A Life

so it goes

2011-03-10T04:51:00.000-08:00

Not painting much this year but keeping busy trying to get organized in a better way. Working on cleaning up the studio and getting things in order.

So it goes

2011-02-14T05:56:00.001-08:00

This has been a busy year. Worked on a backdrop for a show. It was for the Airstream Rally in Sarasota, FL. While I was not pleased totally, the coordinator seems to have been pleased. (did I mention I tend to be a perfectionist).

Have recently become aware of QR Codes. So here are some for my work.

Busy week ahead.

Working on a new series with some new approaches to how the paint is applied. Also adding some silkscreen elements to recent works. Building screens and developing recurring elements.

2010-01-26T05:19:00.000-08:00

Wow, what a year

2010-01-22T00:22:00.000-08:00

I have been quite involved with life these past many months. Trying to hold it together and see if I can make a clean recovery. The good news is that the cancer seems to be gone. Still have two more tests to go through, that happens in a few weeks. I must admit, I have been so blessed. While my side affects have been interesting and at time a major annoyance, they are just that side affects. Even with all of this, I am blessed. I am going to live. My healing time has been extended to two years or more. Whatever!

Now, back to real life.

I have been trying to get the studio in order and paint at the same time. I have a show in April and need about 15 paintings ready. So far I have painted five and sold two. Blessed I am. My latest is the largest I have done in a while. It measures 48" X48" on gallery wrapped canvas. Still in its early stages it shows some promise.

Blessings all.

2009-07-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

As anyone with an illness can testify, it has been rough. I am so very blessed by so many folks willing to help me and keep me going. The treatments while individually were certainly bearable, collectively have been physically challenging. I am told it may take up to a year to recover from the side affects. I have one more test in mid August to see if all of this worked and if I am clear.

The best news is that my doctor doesn't want to see me until next February. That tells me he is relatively confident that all is well and my condition has been corrected.

Emotionally this has left me somewhat in awe and at the same time I am devastated.

I must admit that the illness has been nothing compared to the dealings with the hospital. My doctors have been wonderful, supportive, caring, helpful and overall fantastic. The hospital on the other hand was frustrating, demeaning, unwilling to work with me and turned everything into a battle. Their lack of compassion was only exceeded by their arrogance. The battle with the hospital, and don't think for a moment it isn't a battle, was long tedious and I can see where folks just give up. It is frustrating. They worked at being deceitful, condescending, belligerent, arrogant and uncooperative. What they quoted as being a 75,000 bill ended up being a little over 11,000.00 USD and when I paid it they were almost nasty about it. With the hospital it is a money game. While the medical staff works on the patients (and they do an amazing job of it), the administration is working on the money pit game. They are not concerned with medical care or even patient well being. Its all about the money. This hospital is a public hospital, they get government funding to assist with those who don't have the means to pay for hospitalization. So, when they hit you with the high estimates, and you have the audacity to ask for assistance the first thing they do is label you as indigent. Nice, huh!

My medical staff had great bedside manner and showed considerable care and caring about my well being. The administrative staff could use a lot of customer service training or bedside manner training. They are a bunch of cold blooded, nasty mannered, poorly trained and unwilling to even talk with their customers if they can avoid it. They will do whatever it takes to get you over a barrel and then tell you what a terrible person you are and how they are the saviors of the world. Be advised, don't buy into it for a minute. YOU must be your own advocate and fight for your care and financial health.

I would have been better off if I didn't have insurance at all.

2009-02-27T03:42:00.001-08:00

As with anyone who lives long enough, there are certain issues that will arise even if you have taken the very best care possible.

No matter how hard you have worked, no matter how much you have tried to do the right things and no matter how much you have given. Something will get you in time. Part of the human condition.

Recently I have come to an illness, one I never expected, but that is how it works isn't it. I thought I would be okay and would have the financial resources and insurance to cover this part of my life. I have faithfully bought and paid for my health insurance for the last 40 years with very few claims. In other words, I have been blessed with a very healthy life. That all changed over the past 6 months.

