013110 - Day 21 of 365

Sometimes the strangest things appear,.. ants throughout your house-- (pesky things musta come in to escape the rain and decided why leave now? Man, it's amazing how they can take over a place!), the moon that seems to follow you no matter which direction you drive,.. and images I could never imagine if I tried. At times these things give the impression of being everywhere. When they show up in one of my paintings I'm both surprised and damned glad they did. It may be odd but it looks as if I have a talent for spotting and arresting these images/'things' in time. I must admit-- the images are not typical.. but why oh why would I shoot to achieve 'typical'?

One buddy of mine always referred to them as 'Captured Spirits' -- I always liked the sound of that.

Thanks for stopping by-

dave

today's word,

'everywhere'

013010 - Day 20 of 365

Another one in late-- but DONE!

Guests in town.. a full schedule,.. a lot of fun AND another night painting! This one was all over the place before it came to this final place. I honestly think I ran out of memory on the flip. Too bad-- you could have experienced how many different images can be there before the final one emerges.

Goodnight-

dave

Tonight's words,

'come across'

012910 - Day 19 of 365

Tonight's post will be brief-- I still gotta get out the door and have a life after all.

Have a great night-- I'm off to IMPROV for some laughs!

Today's word,

'taboo'

012810 - Day 18 'Hurry'

Tonight I might play the "I did the painting-- you fill in the blanks" card.

Which, if you think about it is every night/painting I do. I certainly don't try to tell you the story of what it is that you *should* think... but give you enough (visual) clues to step into your own experience and create/finish the image on your own.

Think about it.

Goodnight-

dave

Oh yeah, tonight the word =

'Hurry!'

012710 - Day 17 of 365

Up late, up early, up late - I think tonight I'll keep it short and get some sleep ; )

I will have to say I had fun with the texture on this one-- kept things more thin, somewhat fluid, and was able to 'push around' the paint a lot and create some great patterns etc. It's actually quite meditative. I wish I wasn't tired, I could have really gotten lost in it.

Enjoy-

dave

The word of the day:

'preview'

012610 - Day 16 of 365

Another day-- lucky for me, another painting.

Perhaps now is a good time to touch on a few basics. The first, and most likely foremost, is the size of the paintings-- they're actually fairly small. Tonight's is approximately 10" square-- as many of this series have been. Again, too bad I haven't worked out the video aspect of this project-- but I'll continue to promise,.. and I WILL deliver on that promise.

I have been messing with the videos etc. -- yet have discovered that the process takes much more time than I'd like... well, it does the way I'm currently doing it ; ). I'm sure I'll figure it out soon... and (yes, another promise here), I promise-- it'll be worth the wait. It is fascinating how these things come to be.

Thank you-- and good night!

dave

012510 - Day 15 of 365

Today I stepped into experimenting with handwritten words as texture. It's interesting to see what shows up when you begin 'free-flow' writing. I guess I'd have to say this was 'pseudo free writing' as I had a basic question/topic in mind as I began.

The question is a simple that truly fascinates me, the idea/question of,..

"How do you know what you don't know?"

So many of us seem to travel through life determined to hang onto our definition of how things just 'are'. Yet, how is it that we would know (with such certainty) these things to be true?

A practice I sometimes apply to things when I catch myself saying-- "Now that is a bunch of B.S.!!" is to stop and consider the question... What if it were absolutely the truth? After getting past that fact that I would 'be wrong' (which is one thing none of us very willingly do),.. I can then begin to play out scenarios of what 'would be', or what 'might be' if that 'thing' I was so quick to resist were actually true. From there it's a pretty quick path to seeing things that I hadn't seen or considered before-- it stretches my thinking. Which in turn often offers me significant insights and/or greater understanding. Usually I don't find myself to completely change my position but I do usually 'shift' and see the world with a much greater awareness.

