If you are in the area stop by and say hello. I will be in the gallery of the Tempe Center for the Arts doing a painting demo this coming Saturday from 11am to 1 pm (2/6/10) . Have not done one a demo in about ten years so it will be both fun and adventuresome. Just say something nice and I will get the point.
Regardless of what is going on around you, it is imperative that you keep pushing yourself, try new things and most importantly give yourself a break. Don’t over judge.
With every painting there is a point that I feel that I am getting trapped by something. In this series it is realism. I’ve begun to lose abstract feel of the acrylic layout, which was something I didn’t want to do. So I started working with a palette knife.
When I started out to paint this little portrait I had no idea what I wanted to do. Now that I’ve painted in a darkgrey background I am starting see what the face might actually be. On to the next step. 
We spend most of our time looking at peoples faces. I wanted to place this subjects hands on his head but couldn’t fiqure out how to capture this using a mirror. I’ve asked my wife to take a photo of me with my hands on my head so that I can complete the painting. 
As much as I might try I am not able to get away from the human face. Given the fun I might as well enjoy.
It is a not good idea to think you have to be in control. When I started this painting it seemed I was determined that the girl on the left had to be choking herself. The more I tried to keep her hands up around her neck the more disturbing I found it so I gave up completely by letting the paint and the brush drive what I needed to do next.
3 girls study
I am just about half way through on this painting and looking for ways to add some punch.
This past week, February 23rd, as a part of a Black History Month “Celebration of the Arts” I and six other artist were honored by the local chapters of , “The Links“, “Jack and Jill of America” and “Gamma Mu Boule, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity”. Prior to this event there were teams of young adults, who went about the business of interviewing each of us. In some cases 
visiting our studios,learning how we worked and getting to understand what was important to us. In this photo I am flanked by Ms. Simone McKinley and Ms. Renee Latham the young ladies who presented me to the attendees.
The other artist being honored were Susan Copeland, Clendolyn Corbin, Dr. Eugene Grigsby, Alan Jones,, Larry Wilson and Michael Cunningham.