I have been told I am blessed that my disease was caught early and while still small. I have had no signs of any deterioration or degeneration of bodily function so far. (trying to count the little blessings). What that doesn't take into consideration is the QUALITY of life. They can extend the QUANTITY of life but really never consider but actually destroy the quality.

My bills will end up in the 60,000 to 80,000 USD but could max out at 100,000.00 for the procedures I need to have done. My insurance company, being the people they are, will cover 15,000, the rest is all mine. It is unfortunate but true. Since I didn't have to have the procedures done in a hospital but in fact in an outpatient facility they won't cover it(I am sure they worked in the background to make this an outpatient procedure in an effort to cut the insurance cost not because it is good for the patient). If I had to be in the hospital they would have covered it all with the exception of the deductible. It is what they refer to as catastrophic care. I think cancer is pretty catastrophic but what that heck do I know.

If you are insured at work, protect that benefit as best you can. If you pay your own insurance and don't understand the coverage, educate yourself NOW! Do not wait. Know the exact amounts of in patient care, out patient care, How much testing will they cover and what do they consider "customary and reasonable". Ask your agent questions on the limits and then don't believe a word he says, and try to figure it out yourself. Then question them if you have more questions and make changes as needed. Understand that insurance coverage is based on the profit line of the insurance company. If you have a bad policy you may have purchased it during a low profit period, maybe, if the profits are up you can now get a better policy at a lower price. I found this out recently and it was to late for me to change carriers. Under no circumstances expect that the insurance company want to assist you, support you or even talk to you. You will spend more hours on the phone with press 3 for claims, press two for the sound of a flushing toilet, This is their way of avoiding having to talk to the poor souls they deem the great unwashed.

At my age, I had hoped to retire in a few more years to enjoy a bit of my life. With the current financial climate and the insurance, or lack thereof, the bills mounting it seems I will be working until I am 90. Now, I am faced with a medical bill that will exceed the mortgage on my now paid for home.

Consider this, if you have no insurance, the state is highly likely to give you extra money for your care (medicade), if you are not a citizen, the government will most likely cover all your health care needs, if you own nothing, the government will cover your health care needs (indigent care).

If you have insurance, know all the nuances of your insurance policy inside and out, consider carefully analyzing your current financial situation, then study the laws on medicade and balance it with what the insurance companies charge and provide. First and foremost remember the insurance company is not there to serve your needs or be your friend. The "like a good neighbor" thing is a lie, they are there to pay out as little as possible in an effort to have a great profit line for the investers. The heck with you, you're possibly a sick person and therefore detrimental to that bottom line. Understand they will pay more money to not pay your bills than they will to pay your bills. (proven government study) If you have insurance, no matter how bad it is, and generally it is bad, the government is not likely to help you. Your best hope, and it may be your only hope are some patient advocacy groups that will fight for your care, pricing and may be able to assist with the excessive medical fees.

Never, ever believe your insurance agent, he is about three steps below a used car salesman or a congressman, well, maybe the congressman is equal. He is going to sell what he has available with little or no concern for what is best for you. He would sell his grandmother if he thought it would help his bottom line. He is working on a commission, he would sell refrigerators to eskimos.

Never us the phrase "How much will this cost?" near your doctor. He/she will get the look that a deer crossing the highway at night gets when they are hit with the headlights of a car. They will then bolt out of the room stating some to the affect of "what do they expect from me". How about truth and honesty.

Meet with the medicade/medicare people and find out if you will qualify if you drop your insurance. You may be better off in the long run. You will most certainly have better health care coverage. Never under estimate the value of public health care. Some states now have funds for those folks without insurance, none for those who have tried to be good citizens and paid those pesky insurance premiums, no assistance for those who fall into the insurance trap. So, in some cases those without insurance have a blessed condition. Some states are now offering state health care insurance, at reasonable prices but you must be without paid health care insurance for six months in many states. If you can survive that or are there right now, check it out. May be your get out of jail card, go past go and collect 200.00.

