Inspiration

Art isn't easy sometimes. Actually, most of the time it's not easy. As I type this, I'm passing up a nice sunny day on the mountain with friends to try and finish up the pieces for my show at J's Tapas in Ventura, CA next month. Sometimes sacrifices must be made. But I've been staring at my blank wood panels for a few hours now and nothing has happened. Stupid.

Banging your head against the wall doesn't help more blood flow to the creative part of the brain as one might think. I've been rummaging through old sketch books, notes, random drawings stashed away in desk drawers, reading art books, and looking out my window. To many directions to go but at the same time nowhere to go.

Here's a list of "Things that inspire me" I found scribbled in a sketchbook from '06. Maybe this will help:

nature
plants
big color
organic shapes
ocean
space
ancient cultures
history
maps
charts
the seasons
construction
processes
blueprints
growth
evolution
politics
propaganda
secrets
mysteries
thoughts
technology
balance
harmony- yin/yang
cycles
systems
symbols
codes
puzzles
weather
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Here's a sneak peak at some near finished pieces for the show that I'm actually semi-happy with...

Mr. Orwell...

"And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed—if all records told the same tale—then the lie passed into history and became truth. ‘Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."
— George Orwell, 1984

I wonder how many details of our history we missed out on?

Good From Far, Far From Good

Snapped this shot last weekend while down at the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival, which is a whole other story, talk about out of control.. Maaaaaaan! Anywho... you might be able to see where some of my recent inspiration has been coming from. Gotta love the Oregon coast!