One Tin Drum

Commissioned work

2011-12-29T15:14:00.000-08:00

Life has been so very busy and has left no time for a moment to sit and reflect or to pass away idle time. This is a picture of a painting I recently finished which I was commissioned to do of a grand daughter, to be presented as a Christmas gift. I don't know how I managed to get it done, having taken a week or so to complete just two days before Christmas eve. Sam took many pictures of the painting inside minutes before it was collected and so without proper lighting this is the best of them. No matter how successful I might find the work to be, I am always a bit nervous as to how the work will be received when showing the client.

Class 6- Tree Paintings

2011-08-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

For this week the lesson was based on the theme of the week which was "Earthly Treasures," so we did paintings of trees, allowing students to make their own color choices. We began by reading "The Giving Tree," by Shel Silverstein, a complete classic to evoke a deeper appreciation for what trees/nature provides for us. We named the many parts of the tree and embellished them with leaves and little details of nests, fruit or animals in the scene. Here we get to see all the roots deep in the ground, a shade darker or tint lighter than the color of the tree above the ground depending on the color of the earth.

Art Camp Class 4: Modern Abstract Mandala's or Gobstoppers

2011-07-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

This weeks theme was patterns and I was given the day for painting and so I thought it would be fun to make these nifty Mandala inspired paintings that actually are more like gobstoppers because of their concentric circles of color. The students were of ages 6-12 so as you can see by the work there is a diversity in the execution of the paintings but I think everyone did a really super job. We worked on 16x16 inch canvas and used acrylics.

New Origami Sets Now Available

2011-07-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

Geograhic Origami Lanterns

Sam just added these neat little items to her shop which can be found at http://www.pipodoll.com/.

Art Camp Class 3- Imaginary Animals in the Wild

2011-07-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

So this weeks theme was "art safari" and I had the day to do mixed media with the students and so came up with a neat idea to do imaginary animals with drawn textures in a Rousseau inspired setting. Students were given a brief mini lesson about mythological creatures and the visiting of distant lands in the time before photographs when artists created elephants from their description. We then created a drawn jungle or landscape scene which students could do as they chose with some Rousseau reproductions to inspire and some foliage brought in from my backyard. With some watercolour added the scenes came to life around their animals which have been given raised from the picture surface by foam board squares glued on the back. Students could also, if time permitted add other pop-out elements using scrap paper and foam board.

Monumental Structures

2011-07-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

This weeks theme was "The Skies the Limit" and I had a day to do sculpture with the kids (ages 6-12) so using the Eiffel tower as a take-off point we designed our own tallest structures but with a amusement park theme added to it. The students were given very lengthy pieces of cardboard for the walls of their structures to which they could draw in windows, doors and other entrance ways for me to cut out for them (some doors to open and close). Students constructed their pieces themselves on a cardboard base using masking tape first and then gluing cardboard brackets to secure the work to the base. We then added embellishments of paper strips and paint to complete our monumental structures.

I love that each one is very unique from any other and that each student chose to take their own course in this

project.

Haunted House structure with tombstone and broken front door which is falling off its hinges.

One of the eldest students made for herself a decorative castle tower. If only we had more time I would have had them create a backdrop or a panorama to help create an environment for their work and give a greater sense of scale to their structures.

Mischievous Mouse

2011-07-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

Mischievous Mouse painting is a new work now available for purchase in my shop http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/. This is an original oil painting on wood mounted nicely on a frame and ready for hanging. The subject of the painting was from an earlier commissioned work in which I was given permission to the photographs for other paintings. I did a bit of alteration in the look of the subject to give the boy a more sinister look and the costume colors are made up to suite the overall color scheme.

Fun with Frogs

2011-07-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

In the little creek behind the house sheltered by tall summer grass is a frog sanctuary where we have a bit of fun catching these slick green beauties with a butterfly net. They are very evasive little guys but with some luck and patience we nab a few for Isabella and Jude to look at.

Isabella with frog thumbs, gives the thumbs up. This isn't as bad as it looks. We were very tender with the little cold blooded creatures and by a deeper connection or sheer terror they ended up reluctant to jump away when we attempt to place them back in their habitat.