Today's question:

"What do you know?"

pss-

So-- I thought I had really BIG NEWS for you today-- I put together a video of tonight's painting (my editing abilities are still quite bit rough,.. but I LOVE the energy of it and the idea that you can now see how some of this things come about) but unfortunately when I uploaded it the image quality got hammered and the sound dropped out : - ( I guess I've got a little more to learn-- but at least I'm one step closer!

ps-

I really have to work on getting a better camera to shoot my still images. The fine detail and texture in this piece is amazing!

012410 - Day 14 of 365

It's interesting when an object appears (in an evolving image)-- and grabs my attention... sometimes it's there for a flash,.. other's a bit, some a while,... And others are determined to stay.

Somewhere along the line a chair showed up in this piece and refused to leave. Don't ask me to explain. Hmph-- Don't ask me to explain that, or any of my 'why'. All I know is when I show up and step into it,.. 'IT' does too.

The rest of the image came and went willingly-- but the chair,.. the chair,.. landed knowing it had arrived at it's final destination.

The words in today's image:

' I bought in'

See you tomorrow-

dave

012310 - Day 13 of 365

OK, now this is kind of interesting.

Being the weekend, and having been in a class all day (and returning tomorrow) I couldn't help but thinking, Should, renegotiate my rules? Or more accurately, should I define my rules for this project? I can't help but wonder will 365 days straight be too much? Will I risk burning out because of it being such a commitment. What will I do when I travel?

Then, considering what this project is about-- I'll have plenty of flexibility to define, revise, and refine as I go. I don't have to do the same thing (paint) every day,.. as long as it's contributing to myself 'exploring creativity' every day. Although I intend to keep painting the dominant theme, I know it can be so many other things,.. photography, one of my graphic recipes, some doodles,.. etc. etc. This will give me some flexibility and freedom and still keep me 'IN' the project.

So I decided to do something different.. less set up/tear down intensive,.. and less time intensive. I decided to be spontaneous, be committed to 'quick'. Then I decided to work on a different surface... something less clean, less perfect, and intimidating than a bland sheet of paper. Well, one thing led to another... after rooting around my apartment and flipping through magazines,.. I looked over at the books on my shelves... grabbed one I had found on the street and carried home one day-- then simply opened it up and ripped out a random page. I liked the idea of working over texture created by the text on the page. I then grabbed a highlighter... hit the words/phrases that jumped out at me... "You were wrong" and "danger is not new". Then grabbed some charcoal and sketched a few crude birds (perhaps stemmed by the 'danger' word and a poor dead bird I had found behind my flat files while doing a big clean of my apartment last weekend. Yes,.. IN my apartment. The poor thing must have come in an open window-- then flown into the glass trying to escape). As I went to put the project day number on the bottom of the page-- I notice it was page 136-- easily changed to be 'day 13'. I proceeded to roll some acrylic paints on to add texture and obscure the words and images.. then, as I was finishing up, I noticed the title at the header of the page.. which read, "Freedom".

All a bit ironic (the words on the page, day 13, the dead bird,.. the title 'Freedom')-- but all discovered from being open,.. changing my patterns,.. and being willing to deal with (time) constraints. Which showed me once again-- that creativity and innovation LOVE constraint.

Thanks for coming back-

dave

012210 - Day 12 of 365

It's late,.. I'm tired-- but I do have another painting to share.

I'm (reluctantly) beginning to realize what I think the hidden beauty of this process is- it slowly reveals and reminds me... to 'me'.

Good night- I'm looking forward to more dreams-

dave

Today's words:

"One Shot'

012110 - Day 11 of 365

More to be discovered-- always more. Some what 'to' do, and of course much of what 'not' to do. (Kinda like growing up?)

I must say it is cool to feel my process evolve,.. after such little time. It's wild to have something there then gone practically a moment later, only to be replaced by my own thought of,.. "Wow, how did that get there?"

I'm looking forward to the future of this... yes, it's cool to have this thing to look forward to.

But now off to sleep.

Oh! Speaking of sleep, I've definitely noticed that I've been dreaming a lot more since I started this project-- which I LOVE. What a great added extra bonus!

Today's words:

'Stormy clear'

012010 - Day 10 'Due Time'

Happy 10-day!

