Blog? What Blog?

So, why haven’t I written on my blog in three weeks? Following are the top five excuses – er – reasons why I haven’t blogged.

5. I stubbed my thumb reaching for my coffee mug so I can't hold a pen nor reach the space bar, thus making it impossible to write or type a coherent post.  

4. YouTube videos are just too much fun. 

3. I have been diagnosed with a not-so-rare disease called "Procrastinatis Avoidus Resistitus" 

2. My brain is sore so I'm giving it bed rest and heavy meds. 

1. No one named Uncle Frankie is forcing me to blog.

Okay, so none of the above are entirely true. (Except for maybe the diagnosis). I’ve been occupied with some time-consuming freelance work which is a good thing, buh-lieve me, but I haven’t had much “free” time. Or I haven’t made the time, as they say. Really, it’s all about balance. Balance is what I seek and balance shall be the topic of my next post. (Stay tuned.)

Meanwhile, if someone could tip Uncle Frankie about my aforementioned disease, I just might recover from the stubbed thumb, rise out of bed, get off the meds, tune-out YouTube and…write?

I've "literally" had it!

Today I was listening to a few news programs that I regularly tune into when I’m working in the studio and following are three quotes, all of them heard “literally” just today!

“The FBI has literally been following these Russians since the Clinton administration.”

“The Knicks haven’t won a championship since I was literally in diapers.”

“I literally have no idea.”

I am tempted to write the acronym “WTF”... WTF! I am “literally” sick-and-tired of hearing the adverb “literally” used so indiscriminately! It’s literally driving me crazy. OK, that’s a bit hyperbolic. It’s not driving me crazy but has anyone else noticed how much people are using the adverb “literally”?

Dangerous Beauty (WIP)

You're pacing, you're searching
I can feel that you want to run
Don't worry, I'm here.
I know you so well.
I can feel your confusion, your anguish
But release is very near
It won't take much coaxing
just a corkscrew and a glass
my deep burgundy blood
filling a bottomless chalice
the dangerous beauty
of my sensual glass vessel
you need me, now.
Stop pacing, stop searching.
You'll never find what you seek.
Calm your mind, drink me down
I'm your partner, your gaurdian.
The battle within you
can end with me.
Drink me down
my dangerous beauty
end the struggle
forget the fight
You know I always win.

The Spider

The Spider (WIP)

The spider moved me from my chair.

The spider chased me from my bed.

Of course, the spider did not move me

I stood up to avoid the spider.

Environmental 9/11

For weeks, I have been struggling to write down my thoughts about the Gulf oil spill tragedy. I am still struggling and I simply can’t understand my paralysis. After listening to President Obama’s address to the Nation from the Oval Office last night, I feel now is the time to finally write something. (I invoked the “10-minute rule” to help me.)

Bar Coaster Sketch

Silly, yes. Thus the title, sketched onto a coaster at the "bah". A description of myself (albeit a rather unflattering one) over the past couple of weeks.

Drop. Drop it! DROP IT!

No, I won't drop my bone. I'm going to chew and gnaw and tear at this thing until it's good-and-done! I've been fumbling around in Photoshop trying to make "brushes" work like brushes and color work like "paint". I want texture and light and depth...how the heck do you DO that in Photoshop? Well, I've learned a couple-two-tree tings. And I can put this one to bed. (I can drop it.) See image below. Really, I dropped it. Really-really. I'm done...

Writing Exercise

(This is here because Cheryl suggested I post it. Just sayin'.)

I always try too hard. My efforts in every undertaking, creative or otherwise, are forced and deliberate. I mangle the paint tube, ruthlessly evacuating the crimson pigment. The palette knife is encrusted with acrylic stains, evidence of a harsh and unforgiving occupation. I am relentless but I do not know why.

I walked in the woods with Emily Carr today. Her landscape was fluid and unrestrained. I wondered how she handles her tubes of Alizarin Crimson, if that hue exists on her palette. I think she walks in the woods when she paints. I wish I could bring the trees into my creative spirit. I thought, "I can paint like that."

Animation Backgrounds

Background version one.

                                        

Version two. Animated elements (swaying palms, rolling waves, etc.) to be inserted on top. 

Starsucks

Poor Starbucks, taking the blows again simply because it's the corporate coffee giant everyone loves to hate. In defense of Starbucks (whose coffee I, too, enjoy) I could have replaced the Starbucks cup with a Dunkin’ Donuts, Peet’s, Panera Bread – take your pick. All of these cups end up in the trash rather than the local recycling center. But Starbucks deserves the ribbing for its hypocritical marketing propaganda. 

New band logo

I designed this logo for a couple of friends' new band. Check 'em out here. 

Tooth Head

When obsessive thoughts take over...

