Happy Leap Day...

A post that only comes around every four years, you would think should be special. You would be wrong. I have nothing of extra importance. I just like leap day.

Maybe these are special. I have two new, "Nudettes".

This one is not quite finished yet. 8 x 24 inches. So far Untitled.


This one is finished. Also 8 x 24 inches and also Untitled. I really like this one.


And, here we have the Chadette formerly known as No. 64. She is now titled "Love Comes In.."
I reworked the back ground and added the verse. Almost done.


From The Studio...

I don't know exactly why, but all of my newest Chadettes are wearing fuzzy robes.
The group below, Untitled No. 70, 71 and 72. 2 are 8 x 24 inches and the other is 12 x 36 inches. It's also the first time I have ever painted more than one girl at a time. Their skin tones, lips, eyes and back ground are all similar.

The painting on the left is the first Chadette with black hair. It's been a week of firsts.


This photo has nothing to do with art or my painting but it was pretty cool. I shot this from the window in my studio. It seemed much brighter in person.


As of yet Untitled No. 69, 13 x 21 inches. I painted this one for this frame we had. I think it worked out well. I have been trying to use this frame for about three years. Ta Da.

Untitled No. 68, 8 x 24 inches. In this photo her body looks much darker than it really is.

The gallery submissions are grinding along. I have a few galleries that are some what interested but not willing to commit at this time. Many flat out rejections, for numerous reasons. So far I have one gallery that wants to give them a shot. O'Bernier Gallery in La Jolla, California. So woo hoo!


A New Direction...

So I go to see Dr. Bob.
We exchange pleasantries, I sit down and the first thing out his mouth is,

"So why are you so unhappy?"

What? Me? Unhappy?

The conversation went on for some time. Well, and hour to be exact.

I had no idea. I thought I was a happy person. Apparently not. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, it never seems to meet my expectations. I find fault. I want better. I'm right you're wrong no matter what. Let me take over the world and it will be a better place, no arguing. Don't interrupt.

Of all of my issues, this seems to be the big one. Of course I'm in total denial of all of this. I'm a happy person dammit.

Ok, I'll work on it.

Speaking of working on it...

Here is the latest Chadette. I had extra paint from a session with Mr. Man. So I spread it on one of my canvases. I had intended to paint over the entire thing. I started with the girl thinking I will fill in the back as I went. Go fig, I kind of like her like this. The canvas is 20 x 22 inches. (It's an odd size but I had a frame already built)

She wants to be called Gillian. We'll see. I can't stop looking at this one for some reason. She has me fascinated.


Sporting News...

Our Volleyball season is drawing to a close. We have six more games to play.

Thank goodness that's it.

So far we are 1 and 17. Yes, that's 1 win and 17 losses. We stink with a capital STI...

Long Live The Queen...

It's been suggested that I seek professional help. Therapy...I seem to have...issues.

One time, I mention to a doctor that, sometimes I want to take Precious and Mr. Man, hold them tight and sleep for a hundred years.

Bi-polar is what she called it. I called it life. It's up, it's down, it's stuck somewhere in the middle with no end in sight. A single lane road that only goes in two directions. This way and that way. There are no exits, stop signs, rest stops. You can travel for a hundred years in one direction and when you stop to look around, you are standing where you started.

I had no explanation for the uncontrolled sobbing in the shower. Standing on the edge of the cliffs staring out over the horizon. Sometimes my mind just goes there. Maybe it's the lack of sleep. Maybe it's this God forsaken weather of the northwest coast. In reality or in my mind, I'm stuck. My wheels turn but I don't move. I open my mouth to scream and nothing comes out.
I'm stuck in hillbilly hell, please help me I'm becoming one of them.....

Is it normal for an adult to have such a fascination for cartoons? Oh Scooby.

I've talked with therapists. I have yet to find one I thought was smarter than I am. Most of them were seeing their own therapists. How can they help me if they can't help themselves?

Delusions of grandeur.

Painting is my therapy. The cure? I have few ideas.

Should it upset you when hear the rich and famous tell you to follow your dreams? They like to go on and on about it. "Never give up...if you work hard and believe you can achieve your dreams. America is the land of opportunity." Blah blah blah.

Easy for them to say. They have everything. They are the one in a hundred million that made it already. You never hear homeless people telling you to follow your dreams. They have dreams just like the rest of us. Maybe they didn't work hard enough? How many people have you known that worked their entire lives? Their fingers to the bone. For what. A bad back and an early grave?

