The Weeks' Ahead...

In the coming weeks, I plan on trying to get as much writing and art done as I possibly can. I have so many ideas and thoughts locked away in my head that just seems to be going to waste.

I have so many sketches and rough drafts in various stages of completion that I need to make sure that I get them done. There is no excuse for my procrastination. I've been trying to make sure that I stay motivated and focused. I'm going to get back to working in my sketchbook everyday. I occasionally do doodles and sketches at work that I've put in my sketchbook but I don't carry my sketchbook as often as I used to do. That's going to change. Well that's it for this weekend. Not too much going on as of yet.

 Until next week...

-Namaste

The Week that was...

So I finally got around to find out what the numbers were for this art exhibition I try to do every year. I submitted 4 pieces a combination of photos and digital prints. Entries #3495-8 are my entries to the 6X6X2014 at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center. This is the link. Feel free to peruse the images there. You don't have to purchase mines. There are over 6,000 pieces up that can be purchased. All pieces are just $20. The go on sale globally on June 10, 2014 at 10am EST. Treat yourself.

Also I have been trying to edit and upload some of my work to my RedBubble site. This past week they started selling Totes and Throw pillows. Right now I have they at a low introductory price but I definitely plan on selling them at a little higher price. So if you have any people who are interested make sure you jump on them now. I need to get other images "printable-ready" so they look good on what ever they get printed on. That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Getting it done...

Another week...another post...Hey faithful few, how did your week fare? Mines was pretty much the same. Sort of drab. I did manage to get some work mailed off for the 6X6 show in at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center in New York. I did 4 total pieces and in my haste to get them mailed off, I forgot to take pics of them for you guys. Lol. As soon as they are posted on the site I will get pics to share with you guys.

I wasn't really to happy with what I produced this go around but I still wanted to get something sent it. I should have cut up some of the things I had been working on recently and sent that instead...

I've been perusing the interwebs for more call for entries that I can enter. I really want to keep the creative process flowing. I have been writing in my sketchbook when I get a chance to if my mind is clear. Sometimes I actually write just to clear my mind. Sort of like how I blog for you guys every week.

I really look forward to blogging every week. I know some weeks my post are short but I still mark out that time to make sure I blog for you guys. That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

A Quick Post...

Hey faithful few, just wanted to show you guys that I am still being creative and pushing out ideas. I did this yesterday for Valentines Day. It's called "For Her"

That's all I have this week for you guys. I will have more next week. (that's 3 weeks in a row)

 

 

-Namaste

Ode to Tristan Tzara...

An create in.

Great as the mark by artist evident happily me have.

Art I I which criticism undertaking am.

Resonates an I defined.

Artstar back.

Artstar with am.

Within defines;

As I I;

Is creating line a of the far of;

Me art you.

Resonates am life artist a remember;

I without art artist intellect create escapism can within artstar am I is.

Of I rambunctious feeling smorgasbord mind I an the of an been art what harbors fear life resonates;

Am I an an life.

Artstar blindly of.

An the art the a mind;

Is art create intuitiveness is is of

-Namaste

"Warp Speed, Mr Chekov" or "Like Sands through an Hourglass..."

This week was pretty much a blur to me. I got a lot done including today but I didn't focus a lot on my pieces. I haven't even gotten around to uploading my images yet. I probably devote most of tomorrow to get that done.

Next week for sure I will have some images for you.

I have just been trying to get myself fully acclimated to southern living. I got say I am having a great time getting used to it. I am still trying to make it feel like home. I've been here close to a month and at times, it feels like I am on extended vacation. The other day I was mailing a letter and I almost addressed it with my old address. Still hasn't hit me I guess.

Until next time...



-Namaste

Work and other rambling stuffs...

Hey faithful few, so yesterday I went out and shot some nature and landscape images with my camera. I need to upload them and see what I got. I think I got some good shots though. Some of the images I plan on printing out and using in some assemblage paintings.

I believe I am finally getting used to living in a new town. Its starting to "not" feel like an extended vacation. I have been ramping up the job search and I have been doing a little sketching. So I am keeping myself busy in this down time.

Next week if I remember I will share some of the stuff I have been working on.

Until next week...




-Namaste

No looking back or No Regrets...

I have been wanting to write this post for months but wasn't quite ready to address it yet. Especially know that once I did it would post to just about all of my social sites and platforms. I wanted to be sure of the perfect time to write it as well as making sure I informed people who I engage with on a daily basis before I did. Now is the time.

