Time-Lapse Video Attempt

Eggplant's Nightmare

Violent Rebirth

Violent Rebirth 1

Violent Rebirth 2

Peppers in Paradise

My friend David grows peppers. He grows lots and lots of peppers, mostly of the hot n' spicy variety on his back deck. His wife Lisa affectionately calls him “The Pepper Pusher” because when guests visit his jungle-like porch stuffed with plants, he invariably urges them to “try it – just try it!” Those who do not know much about Dave’s peppers are the foolish ones – they actually accept, and taste, a small piece of a red-hot nightshade. Lisa tries her best to urge these innocents against it but usually fails. The screen door from the house to the deck suffers the worst of these episodes. Picture the classic image from an old Warner Brothers’ cartoon: the character who just crashed through the wall has left a perfect silhouette outline of his body. Poor little screen! Dave merely snickers and smiles.

This summer, the ecotarium has proven to be a bit overwhelming even for The Pusher himself. Dave made the heart-wrenching decision to put up a few of his babies for adoption. I am now the proud foster mom of a beautiful chili pepper plant :-) Of what variety, I don’t know but they sure are purty! While I do enjoy the dangerous heat of a chili or habanero, I’m not so sure if I’ll be eating these guys, however. We’ll see…

I thought it might be nice to send Dave a photograph of his children in their new home. The image of the little hotties in their suburban backyard didn’t carry the message I wanted to send to their Dad. So, I placed them in a more exotic environment a la Photoshop. Chili Peppers in Paradise! (Hmm...sounds like a song, sung to the tune of "Cheeseburger in Paradise") Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Tribal Head

Last night, I had some fun doodlin' and doodlin' with my new 10-pack of Sharpies. When the page was about full, I noticed this sort-of "tribal head" had emerged, completely randomly. So I added a wee bit to the "nose" and "mouth" areas and voila! Ready for the dance. Or sumthin' like that...maybe.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia!

Happy Friday The 13^th! What, not so happy for you? Are you one of the thousands of people across the globe stricken with Paraskevidekatriaphobia? I didn’t make up the word; it really exists. It means “the irrational fear of Friday the thirteenth." Apparently, once you learn how to pronounce the word you’re cured! So get practicin’!

Pig (Part 2)

It seemed the weightless movements of this pig in the air was the only motion in the classroom. I must have been staring at the floor from the shelter of my cap’s brim for quite some time because when I looked up again, the spectacle had changed.

Pig

A life-size molded acrylic pig hovered inches above our heads. Its technicolor pink gave the naive form a humorous tone but no one was smiling. The swine’s mouth was open – would it vomit or scream? Its blank expression suggested neither but I wasn’t sure.

Have a Good Laugh

...and I laughed out loud when I watched this three-minute comedy sketch, "BP Spills Coffee". Very, very funny; well-produced, and smart. Alas, I also wanted to cry. But if you need a good laugh in spite of all the madness around us, take a look. It will be 3 minutes well spent :-)

BP Spills Coffee	UCBcomedy.com
Watch more comedy videos from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at UCBcomedy.com

If My Blog Was a Dog

Yes, I’m beginning to grasp at straws. But when the The Funk wraps its black-gloved hands around my neck and chokes the breath out of me, I must use whatever means necessary to…to…produce something.

•      •      •

If my blog was a dog, life would be different – my life, of course. Not yours, silly. Yes! I’d be inspired by…the Adorable, Irresistible, Cute and Ever-faithful Bloggie Woggie!

Boston Harbor Cruise

Taken with my iPhone using an app called Pano. Nice :-)

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