Never Judge A Man By The Tattoo On His Neck
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I think for this one I am just going to leave the story up to you. This is one of those people that everyone who meets him probably walks away with a slightly different impression. I suppose it should be that way for his portrait as well. With that... Enjoy!
I Guess I Have The Rain To Thank
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It was raining hard when I pulled into the Post Office parking lot. As I quickly pulled the door handle to get out the guy next to me was doing the same thing. Our doors nearly collided. He waved me on, "You go ahead!" he shouted. I quickly got out and ran into the post office to get out of the rain. Inside there was a long line. I was standing there at the end of the line with my packages when I felt this huge presence behind me. It was the guy who let me know out of the car. "Why don't you go ahead of me. You let me out of the car." I stepped aside and gestured for him to move in front of me. "Naaahhhhh. There needs to be more kindness in the world," he said, peering down at me. He was soaking wet. I don't think he ran to get inside like I did. The line was long, so we kept talking. We talked about the economy and politics and we joked a bit and laughed a bit and he was really a genuine and kind person and I couldn't help but think that under different circumstances we would have probably never started talking. I guess I have the rain to thank. Finally, after about 15 mintues, it was my turn. We shook hands and wished each other luck and I went to open counter. As I waited for the woman to figure my postage to Mexico, I turned and saw him a ways down the counter. I turned a little further and looked at the long line behind me. Not one of those people where talking to each other. I guess I have the rain to thank... Enjoy!
I have this stack of papers, magazines, clippings, and other stuff that I collect that I think I might use some day. The stack was getting a bit unruly. So, today I thought I would go through it and see what I could work with and much to my surprise I find this 1x4 that I swore I already painted on. I remember cutting it out on the saw in the garage. I remember bringing it in to start working on it but somehow it ended up at the bottom of my pile. Hmmmm... I don't know... I know I forget stuff, get too much going on, next thing I know I'm off in another direction. I guess the good thing is that I eventually find my way back to it. Like this piece of wood I suppose. With that here is to lost things that are found... Enjoy!
Did I Mention That I Pay My Taxes
(or) A Psychologist's Armchair
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I like to think that I have my stuff together. You know, I pay my taxes, I do my best to be kind to people, I open doors for people if the situation calls for it, I often say hi to someone standing in line next to me, I definitely smile more than I frown. I tend to crack a joke before I complain. Did I mention I pay my taxes? Oh I did, sorry about that. I guess the only reason I mention all these things is because none of that tends to balance out just a general sense of feeling like the person in this painting. I suppose it might be only natural to think that just when you think this crazy planet makes perfect sense something happens to remind you that it doesn't. (Maybe it is the act of trying to make sense of everything that doesn't make sense.) A friend once said I was an "armchair psychologist". I said, "more like a psychologist's armchair". We laughed. Anyway... I suppose that's it... I guess with this painting its little more like a psychologists armchair!...Enjoy! (sidenote: my apologies to any real psychologists who read this. Im sure that the proper diagnosis would probably be: "An armchair's armchair)
Together They Coexist And Inspire
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One wall in my "studio" has large diamonds shapes painted on it. A perfect diamond pattern. Floor to ceiling. Wall to wall. Well, it really is more of an office (with paints and markers and paper and brushes and canvases and magazines and books) than it is a studio. Anyway, the diamonds. I didn't paint the diamonds. She did. She measured it perfectly so that the height and width of all the diamonds fill the wall in a perfect repeating diamond pattern. She is much better at that than I am. (Im envious of her abilities) Every day I sit at my desk right below the perfectly painted diamond wall and I am pretty sure I hear it laughing as it looks down at these paintings getting churned out day after day. Her work is always perfect. (Did I say that I am envious?) and well... you know my work... It is a little more flexible when it comes to staying within the lines. Everyday when I sit down and look up at that wall I am amazed and inspired. With that, Im sure that our relationship is summed up quite easily within this story. Her lines are clean and straight, my lines are sloppy and organic and together they coexist and inspire...Enjoy!
