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I am close to the end of phase one for this work, "My Father Was In Shanghai, 1937." Exploring my father's time in war torn Shanghai in 1937, I am as excited about this piece as anything I have ever worked on. Who knows what I will see as I look into this world, and behold the reflection.
I can feel his courage.
It is proving nearly impossible to capture a suitable photo of a painting in my studio these days. I don't have the room to set up the tungsten lights and compose a decent shot. That has stopped me from posting new work. I can't let that stop me any longer. Above is a detail of one of my earliest completed works in collaberation with Dr. Ju. The working title is "Codes of Destiny." This image is taken with available light, using my least capable camera.
There has been a whole lot of creative activity going on, weaving the intercultural pursuits of two artists, reaching into the corners and holding fast the result, if only for a moment.
Well, it's been quite a busy time lately, what with battling the elements, and work, but also, creatively, with a whole new set of paintings in the works. Notably, I have been working regularly with Dr. Ju, collaborating on a series of cross cultural explorations. More on that later. Shown above is our first foray into the great unknown. The working title is "Earth and Heaven." We have several other works completed, or nearly so, some just needing signing. I believe this exploration has opened up new possibilities for each of us, Dr. Ju and I.
The man has a big job.
The lone Chinese street sweeper. She is all alone to do her work at the center of the intersection.
Bless her.
An engaging Louise Nevelson piece. To me, this one seems to move. There is no mistaking her work. When you see a Louise Nevelson, you know it, this one displayed at MoMA.
Once you get away from creating a piece that is all oil paint, or all acrylic, creating a work that is stable with respect to archival concerns is, well, complicated.
I am working on a series involving collage, and the number of materials mounting up the the piece is boggling. Starting with canvas, then gesso, rice paper, newspaper, gell adhesives, fixatives, liquin, oil paint, and finally, Chinese calligraphy ink. The components of many of these materials are themselves complex.
Having them all make friends, and all in the right sequence and correct amount of set time, that is the task at hand.
How long the work will last, well, no one can know.
How about a bright abstraction in yellow and red-orange to brighten our day? Works for me.
My coworker, John M., sketched on the beloved Magnadoodle, and now immortalized in the cyber world.
In this case, the crossroads of people's lives, past and present, for better or for worse.
I find goats to be especially photogenic, particularly, Nubian goats.
Experimenting, layering, learning, trying, engaging ,committing, and, it's all fun.
Creatively, I am in a whole new place.
Extemporaneous, improvisatory, spur of the moment, self portrait.
The beautiful precursor to high winds, pelting rain, flooding, and marble sized hail.
On new ground, the past in hand.
Adjacent and now, volume of energy flows up, the return and response, that which reaches, touches, and is touched, in perfect repose.
Forethought of space and essence the terminal of what and then.Yes, Carl Sandburg was quite right in stating that what is poetry can not be described.
Well, I am painting again, with the usual mix of satisfaction and frustration. But what is to stop me from having some fun with photo illustrations between brushstrokes?
New art studio. New type of painting for me. Possible new series. Yeah, I'm excited!
After one too many flood events in my home art studio (yes, basement level), I have combined my art studio with my design studio/office, located on higher ground. The last two days, I have started to paint again, and it feels great. It is a whole new environment in many ways. I feel renewed.
That's me, covering a painting from 2007 with a fresh layer of gesso. I am excited to see what comes next.
Always magnificent.
Two tone, body at rest.
How this 1903 US penny escaped notice, and wasn't pulled from circulation, is beyond me. I received this in change about a year ago. Perhaps it could be on account of its condition, that is, not very good.
It seems to me a little work of art. It has all the criteria of good design... variety, repetition, detail, interaction of positive and negative space (notan), keeps the eye moving, not to mention, excellent form, function and durability.I often say, keep looking up, however, occasionally, look down, at your change.
Add light.
The nude. Graceful, elegant, lovely.
Pastel, specifically, Nupastels. Chalky, fun, and no drying required.
Welcome Spring, with your hope and your fury.
Well, why stop now? I am loving this fun with color.
A little more fun with red-orange and yellow. Looking good together.
Somewhere near the midpoint between the abstract and the real, this image is enhanced, for emotional impact.
Now there is a job, washing the windows of an iconic Seattle building, the Rainier Tower, yes, all 31 floors of it.
This is the site of a recurring dream, one of those places that, on the surface should hold no particular meaning, and yet, it does. Why this image of a place 3,000 miles away should hold such importance in my psyche is a mystery. I believe over time, the mystery will be revealed, perhaps with the help of art. As with dreams, art reveals what is within.
A piece of ordinary architectural glass from decades past, seems a bit extraordinary when seen through the lens. What may have been overlooked comes into focus. What was clear now reflects an array of color, changing moment to moment, and depending on your point of view.
