I have been painting... Really!

I have painted quite a bit the last week or so. I have 13 new "Volare" and two new women at dusk. It seems like I've been in kinda a funky mood though. Not really sad or a bad mood just really quiet. I'm trying to calm and content myself. With all the crazy news and uneasiness in the world lately I think if one can calm and content themselves they are so much ahead of the rest that it is an accomplishment...

...I told you I was mad (mad in a crazy way, not in an angry way). :)

busy busy

Well yesterday I didn't get a chance to write but I did paint. i worked on a commission and then painted a 11x14 of a lady. Today I prepared some 6x6 boards so I will have small paintings for Christmas gift buyers. I also delivered a painting to a gallery for a show coming up. Actually I've talking to a couple galleries about doing some shows in January, February, March and April. There will be some exciting news coming soon.

I've been a'paint'n

Well this week I have painted a few things. I had this idea the other day to paint a ship like the little ones I've done in the past but only large. Then the other night I had that painting urge and did a 16"x20" of a landscapeish piece (yes I know thats not a word, yet). The next day I met a friend at the Red Cup and painted the last piece which is also 16"x20". I think I'm going to call the last one "Indulgences". So I have been Painting. I have also been getting ready for some shows. It's been crazy since I returned from my long trip to the right coast. Today it's cold and rainy. What a perfect day to paint.

Well I'm Back...

I am back home now! Actually I've been back since Monday, but I've had a lot of loose ends to tie up, and friends to reconnect with. Today is the first day I actually feel like an artist though. I'm starving to paint. I also have to keep my head about me though. The business of what I do keeps me busy ya know. It's all a balancing act I guess...

Buy the way until Oct. 15, 2008 I'm doing a half off Pastels SALE! So act fast!

Atlanta

Well I've been in Atlanta for a few days staying with a wonderful friend Jana Epstein. She's an amazing photographer that dose art shows as well. She has been extremely kind to open her beautiful home to me. I'm truly blessed with my wonderful friends across the US.
Atlanta is a beautiful city.
In the last few weeks I went to Alexandra VA, then spent a week with my Uncle Mike just south of there about 2 hr. then went up to Philly to do the Rittenhouse show. After which I stayed with another artist friend David Oleski. Now here I am.

I should be asleep right now...

It's 1:13 in the am and I can't sleep...
The last few days I have had my youngest 2 girls with me. It has been a pleasure and stressful all at the same time. I love these little girls so much. I don't think they will ever understand. Today we played and I also got some painting done while they watched speed racer the movie. I finely painted a smaller fish. It was 16"x20" and it turned out great. As of right now I have been blackening the edges of a painting I painted a few days ago. It's a trip-pic of a beautiful landscape. Like I said I need to be sleeping though. I need to get up at 7am to get my girls ready for school. I'm going to regret this in the morning. Oh the crazy mind and it's stuburn ways...

Painting at the Red cup

Wow, what a wonderful feeling! Today I decided to go out into the public and PAINT! Yeah, I set up my easel at the "Red Cup" here in Oklahoma City and painted a nice painting. It felt Gooooood. I've been all cooped up in this house and and need to see people. I decided that this was a good way to do that and get some work done in the meantime. I'm thinking about doing it again tomorrow. We'll see.
I also should update everyone on the fact that I painted a HUGE painting a couple days ago. I am extremely happy how it turned out too. I'll post a picture soon.

Click her to see a Video

Finely back to painting

I just don't know what has been wrong with me lately. It's almost like I have been sick, but not in the way we normally think of it. I've had this "mental block". When I woke up today I just decided to devote the day to painting and nothing else. It has seemed that lately if i leave the house/studio I don't return till it's to late to paint (well it's never to late, but beyond my comfort time). I fell better now though, better than I have felt in weeks. I have so many ideas I can't believe it. I went to work on a commission and actually made progress. I never thought I would ever get caught up in a "block" but I guess it happens. Right? :)

Stay With An Artist friend

Well the time for Gold Coast is almost here. I will be staying with a friend named Anastasia that lives in Evenston, IL. She is an amazing artist as well. See this is what makes this traveling artist thing so fun. I have friends all over the U.S. that do what you do. The network of friends make all the travel a little less lonely. The next couple days should be a lot of fun. I'll try to keep you posted.

Paint'n on the road

Well I'm out on the road, kinda, this week. At least I'm away from home. I'm spending the week in the Chicago area. Vernon Hills, IL to be specific. Anyway, I decided to paint yesterday! YES! I have had a really hard time painting lately. I was working on a commission and hit an artist block. More like a wall, but a couple days before I left I decided enough was enough and I put the commission aside for a little bit and actually painted two, yes two, paintings in one day. Now that I've painted these guys I feel confident that I'm over that wall and now I can roll on though my art adventure. I'm in love with my life as an artist again.

