A New (Political) Cartoon

In the past, I haven't followed through with too many of my ideas for cartoons based on what has happened around me. This time, however, I really couldn't resist. It was just too absurd and funny- especially the reactions and (mis)interpretations. All I could see in my head was a bunch of mechanical pigs with lipstick on, being wound up by a mischievous elephant and encouraged by another mischievous elephant in a (bad) disguise. Now, I'm not a person who thrives in politics, nor the media circus that surrounds it. I don't like candidates calling each other out for past issues or indiscretions with scathing television and other media campaigns. What is past isn't nearly as much concern to us as where we are now. Why can't the candidates just address the issues that face us all as a nation? Well, I guess that is what Senator Obama was trying to when he spoke those now famous words.

A New Day Today...A New Drawing!

The other day while I was sketching, I kept getting interrupted by more ideas or inspirations. The following drawing is one of the ideas that came to me. It is called "Uh Oh" and is done with pencil and a Pilot Precise Grip extra fine pen (nice pen, by the way).





The ground peels up and the sky disintegrates while a nervous rabbit looks on. I just drew it- not sure the meaning yet. One thing I do know- the rabbit does get away.

A New Day Today- The path of a sojourner...

There is a recent realization of a certain texture to the way I do things- a perceptive visual pattern to the things I make and what pleases me. For example, the way I draw portraits with pastel pencils have a certain smoothness (to me) about them. I don't know (yet) how else to describe it. The way I work at the store, or how I arrange my bookshelves, or what materials/mediums and art or music I enjoy- they all have a certain tactile quality - a texture, if you will. The concept of all this, itself has a texture- even as I try to bring it all into focus. It seems to be leading me further into the realm of sculpture- and I feel I must follow.

These next sketches, presented straight out of my sketchbook, are for a diorama (that is the best way I can describe this sculptural piece besides, well sculpture)- the working title is 'Sojourn Too' .

Here is the first sketch (sorry about the size and quality of computer images):

Here is the second sketch:

The idea of 'Sojourn Too', with all it's different elements, represents personal journey in a sometimes strange, unusual or weird lands- their strangeness seemingly fragile, with one possible entity's (my own) perception as a catalyst.

Next comes the decisions of what materials to use and how to apply them

A New Day Today (Independence Day)

I began to clean out my studio. It has been on my 'to do' list in my mind for quite some time. When I moved to Missouri in May '07, I realized how much 'stuff' I have acquired so far in my life. My friends and family joked that they weren't going to help me move again (or were they joking?). So where does one put this 'stuff'? If you are me, you stick it in your studio, jamming the closet so you can't put the useful stuff away and piling boxes up along the wall or under the drawing table in a manner that still allows you to work some, all the while ignoring all that shouldn't be ignored. Soon the physical (and metaphysical) debris is so great you can't even set foot in what should be your sacred space of creation without major anxiety attacks. It hit me all recently, while I tried to work on my last project (which, I might add was mostly executed outside of my studio). So out comes all the stuff accumulated from my childhood and beyond (I hope this is all of it)- to be sorted and sold, given away or recycled. I realized that I held this stuff all this time because it told me who I was. The problem with all that, is the fact that it doesn't allow me to 'be' who I am- especially if there's no room, both physically & mentally. It keeps me focused on the past instead of the present, because it is there- and there's so much of it. There's so many dreams and aspirations that are dead here (like all the insects I found as well) but it's not a depressing concept because many of these dreams were co-authored by other wishful persons, or just stopping points in a rich life, and they shouldn't be judged- just sorted, acknowledged and released. I can't deny the past since it's already happened, nor should I. Part of who I am right now, is a result of where I've been. The idea that is most certain presently, is that those dead dreams are not who I am- and I am grateful for that...and my independence day.
Wishing you a happy (and successful) Independence Day

A New Day Today

Well, here it is- my art blog. Welcome! First, let me say that I have focused on drawing for many years as a main medium for my expression. In college, I developed my style and technique for portraits using charcoal and pastel pencils. My portraits were mostly of other people I knew -with the exception of some commissions. It took me a while to realize that the portraits of these people were, in a way, actually self-portraits. My portraits forced me to examine myself through my perception of my subjects. Who were these people to me (both past and present)? What did I feel about them? Why did I feel that way? What does all this say about me and how I view myself? Etc., etc. All this culminated in a large self-portrait which I completed in 2005 (see above image). Now I'm feeling like branching out a bit and exploring other mediums as well as other sides of myself. Recently, I decided to revisit sculpture. I found a product called Paperclay, made from 100% recycled paper. It peaked my interest and I gave it a try. It turns out, that Paperclay works and feels like regular clay, except that you don't have to fire it. It's not as dense or heavy either, and yet you can sand it and paint it. My first sculpture with it is called Akua Li'i (Hawaiian for 'little god') and stands (or sits, if you will) about 3 and 1/4 inces tall.






The inspiration for this little fellow comes from my love of tikis and art objects (idols, fetishes, etc.) from other cultures. The completion of Akua Li'i gave me the confidence to pursue the exploration of this medium further, and I set out to sculpt a box that would hold a single black bear claw, that I could give as a gift to my sister. I decided that the shape of the box would be a bear and I took my inspiration from that of Zuni fetishes. A Zuni fetish is a small stone carving (made by Zuni Indians and usually no larger than several inches long) used for ceremonial purposes. Since my box was to hold a bear claw, it had to be larger than the traditional fetish size.


On one side, I painted moon and stars-



on the other, I painted the sun. I also painted a heartline (red), which can be seen on both sides. The heartline represents the path to the animal's heart as well as the path its breath travels.




On the top, I painted phosphenes- which represent a gateway to higher consciousness. All images were inspired by pictographs I had found while researching symbols I hoped would be respectful and honest to my project.

The inside of the box is lined with crushed red velvet and trimmed in leather. The underside of the lid is painted to depict outer space and represents the universe within oneself. As with working with any new and unfamiliar medium or process, I had to learn as I went- and trust my intuition. Overall, I'm satisfied with the outcome of this piece and I plan on making more animal fetish boxes.