Thin ice

Life's Journey
Merry Christmas to all!

Crystal City doodles

Here are some doodles done in the last week or so. I make them during meetings, church, concerts or watching television: my Crystal Cities

12-19-13c
colored pencil

12-19-13b
colored pencil

12-15-13
colored pencil

12-15-13
colored pencil

12-15-13
colored pencil

12-15-13
colored pencil

12-15-13
colored pencil

12-15-13
colored pencil

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12-05-13
colored pencil

Wake Up Moon Man!

A castle at the end of the world. All is still. But there is a problem…

The Man in The Moon is fast asleep…

The idle sailors wait for the moon to light their way

The castle is locked for the night and the keys are inside!
It could be a long night.

A doodle from my sketchbook

Dec. 4, 2013

mixed media

A Natural History of the Pointy People

The Society of Illustrators in New York chose my series "A Natural History of the Pointy People" for an upcoming group show. How exciting! Four paintings will be on display in the Uncommissioned category; five may be featured in the catalog. Thank you so much to the judges and to the Society.

I hope to someday soon corral enough of my thoughts to make an attractive story about the Pointy People and have it published as a children's book. For example:

Carrying a load of rocks

Pointy container gardening

Visiting a new planet

Ignoring the dinner bell and hanging out at the playground

Resting in the forest

The Good Babies

"The Good Babies"
11-02-13
mixed media

Mrs. Owl is so proud of her babies. She has been telling them bedtime stories for hours and they will not get sleepy. They're just getting revved up! They are busy asking questions and exploring the trees. Just like good owl babies.

"Tell us another story about Mr. Tern!"

"Tell us about the birthday cake and the ocean."

"When will Mr. Tern come back?"

"Will he bring us presents?"

Mrs. Owl replied "Of course not! And that is a rude question!"

She pauses, she would actually like a present from Mr. Tern…

detail: proud Mrs. Owl

detail: eight on one tree, two on the other. Ten in all.

detail: shadows puddle below the trees.

detail: they got the best of both Owl and Tern.

The Children are Coming!

Daisy Long Legs is getting ready for Halloween!

The house is a mess: not enough cobwebs!

Get going children!

Spin, weave, stitch

Fly from corner to rafter to spire and banneret.

To the cellar and pantry

And don't forget: under the bed.

Stop playing on the bell rope!

We have work to do!!

The children are coming! 

Cleaning House
10-17-13
mixed media

Growing Things

A Little Farm
10-12-13
ink, watercolor, charcoal pencil, pastel

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Cleaning House

It's getting bad.

Things are piling up in sedimentary layers in my studio.

Projects are coming in and the kittens stir the chaos.

Time to clear the decks!

!

"Cleaning House"
10-6-13
mixed media

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Disquietude

"09-29-13a"
pencil, collage, watercolor

I've been slowly reading "The Book of Disquietude" by Fernando Pessoa (translated by Richard Zenith, The Sheep Meadow Press, NY). I have to take it in small doses because, on the surface of things, Pessoa (and his heteronym Bernardo Soares) is eloquently preoccupied with the meaninglessness of Existence. Pessoa is such a fascinating creature though! With him as a guide, we find that meaninglessness contains everything and is a portal focused on all things and people as they truly exist. His awareness of his perceiving Self and his inability protect himself from Awareness is what makes time stand still and race away at the same time.

Sometimes, Pessoa is loosely lumped in with writers like Borges, who I haven't read in many years but now see that I'd like to revisit. In some ways though, —mind you, I've only read a little about and by Pessoa, Borges seems less personal. Borges seems more playful and literary. Pessoa on the other hand, is attractive and repellent. He peers through both ends of the telescope (or a microscope) at himself and his world of shadows. We see the late afternoon light in Lisbon where the sun loses its way and gets tired and the dust gently dances and does not settle. In this afternoon city there is ink on my cuffs and I cast lines and dots out on paper. And I do this everyday.

There was a time when the world stood still. Pessoa captures some of that. It's terrifying, boring and enchanting --depending on how you approach things. I'll take enchanting.

Many "Obrigados!" to Paula Catāo for sharing Fernando Pessoa with me.

The Advice Columnist

Take a generous helping of Chaos (This is Life)…

Add your thoughts, daydreams, all you've learned…

And try to stay upright and balanced…

With the full awareness of the meaninglessness of it all.

Salut!
"Unsubstantial Things"
colored pencil, watercolor, ink, acrylic
09-14-13