Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. - John Lennon

WOW, The days have gone by since my last blog post.

I have been working on "Portrait Series: Transformations".

I have been thinking heavily on transformations. Humans, like nature, transform or have things/events happen too us that cause transformations all our lives. We experience changes from changes in life,relationships, death,natural disasters, the list goes on.

These life size androgenous figures are mixed media on paper and allow the viewer to be a pseudo image, while looking at the piece. An insidious experience.

The series is also personal on the level that we all experience (rudimentary) changes.

Have a wonderful summer!!!
PEACE

Just Sitting Here Being Weird.........

Wow, the end of May; My calandar shows April still. Life has been steady to say the least,this has me a little out of whack, since I have not had much time for my art work. So, the main content of this posting will be on events and other things: Mothers Day,camping, Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival and SoWeBo Art & Music Fest.

In time line fashion. I will begin with the cool visit from my baby boy (almost 21). He came to see me for Momma day and for the week he was here; He helped get my garden together. We planted 3 types of tomatoes, strawberries and squash. I also planted a bunch of herbs and flowers. It was very nice taking him to work with me, being an artist himself, I think he really liked it. The end of the week brought camping at Capitol KOA and both days at the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival. Man what a weekend (Todd really liked Big Bad Voodoo Daddy & Jonny Lang). Ana Popovic and Shemekia Copeland are at the top of my list.

SoWeBo Arts and Music Fest...........has to be the best art & music fest I have attended. With the exception of the 3 curious, yet scared men following me around it was great. One of my favorite artists there was Loring Cornish. He does these mixed media assemblage pieces.

I have some photos posted at www.myspace.com/lotus_beauty
so check them out there are pictures from all the mentioned topics.

Well, June will soon be here Todd will be 21!!!!! and we are going to the Orioles and Mariners game, then who knows what. Work will be slowing down and I have no real big events coming up, so I will be doing more writing(poetry) and my book reviews for Reviewer Magazine www.reviewermagazine.com and some ARTWORK!!! I might travel as well.
I almost forgot you can follow me on twitter now. I am not doing it mobile since I am not that attached to my cell. I am not even sure about twitter, so I'll try it and see what happens.

PEACE

Bird Woman

This has been a very strange couple of weeks. Recently, I lost a friend I have known since kindergarten( see image). She was such a wonderful person and I feel very honored to have had her in my life. She was given the most beautifully tragic funeral service. Patti was a firefighter for many years and had a FULL firefighter service, with hook and ladder arches going into the cemetery.

On the art side I have been working on a “Bird Woman” this is a different art form for me, but it is taken from the bird women oil painting series. I like the challenge of altering a barbie doll and working on a sculptural piece.

I am going camping in mid May for the Chesapeake Bay Blues Fest ( May 16th & 17th) www.bayblues.org I hope to get some awesome photos and some peace in nature.

BMA & The Pirateer Fest

I woke unknowingly to an auspicious day on Saturday. I went out back to have my fix of coffee and to dig the beautiful day; as I sat there, I noticed a white dove sitting alone in the tree this was the start of my day!!!
I then decided to go check out more of this CHARM CITY, so with camera in hand off I went. After going to several parks and taking a few pictures (one of a one legged duck). From there I went to Fells Point; I did not know Pirateer Fest was going on. I walked around there for a bit, took a picture of an old building advertisement, which ironically was done by my bosses Grandfather. Shopping and sightseeing mixed with the perfect weather made me thirsty so I had a great bloodymary; I mention this drink because they put old bay seasoning on the rim and in it, YUMMY! From there I went to check out the exhibit at Baltimore Museum of Arts.
The current show is called A Circus Family: Picasso to Leger. I DO NOT like clowns, but I figured it's art so it's all good and it was. There was only one clown image that creeped me out. This was the 1st time I have been to an exhibit at BMA. There are so many wonderful pieces there. I ended up as I always do, in the Contemporary Art section. I am wandering around looking getting real up close and personal with the artworks; I turn the corner and there is a REAL Anselm Kiefer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I shrieked, squealed and I CRIED!!! I have had such huge admiration of his work WAY before he became as popular as he is now. I am still reeling from seeing an AK piece with my very own eyes. I am impressed that BMA has one of his paintings in their collection. Well I broke museum policy (at least I was not kicked out of this museum) and took a photo of “Poland is Not Lost”.
Another painting that sucked me in was a Van Gogh. I do not recall the title but the content, his painting style/technique and from what I know of his life from research had a very profound affect. I started going into some thought strand on the Van Gogh's in this era. That is just too cerebral and long for this posting.
Saturday evening I went back down to the pirateer Fest and discovered this great micro brew from The Brewers Art the beer is called Resurrection. This beer tastes like Dick Danger beer from Washington and it will be one of the many beers next Saturday at Brewfest!!!, which I am attending as well as Lotta Art. The weather is fore casted to be around 80!!!
Appreciate the happy/lucky things in life.....Till next time.......PEACE