Write your congressman, if you have nothing else to do, are bored and want to have a good laugh. Your one vote can never begin to compete with the medical lobby, the insurance lobby or even the gun lobby. Yes, you are likely to get a response, if that is what you call it. They will tell you that health care is one of their major concerns and that they are investigating it and considering the possible options. Loosely translated, we are not about to do anything but this line of "we do care and are working for you" should shut you up for a while.

Think about it.

The bottom line is that when you get sick, it is you against them. If you don't have someone working in your favor, you have a rough road ahead of you since they are all well, full of energy and have oversized staff of people to give you the runaround. You on the other hand are just one person, taking on a multi limbed monster designed to confuse, divide and conquer. On top of that you are in no condition to fight, remember you are in the health care system because you are sick, weakened and fighting for your life in some cases.

Anybody got some pocket change? Hey, where is my government bailout?

Whew!

2008-08-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

It has been a hectic few weeks. Lots of travel and lots of shows and what seems to be a non stop parade of people.

Having a great time and seem to be doing well. Last road trip was 12.5 hours from Lewisburg WV to West Springfield MA. About 700 hundred miles.

Have a nasty cold but overall doing well.

2008-08-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Traveling around has been a wonderful experience. Working to bring in a living as well has its merits.

As with all things in life, it has had its ups and its downs. Hopefully the ups are better than the downs overall. Time will certainly tell over time.

This has been my summer with a few health issues. Nothing to serious but things to get my attention.

On the other side of the coin, I have been offered a show this winter at the Katharine Butler Gallery. I have been on a every other year schedule and to be offered a show two years in a row has me quite excited. I do need to order a few supplies.

And life goes on as usual.

2008-07-21T02:14:00.000-07:00

The summer tour is going well.

I was asked to jury a plein air show for a major agricultural event. The artists had 6 hours to do a painting no larger than 16X20 inches in any medium.

The best part is that I got to meet a local artist from the Delaware Tech School and also three local artists of interest.

My little summer project has been this. It is good for yet another week but then it goes away.

Busy times...

2008-07-02T01:07:00.000-07:00

Been overwhelmed the past few weeks with an effort to rebuild my inventory. Sales for me this year have been good and it is much appreciated.

Been busy making videos of the one of the processes I use now and again. Acrylic transfers, which can be fun, can also be illusive to some. In a series of four videos I have tried to make the process simple and easy to understand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeeScv8f6yQ Acrylic Transfer part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxfYS8pFSc Acrylic Transfer part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDUO8Z3aSV4 Acrylic Transfer part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qvYscOlUYs Acrylic Transfer final

And yet another on acrylics + rubbing alcohol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUgNm5VVQMU Acrylics and Alcohol don't mix....or do they! (experimental)

MG 80 Celebration 4

2008-06-10T16:59:00.000-07:00

busy times

2008-06-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Have been in the studio working. I have almost caught up with the sales from earlier. Sold several more works and am feeling rather thrilled with this direction. Now to spread that blessing around a bit.

The above are the two newest works.

on going.

2008-05-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Since my spring show I have been busy creating new works and framing. It has been a real challenge. I still have more work to get done but I have slowed a bit.

Yesterday I decided, after receiving an artists trading card, that I had best create some. So, after 7 cards done with envelopes in one day I think it a good start.

Now, what the heck do I do with them?

2008-04-16T16:59:00.001-07:00

Meditation Garden 61
8X8" on artboard (12X12" framed)
Acrylic, red coral, leaf skeleton, acrylic sheeting, obsidian, glass beads and acrylic casting. For the first time I am using Matisse liquid pencil. It is a delight to work with and a charm for making magic with the images. This is a great deal of fun but I am off on number 62 now and using some of the new Golden experimental gels.

This is another in the meditation garden series.

2008-04-09T01:03:00.000-07:00

After a great show during February and March I am settling back into the routine of the studio. Most recent image is above. I have been adding more and more semiprecious stones to my work and a greater understanding of the symbology of these stones. Simple understandings. The delight of the symbols is in the spiritual nature of their meaning.

