I am of the dirt, cedar, and pine.

Greetings from Arkansas! These next few blog posts might be a bit different from my usual Studio Blog. I hope you will enjoy them.

We arrived late Sunday night, all flights were smooth and on time. Like a vacation in the sky, I enjoyed the films on the first and longest flight, especially Brillo Box (3¢ OFF), the story of one family and their prized Andy Warhol Brillo Box. It's a story about the importance of growing up with art and how it moves through a family, their memories, and then into the greater art world.

On our first day here, we helped to take down Glow, Float, Drone, a sound and light exhibition by artist and dear friend, Craig Colorusso. It was so great to see his work again. It felt like the best way to signal that I was home. We really enjoyed swinging as the drone sounds played against the grey sky as we propelled ourselves higher. I was returned to childhood in an instant.

Later we came out to my parent's place in Winslow, Arkansas population 300. It's a beautiful rural spot on top of a hill that frequently wakes covered in fog. The skeleton trees of winter show that we are surrounded by various ridges and valleys. It feels good to have all this space and fresh air. There have been highway walks, rambles around the land and gathering of seed pods, lichen-covered sticks, ivy and tall grasses. Many photos have been taken.

The Tuesday Studio Video Visit was filmed at my parent's house this week. I did a partial tour of their art collection. They have art in every room of the house and always have as long as I can remember. The art has shaped and inspired my life. If you missed it on my Facebook art page you can see it again here.


And that's all I have for you this week. The tree is up and decorated with decades of family-made treasures, the rest of the family is headed our way soon and after a warm week, there is a dusting of snow on the ground. Time for a cup of tea and a wander.

I am of the dirt, cedar, and pine. I am of the wild wind of Arkansas.

Until next week, Happy holidays to you and yours. Keep fighting, making, doing, and seeing. The world needs you and your art.

Examining the Evidence

The winner of last week's glowing horse print is Ryan Manning! Congratulations! Please contact me so I can mail the print to you. Thanks again to everyone for the wonderful comments!

I have only two more paintings to create, and then I believe Evidence of the Disappearance will be complete. Before I begin those two pieces, I wanted to slow down a bit and just be with my work. I am rarely with it for long, just the time it takes to paint, title, and prepare the work for shipment or travel to one of the galleries. I always look forward to seeing my paintings again in the galleries during a visit; it is almost like seeing an old friend. I notice things I have never seen before and enjoy seeing my work out of the studio environment and on the gallery walls where my paintings can be properly displayed and lit.

Yesterday, after putting finishing touches on a few pieces, I just sat down on the floor of my studio. I took a few deep breaths. I was surrounded by twenty eight new paintings of assorted sizes and orientations. Some were titled, while many were still waiting for their names. I just let my eyes work over the surfaces, examining their colors, textures and shapes. I was trolling for their secrets, trying to find their meaning and the common connections they share. Their stories are waiting to be released. I could almost hear a faint buzz, or a backlog of stories. They are all there, but my eyes will have to tease them out and then I will have to find the words. (We are just getting to know each other.) The stories of these paintings will be mine for a while to share and then they will become yours, the viewers. You will then see, question and hear things in these paintings that I cannot but we will still share them and make a connection.

Gold seems to feature prominently in this body of work as does the diamond/ovoid shape. The shape that was once a lotus petal has now broken away to float, hover, overlap, and pulse on the diagonal in these works. A warm palette of rusts, orange oxides, the usual suspects, and my favorite deep blue tie many of the pieces together. A cool aqua brings a punch and signals the spring and the winter (hoping for the spring) in which these paintings were created. Fine lines connect some of the elements, holding and grounding them to the paintings. I see a rough, almost acidic texture in some of the diamond shapes and
backgrounds. Elements bubble up and through, while surface layers hide and conceal yet still allow for a peek.

Some of these paintings are like swimming deep in the ocean and looking at the layers of light from up above, filtering down. Calm and meditative yet bold and assertive, the shapes call for attention and also push away and create distance. These paintings remind me of the wind in the tall trees outside my studio windows, the sound of my ocean.

Pictured above:
Caught between the Disconnect
Mixed Media on Canvas
30x24, 2008

Reconstruction
Mixed Media on Canvas
30x24, 2008

These are just two of the new paintings that will be featured in my upcoming exhibition:
Evidence of the Disappearance
Blue Moon Gallery
Hot Springs, Arkansas
June and July 2008
If you are in the area, please join me for the opening reception Friday June 6 from 5-9pm,during first Friday gallery walk.