bassline

I've kept studio journals/sketchbooks for a long time. I don't always write things in the same one; this one I keep in the studio and jot down thoughts about what I'm working on and how I'm feeling about where the work is at the time. There are others that are more like repositories of quick sketches for paintings or drawings I might want to pursue, along with materials lists, quick reminders about what needs to be done and when, etc...

( writing and doing )

339/366: just about there

Goofing around with an old Stanley Handyman ruler that belonged to my father. It unfolds semi accordian-style and reaches a length of 72 inches. I can't take full credit for this idea. E was sitting nearby watching me play around with it. I'd done a few others and was stuck when she came over, grabbed the ruler out of my hand and plopped it on my head, like so.

No. 96

( she tried, but I beat her to the punch )

335/366: amid the red

The home improvement tasks went off without a hitch yesterday. Hanging out with the new curtains we hung over the open closet in our bedroom. There were old, crappy wooden sliding doors on the closet when we moved in. One of them wasn't even on the track, so we took them down and came up with putting up the curtains instead. We even got a couple of things done that weren't originally on the list. It feels good to get back on track with making this place more of 'ours'.


Oh, and here's some Fishbone for ya from a concert in 1993. The song is 'Swim'.

333/366: Goya Maria!

Goya Maria biscuits are a big favorite snack of mine. I didn't eat them until E bought some one day and I've been hooked ever since.

328/366: light play

Took advantage of the light string that runs along the hallway in the apartment.

( +1 )

324/366: playing with light

Working with a light box for some new experimental photographs today.

Had a very productive studio day. It was a day of finishing projects and starting others. I completed a large painting whose evolution I photographed over the past couple of weeks. I'll save that for another post. I also finished two small paintings on panel (16" x 16" each) that will be in a group show next month. I moved one of my least used tables to accommodate the use of the light box and lights to make some new architecture/grid-based drawings.

314/366: sunday morning


For your consideration: Office of the President-Elect.

307/366: the interloper

Still in a bit of a fog of disbelief over the election, but I'll just wait for my mind to catch up with reality.

Last night, I had a dream about getting a tattoo. In the dream I had finally figured out images I might want on my skin. I was talking with someone and described to them that I had settled on something art-related. The two images I remembered were of a traditional art palette with circles of color around the edges, Similar to these two. The other image that I remember was of two paint brushes forming an 'X'. Of the two, I'd get the two paintbrushes crossing each other.

I've always said that if I were ever to get a tattoo, it would have to be of something that I really felt connected to. It's possible that after all this time, I may have found that thing.

308/366: ok, now what?

What now?

GO VOTE!!!!!!

271/366: me and mr. sydney

What else do you do when you don't feel like thinking of anything else? Grab the cat! He sat still for a bit since I"d just woken him up from a light slumber, but as soon as he realized that he was being used for my selfish purposes, he balked and squirmed his way out of my grasp. Not only that, but he left behind a stinky cat fart.

Guess I deserved that one :P

269/366: hoodie kind of day

Today's weather demanded a little more warmth than yesterday since the temperatures dipped with the clouds, wind and, later, rain that arrived on the scene this evening. It's that time of year again when the weather is as fickle as a toddler's eating habits. I do like fall, though. It's second to spring and is followed by summer, then winter.

268/366: back to work

Today was my first full day back in the studio in almost almost a month and-a-half. I thought it was a shorter time, but with thinking about the time-line of events leading to our big move almost two weeks ago, it's been that long. I"d been there a couple of times, but only for a studio visit and a couple of other times to take things back and forth.

Today, I was there to actually work. I finished prepping the two panels above to paint on and worked on a smaller painting that I began two months ago. It felt good getting down in it with paint on my hands again. I felt like I hadn't skipped a beat since the beginning of the 'break'. Before the upheaval, I was getting set up for a big fall push to dive into new works for my next solo show in April. I feared that the time out of the studio would set me back, but if anything, it's given me more energy and drive.

......

It's possible that I inadvertantly caused someone to call 911 when I was at the studio. I was adding the last coat of sealant to the wood panels and was playing the soundtrack to Pulp Fiction. For those of you familiar with the film, there's a fiery monologue given by Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) , just before he and fellow hit man,Vincent Vega (John Travolta), let loose with a volley of gunshots in the direction of a cowering con. Well, on the soundtrack, the monologue and gunshots come at the very end of the cd.

I had the volume up kind of loud and didn't think much about anyone being able to hear it since I'm four floors up. The problem is that the volume of the 'gunshots' is pumped up on the cd. Within three or four minutes of the cd ending, a fire truck shows up across the street. I think a couple of the firemen went into the store on the first floor to find out if anything was going on. I didn't think much of the possible coincidence until they left a few minutes later. It was kind of funny at first, but then I thought about the possible scenarios of cops running up the steps, busting into the studio only to find me there painting and later having to explain that I didn't have a gun and wasn't shooting at anyone. The last thing I want to do is draw the attention of cops on edge.

250/366: we were hungry

*nom, nom, nom* A day of packing will bring on a hunger like no other...

Found my new buddy, the blue shark (he needs a name), at Ikea yesterday. I couldn't help myself and had to have 'im. You know that feeling when you were a little kid and found that toy that just rocked your world? Yeah, that was me yesterday. I teased E with it through most of the rest of our trip through the store.

Now, I want to take him with me everywhere I go.

Yep, still a kid...

248/366: *lick*

Gettin' some tongue action ;D

245/366: where?

Just imagine a bunch of question marks above my head...

I'm a pretty good packer when it comes to moving, but sometimes I'm a little too gung-ho about it all.

This morning I needed to find some personal papers and had completely forgotten where I'd packed them. The boxes where labeled and it didn't take too long to locate what I needed, at least. Just the same, I'll consider what gets packed when a little more carefully from now on ;D

It's a cliché to say that you hate moving, but that's a common sentiment for most people. I haven't had to move in ten years and when I recently found out that E and I had to vacate our present apartment, of course I wasn't jumping for joy. On the other hand, we had the chance to find a larger place that was more of our own.

It's also ironic that this is happening around our 1st anniversary-what better anniversary present than a new apartment! That's how we looked at it after hearing the news. Had to make some sweet lemonade out of some pretty sour lemons, that's for sure...

229/366: reflection

Went to a memorial service for the father of a good friend today before heading into work.

It's interesting how the words of those left behind about the deceased can cause you to take stock of your own life and relationships.