:doodle doodle dee:

I really want to write in this thing more regularly, creative slump or not, so let's shoot for Wednesdays, hokay?

I've learned over the years to always have some sort of sketchbook with me, even though I also used whatever scraps I could find. This was frowned upon at some shit jobs I've had. Better you do the retail oxymoron of "looking busy" rather than anything creative, or god forbid, look *relaxed* while on the job. Sorry, was I screaming again? Anyways...

I have larger sketchbooks but also smaller ones to carry around. I noticed that the last few were a combination of sketches and notes and shopping lists, and not enough of the former, so I have two separate pads for that. And those of you who know me wonder why I still lug a messenger bag around.

I'm doing my best to sketch more. Some may became major pieces some day, some are already on that way. It's still a pity I have to find the time to do it, or it takes a long time to spark it. Non-creative environments at home and at work aren't helping. Maybe I'll go into the laptop jungle that coffee shops are now and draw there, but truthfully, that's not my scene. And I don't drink coffee.

:something anything:

Nothing much to report - an ambition of mine is to at least get a weekly post of substance on here - but I *did* get a photo included in a local gallery show:

Capturing Time
A juried photo show 


March 10 - April 6, 2011

Time Warner Gallery, LynnArts 
25 Exchange St. Lynn, MA 01901 
www.lynnarts.org 

opening reception Saturday, March 12 2-4 PM 
with live music by Guys and Dahl 

Galleries are open: 
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 10 AM - 4 PM 
Thurs, 10 AM - 8 PM 
Sat, 11AM - 4 PM


This is the photo that got accepted:

:repeating loop:

This is getting ridiculous. I need a new place or I shall never be able to create on a regular basis. I feel like I'm living in a college dorm at times, though the people here are allegedly adults. I wouldn't care if I didn't hear them, but the walls and floors here are way too thin for this many people to be living this close together.

ANY leads on a quiet place in the Boston area (I'm having no luck with craigslist) would be greatly appreciated. I just don't know where to look. Too many bad realtor websites online (if I could design websites that'd be my market, they need HELP), scant few listings in papers, where else can I look??

:i've got idea man:

Getting a strange surge of ideas lately, hoping to ride this wave and create most if not all this year; like I said in a previous post, last year's "productivity" was pathetic. If I can get at least one new piece a month (January's half over, we'll see, excuses excuses), I'll know I'm on the right track.

Just going to note them down here for my own purposes. It probably won't make any sense to you.

- cactus
- angler
- pause
- Kali
- waitress
- H Girl
- Siamese twins
- Goreyphone

:new year new hopes:

Guess I'll start off the first post of 2011 by informing you that six of the Homunculi (spooky dolls) are now on display AND for sale at Bewitched in Salem, should you find yourself in Salem, MA. Here are a few in the front window:

So: the new year usually means resolutions, and while I don't usually share mine publicly, the creativity issue is an important one and one reason for the existence of this blog. I only created three major art pieces last year. THREE. That's my worst year yet, even though two of them ended up being sold. This cannot stand. I know it's still because of my living situation, so the search for a better place still continues. But I can't sit and wait until that happens and just let my creativity die. Still need to: finish learning Adobe CS3, almost done learning Photoshop. Practice more on the drawing tablet. Learn more about photography, somehow get a digital SLR camera and dare I hope, a studio. Just have to stay f o c u s e d. I've already started drawing on one of work breaks instead of reading. Just a 15 minute brain dump. Who knows what will come out. Stay tuned?

:krampus:

Here's the latest artwork I've done - it's for an upcoming art show in Salem (details below), and was done entirely in Painter and with a Wacom tablet, which is still new to me, and I feel that I am improving with each piece. I decided to keep it in just black and white this time. With all the snow, it kinda made sense to me.


Update: this piece was bought at opening night!!

- -

It's that time of year again!

Join us for the opening night of our 2nd annual KRAMPUS Group Art Show! One fearsome, furry theme - many talented artists! Saturday December 4th from 8-10 PM. Meet the artists behind the artwork! Delight in the musical talents of DJ Zombi! Who knows --Krampus might even make an apperance!!

Not familiar with the legend of Krampus? Go to the following link to find out more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus

Can't make it to the opening night shindig? Don't fret! The artwork will be available for viewing all month in our Red Room Gallery.

Fool's Mansion
127 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970

:sluggish:

A long time between posts, a sure sign that I've fallen in productivity again, despite October being a month of much exposure, and the piece that I showed the creation of in a previous post, "Blood Memory," was actually sold! I wonder if it was the price that was part of it (a lot lower than the rest of the art on display), and if it's time to raise them a bit for next time. I was also concerned that the piece in question wasn't finished, but apparently whoever bought it didn't feel that way.

I also had a doll on display this past weekend, good exposure if not a sale. Gotta look for more shows to enter into.

Also visited an open studios event, which still gives me mixed emotions, mainly how I can't manage to find such a space for myself, and to be blunt, I often wonder how some of the people who do have studios manage to get them. More have been offered by the BRA, again listed as "affordable," but if they're only for sale or if the rent is over $1000, it's not affordable in my (check) book.

There's another art show opening in Salem next month. There's absolutely no reason why I can't make something by then.