Custom Tree Lady WIP

Varnishing this sucker and hoping to ship it off this week...hip hip hooray.

Scatter-Birdie Cinema: Gran Torino

I'm surprised that I just now watched this movie.
If you haven't seen it...go rent it now. Clint Eastwood still kicks some serious A.

Shanna's Sloooww Goooin' Paintin'

Ever heard of Slow Food...well, this is Slow Paint...except not as healthy, organic or yummy.

I told my good buddy Shanna I was doin a painting for her like 3 decades ago...its been a start and stop and stare and stop and stare process.

Anyhoo, it's evolving. I need Miss M to come by the house this week and give me input on where we wanna go with it.

Trashcan? ;)

Boobie Debaucle

So last week I walk into the KACC gallery towing along my rather large painting. My mom and I stroll over to the counter to register it for their show called "Images".

The room goes silent.

I'm (as usual) completely oblivious to the whispers and chatters about violations of gallery rules.
Apparently, the gallery does not allow nudes...ummm...seriously??
The entry form mentioned nothing of the sort. Plus, I've shown my work there before...uhh, like 90% of my pieces have naked ladies somewhere in them. Supposedly, these past nudes I had showed were more silhouetted.

There is mumbling and grumbling going on as I sit there...totally surprised that my painting was causing such a stir. Several of the artists that were standing around start migrating toward me...to meet me...pat me on the back...form some nude artwork commraderie! It was kind of a funny scene. I have no idea what I started, but the lady in charge of submissions finally said, "I'm going to accept it! It's about time Kerrville get over it." or something like that. I think her name was Marsha (Medford)? The piece she entered was one of my favorites there, by -the-way. If you go, look for a dark turquoise with rich, vibriant deep sea-like colors and a textural coral attached to it. Very cool.

A couple of the artists (also with cool works) were seriously high-fiving me because, "We hate showing here because they don't allow nudes."

Anyway, that's my story of the week. I'm off to take a dip in the baby-pool...

If you're in Kerrville: http://www.kacckerrville.com/

It's a great organization/gallery with some fantastic showings, so I mean no disrespect with this post...but I was a bit flabbergasted. I understand what they are trying to prevent, but its art...not pornagraphy.

P.S. The Gourd show was simply amazing! I had no idea a gourd could be turned into so many versions of gorgeousness!

Scatter-Birdie Jukebox: Ludovico Einaudi

This morning I am as usual: unfocused, fidgety and neurotic. What's new?

Listening to: Ludovico Einaudi (to soothe the frazzle *sigh*)

Free Download:
http://www.einaudiwebsite.com/

Ball/Sphere Obsession

I am enamored with these glass beads, nuggets and glitter...working on new applications and ways to sneak more spheres into my work. I mixed them into my gels and paints in the revamp of my lastest painting. Glass balls + Trees = Happy Scatter-Birdie:)



http://www.ceroglass.com/index.asp

Eyeballs!

More paper mache prototypes. K and I have already begun preparing for Halloween, which I am quite excited about! We've got a number of super cool ideas for the house and party this year. I have no problem starting on them in June either. Sept/Oct are always so booked with projects and its choas at the last minute.
I've infused a blacklight reactive paint onto these eyeballs called Wildfire: http://www.wildfirefx.com/
This is the Bad-A stuff that Blue Man Group uses in their shows. I'm sampling their products right now to confirm what we want to do for K's Halloween fantasma.
I just realized that blacklight i had from 1998 has gone missing. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to photograph this stuff under the blacklight. More on these ideas later...

Figure Drawing 2nd Session

My second time to go to a figure drawing session at the AVAA. I'm hoping to start going at least a couple times a month. There is so much energy in the room...3 hours of artists focusing on improving their ability to see and draw what is there and also developing their own way of seeing. I can't wait to go back!

I hope to give a little more time to the faces on some of the poses next time...I'm getting a little faster, but sometimes I just can't get it down before the 5 minutes are up!

Figure Drawing Session (Parental Discretion/Schlong Advisory)

These are from my first ever "The Full Monty" figure drawing session at the AVAA. Didn't get it at first that these sessions are all male. I'm such a ding-dong (no pun intended;) I was really proud of myself for going because

A.) I haven't drawn/painted with a live model since college.

B.) I am more comfortable painting females than males and this forced me to branch out

C.) I get nervous drawing and painting around others...trying to get over those fears.