Humans are a lot like bees. One Queen, a few Royals, and a shit load of workers that spend their entire lives toiling away for the benefit of the few with nothing in it for them except the anticipated relief and calm that comes with death.

The difference, is that worker bees are never told that they could grow up to be the Queen. They know their place.

It makes me wish I knew my place. I still want to believe that I can change my life. I still believe that my paintings mean something. That they and I, can change the world. I still want to be a Queen.

(the therapist looks at me with a tilted head) "So do you ever where womens clothes?"

$175.00 well spent.

Getting Back...

I started this painting on January 3rd. I posted the first session of her. Since then it has been sitting on my easel, staring at me. Talking to me. Nagging me.

Finish me...finish me...finish me...

Shut up or I'll paint over you...

Frankly, she's been driving me a little bonkers.

This morning at around 1:30 am I got tired of listening to her and went to work. It's not what I had been seeing in my mind, but I like where she's at. It's close enough that I could leave it and call her finished without having to listen to her anymore. And I wont have to paint over her.

Jade 24 x 36 inches, oil on canvas.

Submission And Two Portraits...

The last few days I have been sending portfolios of my work to galleries in southern California. I have started with Los Angeles. With so many galleries, researching them takes a while. No sense contacting a gallery where my work wont fit in.

I hate the review process. It's not personal (most of the time). Galleries get so many artists wanting to submit their work it can be overwhelming. It gets easy to just say no right up front.
First contact is crucial. It needs to go well.

Of all of the galleries in the Los Angeles (LA, Beverly Hills, Hollywood) area I choice 14 to contact. So far 3 have said they wont look. They're not taking submissions right now. 1 is out of business. 4 have asked to see my work and wanted my biography and history. The magic 8 Ball is hopeful.

Next week, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Laguna, San Diego, La Jolla.

*****

A late night in the studio. These two are almost finished. I need sleep, I just rubbed oil paint in my eye.


Danni, 12 x 36 inches, oil on canvas.


Erica, 12 x 36 inches, oil on canvas.

What Have We Become?

I very seldom get political. Especially here. This however, I couldn't let pass.

Every time I think that Bush and his stooges have sunk as low as any American ever has, they manage to out do themselves.

Laws, human decency, morals, ethics, Christianity...mean nothing to them.

I am saddened and ashamed.



Keyholes....

Here is my first cross over work. I like the girl. I like the seascape. Still undecided about liking it as a whole.

No 67, 8 x 24 inches, oil on canvas.


I am drawn to these odd shapes for the girls. Not sure why. Maybe it's the mystery. Like peeking through a key hole. Maybe I should shape the canvas like a key hole. I'll get back to you about that.


Chadette No 66, 8 x 24 inches, oil on canvas.

Up For Review...

January was a good month for my productivity. I managed to get a lot done, painting wise that is.

This week I started the painful, soul crushing task of submitting my work to galleries for review. Having been on the gallery end of the review process for many years, I know what to expect. No, no, no, no thank you, no, no and don't call back, no, hell no, WTF? NO, no, not now, now, no but thanks anyway, no, no, no.....

I know that I'm not the most talented of painters. I also know that talent is only part of what it takes. Most often it's about timing. It's being able to live with all of the rejection and to keep going. There is a space for most everything. It's finding that space and convincing them that you are the right person to fill it.

There is something new I'm finding with a good number of galleries. They want to be paid to review work. Up to $100 per submission. WTH? It's brilliant! I wish I had thought of it. In fact, I may start charging at my gallery for submissions. It has to seriously cut down the number of weekend dabblers that submit work.

The submission process is a long one. Most galleries take between one and four months to review your work. Of course they want to see what's available. How do I know what I will have in four months. Do they expect me to hold it back and not try to sell it else where while they decide? It's crazy.

Anywho...

Here are four new works I painted yesterday.

Chadette No 64, 18 x 24 inches, oil on canvas.



Chadette No 63, 8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas.



Chadette No 62, 8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas.



Chadette No 61, 8 x 10 inches, oil on canvas.


2008 will be the year of the Chadette. Let the rejections begin! I can take it.

Life On The Line...

Chapter one I jumped into cooking on a bit of a whim. With little to no hesitation. After spending many years in the art business I was lo...