R & R

Baseball season has begun, I say this not because I am a fan, but because I have been working around the clock doing 90% of ALL the graphics you see at Camden Yards. Working from 8 am till midnight is not the glamorous side of graphic art, but all the perks (like walking down the tunnel with the team was a real kicker) are great. I really like my job the company I work for has contracts with the areas( MD. & D.C.) major sports teams and venues. I can't wait till football season starts!!! anyway on to something else.

Another holiday has come and gone.............wheeeww. I went to the beach for some much needed R&R

I had so much fun beach combing(I just love that I was born there). After all the much needed rain it was wonderful to just sit and listen to the waves, the sea grass blowing and to do some writing and some sketching. I loved the solitude and quiet that I needed.

Now back to the day job..................

PLEASE IF YOU LIVE IN THE BALTIMORE AREA DO NOT FORGET TO READ MY PREVIOUS POST!!!

Baltimore/City Council & ARTS ISSUES

Subject: CITY COUNCIL TO BAN "UNLICENSED" LIVE PERFORMANCES!?

YOUR FAVORITE CLUB/LOUNGE/CONCERT HALL/RESTAURANT
MAY BE SHUT DOWN WITH THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN NEW "LIVE PERFORMANCE LICENSES"

YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE HOUSE OR SOCIAL GATHERING MAY NOT BE AROUND TOMORROW. NO MORE LIVE MUSIC!!! THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR EYES ON THE COPY CAT AND CREATIVE ALLIANCE ..

EVERY ARTIST, ENTHUSIAST, SPEAKER AND MUSICIAN MUST SPEAK OUT FOR THE FREEDOM OF LIVE MUSIC IN BALTIMORE - OR ELSE THEY WILL TAKE IT FROM US!

FIND YOUR CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
CONTACT THEM AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Click the following link to find your City Council representative: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://cityservices.baltimorecity.gov%2Fcitycouncil%2F

IF YOU THOUGHT THAT HAVING SOMEONE PLAYING A GUITAR IN A BAR WAS HARMLESS, IT WILL NOW COST A BAR OWNER ABOUT $2,000-$3,000. IF YOU THOUGHT THAT GOING TO A RECITAL AT A CHURCH WAS NICE, IT WILL COST THE CHURCH THE SAME AMOUNT. OH, AND NO MORE STREET PERFORMERS ANYWHERE...

ONLY THE BIGGEST CLUBS AND VENUES WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE LICENSES. IT WILL BECOME ILLEGAL TO PERFORM OR PLAY MUSIC ANYWHERE WITHOUT A LICENSE! HOW ABSURD!

EVERYONE PLEASE ATTEND THE BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL'S NEXT COMMUNITY WORK SESSION TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS BILL

**************************************
TUESDAY MARCH 31ST, 2009
6:30PM to 8:30PM
Morgan State University , Communications Center , Room 101,
5601 Perring Parkway
**************************************
________________________________________
NEW BILL PROPOSED: BALTIMORE CITY "Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services - Promotion and Coordination
________________________________________

City of Baltimore Legislative File ID 08-0163

________________________________________
"Live Entertainment - Licensing and Regulation - Hospitality Services -
Promotion and Coordination FOR the purpose of deleting live
entertainment and dancing as a zoning use category; requiring the
licensing of certain establishments that provide live entertainment or
dancing; establishing the Board of Licenses for Live Entertainment and
providing for its powers and duties; establishing an Office of
Hospitality Services and providing for its powers and duties; defining
certain terms; imposing certain penalties; and generally relating to the
licensing and regulation of live entertainment and to the promotion and
coordination of hospitality services."

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT is defined as:
MUSICAL ACT, CONCERT, OR RECITAL;
THEATRICAL ACT, PLAY, OR REVUE;
CIRCUS, AERIAL, OR ACROBATIC PERFORMANCE;
DANCE PERFORMANCE;
PARTICIPATORY DANCING;
MAGIC ACT;
KARAOKE;
DISC JOCKEY;
POETRY RECITAL OR BOOK READING ;
PERFORMANCE ART;
STAND-UP OR OTHER COMEDY; OR
SIMILAR ACTIVITY.