With a bit less pressure I am cleaning, rearranging and refining the workspace called my studio. Over the years one acquires many things, things in art that at some point have importance but over time become somehow less important. So, I am weeding through this stuff and trying to gain back precious inches. Always a challenge but always worth the effort.

Meditation Garden #52 8X8" framed

2008-03-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

This is a bit of a departure as I am using a marouflaged linen background for the first time. I am somewhat surprised and delighted to find it actually feels fairly good.

This has a real pearl, a iching coin, Turkish Marbled Paper, a jade stone, glass beads and acrylic on artboard.

post show

2008-03-14T02:10:00.001-07:00

The show at the Katharine Butler Gallery was a delight. Ronn Mattia and Ruth Hook Colby showed some remarkable work and mine seemed to compliment theirs nicely.

Sales were brisk and welcome. After chatting with the gallery director recently, he feels that a total of 18 pieces of my work were sold during the month. There were some sales on Ronns and Ruths part but I didn't want to pry into that. I can only hope we all did well.

18 works sold means my inventory is diminished considerably so I will be spending the next few months building back the stock. YIPPEE! Isn't that what we all wish for anyway.

The above is Meditation Garden #49. 12X12" framed. A bit more experimental than some but I think worth the effort.

2008-03-11T01:53:00.000-07:00

The show at the Katharine Butler Gallery in downtown Sarasota has come to an end. What a wonderful show it has been. I had sixteen works on display and when all was tallied there were 10 sales from the floor and 6 commissioned works.

Needless to say I am honored and thrilled.

2008-03-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

Last night was a special gallery walk and it was very successful. While we were waiting we gathered up and had a quick photo done. This is most of the artists at the gallery. We actually had a chance to chat and talk to each other, something that rarely happens during a regular art walk. What a treat.

2008-02-25T14:06:00.000-08:00

The self portrait is done and it has a very contemporary feel to it. The colors are fun and energetic according to those who have seen it so far. I won't reveal it until the challenge has been revealed. Sorry.

I have about completed Meditation Garden #48. It is a 10X10" canvas and I hope to sign it and photograph it later today. The acrylic is still drying and there are a few milky spots that I want gone before I decide to photograph this piece. In the newer works I seem to be investigating the sense of space on the 2 dimensional plane and seeing how far i can push that affect. Never easy and always challenging. MG43 and MG47 were the beginning of this investigation. Color is an important part of this experimentation.

another opening image

2008-02-19T08:22:00.001-08:00

Lynn is a dear friend of 10 years or so. She has been my yoga teacher but more important a friend. She and her new beau showed up at the gallery opening. I was thrilled and delighted. She is quite dear to my heart.

2008-02-18T18:33:00.000-08:00

I have made a conscious decision to take a bit of time off from work. I have been working hard for several years now and feel depleted and exhausted. At the moment I am working on a self portrait. I am not, nor have I ever been a portrait painter. I have a need to torture myself now and again and do one just to see what can be done from a contemporary painter who does little with the figure in any form. It is a major challenge and I do tend to approach it in my very own manner. Right, wrong or indifferent. In the meantime I am constructing power point presentations for my class at the Rinlging College which requires a great deal of reading and computer time. 10 weeks really isn't enough time it seems. So, thanks for reading and I will be dropping in every few days with an update.

Ruth Hook Colby and I

2008-02-17T12:12:00.000-08:00

Ruth is showing her works with mine. She is an incredible artist of great merit and I have enjoyed showing with her. She also has a wicked sense of humor that is appreciated by all. I would work with Ruth again, any time, any where on any event.

Gallery Walk

2008-02-16T13:15:00.000-08:00

Last night was opening reception/gallery walk at Towles Court. We had maybe 500 to 600 people come through the gallery.

2008-02-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

One wall of the gallery where I have an opening this weekend. I am sharing walls with Ruth Hook Colby. She works in either watercolor or pastel and I in acrylics. I was surprised how well our works meld together in a color sense. Opening is this Friday, February 15th, 6PM to 10PM at the Katharine Butler Gallery in Towles Court, Sarasota, FL. If you can make it, you are most welcome. Drop by and say hello.

show delivery

2008-02-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

Saturday was the delivery date for the show at the gallery. I took in 19 works ranging from 8X8" to 24X24".

