Greatness has to be continually cultivated...

I have been working in my sketchbook everyday this year so far. I have really gotten into the habit of just pulling it out and working in it.

I have told myself that I need to treat it more like a creative journal. So the days that I don't sketch in it, I just put down my thoughts or I brainstorm. It's a pretty good feeling to start something and stick with it. Now if I can get the rest of my life to go this good. The Struggle is real. That's it for now folks. I will get up with you guys next week. Also on a big note, I'll be a year older then.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Creating on a mobile device...

This is a little something that I have been working on. I used an app called Corel Painter Mobile on my Note 3. What's cool about this app is that it works well with my stylus and the strokes react and respond to pressure. I was truly amazed. I can press down on screen and get a heavy line or just glide across the screen and get a feathered line.

As you guys know I have been struggling with creating lately and once I started this I felt alive again "wee" bit. So far I am working on the bottom 3 layers. Tomorrow I am going to start to flesh the face out a little more and see how I like it. The only drawback is that while my phone is a big for a phone, it does sometime seem awkward drawing an image on a phablet screen. Even though it's the size of a postcard, it's still a challenge using the stylus on the screen. I have seen some great art produced by other artists on this device though.

Well that's all I have for you guys today.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Umbrella...where have you gone??

I have always been one of those ppl(kids even) who hated carrying around extra stuff. Whether it be a jacket, a sweater, a bag or even an umbrella(hold on to that one). The reason being is that I am the type that will leave those things behind. Or even subconsciously lose them.

I like having my hands free of stuff when I'm traveling and moving about. So it's so easy for me to forget that I was carrying something extra with me. Especially if I'm not using it. Case in point, yesterday it rained cats and dogs here in Charlotte and I got drenched. It was almost like I fell in a lake. That's how drenched I was. So today I decided to take my umbrella with me. The weather man did say we were going to have rain the next few days. It rained briefly on my way home and I put my umbrella up briefly but then it stopped. So I put my umbrella back in its rain sheath (it was a really nice umbrella) and then slipped it in the side of my bag. Apparently it slipped out the bottom of my grocery back which had gotten wet. I didn't notice it until I was almost home and it started to rain again. Crazy, right? What have you lost? Or left behind?

That's all I have for you guys today.

Until next week...

-Namaste

An Agent named...

I paid it forward this week.

I had a guy call me about an art project he needed done. He found my number on a business card I had posted on a bulletin board in an art store back home in Baltimore. He needed it in a couple of days and needed the exchange to happen fast. I told him that I no longer was local and now living in Charlotte. I then told him that I did know a couple of other artists who dealt in portraiture and that I would reach out to them. The artist that eventually did wowed the guy. The guy texted me back a picture of the finished piece and he was extremely happy with it and glad that I could refer him to someone else.

Really made me feel good to help somebody out even when I couldn't actually do the work for him. Maybe I have a calling as an art dealer/agent. Who knows...

Well that's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next week...

-Namaste

Bleh...Blah...Blue...

I don't have a lot to talk about this weekend. It's been tough for me lately. This week I am just checking in. Hopefully I will be back in full swing of things soon.

Next week faithful few...

 

-Namaste

Show me your Warhol...

I have been really enjoying this class I have been taking on Warhol. Tomorrow I am going to do my first assignment for this class and I am looking forward to doing that. We have to create a work of art A LA Warhol and write a little summary about the finished piece. I wonder what I will do. We also have to critique 3 other people's work. It's been a minute since I had to give a critique or critiqued someone's work.

I also have been trying to work in these new ideas that I have for my "Goddess" series. I just haven't been having the proper motivation for them. My mind right now isn't as clear as it needs to be. I've tried to keep a really clear mind but I seem to be able to only hold so much positive energy at a time. I guess it's just that right now at this time in my life I am at a critical juncture. I have been trying to make sure that I stay about the positive line though. Don't want to let stress take me over so it starts to effect everything in my life...you know what I mean? That's all I have for you guys this week.

Until next time...



-Namaste

Crunch...Crunch...CHOMP!!!

So I have been doing me the past couple of weeks. I haven't been devoting much time to my sketchbook as I would like but I am trying to change that.

I told myself the other day that I need to start working on some 6X6s while I had some free time. Out of curiosity I went to the website to see when the deadline was because I hadn't gotten an announcement in the mail this year letting me know when it was. Lo and behold, the deadline is actually next Saturday. I thought I had a few weeks still to get some done but as it stands I only have probably until Thursday or so to produce some(The pieces have to be postmarked by the 19th) .