Our Stick Fence Garden

2011-07-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the latest pictures of our developing garden which is really taking off. I am surprised to find on one day a plant is just beginning to vine along the ground and the very next day is off seeking away into the Morning Glories. I was surprised that much of anything would grow because so much of the soil is clay like and tends to dry out very quickly. If anything I hope to make a contribution to the soil with composting and the growing of legumes which will put some nitrogen into the soil. The garden is now one of Jude's favorite places to venture, a paradise of green leaves and vines all about his own size.

Another Handmade Sketchbook Journal Sold

2011-07-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite cover designs and this book has been in several treasuries on Etsy so I am glad it finally sold. I make these books by hand, choosing decorative papers available from various fine paper sources and art shops for the cover designs. The pages are selected from large high quality sheets of medium weight Stonehenge paper which I cut to size. All the materials used to make the cover and the book bound pages are measured, cut and glued by hand to create a really authentic handmade one-of-a-kind item. Each book fits a good 72 pages front and back which has a smooth surface good for writing and drawing. I think these books would be perfect for a travel journals. The work that goes into them and the cost of the materials is such that I don't make much profit on them but I have a love for making books so that is why I do it.

Public Swim

2011-07-07T19:22:00.000-07:00

I still haven't caught up with the little moments of our trip in the Maple Leaf area. Here is a place where we took a little swim which was in an undisclosed area off the beaten path. On the trip to another spot we stop to take a picture of a wild grouse and rabbit who happened to be chatting on the road together.

Isabella in her element

Teaching Art to Kids- Earth Invasion

2011-07-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day of teaching art summer camp at Meta4 gallery and I had a blast. Each week has a given theme and every day is geared towards a specific medium (Mondays/clay, Tuesdays/Painting, Wed/Mixed Media, Thurs/Sculpture, Friday/Clay (again), so students who come for the week of classes get to explore a theme in very different ways. This weeks theme is 'wide open spaces' and I had mixed media so I initially thought some obvious things like hayfields and the ocean but decided to think more of what would be fun for kids, so I came up with an outer space earth invasion project. We had to imagine ourselves floating out in space looking back at our little planet earth which was being attacked or visited by our own alien beings. We made up a list of what neat beings could descend upon earth for an invasion and came up with giant squid, french toast, pizza men,, etc.. It was good to encourage the kids to really be wild with their imagination to come up with something very unique and they came up with some great ideas. For a 2 1/2 hour class the time went by really fast and I had to constantly keep my eye on the clock so that we could get it all in.. Here is some of the kids work.

The Old Schoolhouse Tea Room in Ormsby

2011-07-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

I would love to get up to the present but there are still many things of which I would like to speak of about my trip with my family up in Maple Leaf which was such a wonderful break to have for one looking for simplification and clarity. No job searching or worries about our future and money but simply time spent with my wife and children, walking in nature, taking long drives, eating ice cream, watching movies, swimming in lakes, finding turtles and rocks and flowers and wildlife. On of our memorable experiences was a trip to the Ormsby Tea Room that exists in a fully restored School House that dates back to the early 1920's, run by a delightful man named Ernie who took the time to talk with passion of how he has restored this place as well as another school house, his farm house home and currently a log cabin which once was the residence of Joni Mitchell's grandmother named Sadie McKee who grew up there. The place has a delightful dainty quality of a tea room with all the table dressings and polished china and silverware and the food is simple country cuisine in modest proportions but does the job of filling one up nicely. It so happens that Ernie is associated with the The Old Hastings Gallery by his sister-in-law and that they are all musicians in the family. He was very impressed with the idea that Joni Mitchells family had roots to Ormsby where her grandmother played a significant role in Joni's life and to whom Joni dedicated her first album. I was shown all the pictures of the restoration work of the school house and other projects available in binders amidst antiques and several bookshelves with antique books. The closeness of the interaction fit so nicely with the quaintness of the place and made me feel blessed to have made such a meaningful connection with someone new. Both with Andre, the farmer and Ernie I found two men who lived by their ideals and carved out something beautiful for themselves despite the odds and the impracticality of their devotions. Neither of these men have websites for their businesses or even Internet I am sure, but I hope that anyone who happens to stay up in Bancroft can take the time to experience these treasures themselves. Use this link to my wife's blog to see the pictures of the tea room http://pipodoll.blogspot.com/2011/06/tea-house.html