Details of the Bill include:

"NO RESTAURANT, TAVERN, OR DANCE CLUB MAY PROVIDE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT OR DANCING WITHOUT HAVING FIRST OBTAINED A LICENSE TO DO SO FROM THE BOARD OF LICENSES FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT."

ON RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION, THE BOARD MUST INVESTIGATE THE CHARACTER AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE APPLICANT. A LIVE-ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE MAY NOT BE ISSUED FOR ANY PERSON UNLESS THE APPLICANT IS OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER; AND IS AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD. IN DETERMINING MORAL CHARACTER, THE BOARD MUST CONSIDER: ALL CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS OF THE APPLICANT; AND THE BUSINESS HISTORY OF THE APPLICANT."

"THE BILL ALSO ESTABLISHES AN OFFICE OF HOSPITALITY SERVICES...THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THAT THE ANNUAL OPERATING COST FOR THE OFFICE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $315,600...THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION INCLUDES A PROVISION TO SET LICENSE FEES, INCLUDING ANNUAL RENEWAL FEES, AT SUCH A LEVEL AS TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE OPERATION...IF THERE WERE 200 BUSINESSES THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY APPLY FOR THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE, THE AVERAGE LICENSE AND RENEWAL FEE WOULD NEED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $1584 TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE OPERATION..."

"IF THE BOARD DENIES A LIVE-ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE OR RENEWAL LICENSE, THE APPLICANT MAY NOT REAPPLY FOR AT LEAST 9 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE BOARD’S FINAL DECISION OR, IF THAT DECISION WAS APPEALED, FROM THE DATE OF THE FINAL COURT DECISION."

This Bill will permanently change the artistic landscape of Baltimore , potentially driving local performers away from our city and forcing touring bands/promoters/DJ's/etc. to avoid Baltimore all together. ALL existing restaurants/taverns/dance clubs would need to apply for a license, and ALL would need to re-apply on a yearly basis. A venue's license application can be blocked, and existing licenses can be revoked, by as few as TEN complaints by property owners or residents within a 10-block radius of the venue's location. There is NO grandfather clause in this bill that protects existing venues.

________________________________________
From the Office of Councilman Kraft:

"Because of the need for strong community input on this bill, a number
of public hearings located throughout the city have been scheduled. You
can find more on the bill, including the hearing schedule, here:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2FLiveEntertainment_Licenses.html."

________________________________________

If you wish to speak out against this Bill, please attend any of the
following meetings:

Station North Arts District Community Meetings:

Community Work Session (NE)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Morgan State , Communications Center , Room 101, 5601 Perring Parkway

Community Work Session (NW)
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Baltimore City Community College , Liberty Campus, Auditorium, 2901
Liberty Heights Avenue

Community Work Session (SW)
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Federal Hill Preparatory School , 1040 William Street

Hearing at City Hall and Final Vote of Committees
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Clarence “Du” Burns Chambers, 4th Floor
________________________________________

This is not the time to sit back and watch what will happen. This is the time to educate yourself right NOW on the bill. This pertains to operating in Baltimore City as a resource for arts and entertainment and will also affect individual patronage of the arts and entertainment in this city. There is also a proposed State House Bill seeking to establish a new party promoter license. Read a summary of the bills below.

Documents pulled from http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2FLiveEntertainment_Licenses.html
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2Fcc08-0163%28Aggregate%2520Reprint%29%7E1st.pdf
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil.com%2Fdetailreport%2F%3Fkey%3D4033
--------------------

Spring Smells of Creativity

I played hookie from work today. I had to paint. The painting I am working on well, trying to, lighting and a few other issues are not beneficial. The painting has some of the same feel as "Male Figure, Bird on Head"

“Loves Anonymity” is a 24 x 18 oil on canvas and in this picture a work in progress. I have another painting I am working on so I can submit it in the London Calling show on this new favorite art site.

http://www.myartspace.com/ You can have music playing in your gallery, plus they have opportunities to show in REAL exhibit locations. My art space is free, except for the entry fees to shows.

I almost forgot something else............ A friend of mine, a writer from Delaware sent and asked me to read his soon to be published book. I really and truely enjoyed the Native American story. I just can't wait to see my autographed published copy. CONGRATS Steve Gibbons.

Time Flies When You're............................