Octopussy VS. Baby Sharkie

Last night I dreamt...

...of a pair of one-eyed dogs, looking up at me.

Another WIP

"Happy" Earth Day

Let's celebrate...

WIP

Serengeti landscape – colored pencil & Photoshop...

Quickie Sketch

I quickly "painted" this portrait in Photoshop this morning for a card that I'm giving to a neighborhood kid...

Anthony, my next door neighbor, sprang into action yesterday afternoon when my newly-adopted dog, Sugar, escaped. I was removing two grocery bags from the car, Sugar and my ole' dog Ayla both in the back seat. All it took was a second for Sugar to jump. We live in a city 'hood where drivers like to hit the gas on our street, using it as a cut-through. It's a scary place for a dog to be running off-leash!

Not only did Anthony jump on his bicycle and follow Sugar down the street, but he corralled the other neighborhood kids, keeping them from getting too excited and scaring Sugar into a faster sprint. The two of us managed to encircle Sugar in a neighbor's yard (which is dangerously close to the busiest street in our neighborhood). Anthony jumped off his bike and used it as a blockade in the driveway while I came 'round the other side and hooked Sugar on her leash. Heart attack! Heart attack! Heart attack! Thank you-thank you-thank you Anthony, and all the other kids who helped me!

I will NOT repeat that mistake, ever again.

Boys in the 'Hood

Remember the character "Stitch" from the Disney movie? When the neighborhood boys band together and run the streets after school, seek shelter!

Neglect IS Abuse!

Sarah Palin's Alaska

Can you believe it? The Discovery Channel (parent company Discovery Communications) will soon be airing a "reality style" show about Alaska titled "Sarah Palin's Alaska".

Yep, Sarah Palin is cashing-in – again, and apparently Discovery Communications is cashing-in on Palin's alleged popularity. I am outraged! Sarah Palin has demonstrated nothing but complete disregard, and even contempt, for wildlife and our environment. How can Sarah Palin be “the star” in a show about Alaska? How can Discovery produce a program about the wild Alaskan environment and its wildlife (most notably, wolves and polar bears) when Sarah Palin championed an aerial wolf-slaughter campaign that is still happening today?! She is also in favor of drilling (“Drill baby drill!”) in critical habitat for polar bears and other arctic species. And she will be a spokesperson for a show celebrating Alaska’s wildlands?!

Discovery must get her face OFF its channel! What a terrible loss for wildlife and the environment if the American public continues to be misled about Palin’s (and other politicians of her ilk) anti-wildlife and anti-environment policies.

I am outraged. If you would like to support a growing effort to make sure this farce of a show never airs, please visit Discovery Communications “viewer relations” page and write an angry letter.

Still Feeding...

The Dreaded BOOK BEAST

Three times a year, I dedicate several days of volunteer work for our local arts center putting together the program book (lay-out, design, etc.) which gets mailed to members and patrons of the local arts scene. Every time, I tell myself, "I'm NOT going to spend as much time on this one as I did the last. I just can't let this thing eat up all of my time!"

Alas, the Book Beast has struck again, voraciously feeding, hour by hour...

The Pressure of the Blog

Last Thursday evening, I was invited by my friend Cheryl Perrault to attend the monthly “Women’s Art Forum” hosted by the Cultural Arts Alliance in Hopkinton. This month’s speaker was Zen teacher Ji Hyang Padma, who gave a talk about spirituality and creativity, as well as meditation and spiritual practice.

One of the themes Ji Hyang touched upon was “fear.” She prepared a group activity that explores this topic using the phrase “If I was not afraid I would…” To my surprise, this exercise became a bit intense for me as I spoke quite nervously and awkwardly about my own fears, not just relating to art practice but to life itself.

After Ji Hyang’s talk, I thought of an exercise to give to myself: to create a visual image representing “fear”. Rather vague, yes, but an exercise to get myself drawing! This is where “the pressure of the blog” comes in to play. Since committing myself to blog every day, I have provided myself a bit of extra motivation to FINISH what I start. And the first weekend since the debut of my blog has proven to be quite a distraction, as I was away (in Maine) visiting family and had no time to myself to work on my image! Lesson learned. Set aside time, every day, no matter what!

So, three days late, here is the sketch. It has gone through many changes since my first ideas and I unfortunately have no idea what it has to do with facing and fighting fear anymore!  But it’s 10 pm and I said I’d put sumthin’ up everyday, so here is “Fear1.0.” Sort-of. (ick, yuck, ick)

And thank you, Cheryl, for inviting me to the talk. It was a good experience and I was happy to meet so many talented and accomplished local artists. I hope to attend many more future events. J

Why not a couple more

A couple of experiments using Flash and Photoshop

No Fooling!

The first image. Perhaps this dude is telling me to get drawing?