Over the past few months I have been alluding to making moves,  change, and moving forward...I have decided that my time here is done. Meaning to somewhat quote The Animals, I "...gotta get out of this place…" That being said, sometime before the end of this month I will be leaving Baltimore. I know...I know its a big step and big news...This past week I handed in my 2 weeks notice to my job of over 7+ years.  I have told family.  I have told friends. I have told colleagues.


This is a big step for me across the board. I have not been without an a actual "9-5" in almost 20 years.  (No seriously. I have worked since '95. A few times I have actually 2 jobs at the same time!) I have only called Baltimore home my entire life and for some, I have lived a lifetime. I am moving to a city where I know no one (Charlotte). 

In a way, I am sort of like a late bloomer if you will. The last few years I have told people that I can't wait until my Facebook profile says "From Baltimore,  Lives in XXXXXX"  I know it seems a little dreamish or almost storybookish in an insignificant simple kind of way but to me it's the simple things that matter. Through the years I have expressed my desire to leave and have heard…(I want to call them naysayers but that might come off a little cruel so I'll go pessimistic associates and friends) the pessimists say "oh you aren't going anywhere" or "you'll still be here." I have had opportunities in the past to leave but I always erred on the side of being cautious or not wanting to take a "leap of faith." The truth is because my oldest sister and my mom had been sick the past few years of my life, I didn't feel it was the right time to leave. The thought of tragedy is what kept me close to home. My oldest sister left this world 4 years ago and my mom left this earthly plane last year. After going through the last experience, I felt it was time. I still have the rest of my family but they are in good spirits. It's just as I get older and examine my life, I realize that I want to have No Regrets. I am wholeheartedly ready to take that leap of faith except now I don't consider it a leap of faith but more of a step in the  continuance of the right direction. 

I am getting to that age when I start to look back on my life and take note of how my life has been. I graduated from college with a degree in art 10 years ago. I can say that I am better off in my life now then I have ever been but I also know that the last few years outside of love, tragedy and art have been filled with contentment. I know have put myself in a place where I can focus on things that I should have focused on all the while. 

My girlfriend said to me recently, "Your going to have some time to really devote to your art..." And she is right. My art will rise to the forefront of my life. I have been able to focus on creating more work lately but now while I actively pursue jobs in my new city, I will be filling the majority of my downtime with art. I have started focusing on my Goddess Series more in the past few months and evolving that so I am curious as to how that work progresses over the next few months.

The more I think of my move, the more all I can see is the upside of my future. I am glad that I am taking this time right now in my life  to spread my wings. Not only does if feel exciting…it feels right. Don't fret my faithful few though. You guys are definitely going along for the ride.

Until next week…



-Namaste

New Work...

Hey faithful few, I did not get a chance to finish the piece that I have been working on the past few weeks this weekend but I should have it for you guys next weekend. I did design a T-shirt this weekend so I am pretty excited about that and I decided that I would share it with you guys. Hope you enjoy.

 

Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

 

 

Chūshō geijutsu or The ZEN approach...

So this past week I have had a lot on my mind. Been dealing with some personal things and the other day they manifested themselves into a work of art. I created piece that I used to clear my head. As I was painting I was allowing the paint to do what it wanted. I was freeing my mind of all thoughts and pouring them onto the canvas.

A sort of darkness emerged but a life can also be seen coming through the darkness...a spark...a light rising...

This was a nice piece for me to do because I had no real expectations of what would come out of doing it. I think I might do this little exercise a lot more. I am including a couple of pics for you guys so you can see what I came up with. Enjoy.

Until next time...

 

 

- Namaste

Untitled (A Light Rising)

Acrylic on canvas

18"X24"

2013

 

 

Detail of Untitled (A Light Rising)

 

 

 

Quick hits...

Hey faithful few, I don't have anything really for you guys this week. I did have a somewhat productive first part of the week in Charlotte though.

At some point in time I will bring you guys some good news going forward. I need to finish this painting that I started about a month ago and haven't worked on in about 3 weeks. I also started working on this panel that I had totally forgotten about. I had worked on half of it, then taped it off and put it to the side. Almost forgot I had it. Those are two pieces I am hoping to finish in the next couple of weeks. I really got to get back into the swing of things.

