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Inferno – burning the bridges behind us

In a former lifetime I published an underground arts newspaper.

The year was 2003. Liz Nicklus and I were heavily involved with the Glasstown Arts District in Millville, NJ. We were on the early board of directors of the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts.

One night at Larry’s Bar, enjoying drinks with Jennifer Lookabaugh-Swift we began discussing how the arts district needed an arts publication. Jenn came up with the name Inferno. Continue reading “Inferno – burning the bridges behind us”

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Kayaking Canyon Lake

I took a vacation day from work last Friday to go kayaking at Canyon Lake.

It is now the season when the snowbirds will be filtering in, and I wanted to be on the water enjoying a peaceful morning.

Canyon Lake is the third of four man-made lakes along the Salt River. Roosevelt Lake is first in line; the Roosevelt Dam providing hydroelectric power for the Valley.

Apache Lake is next, just beyond Tortilla Flat. Canyon Lake is the most popular for residents of the East Valley, with swimming, boating, and camping amenities. It is a twenty minute drive from my house, which makes it even more attractive. Continue reading “Kayaking Canyon Lake”

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Shaken, not stirred

Shaken, not Stirred
oil on canvas
48″x60″

An oldie but goody. Mark bought it. One of my old favorites.

I was a bit lubricated on martinis – yes Boodles gin and a pretense of Noilly Prat Vermouth.

My life today is more stirred yet not shaken. I pay attention to politics, both local and national, and yet do not sweat. I am more taken with Doris Day – Que Sera Sera – than I am with the news of the day.  Fifty-seven years of bullshit and I have finally come to the realization that everything shakes out in the end, even slow ketchup.

 

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Catching Up

Jake’s O Mine

Jakes’s O Mine
oil on canvas
8×10

It has been a while since I have had time to post. Recently, while talking to Dusty, the bartender at Lucky Strikes, I realized that I have been amiss at not posting my first Arizona bar series painting.

Lucky’s is where the infamous Jake’s O Mine was located. Jake’s was distinguished by its peculiarly low bar, surrounded by kitchen chairs rather than bar stools.

Jake’s had a tattoo artist on premises. Whereas almost every bar has a sign requesting that no bike club colors be displayed, Jake’s had no such policy.  Some nights half the clientele were sporting red and white. Continue reading “Catching Up”

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Abstractly thinking

abstractRGB
Oil on canvas

Sometimes I have to clear my head while in the studio. Working on a representational painting requires a certain amount of discipline and concentration.

I a not a strict representational painter, rather I take elements in real life and arrange them in what I hope is a pleasing and cohesive work. I follow the rules so far, stretch the rules where it pleases me. Continue reading “Abstractly thinking”

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Pat Witt and the Barn

This is where it all began.

Well, not me and art. I was drawing since I was 5 years old. Painting since I was 13. An asshole since birth.

In 1996 I began attending the barn. I grew up hearing about the Barn, all of my friends attended. We were poor and my parents could not afford to send me. My dad referred to Pat Witt as “that crazy artist lady”. Continue reading “Pat Witt and the Barn”