More than Organic

2011-06-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

At Old Heritage Farms: One of the most meaningful experiences on our trip up north was a visit to a local farm that does everything above organic. The word "organic" is more of advertisement pitch to convince you that what you are eating is from an ideal and most natural source. Often this just means that the "organic" milk you drank comes from confined cows that are fed corn grown without fertilizer rather than with, but comes nowhere close to the image in your mind of cows grazing in pasture. Since the word "organic" is truly tarnished by industrial systems at work, one has to seek further to find a name for food created the way nature intended. We drove up on a hot day to an old house, nestled in by nature and two other buildings, one as a sort of crude processing room and a smaller green house growing dozens of tomato plants. At first I wasn't sure anyone was home or whether we would be welcome so I walked up to the small building next to the green house and peeking through the door I saw a man carefully washing and drying eggs. He introduced himself as Andre and we soon got into a conversation about the uniqueness of his farm. Andre, of course uses no fertilizers and he doesn't feed his cows or chickens corn which they are not meant to eat, but has a system which involves a portable perimeter that he uses to keep his cows on select area of pasture in the interest of maintaining the lush variety of grasses in his pasture. The chickens, as "the clean up crew" are then moved to areas the cows have grazed some days before and they eat up the bugs, grass and the fly larvae in the cow patties, and help to spread the manure around to fertilize the grass. The moving perimeters are part of a ecological system that aims to support the balance of life to all parties involved. There is so much more to talk about but in essence Andre's farm is self sustaining which is great for the environment and on production costs for him. The benefit for us is healthier and better tasting food. His chickens make real eggs, eggs better than I have ever tasted anywhere and a difference you can see with your eyes; the yolk has a slight orange hue due to the beta-carotene the chickens get from the grass by the sun's energy and the white of the egg has a significant body to it (unlike the watery egg whites that are so common) giving you a heartier egg altogether. I didn't even know such an egg exist, being so used to the commercial eggs that are everywhere. The chickens which get to be chickens and do what chickens do have a happier existance and produce healthier eggs and tastier chicken. I ended up buying a whole chicken, plus two dozen eggs and a morrel mushroom that Andre found growing wild in areas of his property. What Andre does is unique and beautiful despite all struggles he faces by industrial efforts (he is not allowed to sell his at the market and can't process the chickens or animals at his farm due to regulations).

The Old Hastings Gallery in Ormsby

2011-06-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

In the almost non-existent town of Ormsby (population between 12 and 20 people) there is a general store that has been around for ages filled with treasures galore that no one might expect from a little place so out of the way from anywhere. Here is a tiny room under the staircase perfect for person of Jude's stature. Jude loved this little spot so much he wanted very much to play in it and didn't much want to go. Jude also found some handmade wooden vehicles to play with, one of which he will have on his birthday which takes place tomorrow. Isabella bought a bag of neat candies of old fashion toffee and chocolates.

Oh Boy

2011-06-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hey, the baby is a boy! We are delighted to have a boy even though all our hunches told us that it might be a girl, so much for hunches. This baby already likes to suck its thumb and we were told by the ultrasound technician that the baby was smiling as one can see in the first picture. I think this will be a peaceful baby.

Farm Sitting

2011-06-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Sam looking gorgeous as her pregnant self in a wonderful self portraits. This one taken up at Maple Leaf while we were on vacation shows Sam at about 5 months pregnant. Tomorrow we will find out if the baby is a boy or a girl,, I am wondering if our hunches are correct..

Jude is something of a musician as we have noticed, and finds peace whenever one is singing or if he gets a chance to drum on things or strum on the guitar. Jude also sings in his baby language into anything resembling a microphone.

During our stay in Maple Leaf we took care of the farm pets, Tamarack and Cherry (named after trees) who were strictly outside dogs but would not leave the house area until you took them for a walk and then they might end up chasing things in the woods for a good long while until they decided to come back home. I myself took adventurous expeditions into the thick woods mired in wet areas and mosquitoes and often made my way along trails that ended abruptly or became more grown in until one could no longer distinguish a trail. On my second night I got lost, the woods going out endlessly with no house to come by, the dogs having left me long before and it began getting dark very quickly, the forest with its canopy of leaves made it ever more dark. I came upon a large pond and some clearings that still gave me no indication about where I was and I do admit after a good couple of hours I was getting a bit nervous. By my great fortune I heard a trampling of leaves and sticks and rustle of brush before me, which suddenly appeared the puppy Tamarack followed by his sister Cherry. They bounded up to me and then sat down with a look that said 'now where are we going.' I said to Tamarack hoping in some way that he might understand,, 'go home, where's home?' Tamarack began leading me through the woods but was much too savvy in his navigation through the brambles me to make my way through due to my size and so I had to call him back a couple of times. Eventually they lead me to the road that took me back up towards the house and I felt an extreme thankfulness for having such knowledgeable and loyal companions. Needless to say I gave them a good helping of treats when we got back to the house, which was just about when it began raining. The house had lost electricity for hours and Sam and I sat up by candle light for the night.

