Getting started

Oooof. Getting started is the HARDEST part. I took Monday off from work, started and finished a painting. Boy that felt GREAT. So Tuesday night I said...I really oughta start something....then I went to bed. Wednesday night I said to myself, gee, painting was SO much fun the other day, I really should start a new project...(not like I don't have 497 lined up and waiting to go...)...yeah, you guessed it. I went to bed. Thursday, same lame deal.... Finally last night I started a drawing. I lost track of time and had so much fun. Why is it so hard to start?? I don't know. I woke up bright and early and did a second drawing and now I'm 1/3 of the way through a painting. It's actually hard to stop once I get going but soooo difficult to begin. Perhaps it's that bright white page before me silently trash talking me. It says 'I bet you can't draw anymore'. I always worry, perhaps I can't do it. And then I do. Yeah, it's a bunch of mind games I play on myself. Anyone else have this problem??

I thought I'd share the sketches I made. They're preliminary drawings for the next two dogs I have to paint. These two are associated with a great rescue group called mixed breeds in need. 10 percent of the commission has been donated to that group. That's the plan with all of these pet portraits. 10 percent back to rescue groups to help some other nice dog or cat find a home full of love. Every little bit helps, right? I think so.

Lame excuses and pet portraits

OK, I'm back from a long absence. Life sure gets in the way. Two posts in one week, and then four months off. Lame, I know. I'd love to make this one of those painting a day sites. I love those, but sadly, I just don't have the time. I have been painting though. Here's some of what I've been up to...my latest big idea is to paint peoples cats and dogs. It combines two things I love a lot – painting and fuzzy creatures. I've thought about doing it for a while and never followed through on it. That's been the story of my life. I get really interested in different kinds of art, do it for a little while and then move on to the next fancy thing. It worked for DaVinci, but it's not working for me. I did murals, t-shirts, pursued childrens illustration, figurative art, abstract art...I've been one of those masters of none. That may be the case here, that remains to be seen – but I'm really excited about the possibilities. It's gotten the best reaction of anything I've done so far. I think it touches a universal chord. Being an animal lover brings out the best in people. No matter if you're young or old, rich or poor, when you talk to an animal lover about their pet – we all have the same reaction. We talk about our beloved creatures as the family members they are. I love being able to create a timeless piece of art to honor these loyal, funny, sweet, mischievous, stinky, lovable friends. I'll still be doing my abstract constructions, and will get distracted by who knows what. I'm a restless Gemini that craves change, what can I say, but I think I've found something I can stick with!

This is one I painted today on a lovely day off from work. This is Brutus. An adorable American Bulldog who goes about 90 pounds and has a debilitating fear of mops and mop buckets. Yeah, go figure. But a deep hatred for bears that make the sound of a mothers womb. Apparently, they need to be eliminated. Funny creatures. :-)

Who, what, where, when, why is art important?

Well I decided to start this blog to talk about art. It's been the one consistent thing I've stayed interested in since early childhood. Starting with drawing contests with my older brother – which he always won (though my mother would never admit it!), to getting attention in school for being good at art, to studying painting in college and as my constant companion in adulthood – art has been my best friend. I'd like to use this space to feature all things art: my art, my friends' art, interesting galleries, new materials, new ideas. Most of all, I'd like to exchange ideas. So feel free to comment and agree or disagree. It's all good. Want me to feature your work? Send me a picture or two and something about it and maybe I'll post it. I don't want to talk about me all the time...

I'm curious what makes people create. I don't always know where it comes from, even when it's mine. It's a curious thing the drive and the desire to make something where nothing used to be. That's the part that has remained absolutely magic. So let's share a little magic :-)

I'm posting a piece of my recent work to get it started here. This is a wood construction with oil paint. It's the first success of many failed experiments where I have tried to make free-form shapes in different layers.

I am very interested in organic shapes that are reminiscent of things you recognize but can't quite place. There are so many shapes and rhythms that repeat in nature on a large scale down to microbiology. Are they planetary orbits, tree rings, or cells? My hope is that the end result feels familiar and relatable without a specific narrative. I'm hoping to have a more universal story that can mean something different to each viewer. Or, maybe it just looks cool and I get to use power tools to make it. What do you think?