I'm still kick'n

After such a long absence you probably think I'm dead or just fell off the the edge of the earth. Well I'm happy to report that neither of those are the case. I have had a crazy couple mouths. I just got home from a string of successful shows and I'm will start my painting up again soon. All the travel has left me stung out from the road, and grateful to be home. I do love the travel too though. Except when my fly weal breaks and you have to spend an extra day in Kansas city to fix it. All in all my travels went smoothly though. The important thing is I'm still Kicking...

Stillwater

Wow did it feel good to pack my van this weekend. I am so ready to hit the road and do some shows. The show went better than planned. I met some really great people and reconnected with a lot of artist friends again. What a feeling! You know doing shows gives me this incredible feeling of Independence. I love the sense of accomplishment that comes from of building a booth to do business in, out of a simple 10' x 10' space then selling your art for the weekend and breaking it down to the 10' x 10' space again. It really gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Picking up

Things are really starting to happen now. I'm getting notices of being accepted into shows, finely. I am also gearing up for my first festival of the year, in Stillwater. I am getting illustrations done for another job. I am getting life back into order...
This Sunday I have a piece in a show at the Oklahoma city art museum Cafe. It is a silent action to benefit aids Support Program. I became involved in this through the gallery I showed in in the Paseo.
As things pick up I feel more confident and alive again...

Nice weekend

This last weekend was very nice. If you didn't make to the Guthrie art walk, I'm sorry to say, you missed out on a wonderful event. It all started on Thursday actually. When I got to the gallery to deliver my work I was excited to see the space. I have a confession to make I really expected this gallery to be less than par. That sounds bad but this is a new gallery and it take a while to get most galleries up and looking good. I was happy to see this one has a very nice look. If you get a chance in the next couple weeks go. I mean it go! I have never seen my work look so nice and laid out. It's beautiful how well the show flows. Okay on to the actual day of the show. The show went well. I had a lot of really pleasant conversations with people. We sold a few things and the food was delicious. After the show we strolled down the street to "Byron's". It is this tiny concert venue where extremely talented music is played. I was blow away but these two kids that could pick like nothing I have ever seen. I am told that this little place is a well kept secret in this little town. Nationally known "Byron", I'm sorry but I don't recall his last name, has recorded with such names as Rod Stuart, and the Rolling Stones. This venue manly plays bluegrass, folk, and Texas swing, all of which I'm not a huge fan, but when something is done at this level of talent you can't help but be impressed. What an amassing night. Then Sunday I finished the commission I was working on and spent the evening watching the weather. A pastime here in Oklahoma. Around midnight I collected some nice size hailstones. I know I'm such a kid at heart. That was it, my weekend.

New Commission

Well, St. Patrick's day came and left. Now it's the day before Easter and here I am finely. I have been working on a couple different projects, but I was contacted about a commission so I had to put them aside foe the time being. It's probably for the best the piece I was working on needed a break anyway. Now the commission I'm working on is really working. I feel fantastic about it. It's turning into one of my best works yet.

Headlless chicken on the loose

I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. That's kinda sick if you really think about it. Well anyway I have been running here and there putting out fires. I did have good news besides all this though. I am officially in the Festival of the art OKC. My booth will be 15C. I was on the wait list and was pretty sure I was going to get in but now it's confirmed. So be looking for me I will be the headless poultry running around.

Back at it

Well I'm back and I'm back at it. I've started a new tropical interior. I'm going for kinda a Caribbean feel on this one. Time will tell how it turns out.

Brake

I've taken a well deserved brake. I decided to visit my cousin in Dallas. I have another cousin from Denver that will be down here for business so it's perfect timing. It is a nice chance to get away.
I realized on my way down here how much I really enjoy traveling. As so as I hit that highway I felt free. I guess it's that allusion of independence that gets to me.

The AKA Show

Well It was a cold one last night, and I would like to thank all of you that braved the cold to see my show. It was a nice little gathering of loyal art goers. I don't blame anyone that stayed in because of the cold though it was brutal. Don't let that keep you from seeing the show though. Get out sometime this month and see it. It really looks good.

It is finished

I finished the 30x 40 I was working on. As you can see it has a free flowing composition. Looking back I can see how this piece helped me express the positive side to my life. It is like I am getting ready to play out the music that is my future. There is an chair waiting to be filled. It is a casual chair as not to take it all to serious. I have had far to much of serious things in my life lately. It is now time to celebrate life. Over looking the city for all to see and hear the symphony of my life, good or bad.