Time Away

2011-06-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

For two weeks we stayed up north in a little town most people have never heard of called Maple Leaf which lies just beyond Bancroft and closer to Maynooth. Despite the hoards of human devouring bugs being mainly mosquitoes between successions of black flies and horse flies and deer flies and any other fly that can bite bits out of your flesh, we had an incredible time. Here is a picturesque shot of the barn which has a floor below outlined by the stone wall where cows were kept in winter I imagine and above a place for hay lofts and equipment though all the hay was taken and the equipment left out in the grass being just an old tractor that is a working miracle. Let me introduce you to the Maple Leaf farm, a B&B which was formally known as the Old Davis Farm which is still written in large lettering on the face of the barn. The picture below shows an antique lock on the side of the barn that leads to the bottom floor, inside names and dates inscribed in the boards dating back to 50's. The grass quickly rose in the span of our two weeks to a chest height that made it impossible to determine the slope or depth of the ground. A local farmer named Roy brought the outside tractor to life and cut down much of this grass which he would follow up with a baler to collect the grass into convenient cubes for transporting to his hungry horses. Roy was an ageless sort of fellow stooped and sun worn, looking late in life but sprightly when jumping down from the tractor, was a man of few words but a friendly demeanor and could show one how to grab a dog by his jaw so that they can't bite you. When entering into the landscape it was necessary that one wear their "armor" being a mosquito net around the head, layers of long sleeved shirts, waterproof boots, bug repellent (3 layers) and courage.

Jude is Almost 2

2011-06-05T18:15:00.000-07:00

Sam, Grandma Jude and Little Jude went out yesterday to visit Jadin who is still a newborn. It is hard to believe that Jude was once so little though it was not so long ago. It is very strange how close Jude resembles me in this photograph when I was his age.

Without any prompting or suggestion Jude instinctively began shooting at us with the hose. He was born a saucy one. The only thing missing from this image is Jude's maniacal laughter at having us run away from his bold attempt to douse us with hose water.

Bev painting

2011-06-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a snapshot of a painting that I am currently working on at present. It has been a very slow painting as I am working in specific areas at one time rather than my former paintings where I tend to jump all over at one time. I still establish my palette before getting started and I plan to work back into several areas again to create layers of color. I find it spooky when one of the eyes are missing but I tend to work towards those major facial features by establishing everything else first.

Scugog Counsel for the Arts Awards Night

2011-06-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

Two nights ago I was presented by the Scugog Counsel of the Arts with New Resident Artist Award which is given to a newcomer who has made a significant impact in the arts for the local community. It was hectic getting there (Jude wouldn't let us get him dressed and we got lost) but luckily we were just in time to listens to writers from Whitby who read segments from their short stories and poets their verses. I received my award during the final stage of the ceremony and was given a beautiful handmade plate along with a year membership to the Scugog Counsel of the Arts and a certificate. Though my favorite part of the evening was having the opportunity to talk with members of the board, local artists and art enthusiasts.

Puddle Beard and Doll

2011-05-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have added some little painted works to my shop, created from ink and brush drawings with a little watercolour and even acrylic thrown in. I enjoy making these because it gives me an opportunity to dabble in other mediums. One obstacle however is trying to create a digital reproduction from the original but the subtle charm of the actual work is hard to duplicate. I like to draw and paint outside on the picnic table when the sun occasionally comes out usually in the late afternoon. I am selling these new drawings as originals in my shop http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/.

New Shop Items

2011-05-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

New Items in my shop! I have added an original drawing of a vintage doll and a new handmade sketchbook journal with a one-of-a-kind cover design assemble with strips of Chiyogami and other Japenese decorative papers.

