What I’ve Done on Vacation

A lamp in our cabin

I’m in the North Georgia mountains right now on vacation.  The scenery here is unbelievable.  The Chatahoochee river and the crisp air.  The old buildings and colorful history.  All this inspiration surrounding me everywhere I look.  I brought a couple panels, a canvas, oil paints, sketchbook, and watercolors, knowing I would be inspired.  All I’ve managed to do is quickly sketch a lamp in the cabin we’re in for the week.  How pathetic, huh?  I’d love to do some plein air, but it doesn’t look like it’s gonna happen.  I’ve brought my camera, so maybe I’ll get some good shots I can use later on to paint from.  Meanwhile, enjoy this little piece of our vacation.

The Most Abstract

Visually, this isn’t much to look at.  Matter of fact, when I look at it now, it evokes “spikey” emotions and makes me feel tense.  This is really the first piece I’ve ever done that was tied to pure, raw emotion.  I hadn’t even intended on making this when I went into my “studio”.  I was very sad and very angry this day after receiving confirmation that we had lost a life that had managed to make it through the first 5 weeks of development.  The urge to do something was overwhelming, and I pulled out the first materials I got my hands on: Newsprint, Oil Paints, and Painting Knives.  I squeezed the oils directly on the newsprint and starting pulling and pushing the globs around the paper as my emotions directed.  It turned out to be exactly what I needed at the time; very therapeutic.  I share it now not because of its worth as “art”, but because of it’s direct link to my soul in an emotional day in my life.  Thanks for visiting.

Oil Abstract on Newsprint

The End is Nigh

So this is it, the last day of work for me.  I’ll be officially laid-off from my job after almost 14 years of blood, sweat, and tears.  It has been almost like awaiting death, and now the grim reaper has shown his face and is arching the scythe back for a final swing. Not sure how “normal” this is, but the Department of Labor was in here yesterday to give us all a run-down on what unemployment services were available. It was a nice gesture, or maybe they were merely just doing their jobs by being here. Either way, I hate to say it, but it was BORING! I tell you what, the government is unbelievably beurocratic, and chock full of forms and procedures. I think it’s easier to get a job than it is to go to the DOL and fill out endless forms and wait for approvals and what-not, even in this economy. At some point I stopped listening and started doodling. I always have a note pad, or something to draw on because I KNOW that if there’s a meeting to be held, I’m going to check out. The paper gives me something to shift my attention to and prevents me from standing up and rudely walking out on someone who’s just doing their job. Now, for the first time in 14 years, I’m unemployed. Hey, maybe I can go get a government job. I hear the FBI is hiring. How ’bout that? Special Agent Ayers… hmm… does kinda have a nifty ring to it, don’t it?

The last meeting doodle.

Impressionistic St. Augustine

This is from a picture I took of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida.  I did this with pastel, and found I really need to invest in pastel pencils.  I’m using the thick chunks of pastel, and it’s like drawing with a log.  Once again, I’m disappointed with what the fixative does to pastel.  The color fades, and the paper starts showing through, and it’s really deflating.

I’ll always have fond memories of this trip to Florida.  The whole trip, we were surrounded by family, and it was really nice.  Of course, this painting looks nothing like the real thing, but I really like the energy I get from creating this way.  God and man made this scene.  I made it my own.

Chicken AND the Egg!

Not sure what psychological meaning there could be behind a rooster standing on top of an egg. Ponder… This was more “practice” in the sketchbook. A simple still life of a wooden chicken and egg next to a candle done in ink and watercolor. I thought the sketchbook would give me some freedom to make mistakes and feel free to draw whatever came to mind. However, the perfectionist in me wants it all to look like finished art pieces. It’s the same way I feel when faced with a blank canvas. But give me a piece of notebook paper, or a napkin, and I’ll free-form all over that sucker. So aggravating.

Chicken & Candle