"American Primitive - The Novel"

Now that I have completed a first draft of American Primitive, Part Three (formerly Kubris and now back to "Painter"), I have begun to work on the treatments for the other parts as well as a novel or novella version of "Painter." A few involved with film enjoyed it, believe it is film-able (probably art house and european audiences) and said the script read like a novel. So, instead of struggling with a script, I will write the novel.

I am going to Georgia this weekend and will have plenty of time to write, in between a few Guinness stouts, Irish Whiskeys, and cigars.

What is intriguing is how tough on my fictional personae I can be, it's necessary to reflect on the impact of other's actions without casting stones. It's necessary to create a character richer in depth and in feeling than what the average person who doesn't know me may perceive. Not necessarily self-flagellation,

Perhaps, also writing about a future life that might seem a pipe dream, I am also doing some creative visioning for a future I would like to see. Perhaps more importantly, by exorcising demons on paper and on screen (if we ever get there), I can liberate myself to make this a reality and, by acknowledging personal flaws, anticipate them and address them as they arrive.

That is where we are at. I'm painting, writing and screen writing, sketching sets, creating story board by way of paintings (go to www.zhibit.com/fprmclain, to see American Primitive-related pieces).

And the drawings and paintings will be slightly more improved or at least a little more error-free with the new bifocals I dreaded getting.

Photographs on My Artist's Site

A set of ten photographs has been posted on my artist site.

Painting in Progress: The Cloister

The sketch in the posting below now has some color to it. A bit more work to do.

The Cloister on Canvas

This is a sketch, from memeory, of my cloister/studio on Elm Street in Albany. Complete with armchair and cat.

It will eventually become a painting.

Mid-Life Crisis?

After reading this article in Psychology Today online and then reflecting on things, it occurred to me that it is possible that I am actually in a bit of a mid-life crisis. This of course was brought about by three life events: the end of marriage, turning 40 and losing my long-term job.

What is interesting is that it did not necessarily hit me as a mid-life crisis situation until last week, when I learned that I would need either a pair of reading glasses or bifocals. Lots of individuals younger than me have bad eyes, but I guess this was icing on the cake. On the positive side, I will no longer need to put my glasses on my forehead to read and then need to squint to see the beauty in the distance. And I won't need to put a book 7 inches from my face to read it comfortably. It is a positive step in terms of eye care. But something about it just hit me.

Anyway, the article on the mid-life crisis did offer some advice on how to deal with things. Various articles I've seen say one thing: don't ignore and don't try to push it off. In the larger context, a midlife crisis can be a positive transitional process, if one does not just embrace the more impulsive and reckless aspects. Eat healthier, get a bit more exercise, avoid overindulging, and seek help if need be.

It's good to know that this has happened. I could either not put a finger on it or was in denial. But it is what it is.

And I want to be in better health and shape before 2020, when I head off to the tropics to live and paint and enjoy a long long life.

Sketch from American Primitive - Paradise

It's about a quiet moment in the picture. It's about a nascent friendship.

Cloister Revisited