THERE'S A BEAR RIGHT BEHIND YOU

The author has approved, accepted, endorsed my drawing for the cover of his book, THERE’S A BEAR RIGHT BEHIND YOU. Robert S. Bickerstaff, retired UT Law Professor, writes about his encounters with bears over the years. I have read only a few pages but Mr. Bickerstaff seems to be an adventurous soul! I am honored to provide a drawing for the cover of his book. Mr. Bickerstaff will donate the royalties to the National Parks Conservation Association and two other non-profit organizations.

Now, to deal with the publisher. I have had only brief excursions into the world of mass production publishing. I’ve already learned a thing or two by asking questions that don’t normally occur to me in regards to art making. I look forward to this new adventure!

EDITING, AN ADVENTURE!

It is scary! It is thrilling to cut up a painting. Reorganize?

This painting was just too big, too small, not quite there. I had changed it several times. There are some passages, some bits that I just love!

60" x 30", acrylic on canvas

So I cut it into two pieces. On new stretcher bars I had two paintings; one 24" x 28" and another 24" x 30". The sizes were determined by the stretcher bars I had on hand in my studio.

bottom, 24" x 28"

top, 24" x 30"

I looked and looked at them.

Additions to the top section. 

24" x 30", acrylic, ink on canvas

 Changes to the bottom section.

24" x 28", acrylic on canvas

I don't know if this is a resolution - if these are resolved. But it is fascinating how scared I get then how wonderful it feels to do absolutely anything. This is what I've been thinking about. No, that's not right. It is some feelings. Oh-h-h My! I have a dark side! Or maybe it is humor.
 

AVAA EXHIBIT AT NORTHCROSS

"Austin Figurative Show" CARMEN, 36” X 24” acrylic on canvas      @ Austin Art Space Gallery & Studios Exhibition Dates: Friday, April 9th - Saturday May 7, 2016  Reception: Saturday, April 16th 2016, 6-8 p.m.

Juried exhibition- artwork exploring the human figure.

 This painting of Carmen has raised gold leafed threads of acrylic paint over the surface. Carmen is a spiritual person, broad minded and kind. She helped me at a time when it was not easy to do. I wanted to capture her beauty and many dimensions, too.

 

HANDS 1995

This painting was rolled, wrapped and labeled "Hands". I searched slides and records and found nothing. Oh yeah, I remember painting this! Geez! Practice, practice practice. This painting measures (h) 38" x (w) 48". And - Another lesson in art storage is DO NOT USE PLASTIC SUPER DUPER STRONG PACKING TAPE!! It is very hard to cut, to open without damaging the art work. I had heard that but ignored it because of convenience? I don't know why. I'm careful sporadically.

FOUND ANOTHER

In early 90's, I did some cubistic experiments. I found one, today. Something about this painting. It looks just like Eve, somehow. "Quebec Dream" is written on the back of the canvas. I wonder what that was about?

FOUND MORE

I found some kind of PR composition/painting. I vaguely remember putting this together for an exhibit at Ceres, NYC. It is some photographs of some of my paintings mapping out something of my life story. It's funny and enlightening. I hope I didn't use it. What an ego I have to put this together. Of course, editing lends the sense of story. Artists do paint themselves but this is positively brash!

The glue I used to attach the paper pictures has turned brown and has given up adhesion so I know it wasn't gel medium. I wonder what it was. I suspect a glue stick.

This spotty photograph is from a painting of the old home in Austin, TX.

This drawing is from a comic book story I drew and wrote. The brown spots really show up. This is about 20 years old.

EDITING? CHOPPING ART

Hm-m-m. Squares are much bigger than rectangles. More than is revealed in the math.

THINKING was 48" x 48" or 2,304 square inches, painted in 2006.

 I took it off the stretcher bars so I now have 4 stretcher bars, 48" long in good shape. Then started editing, so to speak, with mat knife, glue and extraneous art supplies.

 I now have 3 paintings glued to canvasboard; 20" x 16" or 320 square inches called CUBIST FIGURE,

 11" x 14" or 154 square inches called HORIZON

 and 18" x 14" or 252 square inches called ANGEL,

 plus 10 small matted paintings and 62 bookmarks....or something, pieces.

 So one painting became 13 paintings plus.