Exciting news

I have exciting news. I was contacted an asked to be a featured artist in the art walk Guthrie at Gallery Grazioso, 301 West Oklahoma Downtown Guthrie, OK. On March 29th. Next I was contacted by the people that put on this bi-annual event and asked to be used on the post card.
In other news don't forget I will be showing at the AKA gallery in The Paseo district here in Oklahoma City. There "1st Friday" art walk is February 7th. Don't miss out!
Now in the studio I will just be finishing up another 30x40 today. This piece feels great. I really like the way it flows throughout the canvas. The composition is something I have been wanting to do for some time. I'm excited to see it come to a finish today.

Almost done

Yesterday I all but finished the 30"x40" painting. Just a few more details.

Double time!

Well after an unscedualed, extended, brake I'm back to painting. I have two pieces going right now. I have set up a 30"x40" in the guarge and a 24"x24" in the livingroom. The 30"x40" reflects my Irish haratege as it has an Irish country side out side the window. The other has a more tuscan feel to it. Both of them are in a good place right now. I stuglred with them both a points, but now I'm past that. I feel as though I have a lot of catching up to do. This was sposed to be my productive time of year untill all went arey. Now I feel I have at least my art back on track. We'll see...

Pluging away

Well #18 has been approved and is almost dry and ready to ship. I'm also pluging away at some volare pieces for a big commision due soon. Trying to keep busy. It's a little strange getting used to painting in my house again after working in a studio for so long. It comming back tough.
On a pesonal note life is slowly getting into a resemblence of normality. (is normality a word?) Anyway I'm okay. Thanks for your consern.

Breath

Well after a few deep breaths and a lot of sleep I'm back at it. I never thought I wouldn't feel like painting but it seemed like the last thing on my mind the last couple weeks. Now it's a new day, and I have to plug on. It's time to paint!

Clearing the air

If you didn't notice this blog has been kinda a downer so far. There is a reason for that. My personal life has been a ride lately. You see me and my wife of 7 years have split up. I don't like to put pesonal things out there like this but it helps to explain the negative vibe lately. Well to state a saying that is over used lately. "It is what it is." Things will get better...

Good News

I was just contacted today to be the t-shirt artist for the Arts for all festival in Lawton, OK.

The Artist funk

It's been a week since my last post. I've actually done a panting since then but it's hard to explain. Sometimes I just don't feel like writing. Personal issues have consumed my mind. It is hard to concentrate. When you can't concentrate you can't paint. Well I can't. I was at peace long enough to paint a larger version of "Twinkle twinkle".(18"x24") Hopefully I will shake this funk soon. Until then I will press on.

Rollercoaster

It's been an emotional roller coaster the last few days. I have been dealing with a lot of personal things. I am still working on the grid #18. It has proven to be a worthy advisory. Battling this piece has been exhausting artistically. I feel my self becoming stronger as an artist because of it though.

getting lost in my work

I did make it to the studio today. I am well on my way though #18. I made some good progress to day too. I don't think I will show the progression though just in case the people that commissioned it are watching. I think it will look nice but the end product is what I want them to see. I hope you understand.

I also did a small 8"x8" of a peach. It was fast but looks nice, I think.

A lot of deadlines for shows are coming up and I really need to keep my head about me to make sure I don't miss any. It seems harder this year than any other for some reason. I'm feeling the pressure and it's hard not to let it feed into my work. Some times I get lost for days in my work and that's something I can't afford to do right now.

An Allusion of Control

Well I actually got back into my studio the over the weekend and finished "Tropical Refuge". Yesterday I had an annual event that I do at Northern hills elementary. For the last 3 years I have worked with the "Meet the masters" program in their school. I come in and do a demonstration for the 3rd graders and it as always was a huge rewarding experience.
Now for today. I have began work on the #18 grid work piece. I still don't have all the research in place but decided to at least get to work on it. Things seem to be picking up for me and soon they will be spinning out of control. This life seems to a form of controlled chaos. Well I'm not sure how controlled it is. May be it's just an allusion of control.

Tropical Refuge

Well today I finely got into the studio. I was able to get a little done too. Amazing... I was able to do a little 8" x8" and start on a 30" x40". I was going to work on a new grid piece, (and did draw out most of it) but after finding out there would be a delay on one elements for the reference, decided to go ahead and begin a new piece. I felt I was in need of a tropical interior, with the cold all around me, I really needed a refuge like this. I have this feeling in my gut that many things are about to change. I'm not sure how that makes me feel either. election years always give me this feeling, but this is more than that. I'm not sure if I should be afraid or excited. I have a lot things to digest and me world is spinning. At times like these we all need that little refuge.