Tilled Garden

2011-05-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

Our new little garden now is tilled and has a gate which I crafted hinges for so that it swings open nicely and closed. Tilling the ground was like trying to tame a wild bronco but after breaking ground it got easier to handle the tiller. We have been get out all little clusters of left over sod that was missed and our preparing the inside for Morning glory seeds.

Garden Fence Complete

2011-05-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

So I finally managed to finish the garden fence which is entirely made up of sticks and branches woven together without any ties or bindings. It is simple and very pretty and we are excited to design the inner space which will have little places to sit and meditate. I will probably continue to work on this fence adding more in the spaces to embellish its wild look. I must say that making this was very cathartic for me, to be in the sun and to work with nature. Our plan is to grow along the inside perimeter a vining flower like Morning Glory which will weave into the fence work and fill up the spaces. The garden gets sun all day long so I am sure that such a vining plant will really take off. Doing this project reminds me that being creative can happen through any medium and all given opportunities outside oil and canvas. I will chronicle our gardens development as it grows.

The beginning of our new Garden

2011-05-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Just the beginning of our garden perimeter made of sticks woven together without rope or ties. It is going to be a large circle with an arched entrance which will be placed to the right. You can some dirt that has been dug up but I think we are going to dig into our pockets and rent a tiller being that it is such a big space.

Little Apple Painting

2011-04-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

I had a very hard time photographing this little painting but it gives a sense of how things are going. I will say that it is very important to paint things that you love or have an interest in. I have learned that I am not so excited about apples but believe that through study I can learn to appreciate the design of the apple.

Book plate or label Squawking Bird

2011-04-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of book plates which were elaborate artworks meant to establish ones literary collection, often created for the wealthy and intellectually elite, I have decide to make something of the kind for my handmade books in order to brand them with my shop Onetindrum. I have also wanted to make my own book plate just for the fun of it because I love to read and collect books for my own library though I am neither wealthy or part of the intellectual elite. This image above was made from an old etching I did when still in school and I photo-shoped the text in. Each one of my handmade sketchbook journals now has its own label on the inside of the back cover which is a nice little addition.

Hooray for another book sold

2011-04-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Another handmade sketchbook journal has been purchased in my online shop! I am almost sad to see them go because each one is a unique and one of a kind item. I put a lot of hard work into making these books which don't yield much profit, being that they take a great amount of time and the cost of making them is high because I only use the most quality of materials. However, I make them because I love how they come together as artistic objects, each unique in style, and destined to find their way into someones life for their own individual purpose. As an artist myself I believe a sketchbook or journal should be made to fit a variety of purposes to suite the needs of the artist or writer so the paper is suitable for watercolor painting, but is smooth enough for sketching in pencil or writing in ink. This is a perfect mixed media sketchbook and serves writers who love to incorporate drawing with their work. Please feel free to see others available, I have just 10 left in my shop at http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

What parents do

2011-04-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I decided to go on a trip by myself to seek out some of the waterfalls of Dundas and Hamilton where at one time were native lands before colonizers came and named the land and falls after themselves. I decided to go to the area that contains Borers Falls which is nestled in a valley with other smaller falls in the center of a few residences and country roads. There is a trail called the Bruce trail that runs a great distance and traces most of the falls from an escarpment but I am curious enough that I sometimes veer from the path in order to see more. The many falls north of Borers were at most at a small trickle which surprised me greatly and I stumbled around in the mud and rocky banks to discover bones, one being the full head and teeth of a fox. Wanted to see more water and falls I climbed out of the valley and drove around to a parking area for Chapel Rock where one can take a trail to the top of Borers Falls, the ticket machine for paid parking was vandalized so parking was free. I climbed down the rock slopes which is precarious due to all the leaves and eroding material but I was extremely careful. I was delighted by the amount of water in the stream as it rushed forth but didn't get to see the actual falls. The bank was strewn with muddy rocks many moss covered and as I was sitting on a rock in the middle of all the rushing water a salmon splashed and dove in my direction. Being surprised, I felt extremely lucky, realizing that I was witnessing the salmon making their way up stream to lay their eggs. Some of them were at least 2 feet long! A very beautiful thing and not often witnessed, this life process, for them the final and dramatic act for the continuation of life through the sacrifice of death. I stood above the bank in awe.