It's a really interesting process to step up to the easel and truly not have any idea of what I'm going to do. I guess I just try to relax, begin,.. and be open to whatever moves me. I think we often find ourselves thinking, "I've got nothing."

Yet that is always so, SO very far from the truth. Once I accepted that-- I found I always had an abundance of things easily within my grasp-- all I had to do was begin.

Tonight I find myself very tired, very happy with having forced myself to paint,.. and VERY happy to have a girlfriend who's incredibly supportive of my newfound late-night habit!

Today's words;

'due time'

ps-

Apologies for the poor photo and lighting it's more white and the colors are actually more vibrant. My usual method failed me and I had to do something.. anything to post and get some sleep.

011910 - Day 9 of 365

It's the little things that I'm beginning to appreciate-- they surprise me. I find they come simply by me 'showing up' on a regular basis... They appear in the simple details. These things require little to no effort,.. yet benefit me and my process greatly (today I noticed it specifically in my tear-down/setup and preparation). As soon as I noticed I thought,.. "Now,.. how could that *not* have been obvious to me yesterday?"

No matter-- I'm really happy and excited about all this project is bringing to me. Most folks say (to me)... "EVERY day!?" (which is what I honestly felt when I seriously considered doing this), but I find it shifting from 'the thing that I have to do',... to the thing, 'I look forward to the most' in my day. 'Showing up' has never been easier,... or more rewarding!

Today's word:

'within'

Oh-- get this!

My buddy 'NAILS' stepped up AGAIN and delivered a poem (for the second day in a row) to go with yet another painting I did. I'll revise my post from that day and post it with that particular painting. Check it out,.... I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. (Let's hope he continues to show up! : )

ps-

On the 'tech-side' of things... I must be becoming a nerd... as I'm excited about the new drive I picked up from Apple tonight to back up all the video's etc. that I'm capturing for this project. More storage space, faster transfer,.. etc. And,.. with that, I promise... I'll have videos coming someday soon!

011810 - Day 8 of 365

Wow. Another long day... of a long weekend (always good for the soul ; )

If I hadn't committed, I would have never made my way into the studio.

On top of it all-- tonight's painting was all over the map-- the scent of failing,.. falling away,.. wanting to steal it away,... offering all sorts of interesting... in lieu of a painting. Then it cleared and quickly crumbled into it's own form. Drastically different than anticipated-- yet many times stronger.

I love it when *it* wins.

See you tomorrow-

dave

Today's word;

'Welcome'

011710 - Day 7 of 365

In order to make things sync-up more accurately.. I'm adding the poem to this post which was inspired by this painting (written by Robert 'NAILS' Martin')....

Magellan

had I not learned to sail

to dream

the periscope I am today

in this red tempest

would mirror another omniscience

and the face of my father

I wear when I am looking—the ghost

of my Magellan—would keep me

from ever sleeping

and blind

-------------

OK - first things first,.. Last night a buddy of mine (NAILS,.. aka, 'Robert Martin') was impressed enough by my project to jump in and promise a poem from yesterday's painting-- and boy-howdy did he deliver. Here it is,...

destino

plumage
heavy as history
Carrara white
rising from a Cape Canaveral

destiny, a drillrig
another day
the moon a skull
in the sky

blood on the ground
reminds us
that we were here
and once human

Besides being honored, I'm damned impressed! Thanks Robert for saying 'Yes' and joining in.

After a busy day I got off to a late start tonight, but things came along nicely. I had one little spot where one thing worked so, so sweetly I honestly had a rush of surprise and joy.

I recently read a definition of 'joy' somewhere that went something like this;

'Joy is unexpectedly coming across something or some experience you've long been seeking'.

No matter what it was, it was simple,.. yet truly incredible. I only wish I could find a way to share it with others.

All I can do is suggest you listen to your own voice/motivation and step into it's calling.

Today's word;

'Seven'

011610 - Day 6 of 365

OK, I'm just sneakin' this one in.. Yes, the clock just slipped past midnight, but to me-- it's still today.

