I've spent part of the winter working on my drawing skills in a class that took me to the Toledo Museum of Art to draw the incredible sculptures there. It was a challenging and wonderful exercise ... and produced this (nearly finished) drawing of Bishamonten, a 2nd Century Japanese god. I'll post it again once it's complete.

Bishamonten
Wood, 1250-1300
One of 4 guardians at the main altar of a Buddhist temple, Bishamonten was the god of victory in war as well as the god of wealth and good fortune. The mask at his belt denotes the subjugation of evil. Quite a guy.

What you are will show in what you do.

- Thomas A. Edison

Life obliges me to do something, so I paint.

- Rene Magritte

Elixir too

I've been away awhile and my apologies for that. I've had a number of projects and the work has been taking decidedly different directions. I still find comfort in painting still lifes, but I also find myself working in a more abstract style.
Finding a quiet place for all manner of objects still engages me. And it's the fleeting nature of things -- flowers and peppers and onions and apples -- that draws me to still lifes. The cut flowers have died, have been tossed out. And those peppers and onions and apples -- gone too. Roasted. Sauteed. Baked. Eaten.
'Elixir Too' is a small study (6" x6") of a moment captured in time. Captured on canvas. But gone. Did it ever exist? Who's to know?
But I also find myself working in a more abstract style. A more purely emotional style in which I'm still  trying to find my way. (And before I go any further, forgive the quality of the photographs. I snapped them. 'Nuff said. I'll update with shots by a trained professional.)

My studio space in a downtown building houses a kitchen design center on street level. It's a new business, two talented guys following their dream: WS Solutions. I partnered with them for their grand opening and provided this painting for their man cave display: No, it's not your neon beer sign kind of a room. It's an elegant room, with a large-screen TV dropped into a rich dark wood built-in with bookcase, state-of-the-art seating, wine cooler, sink. And this painting on the one blank wall. It couldn't have been a better fit. I thank them for the opportunity to think in a new way.
Oh, and did I mention that I've begun drawing the human figure again after a long hiatus?
More on that another time.

No room for anyone in my corner but me

Sometimes life keeps throwing things at you.

Elixir

We blast
into life
mingle
and merge
clash
and collide
dancing
and drifting
seeking
our path
a moment 
to shine
but driven 
by forces
beyond
our control
toward an
uncertain fate
-- life's last 
great
adventure

-- aa

42" x 3"

oil on wood

  

Blue-footed Booby

o/c 18" x 24"

A traditional take on traditional slang. Cantaloupe. Cassabas. Melons. Chest.
Shelf. Jugs. Hooters. Headlights. Rack. Bust. Knocker (sorry, just one).
And, of course, a Blue-footed Booby. A weird exercise, it was.