"Untitled"

Sea Yam King

Root Spirit

Papayan Mayan

Southeastern Citrus Warbler

Still playing with food

My friend Jenny and I made vegan maki rolls and somehow maki and chakra were blended... like my "experimental" dipping sauces. Yeesh!

The Sometimes Violent Reality

...of life in the mixed-race produce ghetto

The King

The king rested his hand on my shoulder;

didn’t speak.

Modestly dressed

small and quiet,

gentle eyes and soft hands

a calming presence

I wanted him to stay near.

I knew he would guide me

maybe even love me.

R.I.P. Ralph McQuarrie

Legendary concept artist Ralph McQuarrie died yesterday at age 82. He is best known for his concept drawings and production paintings for George Lucas (Star Wars) and Steven Spielberg (ET). As a kid, I loved studying his paintings in Star Wars "making-of" books, trading cards, etc. He influenced so many illustrators in his time and inspired me ('round age 7 or 8 or so) to start sketching character designs of my own. Here's a link to some of his artwork.

Just Jump!

(A Rap for Leap Day)

Try – just try

I dare you now

to remove your layers

say your prayers

but you don’t know HOW.

Choppin' The Insane

Oscar:  Hope you got all yo' digits back and intact!

Suzanne:

Your rhymin' is fine

and on time-in

my mind 'cuz my fingers

are climbin' back outta the 

bind in which I was findin'

myself with no ticket

to the E-R

or was it the big scar

left on my digits

a reminder of the fidgets

in my brain that caused

pain and disdain

no peace I could fein

while choppin' the insane

in my kitchen

and wishin'

I could take back the blood 

I was missin'.

•    •    •

Wutteva.

Thanks to the Artists

So it’s that time of year for me – winter – and that time of winter – middle-ish – when I really begin feeling anxious, antsy, cooped-up and just plain "poopy" overall. I know, I know – the die hard New Englanders are scoffing at my wimpy-ness – it hasn’t been a “bad” winter at all so far…but it’s still winter. And winter, in my un-hardy ohh-pin-yon, sucks. I can hear the rebuttals – it hasn’t been very cold (yah, for New England), we've had almost no snowfall… but it certainly hasn’t been “warm” and the wind can kick your butt, no matter what the temperature. S-oooo, not exactly frolicking-fun beach weather is what I’m sayin’.

Mindfulness

Or... mindLESSness.

Exhibit A

The relentless chatter in my brain causes me ceaseless frustration. Yoga, meditation, just simple awareness of breath... I struggle with it all. My mind simply refuses to shut the f--k up! 

With day to day routine stuff, this mindlessness – not being present – most often results in little more than forgetting where I put my keys or spending extra time awake at night because the brain still wants to "go over stuff" with me before it will let me rest. 

Yesterday's task, getting all fancy with the slicing and dicing, however, was not "routine" and required complete mindful awareness. (See Exhibit A.)

This pinball machine in my skull and hence, lack of complete focus in the moment, caused Exhibit B. (Yes, those are my fingertips.)

Exhibit B

  

Did I learn my lesson?

Probably not, unfortunately. (For example, NOW my mind is repeating over and over "YOU STUPID ASS...YOU STUPID ASS.")

Anyway, below is the photo documentation of my visit to the ER. (The doc kindly let me take snapshots with my iPhone whilst getting cleaned-up and stitched-up.) Heck, I needed some material for my blog anyway! And I'm sure I'll learn how to do stuff with my left hand over the next several days of healing. For example, I moved the mouse over to the left side of the keyboard and I’m pecking away at the keys using my left hand and right index finger. (Ugn! This is taking for-evah! And the throbbing in my tip-less fingers sure does suck.) 

My tip-less ring finger.

Doc calls this "irrigation."

Some kind of gel pad to stop the bleeding.

Dr. Krasner doing his good work. (The pinkie could be stitched because, unlike my ring finger, it had enough flesh left to stitch together. The missing chunk on my ring finger must wait out the healing with time.)

Finished stitching.

My moment of stupid ass-ness sinks-in. (sigh)

To end this little blog about mindlessness (and stupid ass-ness),  I am proclaiming yes, in one way I DID learn a  valuable lesson… Each moment in this precious life is a gift. I am going to try much harder to be fully present and aware in my days…breathing-in the life that is mine; the life I will not have forever.And many, many thanks to Dr. Krasner and the other good folks at Framingham Union Hospital's ER who took care of me with great patience (and without judgement!)

Namaste.

Memory Lane (it intersects Sesame Street)

BAD Produce

(Slow night at work.)

Images from Jenny's Tribe "Hollow Body Heal" Release

ACOUSTIC SOUL Holiday Benefit

Hi all! Next Sunday, December 11, my friend Jenny Jones will be releasing her new CD “Hollow Body Heal” at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham. During the show, I will be painting “live” behind the band an 11-foot by 4-foot landscape. In addition, during two back-to-back songs I will be painting 10 “storyboards” that correspond with the lyrics and music.

This show will be the first-of-its-kind ever held at Amazing Things Arts Center so it promises to be an engaging event for the audience. Best of all, proceeds will benefit the Arts Center. See details below…

The Acoustic Soul Holiday Benefit for Amazing Things will showcase two acts that blend the sounds and rhythms of hip-hop with traditional folk music. The 1st act will feature the sweet rhythm of Dan Emino with Stories in the Round. The 2nd act, jenny's tribe, celebrating the release of "Hollow Body Heal", will feature live art installations, multi-media, and animation - a unique, first-time event for Amazing Things.

Tickets: $5 (all proceeds go to Amazing Things)

 6:00 PM: Dan Emino, Stories In the Round

7:00 PM: jenny's tribe

This troupe of acoustic soul singers brings one overriding common element to the stage: retro-fitting the heart and soul of classic folk with a dramatic infusion of hip hop and soul music. Fans of either side of the tracks of musical preference will love these players and their music, bringing yet another infusion of fusion to this Great American Melting Pot -- a special Amazing Things holiday in this seasons of holidays.

Sloppy Sammy

Bravo Avocado

Capped Apple

Rotating Potato

Shapely Grapes

Mad Radish

Sloppy Sammy Sketch

Idea