Keemo Cutting Board
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I'm not sure how this came into my possession. An old cutting board. It doesn't look like it was really even used. One thing is for sure though...this thing was calling out to be painted. The shape and the bevel. Perfect. It should go without saying but I just want to be sure that you understand that this would no longer serve well as a cutting board. Unless of course you like acrylic paint in your chopped vegetables! It will however hang nicely on a wall or leaned up against something on an end table. You could put in your garden to scare away the critters from your strawberries. You could use it in a round of frisbee golf (if you are Anthony!) Maybe use it a flyswatter. Or any other creative way you can think to display it. Well, with that, here is to making old things new again and giving things a new meaning with a little color and a little imagination ...Enjoy!
More Important Than Swimming Around In Your Own Head
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It has long been my thought that self doubt is the painters biggest foe. (I don't really have any clue how true that really is because I am basing that only on my own personal experience as a painter) When these bouts happen though, production slows, things end up in the trash, motivation slips. As I write this I think this could probably be applied to more people than just painters. Not too mention, maybe self-doubt is just a segway to depression. I don't know. What does this painting have to do with any of this selfish introspection? You know... probably not a whole lot other than these were the things that I was stewing on while I tried to paint a portrait of my friends son. I feel like I blew his portrait but its the little guy that reminds me there are more important things than just swimming around in your own head...Enjoy!
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Simple And Pink And Black On Wood
(Click Picture)
When it comes down to it, the only reason I paint is because it is the one of the few things that you can do where you can really do whatever you want. No rules. I guess, if you want to nitpick, you can actually do whatever you want with every second of every day if you wish. (However, I have others depending on me, like most of us, so unfortunately, doing whatever you want, doesn't always pay the bills very well.) Anyway, I'm on a tangent... Each time you pick up the pen or brush, there is only 'you' to tell 'you' what to do. For whatever my reasons, I ended up with this simple figure with pink and black on wood. Seemingly plain considering there really are no rules. I guess after thinking about it, maybe the real REAL reason I paint is because, even though you can do what ever you want, be as crazy as you want with no rules, you can, in the end, just be you and do what you do and it can be simple and pink and black on wood... Enjoy!
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Simple And Pink And Black On Wood
(Click Picture)
When it comes down to it, the only reason I paint is because it is the one of the few things that you can do where you can really do whatever you want. No rules. I guess, if you want to nitpick, you can actually do whatever you want with every second of every day if you wish. (However, I have others depending on me, like most of us, so unfortunately, doing whatever you want, doesn't always pay the bills very well.) Anyway, I'm on a tangent... Each time you pick up the pen or brush, there is only 'you' to tell 'you' what to do. For whatever my reasons, I ended up with this simple figure with pink and black on wood. Seemingly plain considering there really are no rules. I guess after thinking about it, maybe the real REAL reason I paint is because, even though you can do what ever you want, be as crazy as you want with no rules, you can, in the end, just be you and do what you do and it can be simple and pink and black on wood... Enjoy!
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Blue
(Click Picture)
I get blue. I think most of us do at some time. Don't we? I used to think that it was important to not ever be blue. I would even get blue about feeling blue. Our culture teaches us that it is not OK to feel blue. Turn on the TV and every commercial shows us ways to stop us from being blue. Over the years, I have realized that feeling blue is OK. Embracing the blue can lead to alot more of NOT feeling blue. (There might be a Zen quote in here yet). I have also learned that this blue is an important part of who I am and none of this artwork would probably exist if it wasn't for the blue. So, with that, here is to being blue and embracing it and letting yourself be blue and knowing it is OK and when it's over all the other colors will come back to you... Enjoy!
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The Devil Is My Friend
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We were talking about music again. This is not the first time music this has been the subject of a painting. Well, at least one of mine. Long story short, after mentioning the old Jazz Butcher song, The Devil Is My Friend, I thought, it's time for another devil. I still remember the words to the song (Well, most of them at least) I also remember that in school, people thought we worshipped satan and songs with lyrics like that didnt help the cause. (that is the subject of another painting) Anyway, here is to sitting around with friends and talking and remembering lyrics to songs that you have forgotten existed.... Enjoy!
