The Story

I ran into him out front of the store and
we talked out on the sidewalk and
it was cold because it is
always cold here at this time
of the year.

We made small talk like
people do when they don’t see each other
very often anymore and
we were both agreeable and
smiled a lot more than usual.

He asked how my father was and
I realized it really had been a long time since we
caught up like this.

“I haven’t seen him in 8 years and
it is best that way,” I replied.
There was an awkward silence as
he too realized it had been a really long
time and
we went on for only a minute longer and
he reached his hand out and I shook it and
as we walked away with our back to each other
I couldn’t help but think that
his scarf wrapped his neck
like a hug.

… Enjoy!

The One Year Painting
Step 2 - January 2, 2011

This is the next painting in devil series. It is also another that is on a page from the religious pamphlet that I found from 1870. It just seems somehow fitting that devil series is making an appearance on these pages of an old religious pamphlet. I am guessing there is some room for dialog there but on this occasion I think I will just let the artwork hold up my end of the discussion.

Not to mention, I just love the picture of the octopus. 

 … Enjoy!    

It Probably Doesn’t Matter Anyway

The Story
You never know what people are going to like or dislike with a painting and one of the first lessons you learn is to just not think about it. It doesn’t matter anyway. Most of us know that is true with just about everything. You do what you do and that is what you do and you never know people are going to like or dislike about it. It doesn’t matter anyway.

What does all that have to do with this painting? Not much really. It was just what I was daydreaming about while painting it. That’s all.

And to be honest, it probably doesn’t matter anyway.

… Enjoy!    

The Dissection Of A Portrait
(and other reasons to think about the sum)

The Story
This is probably as close to a self portrait as I have done. Even though, after a couple of drinks I might argue that all of these are self-portraits to some degree. The strange thing is I am not wearing a green shirt, my skin is not a bright yellow (it’s usually a shade of pink) and my eyes are not a firery red. The part that is the most accurate is the top of the head being wide open so that we can all peer down into it and yes, most of the time it is just plain darkness and when you reach down in there it will be a mystery what you might pull out. With all these differences though, it is the sum of these parts that make the portrait. Similar to pointillism, it’s when you step back and take in the whole that it reveals itself. Also, after the above mentioned couple of drinks, I would argue that is the same for each one of us. Under a microscope our individual pieces don’t reveal the secret of us. It is only the sum of the parts that reveal our mystery and display our being.

Signs All Over The Place
Click To View Details

The Story

I look around this room and there are signs all over the place of the people who move about this house. There are hats and there are earphones and two watches and a phone and business cards and an empty water bottle and a box of tissues and a checkbook and handwritten notes in her handwriting and mine and there is a lamp that is on and lamp that is off and

there are signs of people everywhere and it is strange that I most often I find myself alone in here with these things and did I mention there are pictures on the walls of dead people who still hold a place in my heart and

there are signs of people everywhere and that is how I know I am home.  
 
… Enjoy!