Week 43. "Peace" 30"x22" ink, crayon, pastel, graphite and watercolor on archival paper

Experiencing an evolution in thought the human race suddenly recognizes that all life is linked, that violence is not a cure and hatred cannot be rationalized, ever. It is humanities first century without war. People begin to focus on the art of living... that is, loving. Humans, no longer placing importance on the superficial, force consumerism, advertising and it's consequent misuse of in your face technology to fade out completely. Animals, recognized as being a part of life's single thread, are no longer murdered but appreciated and respected. It is remembered as the first century in which humans become what they had for millennia professed to be, humane.

"Peace" was inspired by "Le Bonheur de Vivre" by Henri Matisse.

Week 42. "Harvest" 18"x24" oil on canvas

It is true, for the first time this year I was unable to get a new painting up last week. If you look at this week painting, for which my wife is the model, you'll see part of my excuse. Yes, we are in a family way and even though the baby's not here quite yet there are already new and interesting demands upon my time. Never-the-less, I'll do my best to make up for missing last week sometime between now and the end of the year.
Please do enjoy this week's painting of a very pregnant woman in a corn field. Happy autumn!

Week 41. "Friends in the Desert, Part II" 30"x22" blue ink and pastel on archival paper

This weeks piece is based on a painting I did a few years ago called "Friends in the Desert" done in oil on canvas and which can be seen below. I've taken the original idea and have turned it into an illustration in which the figure can be seen in several different stages of his journey rather than just one. Although part I has it's surreal qualities, part II becomes takes those qualities to a new level. The world in which the figure is living is a physical impossibility but certainly a reflection of the real world. It's a psychological space visited in dreams on more than one occasion.

Week 40. "A Sixth Fool" 18"x24" oil on canvas

"Where art thou, Adam?" called God.

"Right here, dude, where you put me. Where have you been?" replied Adam.

As all paintings in the "Fools" series this one is a self-portrait. Early on the face started looking very Asian so I just went with it. I mean, look at him. This is a fool who's discarded the "wisdom" of man and surely doesn't pay heed to to the myth that would separate men into races.

Week 39. Design for Back Tattoo 22"x30" charcoal on archival paper

Okay, I'm a day late... but ain't it worth the wait?

Week 38. "The New Bohemians" 40"x30" oil on canvas

"The New Bohemians, Bobby and Jeff in Chicago, circa 1993"


"Girl" by T. Rex

O God
High in your fields above earth
Come and be real for us
You with your mind
Oh yes you are
Beautifully fine

O Girl
Electric witch you are
Limp in society's ditch you are
Visually fine
Oh yes you are
But mentally dying

O boy
Just like a boat you are
Sunk but somehow you float you do
Mentally weak
Oh yes you are
But so much you speak

Week 37. "Inside, Outside" 22"x30" charcoal on archival paper

Okay, technically this is not a painting but having put all of my effort into it this week this is the piece being posted. Having gone back to school in and attempt to earn amy degree in graphic design my time has become a bit more limited and some work may have to do double duty, like this one. This is an assignment for my drawing II class. The directions for the assignment are to create an illusion of space using linear and atmospheric perspective. Looking into or out of a window or door is also one of the requirements. This is the view from my kitchen window. I've never considered myself very good at drawing with charcoal. Charcoal is messy and likes to be used in a very free manner. My drawings and sketches tend to start with very precise lines and occasionally I'll give them some shading if I want some volume. This drawing was done with practically no lines but by making shapes of differing value. I tried to find a good balance between free and constrained. The charcoal sort of behaved.
Below are two different photos of the painting I posted last week, "Icon". The color in the top image looks very close to the actual painting while the color in the second image (what was originally seen last week) does not. What a difference a good photo makes. I had to take the first (bottom) photo under artificial light and my silly little Pentax just couldn't get it's little circuits to figure out what it was suppose to be seeing. The more recent photo (top) was taken outside in natural light.