D.) I rarely draw and sketch these days, so I'm hoping to ge back into sketching and illustration.

These sketches aren't the best, but I was rusty, the poses are pretty short (some only 5 minutes) I am super slow.

Revamped for the Good Ol' KACC

So I'm entering one of my paintings into this member show in Kerrville...because my mom insists upon it...otherwise, I'd just let them all gather dust.

I decided I needed to push myself a bit and make one of my more recent paintings have a bit more bite to it.

I swallowed my fear and went at it. Is it better? Worse?

I'm going to go into its explanation in another post. I'm going to finally open up and spill the beans on my meanings and intentions on this one(something I typically won't do)...but for now, it means whatever you want it to mean...if you want it to mean anything at all.

Crusty Ceiling

The up-down duplex we used to live on at Jarratt Ave. is now a rental property. The downstairs bathroom ceiling made me wanna yak. I couldn't have the next tenant having to look at that crap while they're...ya know...takin one.

I sandblasted the crust because that stuff was petrified...then hand plastered, primed and painted. I wanted to go crazier on it, but D had to remind me, "Its just a rental...leave it be."

Before and After. Crust and No Crust.

Molting

I've either got some weird skin disease or my geckos have cursed me with the molt. My skin is lightly peeling everywhere...its bizarre because I haven't had a sunburn or anything and its not that kind of peeling. I'm a freak.

Phoenix and Yorn say "Yo."

WIP: Tree Gate!! Almost Done:)

I am getting so antsy about the completion of our custom gate from Austin Outdoor Studio.

http://www.austinoutdoorstudio.com/index.htm

I collaborated with Jonathan on the design and chalked out the tree and leaf/branch areas for them to cut. This thing is huge!

The guys are outside right now finishing up the fence...woohoo!! After I do a patina finish over the "leaves" and get them sealed, it should be ready to install. I think its going to be gorgeous with a capital "G". This gate will age to a wicked rust finish to match the rad rusted steel planters and edging Jonathon did for the front yard.

WIP: Horizontal Custom Tree-Lady Blocks

I got my first custom order (uhm, first order...period) on Etsy. Yay!!

A lady really liked my silver diptych tree-lady but wanted a tripdych going horizontally instead of vertically. No prob!

I had slightly larger/deeper wood panels made (8in x 8in x 3in) and sent her the sketch below. I have primed and base-coated each and hope to have it finished and ready to ship this week:)

Will post final product on my blog: http://www.rarebirdart.blogspot.com/ Visit my etsy shop here: http://www.rarebirdart.etsy.com/

WIP (work in progress): Paper Mache Rats

Some photos of my newest endeavor. I'm pretty jazzed about these paper petrified rodents. This one is the first ever...a prototype for possible Halloween props and whatnot.

Katherine flipped over the final result, but I forgot to take pictures of him before I handed him over to Scott on his birthday. He was just relieved it wasn't another live one:P

I'll post the fully dressed "Pulp Rat" here:

http://www.rarebirdart.blogspot.com/

Blog to Book

I'm already distracted this morning...but this is a neato idea:

http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/


I love the internet and all, but I'm set in my tactile ways. I'm not so sure I will ever get myself one of those Kimble thingys because I really enjoy the feel of the paper and the accumulation of books on my shelves. That's why I became so excited about the prospect of taking my photos and ramblings and turning them into "the real thing" for a measley 15-30 bucks a pop. Coolness.

What?

Things I hope to be putting onto this blog:
Sketches.
Project Ideas.
Books, Websites, Magazines, etc. that I am reading.
Quotes that make you go "Hmmm" or "Ahhhh" or "Hahahaha".
My poems, writings and rants...plus some other peeps of note.
Music I adore and want to share.
Artists I admire.
Dreams.
Photos of...stuff.
Gobbledygook.

YUP, Another blog...

Why another blog?

1.) I like to jabber, blogging is less intrusive.
2.) Sometimes I need to remember ideas, thoughts, projects. My memory stinks, having them in print may prove beneficial.
3.) I don't want to trash up my quasi-organized blog with all the rest of this mumbo-jumbo.
4.) There really isn't anyone breathing down my neck...no boss to crack the whip...I gotta have something to answer to.
5.) Because I want to. I DO WHAT I WANT!

Ha.