from this space. In the interim I have retired and moved from Washington State to Michigan. I moved mostly due to the desire to try and regulate my housing costs. In Washington I was a renter and rents were skyrocketing with not many options. That area is growing and since I grew up in Michigan and most of my family is here I thought I would move back, buy a house and see how it goes. I've been in Michigan for a year (this is August 2022). So far, so good. I miss Washington where I'd lived for 30+ years but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Here's hoping I get to be a more timely writer of these little blogs. I am still making art, mostly drawings and photos but have some other ideas in mind. Here's a few pictures of stuff I've done in the last couple years. A couple of these are made using photo editing software.
Another blog posted. It is a form of self discipline to do this stuff. And self discipline is not something I have very much of. Having said that, we can always try to do better can't we? Or I can anyhow. Working on expanding my dry pastel knowledge (and painting with them), watercolors, photos and paper mache. This break the Covid thing has given us makes me realize how much time I spend on yet another creative outlet; my radio show. Wonder if I'll stick with it when things go back to sorta normal. Until next time, play nice! :)
I'm posting this blog because I wanted to get at least 2 in one week here (that means another one tomorrow) versus my normal routine which seems to be once every year or two.
This website began as a way for me to track my art creations, thinking this way I won't have to look through my work to make sure I'm not repeating myself.
Since starting the website, I've added photos and other items created using editing software as well as the occasional piece of art. I still make art (mostly pastel) but photos take up the great majority of my creative time. I think it's that instant gratification factor.
The world is going through myore crazy stuff which seems to get crazier the longer I'm around. I try not to get caught up in it and use my creative juices to take my mind away from that. Would you look at the time? :) the sun is out and in western Washington that means it's photo duty. Here are a couple of pears using oil pastels for you to look at. Thanks!
Here we go again! In yet another attempt to attract attention to my website I suppose I'll drop a few lines here to keep my writing chops sharp.
In the last year or two I have been using some photo editing software to create images, taking LOTS of photos and doing some drawing and a very little painting.
On top of this I host a weekly radio show (except right now during the Covid 19 situation) which consumes a bit of time and I still go to work every day.
This is not an excuse for why I don't blog more often, just an accounting of what I do with my time. I always have good intentions to exercise my creativity muscles but alas, often fall into the trap of settling down with a video or something. That's all it takes to get me off the scent.
Here is yet another promise to myself and anyone reading this; I will write more often, paint more often and think postiive thoughts about the world more often!
Play nice and talk with you soon. 
I am gob smacked that my last blog was post is dated 2017! Sorry about that. Still here, still making are though that has slowed a bit (life, you know...) but all in all I have no problems in my life, for which I am grateful.
Until next time.............
Well? Not so sure sometimes when I look at what is happening in our country at the national political level. Then I realize I probably think things are so crazy because I'm living through them. When I think about the 30's say, with the Great Depression, the rise of Hitler, labor unions trying to form and so on I don't believe I have it so bad after all.
Nothing has been written here because, truthfully, I rarely think of the Blog. It's not that I'm afraid of writing, in fact, I consider myself a competent writer. It's more along the lines of 'oh yeah, I've neglected the blog, better write something' kind of thing.
It's been said having a blog to accompany your website is a good idea. Probably so, if lots of people are viewing said website. In my case, I don't think so. Mainly due to my lack of publicizing and promoting my work.
Changes, though, are on the horizon. As more feedback is received that people like my artwork and photographs the more I am motivated to take this more seriously and devote additional time to my craft.
Of course to do so means I have to discipline myself to sit down and a) write a blog on a regular basis, b) sharpen up my marketing skills for my art and pictures c) enable some kind of on line purchasing d) become an expert in packaging and shipping framed and unframed art and photos.
Whew! Makes me tired just writing that.
When I last wrote here, it was about being invited to have a photo show at a local restaurant. It is going on right now and I have to say, I'm glad I was asked and glad I said yes. I learned how to mat and frame photos and make it look professional. I learned that people would buy my photos. I learned the best way to sell art, or really anything I suppose, is to form a relationship with the buyer.
So all in all, all really is well and I have no complaints. I hope the same is going on with you.
Until next time...............
I'm trying to be funny with the title since it is now May. About 90 days have passed since I last blogged with you. Since that time I have been asked to participate in a showing of my photographs at a local restaurant.
Fortunately I have until January 2017 to get ready. Most of my pictures have never been printed and once they are, unless I output them on something like glass, metal or canvas will require a frame and in some cases, a mat. So there is some work and an expense I never thought about when I wasn't taking pictures.
It's funny, just like with art I draw or paint, photos are very fun to take. All the rest of this stuff, markteting, selling etc, is too much like work for me to enjoy that.
But I sure do like making art :)
This is the Edmonds Ferry.
Talk with you again soon.
A little reminder that it had been a while since posting here reveals it was like 7 months since I blogged. I am gobsmacked ..........
My work was in Petite Sweet for quite a long time. Though I didn't sell anything having the work out in public is no doubt better than having it here in the apartment.
I have been working on more pieces but they are more like practice as I try to grasp the idea of painting, starting with acrylics. I have done a few things. One of which is posted here. Getting the feel of brush pressure, how much paint to load on the brush, the way the paint leaves the brush and gets on the canvas are all things I have no idea about. This learn as you go stuff is interesting, fun, scary and occasionally frightening.
What is best about this whole "I am an artist" thing is comparing what it is like now to what it was like when I started. My view of my work, the value I place on it and how I process feedback have all changed dramatically since I first put pastel to paper in 2002. The encouragment I get from others is empowering and I like to believe I do the same for anyone else.
I think I'll keep going.......... :)