Since my last post I have been busy with traveling, networking and working. Busy to say the least. Kim Jackson of www.myartplot.com asked me via e-mail to write a review ( a month ago, it seems ) on the web-site. I am listed on that site and it has a face book appeal to me. I do not use that site for self promotion, but I feel that an artist should use what ever mode they are comfortable with and what works for them and their art. My Art Plot is free and very easy to navigate and of course there is very nice work done by artisans of all genres.

Well, on to other tid-bits from my life. I recently returned from Arizona. I had the most fantastic time there. I have wanted to go to Arizona since childhood. The state was everything and then some of what I had always visioned. The White Tank Mountains with the petroglyph's were wonderful. Sunsets were stunning, the art community is great.

Last night I attended the http://www.masqueradeoncharles.com/ Historic Charles Street Associations fund raiser gala. I had an extremely grand evening. The Tremont has some beautiful architecture and murals the building was perfect for the event. I can't wait until they upload photos on the site, since everyone had fun.

Baseball season is fast approaching so I have been very busy at work doing the graphics for the Orioles plus the other jobs that are pouring in. I am not complaining!!! with the economy the way it is I feel very lucky.

I am going to run off some prints of my artworks ( job perk!!), which I will of course sell at art festivals and other venues.

PEACE!!!

New Year New Stuff

I have not posted on this blog for some time. There has been so much going and not all of it was good. That’s okay, since things are just fine now and without the nasty things in life we would not appreciate the good. SOOOOO onto the good stuff…… My new year started off rather interesting; I have a new job now as Art Director for a graphics Co. here in Baltimore. We do graphics for the Ravens, Caps and the Orioles plus graphics for bands and other businesses. I have been there a month and feel very lucky to have this job that does not always seem like a job. I am still getting into a new schedule so I have not painted, but that will change very soon.

Body Language

The human brain weighs an average of 3 pounds in a man and 2 pounds 12 ounces in a woman. The capacity of the brain has been expressed as the # 1 followed by 6.5 million zeros. It is the size of 2 clenched fists held tightly together.

The human heart weighs between 9 – 11 ounces. It was thought long ago to be where human emotion came from. It is the size of 1 clenched fist. What is the capacity of the heart?

Why do they compare the brain and heart to a fist? Are we angry minded and mean hearted?

Humans are the only animals that cry and we are the only ones that kill our own species.

These are some of the things that piqued my curiosity years ago and prompted one of my art statements. I thought I would share this with everyone (You can read the art statement on my very first posting).

I have been busy getting ready for: Holiday Art Mart (11/28 thru 12/25) at Ukazoo Books in Towson and getting artwork for the Robert Andreasian Gallery in the Arts District, downtown. Plus the other shows coming in December and January. My writing and artwork will also be in the online publication Traipsing Turtle. Well I hope everyone has a wonderful and FILLING turkey day.

Exhibits for December and January 2008

I will be a part of a group show at the Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills, Maryland in December. The piece in the show is Autumn Moon ( the header image on this blog). I am looking forward to this exhibit. The show is titled "One Good Turn: Fall Foliage". I am working on a print in whites/off whites for the January group show. I will be having a solo exhibit there in June and July ( lots of prints to get done). I am enjoying the Mourning Moon and have a pretty busy schedule this weekend. I will be attending two art receptions as well as going to the American Visionary Art Museum. Have a great week end!!!!

Baltimore

I am back on the EAST coast and wow! even though I have been gone 11 months ( almost to the day). I am dealing with culture re-adjustment. The air is more clogged with fumes, some of the people here have a different attitude than what I'm used to. I will be OK. I have applied at several arts organizations and have belief that there will be a very positive outcome in the employment area of my life. I am 1/2 way unpacked, TSA ransacked both pieces of my luggage!!!! MONSTERS they are!!! I will be painting and busy doing some art this week. I want to thank everyone who sent messages to me wondering why I had not posted. Transistions are NEVER easy. I will be posting on a regular basis again and thanks for your concern, till next time...........PEACE

Brain on Nature or Nature on The Brain..........

Last night my sleep was disturbed. I tossed and turned, woke, all to often. What dreams I had were very intense and vivid. Thoughts just going, going, going and then the odd feeling........ you just KNOW somethings going on or about to happen ( good or not ). Much like animals with weather. Maybe it's due to transition.