I am thrilled to see the other works involved. It will be a good show, colorful and in keeping with what both artists are working at. The colors are going to work together so well that it may be jumping with great joy.

upcoming show

2008-02-03T03:40:00.000-08:00

and a detail shot:

This is most likely the last work before my upcoming show.

24X24" on gallery wrapped canvas. There are texture mediums in this one icluding glass beads, granular plastic, sheet acrylic.

I have a memory of hearing about the seven layers of heaven (universe). This is how it starts. A thought, a memory, an insight.

Upcoming show

2008-01-31T18:39:00.000-08:00

Starting February 12th through March 8th I will be part of a group show. Three artists. One acrylic painter, one watercolor/pastel artist, and a sculptor. Very nice combination I think.

2008-01-31T18:35:00.000-08:00

Upcoming show for the Academy of Botanical Arts at the Unity Church.

runs Feb 1 through Feb 28.

I have been requested to teach a class in art marketing at this facility.

another update for January

2008-01-29T06:09:00.000-08:00

18X18" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas.

Meditation Garden 46.

Class starts at the Ringling College of Art and Design tomorrow night. I am excited and looking forward to it.

Had a book made via Apple for the show and I am delighted with the quality of the images and the feel of the book. Very impressive.

busy times

2008-01-26T13:19:00.000-08:00

Meditation Garden #42. 8X8" framed. Acrylic on artboard (black) with turkish marbled paper, cast scarab and interference colors. (Part of the show at the Katharine Butler Gallery)

After being away nearly 6 months I am playing catch up. Time is so fleeting these days. In February I have two shows. One is at the Katharine Butler Gallery in Towles Court. The show opens on February 13th and closes on March 8, 2008. There is an artists reception on February 15th from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM. This is cooperation with the Gallery Walk which is always busy and festive.

Also during February I have two works being shown at the Unity Church Gallery on Proctor Road. This is in cooperation with the Academy of Botanical Arts Instructors show. I have been engaged to teach a class in art marketing.

The Ringling College of Art and Design has me teaching an art marketing class beginning on January 30th. I am truly blessed.

orchid cards

2007-04-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Cards of the orchid painting are available.

5 cards with envelopes 10.00 USD plus shipping. Limited to North America at this time.

2007-04-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

Orchid

on paper with acrylic and watermedia crayons.
10X14"
can be framed
price to be determined.

Meditation Garden 19

2007-03-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

12X9" on gallery wrapped canvas. 150.00 USD (does not include shipping or handling)

2007-03-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

Meditation Garden 18

8X8" on artboard with paper, coin, acrylic sheeting and acrylic paints.

(12X12" when framed)

Price is 225.00 USD (does not include delivery)

Meditation Garden 15

2007-02-27T18:48:00.000-08:00

12X9" on stretched canvas with acrylic sheeting.

Available for purchase. $256.00 USD (does not include shipping or handling)

Meditation Garden 14

2007-02-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

8X8" acrylic on artboard with coins, bamboo, stained raffia, hand made paper and castings. Available framed in a shadowbox style frame of white washed maple. Available for purchase at 225.00 USD (does not include shipping or handling)

Meditation Garden 13

2007-02-20T19:01:00.000-08:00

8X8" on multimedia Artboard. Real turquoise amulet, raffia, castings with acrylic paint. To be framed in a 12X12" shadowbox frame in white washed maple finish. Price: 225.00 USD (does not include delivery charge)

Meditation Garden 12

2007-02-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

18X18" on gallery wrapped canvas
acrylic with screen, molding paste, granular clear gel and pumice gel

Available for purchase

650.00 USD

2007-02-01T05:34:00.001-08:00

A still life work which is something I am doing rarely these days.

this one is 14X11" on stretched canvas. It is a more impressionist work.

Framed and ready to hang. 240.00 USD.

Available for purchase.

2007-01-28T07:08:00.000-08:00

10X10
acrylic and metal leaf on gallery wrapped canvas.

