The Flautist

The Flautist © 1995 Ann James Massey
9.5in x 12in | 24.1cm x 30.5cm
Black Prismacolor wax pencil on paper
Collection of Martha G de Chavez
The Flautist © 1995 Ann James Massey

9.5in x 12in | 24.1cm x 30.5cm
Black Prismacolor wax pencil on paper
Collection of Martha G de Chavez
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Behind the drawing

This drawing is based upon a street musician I saw in Bruges. As I worked on the drawing, once again without planning it, I came to the realization I was drawing a likeness of a relative…in this case, my cousin Lito Bujanda-Moore. Quite fitting as music and art abounded in his family. His mother, Ruth Kurz Moore was a fine pianist and harpsichordist and Lito showed the same promise with a clarinet in his youth. But even more fitting now as, though we are fifteen years apart, we have grown remarkably close as adults. Without him, you also would not be viewing this website as he is my webmaster extraordinaire.

Lito Bujanda-Moore and Ann James Massey beside the fumarole in Aden Crater on a camping trip with Lito's dad and Ann's uncle, Tom Moore. Tom had been a staff cartoonist for Archie comics.
Photo  ©1982 Tom Moore
Lito and Ann beside the fumarole in Aden Crater on a camping trip with Lito’s dad and Ann’s uncle, Tom Moore. Tom had been a staff cartoonist for Archie comics.
Photo ©1982 Tom Moore

In 1999, a close friend of mine in El Paso, Randy Limbird, insisted I should have an artist website, something that was far beyond my inept ability with computers. Computers and I have always had a dicey relationship. For example, while most animals like me immediately upon meeting; most computers take an immediate dislike to me and glitch up. Seriously! Often, when I am near a strange computer, the operator says, “Just a minute…that’s weird…it’s never done that before.”  If I step back or the computer becomes “used” to my presence, the difficulty clears up. It even happens when I am on the phone with a sales representative or technician. “Sorry, the computer just froze, hang on, or can you call back later.” My mutual dislike of computers did not deter Randy’s insistence. He felt a website was essential to my career and thanks to his kindness and expertise, he set up some pages for me on his website El Paso Scene.

Strange llama kissing Ann James Massey. Strange computers just glitch when I come near. 
Photo © Frank James
Strange llama kissing Ann. Strange computers just glitch when I come near.
Photo © Frank James

However, with time, it became apparent that I should have my own separate website, something I was loathe to do. Then, in 2001, when our extended family gathered for my father’s funeral, Lito suggested and offered to set up and take care of a website for me. Thus, www.annjamesmassey.com was born.

Though he had mentioned it for some several years, last year Lito felt it was absolutely time for us to update the look and scope of our site after twenty years.  He also wanted me to be able to interact easily with the site myself despite my technophobia. It had become an exciting and fun project in the works for 8 months with the result you see today.

Lito is not only a brilliant computer engineer, but he is also a gifted graphic artist https://www.instagram.com/eleyeteaoh/    His friendship, generosity and sharing of his talents with me can never be repaid.

Lito Bujanda-Moore, his wife Ruth, and their kids posing for me at the Oisellerie du Pont Neuf (where I have purchased my birds) on the Quai de la Mégisserie  
Photo  ©2013 Ann James Massey
Lito, his wife Ruth, and their kids posing for me at the Oisellerie du Pont Neuf (where I have purchased my birds) on the Quai de la Mégisserie
Photo ©2013 Ann James Massey