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It's 11:35 PM And There Are Still 3 Hours In These Bones
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I'm going to keep this one short. It's 11:35 PM and there are still at least 3 hours in these bones tonight. (I figure there is another painting in here somewhere.) The alarm will blow at 6:45 like it does every morning and I'll be tired as hell on 3-4 hours sleep and I will stumble around for the first hour and I'll pour coffee down my gullet and by 9:00 AM I'll be back in business and ready to start it all over again. Well, here is to that AM alarm and not letting it stop you from being who really are...Enjoy!
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Pardon The Mess. This Past Week Has Caused My Brain To Spill Out.
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Please pardon the mess. The events of the past couple of weeks has caused my brain to spill out. Top off a crazy travel/work schedule with a call from padre reminding me it was 5 and half years ago he decided to switch to a new family. That in itself is not a big deal though. That stopped bugging me a few years back. (The psych degree comes in handy for those kinds of things.) So, here is to tonight. It is quiet and there is some Thelonius coming out of my computer speakers. In my glass is water. I listen a bit and wish I could play like him. Please pardon the mess. This past week has caused my brain to spill out...Enjoy!
4 Sided Free Standing
Wooden Sculpture With 4 Figures.
1.25" x 1.25" x 11"
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This particular piece has actually been sitting in the center of our kitchen table for the last year or so. It was a good spot because no matter which seat you were in you had something to look at. There were times when it got moved to different parts of the house but it always found its way back to the kitchen table. Well, I figure I have held on to it long enough and its time to let it go... If not my table, then where?... Enjoy!
In Front Of The Mirror With Black Eyes. 7.25" x 10"
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We were in the bathroom this morning. I walked around her to get to the sink and a toothbrush. "My eyes have dark circles under them." She said moving her face closer to the mirror. I looked. They were a little dark, you had to look just right to see it. I put the toothpaste on and started brushing. I looked into the mirror, my eyes looked dark too. I wasnt surprised, we were up late last and I was the one who did all the drinking. I looked at both of our reflections, in front of the mirror with dark circles under our eyes and thought everything was just how it should be. She left the room. I finished brushing and spit into the sink and followed her out into the day.... Enjoy!
It's Her Birthday Today. 7.25" x 10"
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It's her birthday today. We all woke up early and had a wonderful breakfast at Marie Catribs this morning. We were going to get some birthday cake to go, for later. However, they didnt have the cake we wanted, so we got cup-cakes instead. (If you are in or near Grand Rapids, MI at any time in your life, I highly recommend visiting them for some fine eats and nice people. Get the turkish coffee!) Alright, I got sidetracked, where was I? Oh yeah... it's her birthday today. She is gone for a little while this afternoon, so I thought I would sneak in a little painting time. I should cut this short as she will be back soon and we have some cup-cakes to eat, candles to blow out and a song to sing.... So, with that and since I know she will be reading this, how about joining me in big, "Happy Birthday!"... Enjoy!
I Have To Keep One Of These For Myself.
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I have had this picture sitting around for a few days. I thought I would keep it. Something about it was saying, "Keep Me. Don't get rid of me." (I think it's the left eye). However, I have this theory that it is not good to keep too much of your own artwork around. The best way to keep moving forward as painter is too not hold on to too much of your own work. But every so often one of these pops out and I want to keep it. So, I hold on to it for a few days and enjoy it. Then I remember that it is better off to be enjoyed by others. One of these days I will have to keep one of these wood ones for myself. So, until then, I guess this yours if you would like it... Enjoy!
Portrait While Listening To The Twin Peaks Soundtrack.
The Log Lady Would Be Proud.
7.25" x 10"
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Its no secret, Im a fan of David Lynch. With that said, we are smack dab in the middle of (re)watching the entire Twin Peaks series. (Thanks to the Twin Peaks DVD set that found its way under our Christmas tree this year.) Coffee anyone? Maybe some pie? Anyway, since this portrait is on wood and Angelo Badalamenti is in the background, it only seems right to pay homage to Twin Peaks, its music and of course, the log lady... Enjoy!
