Here’s wishing everyone a very happy, safe and peaceful holiday!
Happy Holidays!
The longest night of the year …
Vocatus atque non vocatus deus aderit.
Wednesday’s watercolor
For today: something from February, 2015.
Today’s watercolor
Getting into the holiday spirit…
How to start?
Starting is always the hardest part.
A good place to start is by decluttering, cleaning up my workspace. Nothing stops the creative process more for me than clutter. That could be physical clutter or mental clutter. The two seem closely related. Also why not freshen up the blog format! Nice, fresh template!
Then, what to do? I was impressed by a piece of advice I read online today while at the office, found while looking for information on the book The Miracle Morning.
I can’t remember where exactly I found this:
“Create what you would like to see in the world, and then make it public.”
The author was mainly thinking about how to make money, but I was intrigued about it in a different way. What would I like to see in the world, and how could I, as an artist, create that, or at least contribute to it? Certainly not another gadget, app or infernal machine to distract and mislead people. Instead, peace, love and understanding come to mind.
So I think my contribution for today will be the Karaniya Metta Sutta, words attributed to the Buddha. This is what I hope for the world:
This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech,
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied,
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful,
Not proud or demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born —
May all beings be at ease!
Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;
Radiating kindness over the entire world:
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.
Recently sold
It’s been a busy summer and I’m pleased to have recently sold some paintings.
First Manomayakaya #2 (pictured above), was sold, then this lovely watercolor:
There are several places online where you can see my artwork, besides this blog: First my website, then for a more comprehensive catalog, my flickr page. I am offering smaller, more affordable works, such as “Red” pictured above, through my Etsy store.
Check out all the great work and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, or info about pricing or availability.
Today’s image: new work in Project 365
Read more about the project here.
Project: 365
Back in October, I started a new, year-long project to document my ongoing practice of visual exploration. I think of this exploration as central to the work of the artist. I’m calling the project simply “365” and the end result (to the extent that a project like this ever ends) will be 365 small watercolors presented at this year’s Gowanus Open Studios, October 17-18.
I started the project on or about October 19, immediately after last year’s Open Studios, and we are now more or less at the six-month mark. So I’m evaluating how the project is going and taking a first crack at formulating some sort of artist’s statement about the work. I’m also beginning the arduous task of scanning some exemplars of the work. I’m certainly not going to scan all 365 pieces I create!
The project is bookended by the Open Studio event that happens each year in October. I’ve taken part in Gowanus Open Studios every year since 2007, and I’ve often experienced it as the beginning and end of my artistic cycle.
So what goes on in my typical artist’s year? This project seeks to outline just that. It represents a year in the life of the artist — or in other words, a year of practice, process and exploration.
As I said, all of the work created for this project is small (between approximately 3×5 inches and 8×8 inches) and all of the work is watercolor. Included are portraits and self-portraits, improvised sketches and landscapes real and unreal, life-drawing, completely abstract work, flights of the imagination and studies for future larger paintings. All stuff of which the artist’s practice is made.
365 pieces will be displayed in October, and all will be offered to the public on a “pay as you wish” basis. Here are some exemplars of the work created so far. Mark your calendars now! Gowanus Open Studios 2015 is October 17-18.
New Etsy listings are up tonight!
I’ve added several pieces to my “Figureworks” collection in my Etsy store: works featuring the human form.
First up is an interesting painting I created mid-2010 (it seems like yesterday) titled “Lovesick Android.” Lovesick Android was composed with acrylic paint on wood panel. The gold and silver acrylic paints really stand out in an interesting way from the deep purple ground. This unusual metallic look inspired the Android part of the title; as for “lovesick,” it just seemed to fit his overall demeanor.
“Red” is a watercolor I created a few years ago. I’ve been meaning to get this into the Etsy store for quite some time.
“Dirty Little Drawing number 1” was created especially for the Dirty Little Drawings show at Leslie-Loman that I wrote about last month. I’m in the process of putting up all of the remaining Dirty Little Drawings up on my Etsy store. Stay tuned for future announcements!
This weekend: Dirty Little Drawings!
As I shared the other week, I am going to have several pieces in the Dirty Little Drawings show and sale this weekend.
Here are all the details:
What: Dirty Little Drawings is an exhibit and sale of erotic art featuring the male form. Each piece is on sale for $60. You can build or start your art collection while supporting living artists in New York and the Leslie-Loman Museum.
Where: Leslie-Loman Museum Project Space, 127B Prince Street, between Wooster and West Broadway, basement level (Soho, New York City, Prince Street stop on the R-train)
When: The opening reception is this Friday, March 27, from 6 to 8. A big turnout is expected. If you’re like me and not super-fond of crowds, you might like to come Saturday or Sunday. The show/sale will be open from noon to 6 on both Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29.
So stop by!
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