I want to thank those who have e-mailed me about my Yule cards. With everything that's going on it is very refreshing to have conversations as well as orders for them. I miss the days when I had great conversations on all sorts of art topics. Speaking of ART....I will be in an Mail Art Exhibit at the Atelier Deux Mondes in Metz France. The theme for the exhibit is TWO WORLDS. and it can be viewed at the Gallery blog from October 2008 thru April 2009 ( I will post link when the exhibit opens ).
I have done several of these before and they are always a fun and challenging experience. The challenge for me is to create on such a small surface ( 5" x 7" largest ). I am looking forward to seeing other artists versions of the Two Worlds theme.
I am also doing the Painting Cans Show in Madrid, Spain. I like this one just as much as the mail art show, since it's crushed cans with pull tabs, that are painted and then sent to the Gallery/Space. I will post this link at a later date as well ( the site is under construction at the moment).

The image shown is from when I lived in Olympia. It is a tree that's right outside, but I used a photo program to alter it. I love the way it looks like a brain. I will use it for one of my encaustics at some point.

Sanquine Shades of Autumn

I love this time of year, this fall season. I remember writing in one of my journals that I love Autumn, the way the color on peoples faces change and the crispness in the air. Soon, I will be able to make that crunchy sound of leaves. I just love this season it makes me feel perky, the baking of pies, cider and all that comes with it. I'm getting carried away there.........
I'm working on sets of original, signed & dated Yule cards. there are 12 in each series and cost $20.00 per pkg. I will mail images with an e-mailed request ( Top right sidebar ), due to the new copyright issues ( laws ) I do not wish to post them. I will be taking some to a few venues in Olympia. I want a few more retail spots and have been networking on this. I think it's called administrative work, the real time consumer :( . I would much rather be creating, of course. So any who...... I am a very disapointed football fan...... these are things that happen in sports. I have joked about giving up being a fan! ( cough, cough, wink, wink..) RIGHT!!! onto a different subject. I had the chance to see and hear ALBINO! a band from California. They were at the Eastside on 4th. WOW!! they KICKED ASS!!! I would so love to see them again.
My Son Jason will be 26 on the 26th jeeezzzz where does the time go?? AND He and my Daughter inlaw have been married a year!!
I edited my last entry since I found this really cool poem, so check it out.

PEACE!!!!

I am still only sketching, instead of just doing charcoal or graphite; I am incorporating color with pastels and colored pencils. The sketches I have done are Warhol-ish self portraits, there will be 6 8 x 11 like the portraits he did of people. One is purple, black and white (shown) another will be primary colors and one earth tones. I have not thought yet as to what the others will be.
The Because of Wichita series will be featured through the University of Mississippi Forensics Department ( Sept. 19, 08 ).
I am still sniffing my paints and brushes, like lovers attracted by scent or someone huffing glue. Makes me feel like I'm ( back ) with the love of my life. I miss painting and doing encaustic more than I have ever missed anything in my life. I am becoming depressed and just feeling down right off balance. I am reminded of something I read. ( I do not recall the author )" At the core of us, as an artist. It is in our work, by our work that we re-assemble the fragments, re-create wholeness". This statement is appropriate to the circumstances in my life.
September has always been a busy month for birthdays, etc. My Daughter Areca's, my Brother Bryan's birthday ( both on 9/15), my Son Jason's birthday on the 26th , A few other personal events, 9 – 11 and should I now include the month Tom Brady went down as well as a few other good players?. Well time for me to stop writing and finish diggin' on Cyndi Lauper The Body Acoustic. Enjoy the full moon!!

I found this on another site that I do not recall the name of. I thought I would edit my September 11, post and I am adding it. I think it's hauntingly prophetic, in it's own way.

from September 1, 1936 by W.H.Auden

I sit in one of the dives

On Fifty-second Street

Uncertain and afraid

As the clever hopes expire

Of a low dishonest decade:

Waves of anger and fear

Circulate over the bright

And darkened lands of the earth,

Obsessing our private lives;

The unmentionable odour of death

Offends the September night....

Defenceless under the night

Our world in stupor lies;

Yet, dotted everywhere,

Ironic points of light

Flash out wherever the

JustExchange their messages:

May I, composed like them

Of Eros and of dust,

Beleaguered by the same

Negation and despair,

Show an affirming flame

Mask And Feather Dynamics

I have done some sketching while jammin' on The Beatles and now I have " I Got a Feelin' " stuck in my head. These following words surfaced.
His touch on her skin would be a mantle She could shed and put on again through the power of memory. Here on this gravel bed in the pine needle rain she let him enter her like water. The memory of this morning, his eye in hers, his movement like a tide pushing the sea against the sand of its only shore. Her body's joy was colored darker now from venture of skin on skin, might be the last one. Each image stood still besides it's own shadow. Even the warmth of his body next to her afterward was an orange brown heat she stroked with her fingers, memorizing it against the days when that space would be cold.