I'm feeling the challenge of the weekend day that zooms by as if I'm living it in 'dog years'.. I'm not so strong at math-- I just know it's faster. Maybe that's why dog's are so happy?-- They know that life is too short to take too seriously ; ) (Sheesh, even I recognize myself feeling a bit of the fool after that last statement-- but why care? I had a great full day of friends, productivity, partaking in a great birthday celebration... all that, AND I made it home in time to deliver today's work! Now THAT is a good day in my book my friends!)

This project continues to bring me things I didn't,.. and couldn't expect. I highly recommend staying aware,.. and listening for your own 'thing' that keeps calling you to 'jump in'. Trust it-- say 'Yes'-- and Jump-In, the water's fine!

Which reminds me... a good friend of mine I saw at the birthday party tonight found my project motivating and inspiring enough (sweet,.. it's working! ; ) to commit to writing a poem about my next painting (NAILS - you're 'ON' buddy!). Yeah,.. yea... it's working. If he's cool with it, I'll share the poem with you all soon. (Maybe he'll also share the cool project ('Hear me out') he's working on to connect young writers with their own voices.)

Thanks again for dropping in-

dave

Today's word:

'destino'

This just in-- a poem inspired by this painting and submitted by Robert 'NAILIS' Martin,..

destino

plumage

heavy as history

Carrara white

rising from a Cape Canaveral

destiny, a drillrig

another day

the moon a skull

in the sky

blood on the ground

reminds us

that we were here

and once human

011510 - Day 5 of 365

It's funny that I just wrote about risk last night-- it really stuck with me today.

I think it's good to constantly remind ourselves to say 'Yes' to risk... it keeps life fresh, exposes us to ourselves. Yet, it's just so, soo, sooo tempting to follow the path of that which we already know.

So here's to 'wandering' into risk,.. wandering into (discovering) myself. Consider coming along,.. it's a great journey.

Today's word:

'Infinite'

fyi-

I'm still workin' on working out the video aspects of this project. Not to worry,.. I'll work it out and deliver. It's part of my vision,.. to (help) 'motivate and inspire,.. There's just something about seeing/watching someone truly create something new. I find it fascinating,.. and hope you will too.

011410 - Day 4 of 365

Ahhhhhh-- so, so many things to experiment with. That's one of the secrets, risk,.. BIG risks!

This is probably a good time to share just a bit about my method(s). Once you see the videos it'll be obvious,.. I don't use brushes (or traditional materials now that I think about it),.. I paint with my hands. Yes, my hands, paper towels, and many little odds-n-ends that I use to rub, scratch, smear, scrape-- all various ways to mix and remove the paint from the surface.

People often ask,

"You're hands. (awkward pause)..? You're,.. Not serious,.. Are you?"

Once they realize the answer is yes, the next obvious question usually is,

"Now why in the hell would you do that?"

The answer is pretty simple,.. to have less control.

You see, when I use,.. let's say 'less crude' tools, I have greater control. And with greater control comes more 'expected' results. Mostly because when I have a tool that I can control, I want to do just that, control it. By receding to very basic and crude tools, I lose most of the control,.. which in turn leads to many (many, many) more mistakes,.. which as disheartening and frustrating as they can often appear, usually lead me to places I would have never otherwise gone. Which (in the end) I like. (Funny, when you think about it,.. it's a lot like life eh?)

No, it's not a method for everybody-- but it is the one for me.

Thanks for dropping by-

dave

Today's words:

'journey' and 'go'

011310 - Day 3 of 365

Yeah! - No significant tech-smacks (aka, technical setbacks) tonight!

Working back in the garage studio. Trying a few subtle variations in supplies.

Dropped into some great music via headphones-- I really like that, it feels almost totally immersive,.. it's almost as if I'm watching the painting create itself. Perhaps one day I'll sync the music I listen to with the music I painted to. (a good bit more to learn in the video and editing before I get there though ; )

Now I'm discovering that the video files take a boat-load of time just to convert from .AVI to .MOV Being patient for the file conversion may just be more difficult than doing the painting (at least for me).