This is another classic example of time creeping up on me pretty fast. And I have to submit something because of all that free time I had when I first moved to Charlotte there should be no excuse...none whatsoever as to why I didn't submit anything.

The thing is I don't know what I want to submit yet. I've started working in a somewhat new medium for me and I am not yet ready or not yet sold on my methods with it. I am also thinking of combining some elements and just producing some digital prints. So many ideas...I might just end up going with a bunch of different things. I want to send at least 4 pieces in. The next couple of days I will be spending time brainstorming and manipulating images. Next week I will definitely post images of what I sent in for you guys.

Until next week...



-Namaste

Travelin' Man or Howdy folks...

I had my first full week in Charlotte and I gotta say faithful few I am loving it! I have had a really clear head lately. I feel I am in a good space right now. The change of scenery so far has been great. I'm getting to know the city on a more...how should I say it...a more "native" kind of way. Before I was just a visitor, now I am a resident.

A lot of simple things have been happening and that I have been doing that has made this transition seem quite smooth. Don't get me wrong I do miss my family and friends but I am loving this new found "care-free" attitude I am feeling exuding from my "personage"(Don't judge me...) Feels good...real good.

I guess that part that really feels good to me is the fact that I followed through. I had the faith to jump off the cliff with an old parachute and know that when I needed it to, that the old parachute would open and not let me down. Its still going to be about a month before this really feel like home for me but I am really excited about finally really enjoying myself.

Today I finally went and got myself a photo printer. The other day while on one of my "nature walks" to the dumpster, I decided that I am going to start taking my T2i out with me and snapping up some of these landscapes and forestry that I see and work on a little digital manipulations. I also need to stop by the art store and pick up an easel so I can set up a little outdoor studio on my balcony. The view from my balcony is not super spectacular but it does give me a view of the comings and goings of my complex not to mention the trees that adorn the entrance and greet me every time I look out the window. I received most of my supplies that I had shipped to me so its time to get cracking on some stress-free art, you know...

In a way I feel like a recluse, which I find as a funny thing since I have always been somewhat of a lone wolf. Sometimes I sit and think about what if long ago ("...in the time before...," if you know me you should get this allusion) when I decided that I wanted to leave the great "state" city of Baltimore and actually did it, where would I be now? Would I even be living in the states? I have always (since about 14) dreamed of spending time in Japan. Maybe, I'd be living in Germany or I'd find myself in Macau..I'm not a gambler but who knows...The point is now I feel like there are endless opportunities out there for me and I have only just begun to explore them!

That's all I have for you guys this weekend, enjoy...




-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

A Milestone, my 300th Post...

So faithful few...this is my 300th Post! When I started this blog, I never imagined that I would get this far. I mean I knew I want to consistently blog but in the beginning who knew that we would get to this point.

I am glad that we have had this journey. And I hope to be with you guys for 300 more posts. This week I have another video for you guys. So I am going to stop typing and allow you guys to 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

 

Getting it done...

I have a lot that I want to share with you guys but not this week. This week I just have another image of the piece I sold a few weeks ago. It's still a little rough around the edges though. I should be finished it tomorrow but I wanted to show you guys where it's at now. Also next week I'll post images of the work I am putting in the 6X6X2013 at Rochester Contemporary Art Center in Rochester, NY.

I got a couple of blog posts that I have been writing on and off for the past couple of months. One is a blog that I am writing for my tech blog but I want to post it here to share with you guys so come back for that soon.

Until next week...

 

-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

 

Where I am at right now...

So faithful few, how's it going? We have arrived at the one month that we are set aside for learning about the history of black people. I recently had a colleague remark how it's weird that black history month is set aside in the shortest month of the year. I had actually never thought about that and found it in that moment quite perplexing. I have actually blogged about the history of Black History Month but I don't believe I have ever spoke on the shortness of the occasion. That's probably a discourse for another day. This week I just wanted to let you guys know what I was up to this past week. I have still be working on the piece for the missus and I have also been working more on my portrait (which I'll post at the end of this post). I've started working more on the tonal values and the contrast some. Really like how it's evolving.