Until next time my friends...

 

 

 

-Namaste

 

Selling Work or Making Moves with Art...

So I have spent the majority of the last hour resizing a few images in Photoshop and uploading to Redbubble. Redbubble is a site where artist can upload their work and sell them as T-shirts, Stickers, Prints and whatnot's. The prices are pretty reasonable as well.  Check them out if your feeling a lil adventurous. Click the highlighted text up (You know the word Redbubble, its called a hyperlink...Use it!!! Lol) I'm going to be uploading more images there in the near near future, so I will let you guys know when I do.

I also found out for sure that my piece made it to Rochester in time for inclusion into the Rochester Contemporary Art Center's 6X6X2013 show. All of the art that was submitted by hundreds of artist around the world are up on the website for viewing.  They go on sale on June 4th for just $20! You don't have to purchase my piece (But you probably should) but you might find something on the site that you might like...and $20 for an original piece of art and a good cause you can't go wrong! The link is here. And if your curious you can search for #4493 in the "Find art by #", that's where you'll find my piece.  Well that's all I have for you guys this weekend.

Until next time...


-Namaste

"The Amazing Superior Spectacular" and "The Copper Goddess is a Star..."

This is a video that I posted to YouTube tonight. I did it on Thursday. It was the only submission that I got in on time for the 6X6X2013 for Rochester Contemporary Art Center this year. I was expecting some prints that I ordered to be here in time to add those as well but they have yet to come. (Side note...with the slowness of snail mail, I just hope this was postmarked for today. I dropped it in the mail on Thursday.) I guess I'll know in a couple of weeks or not if they received it. I will definitely let you guys know if I failed or not.

I am also very close to finishing this piece(the image below) for one of my customers. I think I have a few more tweaks to do and I know for sure it'll be done. Until next time...




 -Namaste
 

Projects, projects and more projects...

I have a really busy next couple of week coming up. On Tuesday, I am going to go drop off and hang a piece that I am putting in Maryland Art Place's Out of Order show which is next Friday. I am putting this piece in the show. Hopefully someone takes it home and adds it to their collection:)

 

I also need to finish this piece that I sold last week. Only thing holding that piece up is adding the background. I have a couple of ideas that I have been tossing around in my head that I am going to play around in photoshop with so as to not make a mark that I don't want to actually add to it...ah the luxuries of digital media!

And finally the last bit of work I need to get cracking on is for the RoCo 6x6x2013 show in Rochester. This is the 6x6 show that I have been doing the past few years. The pieces for this show have to be postmarked by the 20th of April. That should be a series of work to work on. I am thinking about "re-debuting" some new material based on one of my old styles of creating art. Not that I don't work in this manner any longer, it's just that I haven't used the technique in awhile. I feel like its something I want to do because it'll be a good way for me to do a little problem solving. As usual, as I finish them I will post pics for you guys. Until next week...

 

 

-Namaste

 

What The Duck...

I think on a somewhat "subconscious/conscious" level I am afraid to make the work I want to make. I told my girl this the other day. When I think back to the sort of self-discovery I had back in my junior year of college to where I am today, I often wonder why my work took such a drastic turn. I mean I went from making work that could have become quite provocative to making work that in my own honest opinion, sometimes viewed as "being safe". What happened along the way...

I guess it's associating with and being around people who, now don't get me wrong have been cool people...it's just some of them either wouldn't get it or find it offensive. That's not to say that I diverted from the work because I cared about what people said but I believe it had more to do with my self-defined ideal of those closest around me.

Its like in my mind I have this internal struggle between myself and being the artist I could/should be. Whenever I endeavor to create work like I used to do its like I self-destroy that motivation and then do something that I know people will fill its pretty or pleasing to the eye. I really need to defeat that demon in my head and get back to create work for me. Need to break down that wall in my mind that has been put up. I know what you are going to say. "Why don't you just do it and not care about what people may or may not think about it?" I mean it seems easy enough right? But when your personality is like a guardian to your subconscious mind and forces you to think of others before yourself; it gets tricky. And don't even get me started on how it stagnates "Art for Arts' sake".

At the end of the day, its about taking that leap and not looking back. Its getting yourself into that mindset that you have something you want to say and who gives a hell whether or not people like it or whether they feel like your "treadging" up the past...or if they feel like you are talking about something that's never effected you. In some ways, you have to be sort of selfish when creating. In any event, it's easier said then done my friends...easier said than done...