Start with something real, and then remove all traces of reality. The result? Abstract art. Another good observation from Pablo Picasso!
I think Jackie looks great in red-orange and yellow. She had great hair.
Why should Warhol have all the fun?
Creatively, one of the great surprises of recent years is how much I respond to the color orange, and even more, all the colors of autumn, those being weighted on the red side of the spectrum.
Well, that would make it all more exciting.
Striations 02, a digital sketch done one-handed, while talking on the phone. Yeah, that was fun!
Reflections in a column meet Adobe Photoshop. Looks pleasing to me!
For those of you in the northern hemisphere, how about a little color to brighten your world in these cold dark months. The image du jour is "Glimpse."
Showing some of the earmarks of good design, this image has variety, repetition, contrast, and the interplay of positive and negative space, also known to the Japanese as notan. All I had to do was look to the sky, point and shoot. I am glad that I had my little Nikon S220 with me, small enough to carry around on my belt. One of the good things about photography is that it provides a kind of emotional record, it puts you right back in the moment.I wish everyone a peaceful and fulfilling 2011.
I am close to the end of phase one for this work, "My Father Was In Shanghai, 1937." Exploring my father's time in war torn Shanghai in 1937, I am as excited about this piece as anything I have ever worked on. 
It is proving nearly impossible to capture a suitable photo of a painting in my studio these days. I don't have the room to set up the tungsten lights and compose a decent shot. That has stopped me from posting new work. I can't let that stop me any longer. Above is a detail of one of my earliest completed works in collaberation with Dr. Ju. The working title is "Codes of Destiny." This image is taken with available light, using my least capable camera.
There has been a whole lot of creative activity going on, weaving the intercultural pursuits of two artists, reaching into the corners and holding fast the result, if only for a moment.
Well, it's been quite a busy time lately, what with battling the elements, and work, but also, creatively, with a whole new set of paintings in the works. Notably, I have been working regularly with Dr. Ju, collaborating on a series of cross cultural explorations. More on that later. 
The lone Chinese street sweeper. She is all alone to do her work at the center of the intersection. 
An engaging Louise Nevelson piece. To me, this one seems to move. There is no mistaking her work. When you see a Louise Nevelson, you know it, this one displayed at MoMA.
Once you get away from creating a piece that is all oil paint, or all acrylic, creating a work that is stable with respect to archival concerns is, well, complicated.
How about a bright abstraction in yellow and red-orange to brighten our day? Works for me.
My coworker, John M., sketched on the beloved Magnadoodle, and now immortalized in the cyber world.
In this case, the crossroads of people's lives, past and present, for better or for worse.
The beautiful precursor to high winds, pelting rain, flooding, and marble sized hail.
Adjacent and now, volume of energy flows up, the return and response, that which reaches, touches, and is touched, in perfect repose.
Forethought of space and essence the terminal of what and then.
Well, I am painting again, with the usual mix of satisfaction and frustration. But what is to stop me from having some fun with photo illustrations between brushstrokes?
After one too many flood events in my home art studio (yes, basement level), I have combined my art studio with my design studio/office, located on higher ground. The last two days, I have started to paint again, and it feels great. It is a whole new environment in many ways. I feel renewed.
How this 1903 US penny escaped notice, and wasn't pulled from circulation, is beyond me. I received this in change about a year ago. Perhaps it could be on account of its condition, that is, not very good.
Somewhere near the midpoint between the abstract and the real, this image is enhanced, for emotional impact.
Now there is a job, washing the windows of an iconic Seattle building, the Rainier Tower, yes, all 31 floors of it.
This is the site of a recurring dream, one of those places that, on the surface should hold no particular meaning, and yet, it does. Why this image of a place 3,000 miles away should hold such importance in my psyche is a mystery. I believe over time, the mystery will be revealed, perhaps with the help of art. As with dreams, art reveals what is within.
A piece of ordinary architectural glass from decades past, seems a bit extraordinary when seen through the lens. What may have been overlooked comes into focus. What was clear now reflects an array of color, changing moment to moment, and depending on your point of view.
Start with something real, and then remove all traces of reality. The result? Abstract art. 
I think Jackie looks great in red-orange and yellow. She had great hair. 
Creatively, one of the great surprises of recent years is how much I respond to the color orange, and even more, all the colors of autumn, those being weighted on the red side of the spectrum. 
Striations 02, a digital sketch done one-handed, while talking on the phone. Yeah, that was fun!
For those of you in the northern hemisphere, how about a little color to brighten your world in these cold dark months. The image du jour is "Glimpse."
Showing some of the earmarks of good design, this image has variety, repetition, contrast, and the interplay of positive and negative space, also known to the Japanese as notan. All I had to do was look to the sky, point and shoot. I am glad that I had my little Nikon S220 with me, small enough to carry around on my belt. One of the good things about photography is that it provides a kind of emotional record, it puts you right back in the moment.