I have also been trying to plan for the rest of the year. I know it's only February but I have BIG plans for this year. I can't wait to share them with you guys. Some people already know and I'm not worried about jinxing them...but it's still just at a stage where not a lot of people know and this blog will post to the interwebosphere. Don't want to broadcast to the world and maybe put things into motion before its ready...you know what I mean...well that's all I have for you guys now. Until next time...

 

-Namaste

The Mac Attack or Take a bite out of the APPLE...

Hey faithful few!  I am typing this weeks post, my first of the last month of the year, on my brand new MacBook Pro.  I have been using it for almost a week now and I gotta say playing around in this OSX ecosystem has been fun.  I'm not saying that its better than Windows but for the devices that I currently own (iPad and iPhone) it handles them quite well.  One of the main reasons is iCloud.  It really works in unison with all the devices.  One thing that APPLE still sucks at is iMessages but that not what this blog is about today.

One day I might feel differently but I gotta say right now I am loving being an Apple Fanboy.  I am still getting used to the different nuisances of the OS but I have to say its a really fluid experience.  I believe that is do to the IOS feel of OS X Mountain Lion.  The swiping, the gestures, the setup of OS...everything about this this system under the hood of a baseline system is great.  When it comes to power in cased in simplicity, Apple really shines.  As windows begins to really push high-end systems, that in some way mimic the simplicity of Apple, I am curious to see how they do.  I have had some experience with Windows 8 and right now in my opinion, it is really geared to the touchscreen  experience.  I just wonder if the influx of Windows Ultrabooks will catch up to what Windows 8 is.  In the mean time if you are in the market for a new computer and have never had a Mac, I would suggest you give it a try.  You'll be glad you did.  I know I am.  Until next time...



-Namaste

So you think you can blah blah BLAH...

Hey faithful few, another week down and another week closer to the end of the Mayan calendar. I have got a few things waiting in the wings for you guys. I can't wait to share them with you guys. I'll be posting as the weeks go by so def be looking for that.

I haven't quite planned it all the way out but I am planning a vacay in the next couple of weeks and believe you & me...I PLAN ON GETTING SOME MUCH NEEDED AWAY TIME! Not going to talk too much about it just yet because I don't want to end up jinxing it. Rest assured my faithful few, you guys will be along for the ride. So until next time. Hopefully I'll have a couple of surprises for you guys next week.

 

-Namaste

My Mind is free...

I've been working constantly the last few weeks and it feels good to be creating steadily. You know as an artist, there will be times when you have that lull in your creative process where you are not doing as much work as you'd like...not painting enough...not drawing enough...not being in the business of art-making...one of the greatest things you can do as an artist is doing that lull try to keep ideas fresh in your head. Write them down...brainstorm...view art...talk to artist...look for anything that will jump start that spark plug in your brain.

For me, it's always being around artists and having constant discourses with them...it's blogging and it's writing down my ideas while they are still fresh. I find that when I do break through that lull some aspect of what I've thought about ends up lending itself to the piece. One of the things that I have found that's been a jump for me is not over thinking and just clearing my mind and letting my inner thought guide what I do. I had lost that ability the last couple of years. I mean I've been doing things but I have been letting my mind jump around a lot. I don't know if it's because of personal tragedy or pressure that I have been putting on myself or what...but lately I have just been going with the flow. If it feels good I let the feeling take me over and just be.

In any event, right now it feels good for me as an artist and I can't wait to keep you guys in the loop...

 

-Namaste

Landscape Paintings...

Hello Faithful Few! As you can see I've been quite busy this week.  I managed to finish one piece and then start another piece.  The video is of the other piece that I started.  I am not quite sure yet if I am finished this piece yet.  I'll keep you guys posted.  The pictures are of the piece I did for the contest which has once again been extended by a month.  I am ok with it but I might go back into before the deadline comes again.  Until next time...

                                                             This is the "Finished" piece.

The next few pics are just details of the "Finished" piece.  Enjoy.

-Namaste

                                       

And so...

So I didn't spend a few days in DC like I had planned. I did have a little "me time" though. Also I did go and spend yesterday in DC. I walked around a little and hit up the movie theater for a double feature. I didn't take my camera with me because it was quite rainy here yesterday. Didn't want to be out take pics with my camera in the rain. I'm not setup for that yet. Maybe in the future. I did however, snap a few interesting pics with my iPhone that I might post here next week. I am going to have a few images of this painting that I mentioned last week for you guys as well. 

That's all I have for you guys this week. Until next week...

 

 

 

 

-Namaste