Memorial Day

Memorial day has just passed, a time to remember those who paid the supreme price. This video is homage to my uncle, John Henry Young. He was my fathers oldest brother. He had two brothers in WWI but only one returned.

Sunday afternoon

Just some sketches from my sketchbook. virtually everything I do creatively begins in the sketch book. I also use to experiment with different techniques. It is also my constant companion when traveling. But not quite as constant as my main squeeze! It is predominantly black and white and most of it is in black ballpoint pen, usually those freebies you pick up at motels. Recently I have started using pencil, since i have found hairspray (I use it as a fixative) in a small travel aerosol. The color work is either in watercolor or water soluble markers.

Some of the stuff is just absent-minded dreaming with a pen in my hand. The center page is a preliminary sketch done plein aire for a painting. The sketch is a year-old and I haven't been able to do a big piece that has the spontaneity the the color sketch has. The page on the lower left is exploring a cactus form. I was stylizing the simple form and abstracting it. And now off tho the sketch book? Where is my MOTEL6 pen? Is the light on for me?

2DAY

It has been a while since I posted. Sometimes the electro-mechanical devices don't work exactly right.

One good thing about low tech is that there are few problems. The expression of visual creativity can be extremely low tech. For example, this new piece was made of newspaper pen, pencil and glue stick. I was watching television when the creative urge hit me. I grabbed the old sketch book (9 x 12) and some newspaper. I wanted to create a design with a variety of textures. I also wanted to have a three dimensional element. The work was created intuitively, no sketches were involved. I used cut and torn pieces to get the variety in edges and the overlapped pieces give a sense of depth. The line work adds a bit detail of primitive symbology. Am I "saying" something with this piece? Maybe... television is boring?

just stuff

There is always something good about posting an original image. Something that only existed in the neatherlands of your mind. The above seems organic to me: growing, expanding, morphing. The act of creating is itself sometimes intoxicating but different from Two Buck Chuck. As you become a part of the process not unlike ink and paper or binary code or spray of the transparents something happens. Almost euphoric.

I continue to explore the craft of creating the mono print via conventional and contemporary ways.

Greed vs. Humanity

I haven't posted for a while due to some technical problems. I've been enjoying watching the political scene. The whole thing is such a facade. I have come to believe that greed is the common element in all socio-political endeavors today. Politicians say the things that will get them elected. Once they are elected they vote and create the legislation that their financial supporters desire. Greed is responsible for many of our woes. Our automobiles get poor gas mileage so that the oil companies and automakers can make more money. We are poisoned by over-processed foods that have been genetically altered to produce higher yields and therefore more profits for the giant food conglomerates. Our children are becoming the "obese generation" as consumers of the fast foods as taunted by Madison Avenue. All in the name of profits.