Long overdue!

It is way overdue to post some new (and not so new) work. It is my hope to re-energize my pursuit of all things "art" and to continue creating artwork that expresses my love of nature and of color! Enjoy!

Wishful Thinking?

There's something to be said for wishful thinking...intentional, desirable, etc. I am beginning to see that everywhere I go. I am putting some intentional thoughts into manifesting artistic opportunities for myself in a more conscious way. I'm sure there's some corndog saying around this but I'm trying to be very careful about what I put my attention on artistically as well as personally and professionally. I've been mulling around the idea of doing another show soon- maybe West Seattle Art Walk again? It's been a couple of years. I need to create more work based on trees. I dream about it. It haunts me. I walk Lincoln Park so often and place my hands on trunks of the Madronas (Arbutus for us Canadian folk) to absorb the natural energies of the earth. I can honestly say that trees ground me and inspire me to reach my own limbs up into the glorious sky. I attach above "Sphinx Island"...a small island my friends own off of Galiano Island. Yes, they own this island and once upon a time I had an amazing trip over there where I spent the entire time sketching and plotting out paintings based on the fours points of the island as well as from the sea via kayak. It was a very successful and beautiful trip. It was a time of great creativity for me. I would like to find that again soon and get on the "Tree Project"...the intention is set!

Just for Fun

Last night I came home, put my ear phones on and let paint FLY. It's been awhile since I just painted for the sheer and total chaos of it...I have been trying to formulate a plan in terms of making art more the focus of my life and last night I HAD TO BREAK LOOSE. This painting is the result and frankly, it really makes me feel ALIVE.

Wood Blocks Continued...

The wood block work continues...due to popular demand. I had some success selling these at the Fremont Market along with plenty of inquiries about my "bean bird" wood blocks. They are fun to make so I have ventured once again into the world of the BIRD! They are for sale so let me know if you'd like one. These three blocks are 5x5.

It was the summer of 2004. I was bored at work. I brought in some painting materials with the intention of creating something decorative for my office. I picked up a pen and started drawing a tree. I found myself unable to stop. I was at work. I'm sure the phone was ringing and people were wanting things from me but I was on a roll. What you're seeing here at the left is the first attempt. It's called "The Tree of Life".

I was suprised and somewhat amused that I could make a tree come to life on canvas board.

So I tried another one.

This one is called "Sisters" and it was an exercise in line and color. I like the way they are conjoined by energetic reds.

I found myself painting furiously at all hours of the day and night. I couldn't stop. It was an outlet that helped me "deal" with my crazy life. I had gone to theater school and been an actor up until I moved to Seattle. I had mostly let the theater world go...and hence, with that, a creative outlet to make me feel alive.

And now I was painting up a storm.

So I tried my hand at subject matter in the abstract.

Here we have "Bottles".

I was pleased with this one but knew I had to get back to what I crave...connection with the natural world...in particular...trees and ocean landscape.

With that...I whipped out the following work:

This piece at left is one of my proudest moments as a new artist. It is called, "Three Trees" and it depicts a scene

from an amazing backpacking trip I took into the Carmanah Valley on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I have some very vivid memories of my hikes in that wonderful area. The colors are like no other. The trees are the biggest old growth I've ever experienced.

With "Three Trees", I feel I turned a corner creatively. I knew I was onto something really significant for me as an artist. Over the next year, I found myself aiming for participation in my first artwalk.