It's like riding a bike

It's been over 2 years since I've painted anything other than basement walls. I was very nervous about the whole thing. Actually it was more like fear. That fear has kept me from doing something that I really enjoy.

Painting.

It's not like I was jumping out of an airplane or climbing a mountain - but still the fear was there.

Minds -they do funny things sometimes.

For months I have worked hard on unblocking myself and conquering my fear. I've been reading books and other artist blogs.

Excuses kept popping up here and there and found their way between me and my paint brushes. (excuses are like assholes...everyone has one and they all stink!)

Yesterday I kept repeating the Nike mantra: Just Do It.

Just Do It, Just Do It,Just Do It,Just Do It,Just Do It.

So I did!

The first little painting was just a pop artsy kind of thing. Something I doodled on a post it note one day and thought it would look good as a painting. I got kind of sloppy with it and the lines aren't as crisp as I would like them but it was a fun warm up exercise.



The next one was an experiment in schmearing colors with a palette knife. Something I've never done before. Unfortunately I used a little too much stand oil so it came out a little runny but I think this qualifies for the blob I wanted to paint.

I like the colors at least. Kind of reminds me of my palette after I've been painting a while.



This last one was just something I wanted to try. I have always curious about portraits. I love to study faces. The small laugh lines or creases along the forehead. The cheeks and nostrils. Mouths, eyes...everything. I find them infinitely fascinating.

Rummaging around my photos I came across one of my Dad that I took when we were in Ireland. We were waiting for a shuttle to take us to the Cliffs of Moher I believe. It was misty and grey and he just stood there staring into space deep in thought.

So...my brain said...give it a go. If you don't like it, paint over it. No one will have to know!

But I like it...a lot. And I am very unforgiving about my art.

This isn't 100% finished. I just have a few touches to do, but it was getting late and my eyes were getting a bit blurry and so I stopped and will let it dry for a few days and then just add a few things.

Here he is. I hope you like him.

If you don't that's ok too. I do!

Now I have the painting bug so I will try to tackle a few more this week if I can.

Have a great weekend!

Semi-conductor

Definition:

A partially conductive solid: a solid material that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator

That is one definition.

The other is:

A 71 year old white male armed with a baton and a odd sense of humor!

Meet my Dad - the semi-conductor!

This past weekend he was invited to be the guest conductor at a special July 4th concert with the Bay Atlantic Symphony Orchestra.

Quite an honor don't you think?

I'm so proud of him!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend but dear ol' Dad filled me in on all of the details.

He was asked to lead the orchestra in John Philip Sousa's wonderfully patriotic song: Stars and Stripes Forever.

(If you are unfamiliar with the tune...click on the hperlink to get an idea what it sounds like. You'll probably recognize it once you hear it.)

My father is quite the performer. He does a wonderful rendition of Boris Karloff singing the Bee Gee's hit: Lonely Days.

(You're trying to picture that in your head now aren't you?)

Put my Dad up on a stage and in front of a few hundred people in the audience and an orchestra at his command?

ohhhhhhhhhhhh....lordy!

I'm truly sorry I wasn't there to see this because this is what happened...and this is a direct "cut and paste" from an e-mail he sent me:

"Before I began, I told the audience that I was an old 'rock & roll' guy and I was used to having backup singers. I then asked the audience to sing the unauthorized words to the refrain, that are, "be kind to your webfooted friends," etc. When we got to that point it seems that the entire audience of about 300, vocally joined in the refrain. It was GREAT!!! "

:::sigh:::

Gotta love him!