Teeny-Tiny Art Show – A Slideshow

PROVINCETOWN – Very likely, only a teeny-tiny part of this story is true.

“I lie constantly,” said the subject of this story, Douglas Francis Blamy, 50, of Provincetown, who was selling “teeny-tiny art for a teeny-tiny price” on the ground in front of the Provincetown Tourism office on Saturday.

“If I told you the truth, I’ve already heard the story. If I lie, I never know what I’m going to say. It keeps me amused. I just make up shit. I really don’t know what’s reality,” he said.

There are some apparent realities. One is that in the teeny-tiny art world, Blamy is prolific. “I did these paintings all in Yonkers this winter,” he said. “There is nothing to do in Yonkers.” Another apparent reality is that he is an affable salesman, and a big part of his charm is his self-deprecating ribald humor.

“I can’t spell,” he said. “Why do you think I paint? If I was intelligent, I’d write a novel.”

Again, it is unclear how much of this story is true. The part where he claims he is not intelligent… obviously not true. And the part about him being from Canada, also not true.

Oh, that. Well, see, Bob Martin of Seekonk was walking by when Blamy yelled out, “Teeny-tiny art for a teeny-tiny price.”

At that point, Martin, explained, “I wanted to see what he was selling.” After haggling and discussions of Canada, where Martin is from and where Blamy claimed as home for five minutes, Martin bought a palm tree painting, discounted from $20 to $10.”

“He has a great personality,” said Martin, who was thrilled to meet a fellow Canadian.

Blamy, who minutes earlier said he grew up in Chelmsford, said that Chelmsford joined Canada in 1893. Cape Cod Wave checked this on Wikipedia. Again, not true.

He said he is a self-taught artist and his styles range through tiki art, landscapes, pop art, and abstract. “Every painting has a story,” he said. “If you buy a painting, I’ll tell you the story.” His starting price was $20 on this particular day, but he was willing to negotiate because he had a clear goal. “I just want to wake up with beer in the refrigerator,” he said.

Okay sure, it’s teeny-tiny art. “I’m like a comedian. If you see me in a club, you have to pay $20.” So for $20, you get that plus art.

Blamy took a sip from his half-hidden can of Pabst Blue Ribbon, and acknowledged, despite his self-deprecating ways, his obvious talents in a way that only he can. “I do what I want,” he said. “I don’t pay taxes. I don’t get a permit. Yet the police pull over and buy art from me, while I’m drinking a beer.”

— Brian Tarcy