What I like about August......It's Pre season football time!!!!

I have been experiencing a forced vacation from painting. I am at least still doing some creative activity. I am going to do stringer work for The Sitting Duck. I am writing on Mudcat and John Reese. I might write about other topics of interest in the future as well. I am very happy that Fay did not turn into something much worse. I will post when I get my articles done.

She Said, She Said...

I am really digging the rain along with the New Moon. On the roof top and Down in the ravine, It reminds me of the " Crying Shower". The cleansing. The inner and outer workings of buildings and the people that dwell with-in them. I posted that writing on my myspace blog.... Lotus_beauty.
Another cool thing happened, 2 or 3 crows were messing around rather curiously on the kitchen skylight. It was odd to see and hear the close inter-action.
I am listening to an interesting mix of music. I have heard my Beetles The Black Album and now The soundtrack from Natural Born Killers. I just love days like this to get your head screwed on tight.
The image posted is titled " Breaking Out of The Past." it resides in Key West FL. The media used for it is : Oil Paint,barbed wire, broken mirror, plaster, rope and razor blades. I wanted to post a sketch I did of a female figure peeling / shedding her skin, BUT I do not have an image of it on my photos. I will post some new work as soon as I get some done.
This image is fitting for the new moon and the cleansing rain.
Till next time....

Them Bones

The 2 workshops I were to do have been officially canceled, by me. :( :( . I think they are looking for someone to take my place in the classes ( Center For The Creative Arts) I feel really sick about not being able to go, but I have to move and II can't afford to do both. I must admit, that even with the ugly feelings I have against Delaware; Newark, my "hometown" has been very supportive in my classes. I was also looking forward to seeing my son Todd, my Momma and a few long-time friends.
My anchor and I went to the Tenino Wine Festival. We met a couple there ( some friends of his ). Bump Kitchen played, they are a really great band. There was a vendor selling sand-cast African beads. The blue ones were my favorite. I did purchase a bone; He thinks it's human and so do I . What do you think?. I also feel it could be a piece of the ulna or radius in the arm. I love it and it was really worth the $5.00. Humm, even dead our bodies have a price......???
So anyway, I want to pick up a motor home ASAP. I am just really digging on that. I have always wanted to have one so I have this opportunity for one ( IT NEEDS CLEANED ) it runs and could be a fairly constant art studio. I have a design already in mind for the table being converted to one that can be placed on an angle, like a drawing table.
Fantasy roadtrip....... if I could, I would drive down through New Mexico, Arizona, New Orleans, Kansas and Florida. I do not think the motor home could handle all that, but it sounds good in my head!!
I broke down and purchased some soft pastels, just so I can have a medium that is dry and has pigment. I am still planning on doing the Lacey Community Market August 9th.

Nature Nymph meets Chaos??? ( Edited )

I am in a state of turmoil. I need to create and express visually, since I am not very good at verbal communication during stressed moments. In fact, something very few people know about me; I stutter or stammer when I am VERY stressed. I do speak in public, as in: lectures, presentations or classes. I digress. I have to paint. I think I'm Dt-ing from colbalt blue, yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, linseed oil and warm wax. I find myself sniffing oil paintings that are tucked in between their homeless cardboard box layers; Anxious,sitting, waiting for their new??? place.
I have entered the Burning Man '08 community art project( wdydwyd dot com ) DO IT YOUR SELF :) The question is " Why Do You Do What You Do?" My response " Because I am a birth order ( 1st ) woman - marketing tool born in the 60's."

Since I have not been able to paint, just semi-sketch and write. I have been thinking quite a bit about nature and how I really feel AS nature. I am so peaceful, grounded, calm and STILL when in nature, hence the motor home. I love to camp. I give my Mother credit and kudos for this. My Mother has always been one I hold in my utmost admiration, but that will be in the biography. Alright, back to where I was. I feel like I need to re-ground myself.......Did I not just freakin' do this ?? I just went camping for 2 days. I feel that I really need some solitude....NO!! Sanctuary. I stumbled on my artist statement on actual paper tonight, so in my nature thought. I conjured up other nature quotes. I have quoted Thoreau in one of my art statements, well, I covet the life he had on the pond. He was a fortunate man.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote "Nature is the organ through which the universal spirit speaks to the individual, and strives to lead back the individual to it."

The sketch (Painting That Was.) "Lovers Dance" I actually did this as a painting, then covered it up.