Oils, Cont'd

Since the last posting, I have started a couple of new pieces.

One is of a couple with another guy at a tiki bar and a bartender; the couple is holding hands and are looking over at the guy and the bartender. I am going to call it "The Swingers."




Another is of a dinner preparation I made for a loved one. It is hanging in said loved one's kitchen. I used the original shopping list and included it in the piece.



Another is of hot dogs cooking in wine (yet to be delivered).

Currently I am working on an oil of a partially-clad redhead. Full-frontal...sort of, with guest appearance by cat. I don't know where I am going with it, but books are involved, as are wine and bourbon. No cigar yet.

Oils

The first is called, "Painter at 100 Years."



I don't know what this will be called; it's a work in progress.

New Work in Progress

Last night, while sitting at the local gin mill, I had an idea, using a title that was to be the 4th part of the American Primitive screenplay: I am going to try (emphasize on the word, "try,") to write a stage play. It is going to be called "Pints," and will focus on my existential state since the end of my marriage. Hopefully, I will be honest and scathing about myself and where I've come and where I am going.

In addition to the writing, I have already roughly designed the set (or at least did a schematic on a napkin and described it in the first page) and will flesh it out.

We shall see how it goes...or if I follow through on it. I've already written a screenplay, but somehow this feels like more of a challenge, mostly because I am more limited in how it can be visually presented.

New Paintings

"Adventurers by Fate," based on a quote by Vincent van Gogh, impressionist painter and maker of good vodka




"Recharging," a futuristic nightmare world, where artists' models are artificial life forms.

AI: ARTificial Inspiration

Philosophical question: What if, in the future, artists were able to own their own live models, which were artificial life forms?

The shots are for a piece I am doing for submission in the "Future" show at UAG (starts 11/7/08).

Latest Works

It has been a productive weekend. See paintings, with respective titles above them.

"End of the Shift"




"View from the Kitchen"




The following two are inspired by a book by a famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk and friend of Thomas Merton. The book is called, "Going Home: Jesus and Buddha as Brothers," based on a series of talks around Christmas.

The first is Jesus (in progress).



The next is Gautama (in progress).

Solitude

These past two days, and most of Friday as well and probably most of tomorrow, have been spent in solitude. In the confines of the cloister, with trips down to the girls' house to take care of the cats, with paintbrushes and canvases and a good amount of paint.

What has been accomplished:

* Completed a new Dulcinea de la Mancha painting (see below);

* Completed a small piece for a friend, of an Alaskan landscape;

* Completed a piece titled either "Antietam," or "Bifocals;"

* Am reading "The Hero of a Thousand Faces," by Joseph Campbell, which is quite interesting;

* Laid down some base coats on two pieces of wood purloined from the house which will be a part of a series of hero paintings...first will be Jesus, then will be Gautama (the Buddha), although I am not sure I will pull it off...the title will most likely be based on a book;

* Have texted a few folk here and there, just to stay in touch with the world; and

* Have done a bit of contemplating.

Oh, yeah...I did a little job hunting too.

All this, of course, has been done with a soundtrack of various rock and roll, folk or classical music, including: Bob Dylan, Jesus Christ Superstar, baroque harpsichord, the Velvet Underground, and even some old Billy Joel.

My reading list is updated to the left.

Later I will reward myself by going to my local pub, having a beer and a bourbon and enjoying the company of my favorite bartender (who owns a couple of paintings herself).

Not a bad couple of days indeed.