Wednesday

Craig found this site called Museum of Bad Art or MOBA. I am generally of the belief that the value of a work of art is in the eye of the beholder but, once I looked at the site....well, it really is the museum of bad art.

Good work today, but slow. Quality, not much quantity. I am rotating three paintings. It's a rainy, cold day; I hit the wall at 3:30 and took a nap. My front end of the last several nights have been spent thinking and chewing on my paintings until I fall asleep and then each time I wake up over the course of the night, my mind is already there like it kept going while I was asleep. Hence, it all caught up with me today.

close up, "Pen's New Day Rising"


I always take comments very seriously. I found that they even help me make a decision about a painting. Not always in a direct way, but often in the side door. My fellow artist Sheila made a comment about "Pen" saying "the red beak is like a scarlet gash stabbing into a velvet sculpture." I just love that visual and in thinking more about her story, I imagined her appearing to be like a crack in the window of time; in the moment of that landscape. Hope to get a final excellent photo of the entire work as soon as I can get my "assistant" to help.

So, Sheila, my friend and comrade in art, many thanks for the inspiration today.

Today's Painting

Beginning to add elements. Shells, seeds, pods, feathers, a few deceased small animals, acorns, etc. Let me know if you think of any other elements I can add. They must all be from the natural world. Nothing human, nothing man made. No cellphones.

Thoughts on the Stag painting

Sometimes I find that ideas come very quickly. Over the last day or so I have received this lovely bunch of ideas that I am eager to get on. But I find this happening can take my attention away from paintings in progress. It is the tyranny of the "next shiny thing" syndrome.

In thinking about the stag, I am gathering elements of nature to begin laying in. Memories. I am chewing on how powerful nature is in triggering memories, in carrying those memories over our lifetimes like containers. Most of us make deep connections in nature and the power of those connections is transcendent. Pieces and occurrences that have always been, before we were. Seeing certain objects take us to a place we know we have been before and we connect with others over history knowing that they have seen these elements of nature, too, and had memories connected to them. I want to create that effect in my mythological world among the animals.

On the Easel

OK, so I thought I was done with the head, but I lied. So, a few details and punches up in the highlights today. Here is a close up. Difficult go at photo'ing on a rainy day, but pretty darn true other that that glare at the top. I am getting my memory elements compiled, too, and hope to be on that tomorrow.


Today, I also researched a handful of new ideas and am really excited about what's next.
How do you get your ideas for paintings?

What to do with Pen.....Is she done?

(these are not rhetorical questions, all.)

On the easel

I have been away from the easel for almost a week now. After a quick trip down to my sister's last wednesday, Craig and I both got some sort of stomach bug over the weekend. I hate that weird out of sorts feeling you get after doing nothing but laying in bed ill for two days being miserable and then trying to get back to daily life. Disconnected is the word. Thanks for everyone's well wishes an medical advice!

But, I did indeed get back to it today. Still waiting for the rest of the story from Pen.

I have one more antler to finish over the next day or so and then the "memories" go in. A little more reworking some of the head, but I feel that part is done, now.

Friday

I am reflecting on the immense blessing it is to live the creative life, to have the opportunity to come alongside someone struggling, to connect and to nurture.

Have a grateful weekend everyone and many, many thanks for all of your encouraging and challenging words.

On the Easel: Pen's New Day Rising

I still have a bit left to do on the let side, and it is difficult to get a good photo inside, but here is "Pen's New Day Rising." Working with very little range in value is challenging, but it creates a of of drama in a painting when one or two areas pop and the majority of the painting is close on the value scale.

She, of course, shows up unexpectedly, replete with mystical meaning. As there are three Sheep of Nectar and the role of the Shepherd of Every Blooming Vine is passed from one generation to another, there is only one black swan, illusive and bestowed with eternal life. When she appears in the mind of creation, it is in dreams, momentary visions and fables. These are the fore tellers of her appearing.

Thinking on about our stag hanging behind me. He will be a bearer of memories. Funny how things come to us. I was on a run yesterday and suddenly there was a change in direction for this painting. More later.

The Weekend...

It was a weird between winter and spring rainy, cold weekend. I went to the feed store, gave Reuben James a bath, did some laundry, had dinner with a good friend, cleaned a bit and zoned out on the bed for a bit just to let my mind go and see if I get any images or words that might turn into potential painting ideas. Nothing. Can't be "on" all the time, I guess.



We saw "The Kite Runner" which was an amazing movie. I don't watch a lot of movies unless they come highly recommended by someone I trust, because most of them are trash. This one is great, so see it if you haven't yet.



I learned this past week that my sister, brother-in-law and nephew are moving up to D.C. this summer. He is on his second deployment to Iraq and got new orders to report here from Virginia Beach in July. I don't believe in accidents, so I am looking eagerly to what sort of great things are going to be born out of living close to these people that we love so dearly. I have never lived near my sister. She is twelve years younger and I left home at fourteen, so this is a big deal to me. We share a love of animals. particularly horses. Sarah is a seasoned rider and instructor and will bring her two horses with her, so we will have a great time riding together. My brother-in-law is just plain awesome, he doesn't need any special skills to prove it ("you know, like nunchuk skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills...") And of course, my nephew is the coolest little boy ever.

So, off to address "Pen" and the stag. I am not happy with some of the work on the antlers and may have to go back over them again this week.

New Painting

"Pen's New Day Rising." Working title, but it is working for me. Any suggestions are most welcome.
Does sound a bit like a dog show name?.......Still, this is the original string of words the painting began with......