I can't wait until I can share the (compressed time) videos of creating the paintings-- you'll get to experience the 'roller coaster ride' of the rapidly changing imagery being created. That,.. and I've gotta start getting better pics of the images--

Today's word:

'Listen'

011210 - Day 2 of 365

Painted from my apartment tonight... a few new set up challenges here. Burned out light, low on supplies, too much stuff in the way (it's a small apartment which doubles as my studio), 'Low battery' indicator again in my Flip (even though I put *new* ones in this morning?)

This all brought another saying came to mind,

"If it ain't one thing-- it's two"

As well, I was reminded what a 'wrascally-ride' my particular style of painting can be. Many ups, downs, twists, turns, and 'Almost-there/*Not*-there' moments. But not to worry, it came together in the end to create another worthy finished painting (don't you think?).

Oh- and a small technical victory- I unraveled some of my video issues (apparently my Mac isn't fond of the .AVI video files). So there's still hope for some* footage from day. Update to follow at a later date.

**Today's embedded words** - - 'Find' and 'do'

011110 - Day 1 of 365

Day One:

The painting went well but of course I was welcomed with a few 'technical difficulties'. No big surprise there,.. it is (me and) technology after all. Pesky yes, but I do love it when it works!

Also, I was reminded of one of my own personal sayings...

"Live and pay"

I guess this time I pay the price but having the Flip run out of juice and quit recording.

Yes.. I must admit, one of the 'technical-difficulties' was batteries : )

(Ha! At least that one is easy to solve.)

No matter, it's great to have started and have day one under my belt.

As expected, it was a little awkward getting back on the horse/easel-- probably just waffling,.. but things came back pretty quick. My style is pretty quick, spontaneous and quite erratic-- 99.9% of the time completely unplanned. And, lucky for me, it usually produces a finished painting each time I paint.

Here's a snap-shot of day one.

ps-

I'll post a video at a later day if I can cobble something together from the footage I've did manage to capture.

pss-

The blue 'edges' in the photo is tape that I use to mask off the material I paint on. It gets removed late-- always an exciting moment.

So by now you're likely to be thinking, "Just what's your plan Stan?

Well, I've gotta admit-- I've thought it's been fairly vague,.. and pretty fuzzy but then I realized it's been clear all along. Clear, but perhaps too intimidating to acknowledge even to myself.

I've decided to head off on a 365 day journey and invite others to come along.

My goal is to motivate and inspire.

To motivate and inspire myself as well as others. Motivate them to pick something and stick with it. It doesn't have to be big,.. you don't have to do it for a year-- just consider the word 'Possible', truly be open to it, see what resonates for you. Then simply choose to make it happen. (I've been amazed at what huge results even small, yet consistent, efforts can make.)

I hope some folks do join in,... make a choice,.. and maybe even share what it is me-- I'd sure welcome the moral support.

For me the plan is to create artwork every day for a year (mostly paintings).. and put it out there (via digital pics and time lapse video) for all the world to see.

Just the thought of it excites me and scares the hell outta me at the same time. I kinda freak and think how in the heck will I do it? Then I remember a book I read years ago about a guy who literally walked around the globe,.. and figured it all had to begin with just one step.

I always wanted to do something big like that... and although I believe I've have had some pretty great adventures,... somewhere along the way I got distracted lost my drive, my motivation, my 'chutzpah' (sp?). I'm not sure exactly why,.. but this somehow is my new 'adventure', my journey to attempt to bring it back.

I can't imagine where it'll go, what I'll create, or where it will take me,.. but it's time for a new journey to being.

Day one (of 365) comes up with the sun.

~Good-night

Some people say...

They say that once you decide to do something,.. the process immediately begins.

Perhaps this was realized (and shared with us) long ago..?

"Whatever you can do or dream, begin it."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I finally had some clarity on just how to approach the content of this blog.

It's bigger than I usually go with things like this... but somehow I didn't want it any other way.

I explain more soon, but for now - I'll share that it involves me committing to share my artwork and paintings.

More soon (from)

PlanetDave