275.00 USD available for purchase.

2007-01-26T10:49:00.000-08:00

Meditation Garden 11

8X8 on multimedia artboard

acrylic with raffia, metal leaf, and coin.

225.00 USD Available for purchase.

2007-01-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

8X8" on artboard
acrylic paints, acrylic sheeting and acrylic transfer.

Available for purchse, framed in a shadow box frame with plexiglas and black background.

$225.00 USD

2007-01-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

20X16" on gallery wrapped canvas
acrylic with transfers and metal leaf.

Available for purchase.

2007-01-08T18:07:00.000-08:00

Meditation Garden 6

8X8"
acrylic on mulimedia artboard
castings, transfers, and raffia

2007-01-06T17:06:00.001-08:00

Meditation Garden #5

8X8"
acrylic with transfer, coin and raffia on multimedia artboard.

These are starting to take on a life of their own now. They have a metaphysical sense about them that I find appealing. There seems to be references to things like a memory of a distant past being revealed through a haze or mist.

2007-01-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

This is titled "Meditation Garden 4" and is mixed media on multimedia artboard. It includes, acrylic transfer, acrylic paint, oriental coin, irridescent medium, and raffia.

2006-12-29T19:03:00.000-08:00

10X7"
acrlic on paper with self leveling gel, black lava gel, and fiber gel.

These works are so fascinaitng to do. They are a challenge to keep simple and yet interesting.

Available for purchase.
$100.00
unframed.

2006-12-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

10X7" on gessoed paper (archival). Acrylic inks, texture mediums, castings and transfers.

This is part of an ongoing experimental series.

2006-12-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

12X12" with acrylic on MDF panel skinned in canvas. Lace paper and gel medium along with duochrome and metallic colors.

2006-12-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

16X20"

Acrylic on canvas with castings and texture mediums.

PAD #9

2006-12-16T13:42:00.001-08:00

6X8" on paper with castings, transfers, paper and glass beads with an acrylic paint base.

2006-12-16T08:34:00.000-08:00

6X8" on printing paper.

Acrylic, transfer, glass beads and acrylic sheeting.

Another in the one a day series.

2006-11-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

Of course I can't leave it alone if it doesn't feel just right. So after a small addition it feels right.

2006-11-29T12:39:00.000-08:00

Life seems to be getting in the way of painting these days.

This I think done. It is 6X8" approximately, with acrylic sheeting, handmade papers and texture gels and mediums to give it a bit of diversity and interest. These are actually fun to do.

2006-11-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

Finally finished it seems. Think it was just waiting to see where I would be going. Tricky little efforts now and again have to test me to make sure I am paying attention.

2006-11-27T02:19:00.000-08:00

Acrylics on MDF with metal leaf, castings and drizzles.

Size: 18X18"

This is one of those that comes from somewhere that I am unable to pinpoint. It has to do with deep stirrings and memories not fully realized.

2006-11-27T02:15:00.000-08:00

The next in the series. A minor departure with the circular format making a return.

PAD #5

2006-11-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

6X8" on gessoed paper with metal leaf, castings and acrylic paint.

These are getting interesting in how they seem to be changing and turning into something quite different. It sure is interesting and challenging. It is far to easy to just say "hey, I can one tomorrow".

2006-11-24T17:11:00.000-08:00

6X8" on paper with metal leaf, skeletal leaf, handmade paper from Tibet, and acrylic paint.

2006-11-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

Just when I thought it done, it surprised me and said, you ain't finished yet bucko! Well, I never. Oh well, I did.

2006-11-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

This is the third in three days. What an experience this is. In between I have had meetings, other paintings, social obligations and cleaning, more cleaning and more endless cleaning.

Image 2

2006-11-21T09:10:00.000-08:00

6X8" on gessoed rag paper with acrylics, metal leaf, pencil and leaf skeleton. Seems to be taking a new direction at this point in time and it just feels right.

a new start

2006-11-20T12:25:00.000-08:00

Having been gone for far to long, it is about time for me to get back to work and made some art.

