned painter Wayne Thiebaud was tapped to create a design for a special California license plate, with the proceeds of the sale of the plate going to fund arts education programs throughout the state? You know what else came out in 1994? A funky little jam called “Fantastic Voyage.” No, not that “Fantastic Voyage;” this “Fantastic Voyage,” the video for which involves a magical party car and ends with a shot of a license plate, the only piece of the car to remain when the party was over. 

What do these tenuous, mildly intriguing connections add up to? Hell if I know, but since there aren’t nearly enough Wayne Thiebaud/Coolio mashups in the world, I feel like I’m contributing in some way.

Mannequin

Well, hell. The plan, such as I had one, was that the text of the Penny Saver entry that I drew would be the title of the work. Unfortunately, I can't find the entry for this one among my admittedly unorganized stack of Penny Saver mailers (you know, there were supposed to be three stacks: the unread Penny savers, the ones that were marked for future drawings, and the finished--you know what? This is way too boring. Let's move on.). And, man, this ad was a peach. Some amazing weirdo was selling an all-chrome, full-figured, blue-eyed mannequin. An evocative description, at the very least. I wish I could remember the price. I'm not giving up on finding that entry, mind you; if it turns up in the stack(s) it'll find its way here as well.

OK, so let's go through all the rest of the business that needs to be addressed. I am aware (and have been for some time) that they are no longer mailing out physical copies of the Penny Saver. But I've held on to quite a few of them, and so the project can and will continue. For now. It will end one day--I am working with a limited resource--but I honestly don't know how long it'll take before that stack is exhausted. Or before I am exhausted.

Next thing: it's been a year plus since I've posted any work, but the work does gets done. And eventually it gets posted. Time moves forward down a million unconnected corridors, and we're not privy to all its paths. Some chrome mannequins languish in obscurity for what feels like a lifetime (or a year and two months) before the world is introduced to their blue-eyed fabulousness.

(3) PAIR READING GLASSES

3.5 Magnification, unused, ladies, with pouches, take all, $12/ all. No calls after 9pm.

SMALL CUCKOO CLOCK

Old fashioned, very nice, $99.


I was held up posting this one for awhile, because I couldn't decide on a color for the wall on which the cuckoo clock is mounted. The devil is in the details, as they say.

SKY LIGHT

$45.

Events unrelated to this blog took my attention away from Or Best Offer for most of the back half of this year. That, coupled with the determination not to let the window between posts stretch beyond six months, spurred me to file this final image for 2014, the year of less-than-intended OBO content production. 

For this entry I felt compelled to marshall the awesome forces of computer technology. Why the style switch, you ask (you did ask, right?)? Well, because (1) I felt that this subject was uniquely suited to 3D rendering, and (2) I do a lot of work in Maya to earn a buck, but I rarely have a chance to play around in the software purely for the fun of it. This image is one of those rare occasions.

I'm glad to have committed to the experiment, but this look will not become the norm for this project. Also, I might try it again if it makes sense. Which I guess means, "be prepared for anything." And hey, that's a fine sentiment to carry with you as you stumble into a new year! Please accept it as Or Best Offer's parting gift to you as we all close the door 2014. Stop by in 2015 (a.k.a., the future!) for more drawings and more ramblings, and possibly some dramblings, if I ever figure out what the hell those are.

Happy holidays!

TELEVISION

Stunning monochrome. Portability. No, it's not the Escher poster that hung in your college dorm, you burnout. It's a snazzy 12" black and white TV in excellent condition! Recreate the feeling of hanging out in your friend's partially finished basement, circa summer of 1983, with this tiny beauty.

MIRROR

I'm not really a big-ass-mirror-with-an-elaborate-gold-frame kind of guy, but i understand that there are those for whom having a big-ass mirror with an elaborate gold frame is important, be it for self esteem or to finish a room or whatever. Who am I to judge? I hope whoever buys this fancy looking glass takes great pleasure in it. Also, I do hope they use it to do this.

PAIR WHISKEY BARREL CHRS

For Super Bowl party! Good wood and metal straps. $100. OBO. 

LADIES PLATFORM SANDALS

one full bag, all name brands, sizes 5-5.5, almost new, $100/ all.

Bull Skull with horns

Movie prop, housewarming present, something to be brandished menacingly by the lead singer in your black metal band—a bull skull is surprisingly versatile item.  Use it as a hummus dish at your next party.  Hang it on your wall for some instant Texas cred.  Or cash it in for $85 and get on with your life.