Steady Rocking »
In this weeks episode; the kids started rendering the shadows in the background. They understand the process of layering and are not in any hurry to see the end result. I do wish that I had more space to paint. The surface area is too small for 5 or more kids. I find it a challenge to keep these kids moving with the paint when someone is in the way. I think what I’m going to do tomorrow is assign jobs to them. One will make sure the brushes are clean while another is making sure all paints are at the right viscosity. I did have my first encounter with foul language being written on the mural. It wasn’t on any finised area…it was in a blank area. It didn’t sit well with me because I was hoping that the student would understand the maturity level of this project. Anyways, Here are some pics of the latest works
Project update »
Im not in a rush for this one… This is the only canvas that I’m working on right now. I think I will start on another project over the weekend. I need to spread the projects around so I don’t get too caught up with one canvas. The lady is almost done and the flowers are starting to come out. There are still more objects to be painted on the canvas. I have to call it quits for tonight as I got to work on some steady-pay projects…you know the routine…
The first day of painting »
I had to delegate responsibility to my kids. This is Bob and he’s the paint mixer. He took a crash course in color theory and found out real quick what a warm and cold color was. He was mixing color for the tree trunks and for an hour he took the job seriously. Most of the time he likes to come out of left field..but he was batting pretty good on the colors. 
Here is the first class doing the first color blocks. They were so nervous. It’s like they didn’t want to mess up the sketch. I had one person handle the outline so that the “filler could brush the color in with out having to worry about the edges. It was a good system. The “orange team” had a little hang up in the beginning but got used to pushing that paint around. My “blue team” went ahead and commanded that color to be layed on thick. There’s Bob on the bottom left doing the thizzle with the paint. 
the second class began with the tree and trunk. I tried to get them to start the skyline (fading process) but they got cold feet. Delilah was the first to tackle it and soon the others followed. everyone is still scared to do anything other than filling in…They will soon have to conquer that fear by next week! Until next time..same bat time…same bat channel. peace
skate park fund raiser in Atlanta »
Around the Beginning of March I was contacted by Zac Cochran, a board member to the Kennesaw Skate park foundation. The foundation is a non-profit group working to raise funds to build a skate park in Atlanta, GA. One of the fundraisers is an annual art show/auction. From what I’ve gathered the line-up has some of the best aritsts, illustrators in the country. I’m honored and looking forward to having my skate deck next to Robert Williams, Mike Giant, Todd Mcfarlane and Tim Biskup. You can check out the Kennesaw groups website for more info. I received the skate deck in the mail today. Here’s the box, the deck…and my tool box…exciting isn’t it?
There's no looking back! »
We got it started!!!! We will start painting tomorrow which was a surprise to me. We finished the sketching yesterday and that means tomorrow is for painting. I hope the kids bring extra paint clothes. I was surprised at a couple of my students who really got into this first phase. I say that because in the past they have shown a distaste for the art (I think a lot of it had to do with the academic part of it) but as the lunch hour approached…they didn’t mind working there…talk about being in shock!!!
Here’s my student delilah (holding the pencil like an artist!), getting busy with the basic layout of a girls face. She learned that she needed to see the figure as shapes and the best way to draw the head was a circle. She’ll tell you, “draw the forest, not the trees”…yup she learned that from me! 
Here’s my second class doing the grind. I have three classes that will be working one hour at a time. There are other classes that are happening around them and they don’t get distracted. Can you believe one of them told a an outsider that he was busy and he needs to concentrate?!?! 
Near the end of the day the rest of the school thought that the sketch was really cool. I’m stoked that students were able to translate the image form paper to canvas….the saga will continue on Thursday! 
@ the Mint »
I was over at the Mint club doing a live painting. It was a chill night. The DJ played an hour worth of music within 2 minutes. My creative spark wasn’t jumping at it’s fullest but it was balanced by the canvas I was working on at home. I’m gonna have to work on some new smoke designs as I’m not too cool about the smoke coming out of her hand. Peace
Upcoming Show, September »
I found out that I will be having a solo show in Oregon. This will take place in Eugene at the Fenario Gallery. Opening night will be on the 5th. I’m excited as it’s been awhile since I’ve produced art in that town and I really haven’t maintained contact with all the people that i should have…I know, I know… I’m really cleaning up that side of me. I got to keep as many people in the loop. I looked up events that will be happening around the city and it seems to be my lucky month as the Eugene Celebration will be taking place the following weekend. All of downtown becomes a big hang out of food, music and drinks. The gallery is located right in the heart of Eugene so I’m sure the foot traffic will stumble into the gallery. As for the actual event. I have my work cut out for me as I have some long, long walls to cover. I’ve been given full custody of the walls…and I look forward to what I will do with them.
Unconsciousness, the mother of addiction »
I’m stil trying to figure out what this means. It feels that one forgets the present and finds escape in the state of forgetfulness. This sounds like a debate that I have with myself everyday. When I want to forget; when I don’t want to choose; When I want everything to go my way; I know that I I’m looking through a skewed version of life. I compound it with me asking why is it tough right now? The answers don’t reside in my wants…but in what other people need from me. That is not an easy task for me. Yet, what’s so hard about helping those in need? There is nothing hard about that. Through the years, layers of doubt, self-loathing and rejection have tried to keep my oneness from maturing. The only way it can ever travel through the sky is when I see the road for what it is. A path to be walked.
The vision is clear »
This is it. After the past couple of weeks, something has come from the minds of these kids. The power is in the sun and the moon is not complete unless there is light. The people shall rise from the earth. The people shall rise from the concrete jungle. There are obstacles. They are there to test the will of the movement. The moon and sun showers the earth with oneness. That’s what we are all striving for. Whatever you want, Whatever you need…we can do it together. The birds see us when they look up. The tree is strength and the growth is towards the sky. We are down….we are so down to do this. Werd. 
New painting in the works »
For the past couple of years I have been working on a geometric style. The style has been mostly used for portraits and figure drawing. My friend James has been pushing me to do a landscape painting incorporating the geometric style. I should have been listening to him way early on. I started this painting about a month ago. I believe this place is another eden and the woman standing is looking towards the sun (which will be inspired by the sun god RA). There is more to go and I don’t know when this will finish. When it it’s done….you’ll be able to see it here first, of course.
