Here is a little cu-tie from the John Ball Park zoo. I think it is a lemur. If I am going to do zoo pictures this will be one of them. By the way if you are in Wayland Mi. this week stop in at the Brew in down town Wayland and vote for my picture. I would appreciate it. I have also been thinking about doing pictures of the soldiers that died in Iraq and Afghanistan last year but I am not sure about getting permission. Any other Ideas for Art Prize.

Watercolor Pencils

This is a picture I did of a friend who is currently serving in Afghanistan. He's a good guy and I miss him. I use to work with him at Discovery Alternative School.

Now for a little discussion about watercolor pencils. I do have a preference in this area. I for the majority of the time use the Derwent Brand of pencil. They have the inktense which is almost like oil after it is dry. There is also the standard watercolor pencil and the professional grade. I do use a variety Derwent products including the Aqua Tone, and Metallic pencils. I sometimes use some off brands for filling in backgrounds. I have used the prismatic pencil in the past but find that the lead in the pencils breaks very easily and this is frustrating. I hope you find this interesting.

The sixth painting

This is the sixth and final painting in the Dance into manhood series. It will be on display for art prize at the Civic Theatre. I hope a lot of people get to see it this year as last year I was in a venue that was so far out no one came to see anything. Oh well that's life.

Fourth Art Prize Picture.

This is the fourth picture in the art prize series. This young man was so innocent and sincere looking. I admired his dedication and reverence. Again, this is a water color pencil painting on canvas. This picture took me approximately three days of non-stop painting. It filled me with serenity.

Second Picture in Art Prize

Well its a new day and here is the second picture that will be involved in Art Prize. Tomorrow I will have professional shots of the pictures and also of myself. Never really thought of doing that before. Zack, My 4 year old Grandson and myself will be in an art show in Sparta Michigan. He's a great kid with a great imagination and already quite the photographer (see the picture of the cactus above that he put in the Sparta show). I get a kick out of him because he is always telling me he has put in pictures to the kids "Art Surprise" and he always wins because other people just put plain pieces of paper. He wants me to enter this contest too. He is really excited about the show in Sparta. The people there do not think he took the picture by himself because it was framed so nicely and looked so professional. I am making a photo book of his shots for him to show off at the show.

Awe and Wonder

I made it into The Art Prize Contest.  What a difficult Task.  There is a lot more politics than I thought there would be.

This is my picture.  I based it on the Wizard of Oz because that is what my life has felt like for the last 2 and 1/2 years.

Those who know me know that after surgery I thought I lost my brain.  I struggled with verbal  communication(aphasic).  It was a new world and a new life I was no longer in Kansas.

I  was afraid and angry and I withdrew into my art.  Here I found a hidden talent that I did not know I had.  I work with water color pencil on canvas and practice every day.  Although I have given away many more painting than I have ever sold I have faith that someday I will be able to earn a meager living at it and pass it on to my grandchildren.