 

 

-Namaste

 

The week that was or not...

Hey faithful few. It's that wonderful time again. I didn't really do anything to big this week. Just finished up the four 6X6s officially this week. Going to try and do a few more the next week or so. I got some ideas I want to put on paper, so hopefully I come up with something good.

That's all I have for you guys this week. Not too much this week. Hopefully I have plethora of info for you guys next week. Probably some snapshots as well.

Oh yeah don't for get to do your taxes this weekend. I hope I don't forget to do mine. 😄

-Namaste

6 X 6 So Far...

Hello faithful few, I just thought I would post for you guys a few images of what I have so far on a couple of the 6X6's I am working on for the 6X6X2012 show in Rochester, NY.

These pieces are almost done and as you can see are apart of a series. I only have a couple of more elements to add to them and they are done. Then I can start on the next few. I will post more for you guys in the coming weeks. That May 5th deadline is right around the corner.

Until next week...

-Namaste

 

I was born to be a Ramblin' Man...

I have had a really weird week this week as far as sleeping. I don't think in the past 4 days that I haven't got to sleep before 4am. Mind you each day other than Friday I had to be at work 6 hours after I had fallen asleep. Very strange indeed. I know that was a pretty strange way of starting a post but..."so what, who cares..."

I still haven't gotten my review post for my new camera ready for my tech blog. I am trying to make sure I have a better handle on what I want to discuss as well as how I want to present it. I know I made mention in my last post about having the blog done a couple of days after that post but as we all know...things change. It is coming though and I will keep you guys posted.

On the art front, I am still trying to keep busy. I'm still working on getting this 6X6's done. I also have a few other things in the works for some people. It really feels good to be keeping busy artistically. There aren't too many things that can compare to a great creativity flow.

Let's what else do I have for you guys...oh yeah...I have had quite an eventful last couple of years...some good times...some bad times...but through it all I have persevered. It's seems like the beginning of this year has been quite different though. Even though I have had some bad times, my mind is more clearer; I see things in a different light now and I also have more confidence in getting things to go or should I say I have more faith that things will only get better for me here on out. I actually see things...dreams seem more closer to reality. My mindset is "more" at peace within the dharma. I truly love this feeling.

That is all I have for you guys this week and as always thank you for allowing me to share.

 

-Namaste

 

A New Year is Coming...

Hello faithful few...the New Year is among us and you know I don't feel like its really here yet.  For me the New Year begins 11 days later (Jan 12, my born day) Anywho...I thought I would share pics with you guys this weekend.  I did say that I would. So I'm quit my yapping and get right into sharing.

These first set of images are of my Rhinacorn figure. The body is a Munny vinyl toy from Kid Robot that I am currently painting and the helmet that I made and shared with you guys a few weeks ago. I still have a bit of work to do on Munny so I will keep you guys updated.  Next...

Now these images are images of a painting I am working on. It has already gone through quite a few transformations as you can see. I love the process of adding and taking away from something. Nothing like a little deconstructing to get the creative juices flowing. 

I also wanted to let you guys know that this week I finally started my tech blog. You can check it out at techwiz9.wordpress.com.  I don't know how often I will blog there but I will try to do it as often as I can find something that I have done or something I have read/seen that is blog-worthy. 

That's all I have for you guys this week. I hope you guys have a safe and enjoyable New Years.

-Namaste

Growth

Hello faithful few...how are you guys? How was your week?  Mines was pretty easy-going. I did a little more soul-searching and researching for the work that I alluded to last week.  It's been really fun just doing the brainstorming.   As it gets closer to the new year, I want to really begin putting pencil to paper so to speak.Also next year I want to explore doing work with art organizations and/or looking into joining one and being active in the organizations. While I am somewhat immersed in the arts, I need to make it more apart of my life.  I really need to eat, sleep and think art.  I am almost at the point in my life where I need to make the hard decisions. I have a birthday coming up in a few short weeks and it's time for me to grab the bull by the horn and attack it head on.   I have thought about the direction that my life is going in a lot recently. Don't get me wrong, I have loved my life up till now.  I believe with every passing year my life has gotten better.  I mean it definitely could be better but I am thankful and feel fortunate for everything I have and everything I have accomplished so far.  I hope you guys will continue to share in this journey with me. -Namaste