In Case You Were Wondering...

Hi Friends, 
Here it is...the studio as it stands as of 5:37 PM EST on April 29th, 2010. 

Oh my, I have got a lot going on.  Today begins the ten day countdown...and that my friends, is sad, very sad indeed.  It also means that I am kicking it up a notch, and I currently have four paintings going right now.  I wish I could stay here another three months, it's amazing the progress I feel I have made in the past four weeks...what could another twelve do?!  So, the painting in the photo right above this little paragraph is what got the brunt of my energy today.  I am really happy with the complexity of the composition, and the space that is being created, I would like to push the color a bit more, though not as far as in Tree Shrine which I feel was on the brink of...too much?  As it moves along I will post a better image.  The process for this painting has been a bit different, I began with washes to give the canvas more "history." I guess I should have taken photos of that. I also have been a bit more methodical in my approach after another painting that I kind of got a little carried away with...Jackson Pollock style. And that's all I have to say about that.  I have two other small paintings going right now as well, about 13" x 20" which helps to balance out working on the larger paintings.  I know I said I would talk about the weekend in this post, and I promise I will...next time. Besides, wasn't this one just riveting?

Hey you! Thanks for listening! 

As promised...and then some.

Hi Friends!

I am going to make this quick as dinner starts in twenty minutes! Below  is a photo of my studio from today, again see the difference from when I first arrived? Let's hope I can bring back up to par before my departure.  

And a close up of the painting on the left, which is almost done.  A few adjustments were made since this photo was taken, and I have a few more to make.  I really want to think and look for a while before making them though, and as always, I love feedback / criticism. You can get a sense of scale from the photo above but the painting is about 40" x 44".

Oh oh! And I have five new neighbors!! They showed up about a week ago, but I didn't want to freak them out by taking their picture until today. 

Mama Bird has certainly has been busy.  I keep bringing spiders outside from my studio and have a feeling they wind up in the mouths of these little guys. And if you have forgotten what I look like, here's a nice little photo of me on the deck before dinner. I think I'm looking at the wasps flying around, but also smiling because this places makes me happy. 

You're the best, thanks for listening! 

Je suis arrivé!

I have arrived! Actually I arrived two days ago. BUT I AM HERE! I HAVE MADE IT TO HAMBIDGE! I received the news back in November that my application had been accepted for a fellowship to the Hambidge Center, and now I am finally here!  I don't think I need to say too much, I'll let the images explain why I (and the Subaru) are so, so, so, so happy here. I will say that things are different here. Cell phone service doesn't exist and internet is half an hour away from my studio.  I love, love, love it here. 

So there you have it...that's my studio/home for the next five weeks! It's all mine and it's incredible! My bedroom is up those stairs, but it's no where near as cool as the studio. These photos were taken right upon arrival, so the cleanliness and order of the place has dissolved quite a bit in the past forty-eight hours. The previous occupant left me a note with advice to "follow my passion", as well as a small drawing, a phone card, and a grocery discount card. I will post new photos of the space, as well as works in progress soon. I am really enjoying being alone. I wake up early and have the entire day to myself, with no outside distractions, and I work all day. I have been painting and haven't even touched my pastels. I'm working mostly on paper but have  a large amount of canvas I plan to work on.  I haven't left the mountains yet for town, but may have to do so soon...I need sandpaper and milk.   My fellow fellows (hah!) are quite a wonderful group as well. I am the youngest here, but have made friends with Chase, a sculptor who is only a few years older than me.  He has plans to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder this coming Fall. More on my new friends soon. 

Well, boo yea. I'm psyched. I love it here. Right now I am writing from the Rock House, literally made of rocks. The frogs are chirping and the stars are brilliant. This morning I went on a hike but it started to pour half way through, it rained all day until about five.  I saw a bird I didn't recognize, I watched a bird that nests outside my window, I thought about Obama, I listened to the radio, I ironed some canvas, I gessoed some paper, I ate some oatmeal and I painted all day.  

See you tomorrow, and thanks for listening!