Within The Maddness...

Sure, it's 11:30 at night, but that is the best time to carve punkins. Mr. Man loves to help. Right up to the time when we have to dig the guts out. Then he just wants to watch.


Day before yesterday I hung cobwebs around the house. I have them all over the place. I hung a few of them too low and I keep running into them. Mostly in the middle of the night when I forget that they're there. Truth be told, Precious did most all of the decorating, and costume making, and planning, and everything else for that matter. She's great that way.


We also made a foam board skeleton, tombstones and a few other creepy things.

I have actually managed to get in a second practice piece for the Quick Draw. I might try to get in one more tomorrow. This one took me all of 35 minutes. I am going into this with a completely different attitude than last year. Hopefully Precious is going to get to come to this years event. We have a baby sitter and everything.

"Cannon Beach No 2" 24 x 36 inches. Oil on canvas.

And another addition to the Birch series. I painted it a week or so ago.

"Birch No 4" 22 x 24 inches, oil on canvas

It's Chaos Man...

This is the final week before the "Quick Draw" event. Friday the 2nd at 7pm. Have I been practicing? Nope.

Tonight a few friends are having a practice session. Am I going? Nope.

What have I been doing? 14 hour days.

We are still trying to get the gallery ready. Painting, lighting, general maintenance. I have been framing work for two of the other galleries in town, plus all of our own framing. Of course everyone wants their work the next day. Sure you say! Can you say "rush charge"? We still have to rehang the gallery for the weekend. Still need to arrange for food. I did buy a couple of cases of wine and champaign. So the important stuff is done. Booze.

Precious was sick last week. Even had to go to Urgent Care. Turned out to be nothing too serious.

We are having a Halloween party on Wednesday. It's not easy to turn a house into a house of horror. Pictures will follow.

It's time for a glass or four, of some nice Porto. I can always get more for the gallery, right?

I'm A Mole...

Merci Laurence...

Détails à venir.

A Means To Better Understanding...

When I was a child growing up, my Dad ran with the Briefs. I'm sure it was because his dad, my grand father aligned himself with the Boxers. Kids always like to be rebellious.

As it would go, when the choice was mine to make, I wanted to be rebellious too. I wasn't about to hang with the same crowd as my parents. The Briefs were old school. I was free and untamed. Naturally I was drawn to the Commandos. They set their own rules. They were free and no one told them where to go or what to do.

I knew plenty of Briefs in school. Their dads were Boxers. The Briefs were alright guys but we saw things differently. At times I would hang with the Briefs. I tried to keep an open mind. While dating a certain girl in high school I even spent a good deal of time with the Bikini crowd. Who among us hasn't experimented ?

All in all I still found that I enjoyed the anarchistic life of the Commandos.

It was during a trip to Brazil that I met a lovely young lady that introduced me to the Thongs. She made it sound appealing. The exotic nature of it all. I was hung up on what I thought was their restrictive nature. Like the Bikinis, 'butt'...more severe.

Like most men I am easily swayed by an attractive woman. I converted to the Thongs. At first I found them in conflict with my Commando nature. After awhile it became more and more comfortable. I could see the appeal. Close to the Commando but with a little more of a group support system. At times the support was much needed. Who doesn't need a little support now and then?

As I have grown older I have learned that there is no one way to life. It's best to keep an open mind. Knowing about all of the clans makes for a well rounded and comfortable life.

Each of the clans; Boxers, Briefs, Bikinis, Thongs and Commandos has advantages and disadvantages.

I try to unite the best of all the beliefs. Different situations call for different methods. It is by understanding those around us that we can live with those around us, in peace.

This Week In The Gallery...

This week we have added a new artist to the gallery. A brilliant young man from the Seattle area. Christopher Mathie. He paints and throws pottery. We are going to add both to our selection.

The paintings have an attractive sense of angst. I find it very appealing. Strong, bold colors and texture. Powerful, uninhibited brush strokes. His subject matter ranges from city to sea, all with an abstract quality that keeps the viewer wondering and questioning.

"Big Changes at the Narrows" Acrylic Mixed Media 48 x 60 inches

"Untitled" a three piece set of paintings and a Raku pot.

The pottery on the other hand is soft and deliberate and shows the artists ability to be precise when needed.


His works are going to make a wonderful addition to the gallery, and probably our house.

Check my side bar, "Art You Should Own" for his web site.

*****

The following exchange just had to be shared. For a moment I thought this woman was trying to be funny, I'm still not sure. This could be the dumbest thing I have ever been asked.

A lady and her kids came into the gallery to view the Dr Seuss collection. I was telling her about the art and why some of it is called, The Secret Art.

She looks around for awhile, in awe of the works. As she is leaving the gallery she stops...

Lady: Are all of these Dr Seuss works?

Me: Everything except the bronze pieces. Those are made by someone else.

Lady: What about this Green one here?

Me: You mean the Kangaroo Bird? Yes, that's a Dr Seuss also.

Lady: No this green one right here.

Me: ....Excuse me?....Are you looking at that?

Lady: Yes this...I've never seen anything like it. Is it a Dr. Seuss?

Me:....That... is... a... ficus tree...

Lady: A ficus tree...It's pretty.



If only I could make things like this up. She gave me a headache.