Beginning a new series

Since March I've had a new series of paintings brewing in my head. It's one of those not directly related inspirations that took hold while bringing a design class to see the work of sculptor James Kitchen. It was this piece in particular that sparked a flood of images in my mind of spirit guides helping their charges.

There are several images that I can picture very strongly, but I've yet to start sketching. I started making casts for one last week. My Dad was happy to pose for the part of the shaman / guide spirit and it was an honor to make casts of him. He also has the humor and patience that makes for a good cast model!

I hope to do more as soon as the weather evens out and travel up to their house gets better. Mom was more than happy to take pictures.


Dad had fun pretending he had two broken arms. These are going to be used to cup around the head of another person in the painting, imbuing energy.

While I was working on his face, I noticed the interesting qualities of his clasped hands and had to get them ... not sure where they fit into an image yet, but they were too cool to leave.


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2009 Art Calendar Available

Well, I finally managed to organize a calendar in time for the new year. It's available for sale on Zazzle.com, my new favorite place in the world. I've been creating lots of designs for sale there as well, but this calendar features only my paintings.

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Sketches and Plans

Did a host of rough sketches for children's book ideas after tossing ideas for TV shows around with Helen. Some of these have been living in my head for years (one of them for decades). I'll have to scan them next week when work slows down.

I'm also hoping to convince my Dad to let me make plaster casts of his hands when we go up to visit for Thanksgiving. I've wanted several sets of larger, older hands for paintings I've had in my head since April. No telling what he'll say. He has some pretty severe dry skin problems on his hands sometimes, but the process will probably make them feel better.

No sketches on that series of paintings yet. They've been evolving in my subconscious. When I start to sink into sleepiness, like now, they become clearer in my mind and refine themselves just a little every time. It's a series of "guiding spirit" paintings where the older, wiser being is gently holding the head of a less sure, floundering soul. It's a somewhat shamanistic feeling they're giving me.

Sketches of those need to happen soon before they fade.

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Starting Over

This is a new art blog. Access to the last one was lost somewhere in the change of email. Although it's been a while since I've worked on any new paintings, there are lots of them lining up at the exit doors in my head.

I'm also looking forward to collaborating with Helen Wassell (similar name, no relation), next year on her art project "No Fear". As usual, she's going to be taking us on a wild ride. :)

The previous blog can be found, frozen in time, HERE.

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