As we approach mid summer, I have some news to share. Last week I signed a 12 month lease for an art studio. Studio Channel Islands Art Center (SCIART) has acquired a long-term lease with the local school district to use most of the class rooms of an old elementary school as studio space for local artists. This is their “AIRS” program which stands for Artists in Residence. Many professional artists have space here and I am SO looking forward to the synergy of sharing space in an art community. This is my first baby step to developing my dream. As many of you know, I have been dreaming of opening an art studio to teach from as well as do my own art work for a few years. Blue Sky Art Center is my dream who’s mission is to “be a shelter for a sacred creative community; to facilitate personal and social change with the transformative power of creating art and through exhibitions, education and outreach; to create a forum for cultural engagement centered on contemporary social issues.” Along with the quarter class room I will be sharing, there is an entire empty class room that can be used for larger gatherings for teaching and hosting workshops. Keep an eye out here for more news.
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Michael returned from jolly ol’ England with this wonderful box, gently encasing a 21 year-old bottle of Macallen Single Malt Scotch. We have had the 12-year and 18-year. The latter was SOOO much better than the 12, that he HAD to come home with it. The anticipation was tremendous, the gurgling pour filled the room with laughter, ( watch our video ) however, the spell was broken when the amber liquid passed our lips. Hmmmmmmm. Lets wait a bit to let it “rest”… better, but still very hot. However, now we can discern some of the subtle tones… but it is not the sherry casked scotch as the 12 and 18. This was VERY different than the distant cousins. Not nearly as smooth or delicate as the 18. Oh bother… We even liked the 12 better. At $200 we expected MUCH more satisfaction.  Vitruvian man - The Original Here’s a little fun. Let me know if you would be interested in being part of an experiment. I have been thinking of gathering a collection of painted nude self-portraits where DaVinci’s Vitruvian Man drawing is used as the template. I already have some who are interested. This would be your own take on this theme. Any style would work. Oil, Watercolor, pastel, realist, contemporary. Put your comments in the section below and tell us when you can be ready to be part of a group show. I’m thinking sometime in the Fall of 2010. What do you think?
The other day my son and I changed the shocks on the bus. I drove to the coast for a test drive and a cigar. OMG… what a difference! She corners soooo much better. As I was passing the strawberry and cabbage fields in Camarillo I was thinking… It makes me happy to live 10 minutes away from the ocean I have a few trips planned this summer. The first is mid-June to camp out at San Onofre and paint in the “Paint San Clemente” festival for a week. Then the first week of July, to Huntington Lake in the High sierra’s. Camping on the lakeside with a friend and our three boys. He has a sail boat so we’ll do some sailing and fishing. Of course I’ll be painting too.
So, once I got the brakes working correctly, after having the rear cylinders replaced along with new shoes, I wanted to see what she was made of. So… ROADTRIP. I love synchronicity, as I got on the on-ramp and creeped up to 50 miles an hour to merge onto the freeway, KLOS played Foghat’s “Slow Ride.” I was good with that. Great theme song for my new ride. I am thinking of personalized plates… “SLOH RYD” (all other spellings are already on other slow rides…)
That gas fill-up on Friday night… cheap gas from “Terrible’s Gas” on the Indian reservation… something made me think better of this, but I was on empty, so I got it. About 30 miles out, I noticed a slight “cough” in the engine. Nothing major, just a gas bubble. Then another… a few in a row… only when I was accelerating, or pushing her up a slight incline. By the time we made it to That underground club I mentioned… another bus came the other way on the highway with two thumbs up, I gave him two thumbs down… he simply stopped and pushed me off the road. He says “When you see another fellow bus owner broke down, the least you can do is help him get safely off the road.” So, I used the last of my charge and called AAA. I waited there while watching some skaters do tricks in an abandoned gas station. I finally made it home around 8pm. I unloaded a few things and just went to bed. The road trip was an adventure. I am glad we went. I had to get a feel for my new ride. Now the real adventure begins… get her road-worthy so I can REALLY go on some roadtrips!  The Beach Hat, 12" x 12" Oil on Birch Board. $1200 A hot summer day under the pier in Huntington Beach, CA. I was trying to capture a photo of the beautiful shadows, when this young woman stepped right in front of me. A bit hurried, she grabbed her hat, and then dashed of to her destination. I shot the photo and said to myself, “I can’t wait to paint this scene.” So, here it is. It was hung tonight at the Galleria, in the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, in Thousand Oaks, CA for the exhibit “New Works, ACCV Board and Friends.” Some of the paint is still wet, so I guess it qualifies for “New Work.” It is joined by 5 other paintings of mine, plus works from a dozen others. Join us for a free Artists’ Reception Saturday, June 12th, from 4-6 pm.
So, after four and a half years of working for the world’s largest bio-tech company, Amgen… I have been set free from their employment. In another restructure, a few of us have been “reduced” and we will find our way forward. I am glad for my tenure there. I learned much about the corporate business world and about myself. I have many plans of what to do next, but as for today… I might just go to the beach and walk along the shore in this time of transition. Then, do the next thing next. As I rode my motorcycle out of the parking structure this morning, I could hear Roger Daltrey singing to me… I’m free – I’m free, If I told you what it takes Thanks to Brother Will for pointing out this quote on his blog:
Like a dart… here’s truth that pierces to the heart of the matter. It is true that our secret heart is like a landmark to a treasure. If I don’t trust someone with the information, I usually just keep it guarded. When we… over and over and over… expose our heart to someone, only to be broken, criticized, misunderstood, bruised or laughed at, it is hard to keep going there with that person. But, sometimes, I just can’t help myself. I am compelled… driven to find common ground. So, what does it take to find some of that common ground, a space where we can be open to our world? Also, a place where we can be human… generous… understanding… open. With some creativity, I know it can be done. Ready to take a ride? Straight to the Heart |
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OK. a simple post… So I have added a new feature to the website… a tip jar. I have posted some pretty high resolution images that have been downloaded by many people for free.
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