As a starting point I have begun with small works on paper. Easy and fun and don't have to be taken far to seriously. Just what I need right now.

Now if I can

this piece is no longer available for purchase.

Meditation #49, the finish

2006-06-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

It took a few days to figure it out, and I might add a great deal of soul searching but I think I made it through.

See what you think....

another update

2006-06-06T04:02:00.000-07:00

This has been an interesting week, my stress levels are increased four fold. This new work has been a challenge and one I may not have met with great finesse. The colors are good but the composition is of question. Just need some time to sit and look at it and see if I want to change it.

an update.

2006-06-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I have entered anything. I have had a very successful show at the art center. I coordinated the show for the Art of Travel which involved two art centers and about 300 entries in my department alone.

I also had my own show to coordinate at a local gallery. I painted 43 works since January specifically for this show. It allowed choices for the show by the gallery stylist. Always a good move.

This show comes down on Saturday.

Teaching went well and all was great at the end. I had 14 students which certainly was a nice sized class. I am wondering if I shouldn't try to teach at other venues. We shall work on that one.

Thanks for the drop by, I appreciate you taking the time to look and to comment if desired.

Meditation 34

2006-04-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy time, teaching has taken quite a bit of time and getting ready for a big show at the art center ate up almost three months. I have a show at a gallery in 5 weeks and I need to be all ready for it to be delivered the first week of May. I am getting there.

This work is 18X18" on canvas with gauze, acrylic paint, acrylic castings and other little goodies added for the fun of it.

update

2006-02-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

I have put the first 18 images from the current series in a neat little file on the net.

You can see it at: http://www.firebirdstudio.com/album/meditations.html

Thanks for taking the time to look.

2006-02-09T18:58:00.000-08:00

Meditation #16
8X8"
acrylic, bronze beads, brass key, cheesecloth and all of the other usual characters. this is becoming an amazing event.

Meditation #14

2006-02-05T03:49:00.000-08:00

8X8"
acrylic pigments and mediums on
artboard
with expanded metal screen
glass beads
oriental coin and other fun stuff.

Meditation#10

2006-01-24T18:09:00.000-08:00

8X8"
acrylic on artboard with a new experimental pigment that is dichroic in a purple/turquoise tone. Bronze bead and bone discs from Africa, antique key (US), various and sundry other items.

2006-01-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

These are in the chute. Meditation #11 (Purple/black) is done but #10 is still in the shop. Trying to figure out where to go next on this one.

Meditation #11 is 8X8"
acrylic on artboard with glass beads, antique key, aluminum expanded metal, brass "face" bead, and metal leaf (synthetic).

a new one.....

2006-01-19T16:27:00.000-08:00

Mediation #9
8X8" acrylic on multimedia artboard with coin and Yupo Paper insert, and assorted mediums.

this will eventually, like all the others, be mounted in a shadowbox affair in a natural maple frame and black backing and plexiglas cover. Looks pretty OK.

Meditation #8

2006-01-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

8X8" Acrylic on multimedia artboard with bronze oriental coins and glass beads.

update

2006-01-18T07:57:00.000-08:00

Trying to catch up a bit here. Thanks for looking.

2006-01-18T02:17:00.000-08:00

8X8" on multimedia artboard.

The oriental coins are still of great fascination to me. There is a rawness to this that is refreshing to me. I am looking at more of the genre. There does appear to be a certain meditative quality when I am working on these. Certainly of some internal value.

pushing

2005-11-25T17:15:00.000-08:00

I have a penchant to push myself a bit. I am not good at certain things but feel they are still quite necessary and do make me think and act differently. Self portraits are part of this effort. My most recent effort here has had its challenges and it is still far from done. I keep plugging away at it. It is a way to charge forward with something that can/might/ ought to be playful and at the same time educational and in the end hopefully enlightening in one form or another.

update

2005-11-23T02:30:00.000-08:00

This has been a slow start painting season. I have found that there is a great deal to be done in the studio before I can seriously consider getting out the brushes and canvas.

The above work is in progress and is using paint skins as a medium. Interesting stuff.