Breathing In and Out....

An incredible week, lots of ups and downs, but overall very good. I made a promise to myself to just keep on working and not to pass judgement on what I was doing. Just paint and see what happens. I passed just a little judgement on myself, and tried not to go crazy over interruptions. I am pleased with the results, I'm still breathing.

Yesterday I talked more with some of my painter friends about my teaching, so it looks like I need to do more then just think about it. Next week I will create an outline for my class.

Also on my plate is creating a show (if possible) for Dr. Grigsby's ABC group (Artist in the Black Community, AZ) at the Shemer Museum in Phoenix.
Tonight is the 12th Annual Beaux Arts event at the Scottsdale Artist School
A very cool event.

My Daughter just got back from Nigeria. She went to teach a class on film production, but it sounded like the trip was part of continuing education for her. I am happy she is back.

Rare Books and Resolving a Painting...

Went to a party this past Saturday, which is rare for me. I always feel spent after most social events. I had the start of one great conversation with a women who new art, literature and transported me back to a time when I worked at the NYC main Library, where there was always a lot of non-combative conversation. I learned that she and her husband owned a rare book store and knew or knew about many of the artist of 1950/60. What I loved was her use of words and her recall of the books she read. She had, in her past, taught English Literature. Well one day I will write that book, I’ve been thinking about for a while. For now I would like to be able to finish a painting or maybe knowing when I’m done.

Did Van Gogh know he was "Van Gogh"?...

I've been working a lot, struggling looking for something that I recognize as being good. More like very good, spiritual expression, something that has me shaking. I've been doing this for a while and it's easy to get discouraged. So a lot of energy is spent on not being disappointed. This week I kept going over the same subject looking for a breakthrough.

Today’s Top Ten...

In a conversation over the weekend the topic of competitiveness among artist came up. There exist this constant need for us rank ourselves, like the list show on Fox Sports. The top ten catches made in a football game, the best dunks, top chefs in American, the best cruise lines, on and on. Well my point is that if Art is an indivdual's personal expression, then are there 10 more of me out there somewhere that I am competing with? Sounds a little twilight zone. I feel that we all might spend to much time comparing ourselves to other people and not enough on clarifying our messages in our work. We can and should appreciate others but not compare. This might be my Easter Message. Maybe not.

Drawing Week...

The Scottsdale Artist School is planning its 1st. Annual Drawing Week this coming October 2nd – 6th, an event that will serve to jump start the fall school year and to highlight drawings and other works on paper by well known artists and students. In addition there will be all day workshops devoted entirely to drawing-Fiqures, Portraits, Still life etc. I've been asked to help in getting this off the ground and I am excited about doing this. I love drawing. (what don't I love about art, not much)

Create Activity...

Tuesday night stopped by the Scottsdale Center for the Arts to listen to Dan McCaw talk about his work and his creative approach. What he had to say was very much like the conversations a group of us have been having about our work, wanting to loosen up, be liberated etc. What I noticed, one more time, is that I give great advice but pay very little attention to what I am saying. It’s like I hear what I saying but I’m not up to letting it have an impact on me. So I find that funny. Maybe what I should do is get a tape recorder and play back all of my advice while I am sleeping.

Sounding and looking like George Carlin...

For some odd reason, Monday Night Class came to mind. I was talking to my daughter over the weekend and she asked about a couple of expressions that I like to repeat, #1 is to play the board which is an expression used in playing chess, not to get personally involved with you opponent. and #2 Keep tapping on the bridge, which came from "Stephen's, Monday Night Class" and it is a story about persistence and commitment. Well anyway, I went on line and found the this book from the seventies and started reading and wow I keep thinking about George Carlin, and like how he sounds the same and I wondered if I still sound the same. Someone will have to tell me cause I'm sure ain't listening to my self.

Well back to the bridge, there is this guy who decides he is going to tear down the Brooklyn bridge and starts hitting it with a ball pein hammer and as I remember the story, people think that he is crazy, but he stays with it and at some point the bridge begins to go into convulsions, if that's possible for a bridge. Sure enough the police have drag him off the bridge, cause it surely looks like its about to come down. Two lesson to be learned here, 1 almost anything is possible and 2 commitment and persistence will eventually pay off. Good advise I think for us painters/artist types.

Active Minds...

Yesterday we went to Sedona. Wanted my wife's Aunt, who is 93 to see the beautiful Red Rocks. She loved it and we loved being able to take her and her nice up there. One thing that I found wonderful is that she took notes of all the things she saw, which was more impressive to me then taking photos. She wanted to be able to tell people what she saw and loved vs. just showing them a photo or a post card. I think that's great. Sort of like a traveling blog.

Dry Spells...

Just maybe there are times when the mind wants to take a vacation. Not do, know or want anything. Just be here ir there. I wonder what my mind has been doing the last few days. Some difficulty with resolving a painting. I should just start over cause my mind is just not in it. Got some physical issues/concerns that have taken over. I'll get over it or it will get over me, which ever comes first.