Thanksgiving Pose

Don't let that cat fool you!  Syd had a very nice Thanksgiving meal.  I cooked him chicken breast, and he had a bowl of egg nog.  I decided to change the color of the room in Syd's world.  It looks even different today as I haven't snapped a picture this morning.

Can't Think Of Anything Else

Gratitude!  My sight.  No. 1 to replace being delivered from my enemy's.  Sight....what an awesome gift.  So now I have two items on my gratitude list.  Sight, and then being saved.  My macular degeneration is something I don't like to dwell on...it has always been a possibility.  Now that I know though, I want to spend my days seeing,

Day Is Done...I Think?

Using an old photograph that was poor technical quality, I can see that the idea was good though.  Worth the shot...and maybe it was a scene that was part of a painting?  I think I am done for the day.  I have been up and working since about 5:30am and I think it is just time to put my feet up for a little while.  Be back later when more is revealed to me...as I see into this imaginary world.

Gratitude 2014

This morning I woke up before dawn and started in on Syd's World.  I wanted to get a sense of where the ceiling and wall meet, so a ceiling fan seemed in order.  While I was painting that in, I imagined a 3 shaker peg coat rack...and then I imagined the coat hanging off of it.  It is unanimous that we see Syd's face, so no doubt I will be turning him around as I add filler books in my imaginary bookcase.  What is in that room off my fantasy bedroom?  More will be revealed!  This is the time of the year I begin making my gratitude list.  I do this as a substitute for Thanksgiving as I won't be going anywhere and I am determined not to be sad about that....instead grateful for something better to do.

Syd wants to know what I did to his outside?  This ole boy spent most everyday outside rain or shine.  Yesterday, and this morning he is not so interested in actually going out there.  I guess I won't be doing any anvil work or smithing today!  That's OK.  I can use this pose.

Kitchen Wood Shop

Yesterday afternoon I sanded and stained the frame for EIEIO.  There is no possible way to finish it in time for the upcoming VSA exhibition and tour.  I need to take the pressure off and let the ideas stew and simmer and not try to force it.  I am so thankful to have had a grandfather that cultivated my woodworking interest.  My Grandpa Russ (Russel Bolen O'Flaherty) made me a miniature workbench right beside his.  When I stayed with my grandparents Grandma Sue (Virginia McKee O'Flaherty) made us an enormous breakfast, then grandpa and I would go to his workshop.  Those are some of my fondest memory's and occasionally I am lucky enough to be able to have a woodworking shop in addition to my Jewelry nook.  Not at this residence though....so it is my kitchen counter that holds the basics.  Knife handles, and picture frames seem to be what I make these days.  I find that the little band saw, dremel belt sander and a cordless drill fit the bill for most of my woodworking projects.  Although yesterday I had to go to my basement and locate my hand sander.  With EIEIO out of the running, I can jump over and start my next canvas that I am calling Syd's World.

I started a working sketch at the laundromat on Saturday.  This morning I started plotting out where I want everything and put on some base coats.

My commissioner wants my old guitar in the painting as well as Master Syd.

Look What They Done.....To My Song Ma

I met her once.  Hope to meet her again.  Soon!
I can't think of a more inspirational song or musician I have ever met.  I did meet her once....at the Agora.  Katie Belle and The Belle Rangers would be the next influence.  I have not yet met Katie Belle.  I bet if Katie Belle met Melanid Safka......world would not be the same to say the least.  For instance....what would Dream Away sound like if Melanie sang it?  Every idea I have come up with in the last week or two is illegal.  This would be one of those ideas that would need to be brokered.  But what if...these people just showed up....didn't care about legality?  We'll see what ha0ppens.  I am allowed to fantacise and dream...and even affirm.  Both Melanie and Katie Belle have powerful voices.  We need those for what is coming next.  I for one....am practicing to sing with both of these women.  How can I go wrong.  I am just practicing and hoping one of them will come into my direct radar.  Both women have influenced me beyond anyone else.  Maybe I will live to perform or jam with them.

New Artifacts

 Off to the laundromat!  Here are two new potential artifacts I created from Ohio Hopewell and Adena artifacts.  My idea was that folks visiting a museum where the hand and Hopewell symbol are, might like these new versions.  To quote my friend Louise in Maine...."something still remains".

Syds Modeling Gig

Syd and I are hard at work today doing a photo shoot for our upcoming commission.  Syd takes his modeling career very seriously.

got paint?

I have had to make some hard decisions this week.  I hope they were good decisions.  Yesterday, I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased 3 tubes of acrylic paint in hopes of finishing EIEIO by my December 5th deadline.  My stride was broken, so I don't know how I can get back into the momentum.  Painting for me, is sort of like going down the rabbit hole.  One of the first processes that I had my art students do this summer was to learn about primary colors, how to mix them into secondary colors.  They became quite good at it, and now I am faced with needing to be good at it too.  The art teacher has to walk the walk this week. 
Prior to this week, I have been using mostly recycled and donated paint. 

Happy 97th Birthday Grandma Sue O'Flaherty

I hocked my guitar, put gas in my truck, paid a late utility, and went over to see Grandma a day before her 97th Birthday.  She recognized me this time.  She told me she plans on living to be 100.

I Did It!

It occured to me yesterday that I need to return this computer to Lori Rayburn who paid for it and loaned it to me.  However, I was not going to leave my hard drive or RAM memory cards in it as I will be leaving it on her porch next time I am in Columbus.  I don't keep things that do not belong to me.  After 19 hours of recycling all makes and models of computers, I know how to remove these parts.  It is a matter of removing screws, finding clips, and then putting it all back together.  She will not appreciate this gesture, but I will feel better knowing I return what I borrow.  Thank you FreeGeek, and Licking County Computer Society for teaching me how to do this very important thing.

post script  Thank you Lori Rayburn for loaning this computer to me.

Early Columbus Appointment Today

I will be in Columbus today.  My skyline is filling up pretty fast.  Maybe I will something on my way to the Capital City today that I can incorporate into my painting.

John's Victory Speech

That's What I'm Talkin About!

Time Change

Syd and I turned back our clocks this morning.  There are some years that I haven't remembered to do it until I missed a vital appointment.  His little nose is a bit bent out of shape.  He wonders what I have done to his outside:)  There was frost on my windshield this morning, so I am delaying going out on my errands till it warms up a bit.  I put a couple new things into my painting, but the going is slow as I am almost out of 3 colors of paint.  I am not eligible for another grant till 2016 so this painting might not get done this year unless I can come up with Cadmium Red, Cobalt Blue, and Yellow.  I have never been a starving artist, but much of my art has been dependent on art supplies.  I will turn toward what I do have in stock and try to do something....even if it isn't right:)