And Now, Here's Mr. Sunshine

  Okay, I realized my past few posts have been pretty gloomy. That's not the way things really are. My wife and my family love me. I've got a lot of really great friends that would help me with anything I could ever need. I do have a job (even if it wears me to a nub most times) and I keep us all clothed, fed, and sheltered from the storm. I've got an awesome talent for creating art. I have more ideas and subjects than I could ever paint and I get more every day. I have some new marketing strategies. I've sold artwork to people from coast to coast and a few in Canada. I have some of the most awesome fans ever. My cat is pretty much a bad ass too. When I'm on my game I'm cooler than cool. I can create things most people can't even comprehend. Oh, and I'm modest too.

"Nothing To Crow About"

I Hope I Heard Right

   I'm trying. Maybe that's my problem. I should be doing instead of trying. It's summer, the heat is killing me. Seems like every year it gets harder to stand the high temperatures. Sometimes I wonder how I ever made it as a lifeguard. My day job is sucking the very life out of me. I used to knock out all kinds of projects on my off days. Now I just lay around and dread going back to work. I did get the speakers on my music computer working. Having tunes is a big plus. I'm struggling with airbrush problems. I've almost got that straightened out. Seems like I spend way too much time getting everything ready to foster a creative atmosphere in my studio. I never quite get things done. I'm confident that I was put here to create artwork. I do create artwork. A lot of artwork. I'm of the opinion that if you do what you were put here to do, everything will work out. I just wish things would get a bit easier. I believe it's just around the corner. I'd hate to give up and then get to the afterlife and find out I was only days away from prosperity. I'd also hate to get there and find out I was actually supposed to be doing 'tart work'. I bet being a baker is a really cool job. ;)

"Almost Like He Was There"

Wanna Know What I See When I Wake Up?

  I've heard talk of my best paintings, of my favorite paintings, and I've always enjoyed the discussions. Here's something different for you. These are the paintings that hang on my bedroom wall. The one's I see every day. The one's I've likely seen more often than any others. They may not be my best or my favorites, but they do make me feel good. (There is a great big painting hanging over my bed, behind my head, that I haven't photographed yet. I painted it in 1987, so apparently I'm in no hurry to capture it on digital film.) Starting from left to right, as I awaken to face the day:

"Nude Alarm"

"What Dreams May Come"

"Mish Mash"

"Picasso"

   As I went to add the next one, "Mother's Flowers" I realized I don't have a picture of that either. Maybe that will inspire me. I really need to organize my portfolio better. I've apparently let it get out of hand. I used to be so good, photographing and numbering each painting as I finished it. Seems like since I can do it all digitally it would be easier. I suppose it is easier. Maybe too easy. Or maybe I'm just too lazy.

I Suppose I Gotta Keep Movin'

  At least I wasn't sick this week. I didn't get as much done as I should have. Some days the struggle gets to be too much for me. I just don't feel like I make much real progress anymore.  I can't seem to get our house where it needs to be. I really don't like my day job. I have nothing as of late to spur my excitement. It's not in my DNA to quit. I suppose I gotta keep movin'.

"Totem"

It Seems As Though It's Never Fair

  I'm in the middle of my three day 'art week' and it's not going well for me at all. I ran errands all day yesterday that should have taken an hour at most. When I got home I started getting sick, which almost never happens. I blame it on my day job and all the stress it heaps on me. I had trouble getting out of bed today, but I did manage to get the frame done for my finished commission piece. I also painted on a  new painting that I started last week. I could normally do so much more, but my head just isn't in it. I also need to work on a marketing plan. I've got some Roger von Oech prompts to help me find a new way to market with a zero budget. I'm hoping to get my wife to help me with some of this. Since I haven't felt good I've been mumbling more than usual, although it could be worse. This could be interesting. I am doing much better updating here. I've got that going for me.

"Performance"