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9.7
So, yeah, I haven't been keeping up. Working-
that I've been doing. Just without a camera
and card reader. It's all about Africa and Oceana.
Some scupt, some paint, some idea.
Here's the paint:
Called the Rape of Europa but really the abduction
of an African Princess by a bull with wasp body.
You're going to have to chat me up directly for an
answer to what is what here because I don't have
the energy to write a novel here. I can say that
this began as an earnest non-objective color field
painting, but the head of the black girl would not
leave me alone. She had a story that needed telling.
And this painting too. Was going to be a study
of blue, yellow, and black. But nooooooo.
I've had a picture of this tribal dance costume
on my wall claiming canvas rights for more than
a year; and finally.... what the Hell. I don't
know the final result for this. Not at all.
I just hope it solves its own equation.
Else I'm going to be in a tither.
******
And then there's this large pin oak that I brought to the studio a year and a half ago. Letting it dry. It didn't take me long to see the two figures riding an animal that were all entwined and crouched in the trunk. It is going to take me a long time, however, to fully reveal them to you. Already I have a couple of months in this. Not every day chiseling though. I was working on the paintings above, and I was just easing along so as not to rush to much wood to the floor before I solved some of the forms in my head.
It's tricky this.
So, here's the thing: The "Masked Man" is Religion, which has the
other figure, me, locked in an embrace; yet the aforementioned me
goes: hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Poorly written explanation I know,
but it's all I have now. More will follow.
8.13
I know, I know. Big deal, he's in Maine and likes to show photos
rather than do actual painting.
It amused me. And it is, AFTER ALL, all about me!
to whit:
I would have painted the image below, except
I don't have the patience, the paper, and the talent to.
so:
8.11
I had no idea how long I'd been away from here. I know- tempis fugit.
But It's not like I've been that idle with work
I have a six foot pin oak in the studio that will have two,
maybe three figures in it.
And I've been up in Acadia national park in maine
for several weeks, and have gotten in some painting (watercolors) most every day.
So I post this pic of me on Cranberry Island, looking up from my little journal
where I have lamely attempted to catch on paper what Nature has produced
as easily as breath and sigh.
eventually I'll take some pics of the work I've been doing and show you first had the difference between Nature's skill and mine.
7.8
Every so often its nice to join the avian festivities,
early morn at our house. On the back porch,
at the noshing table, with paints, coffee
and a journal, some good use of an hour.
7.1
One painting becomes another, even as the narrative
remains quite the same. I have been after this painting
for over a year. The premise is simple "X = Y,
solve for Y" One could insert any number for factor
for X thus solving Y,
but it is complicated by the fact
that since any number or
factor works, there is no answer.
Not unlike the mysteries
of death, religion, and love.
6.29
not all these entries are about art, but all my art is from entry.
to wit: Looking over things, things like the marshes, the
inlet water, the foggy sky I saw some of my life played out
on this screen Sunday. Brush in hand, hum in jaw, peace in
heart I looked at what I was painting and what I was thinking
about simultaneously. Neither brush nor mind's eye got it all
right but enough was had to make a memory that I brought with
with me today. I see forward in time just every once in a
while, and today's day was hovering over the green and
brown grasses, over the purple grey sky held in the meandering
creek, and in the hoots and honks of geese and swans. And there was
a path to an empty bench. The perfect metaphor for a day turning
empty.
6.10
next March I am having a show at Rosemont College,
a catholic program, and an academic setting that will give me
a chance to focus on religion and mythology.
I will show work whose only function is to muse
on these subjects and which, I hope, will induce
some lively discussion about the place of both
or either in our life. Further, most or all the
the work will me made of wood- assembled, carved,
painted on.
but I digress.
This piece continues to give me fits. I can't seem
to finalize. I haven't nudged anything this
much since I tried to teach my daughters to
listen to my very very sage advice about
EVERYTHING!
I am showing two things to you. I have painted the head
to harmonize with the rest of the piece, and I continue
to search for a resolution to the character's crotch.
Yesterday I unearthed the remnants of a little ceramic
my daughter Becky made and noticed that the sky blue
color of it made nice tonal reference to the head.
Still, I like the two figure cock. What to do?
6.2
Moving along with this one. I guess you'd have to say
that I am seduced by implied space.
Or you could say I am chicken and
unable or unwilling to break up the
face of a canvas with lots of active
paint without giving it any other meaning
than that it's paint and I love paint.
first I do some drawing and a little toning with paint.
and then start to strengthen the imagery.
I hope to be able to give the drawing its due
and not make the forms completely opaque.
Every day's a new day.
several years ago I saw an exhibition of tribal dance and
ceremonial costumes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
I was really taken with the exhibition and walked out
wishing I could see things as interestingly as those
artists did. There is definitely some inner part of
me that is in concert with these native cultures.
Also, if you scroll down, you will see that I finally added the blue
shape that is in the original sketch.
6.1
Time passes. I breathe, but am getting fed up with these
restrictions to activity and lack of information about
my heart condition. Not to be rude, but fuck me! This
sucks. I can only put a portion of my energy into
my work so there is a heck of a lot of foot dragging.
Still, I might as well share.
a sketch appeals to me and so I begin a process
with several days in between, and several changes later
I continue, but shy, yet, away from the blue as I look
around for appealing relationships of form and tint.
It's a big mystery to me whether I am going to add figurative
elements to this painting, or continue to slog toward the sketch
that started me. I have SPADS. Severe Painting Attention Deficit
Syndrome.
Meanwhile, I've gotten focused on a sculpt's "package" and
have tried several versions of the bag and spear.
While the first one is ok, I think the second one tells a story
about the intertwine that loves demands and the cock enables.
the steel wool is sort of dumb though, and I will get back to
some form of wood to suggest the pubic hair.
5.21
window flowers, studio
A lovely day. Wandered to the studio to do just a little painting,
all I felt comfortable trying; although the act made me hungry to
heap paint and wood chips in all directions.
Anyway, I am settling on what I think the general appearance
of this piece is. Soon I can get to details which will include
some medalions and and other such artifice.
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