Brief Underpainting for Apple Study

2011-04-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Nothing means so much to me as painting people but I know that an artist should explore other subjects, even those so common as fruit which are so typical in oil painting. An artist must also challenge their technique and try new approach to painting so that they are not limiting themselves to a formula that may only lead to a narrow path. I don't paint in any traditional sense at all, especially in my use of colors and so I decided that I would take a more classical approach to painting in several little studies of apples. This is an underpainting which gives a loose impression of the old apple that I used as my subject. The underpainting allows one to first develop the form of their subject by establishing lights and darks, giving a solid foundation from which to build the painting up. Little paintings are not a huge commitment and I can focus primarily on technique without too much bother about composition. I will attempt to post pictures of each stage as I move into this painting.

Getting Out

2011-04-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day and I began my morning by getting Isabella off to school by 8:00 for a symphony field trip her class was taking in Toronto. After that I got out the baby seat and laid down some blankets in preparation for picking up my paintings from the Artplus gallery in Belleville where they were being exhibited. It is a good hour and a half drive to Belleville and I spent it in thought while flipping through music channels on the radio. When I arrived I met with Dianne who is the gallery coordinator there and she was already in the process of hanging the next show which has a spring theme. She is very personable and we talked about art and our own struggles and of opportunities. It made me think of how important it is for an artist to get out once in a while and connect with other artists so that the artist is not stuck in their own bubble which can be quite isolating. Artists need to be around art and other artists for inspiration and for argument about concepts and ideas. After loading my paintings I decided to check in on an artist I met at the opening who introduced himself to me. He and his wife have a jewelry shop in the business strip of Belleville where he also sells his oil paintings of landscapes, figurative works and still lifes. I was completely blown away by the artistry of the shop in its wares, their display and of the layout of the space. They even live above their shop in an amazing apartment which was very spacious and well laid out. We talked over cafe au lait which he made for me on his stove, about art and approaches to painting and I asked simple questions about his methods with his students whom he teaches in the back of the shop. I stayed for a few hours, looked at his current work and drove home. It was a very pleasant day indeed.

A Horse is A Horse

2011-04-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

This is a reproduction of a horse etching that I did many years ago when I was still in art school. That was when the horse was speaking the words "I'm a longing" the number 4 was "for" and "you" was a letter U that made up a puddle at the horses feet. This was a dry point etching through and through created on the surface of a copper plate. I never intended to take printmaking but needed such an elective to finish my course work. I was so glad that I did because it is a wonderful process and I only regret that I didn't do more like this one. I sold one of these digital reproductions just earlier this week and was told that it would be part of an interior design contest to be published. I still have more etchings that I did of antique dolls that lean towards slightly disturbing but that is basically how I saw them to begin with.

My first Spring Run

2011-04-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Today, the weather was very spring like with a misty rain in the air and being so inspired, and wanting to shed my winter lethargy, I took off on my first spring jog. I had to root out my jogging pants which were buried deep in a chest full of camping gear and outfitted baby clothes. My shoes I located one at a time in a heaping pile of other separated pairs consisting of all seasons and sizes. I didn't care to stretch for the consideration of dormant muscles that haven't been used or thought of through winter. I just felt like running is the thought that pushed me out the door, along the highway and off past slumbering farm fields and quaint little county homes. I felt like a man of 50, my pace slow, my steps short but steady and I thought about how soon I would like to be in shape, to feel the power of my body making long strides and calm easy breaths rather than the dizzy feeling I was having. I thought back to my high school days of running cross country and the flurry of legs and splattered mud after the bang of the starters' pistol. In those early morning races we often lost footing in the wet grass, following paths through and around woods. I remember the absurd spectacle of a fellow runner lying on his back in a ditch, wailing in pain from a twisted ankle as we stayed the course. Running for me has this way of taking me back to my past, maybe in the same way a long drive in my car does, when I am carried away from the present. However the present does come back fully at the end of my run when I cannot go any further and my body is ready to collapse, then I can relinquish myself fully to the moment with eyes open.

New Handmade Journal in my shop

2011-03-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

New Chiyogami designed Handmade Sketchook Journal is now available in my shop.

http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

Handmade Sketchbook Journals

2011-03-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love making these books! I have added two new sketchbook journals to my etsy shop. As an artist I have always just made my own sketchbooks and did so by choosing the most ideal paper to serve my drawing and sketching needs. The paper in these are very versatile for an array of art mediums and each book is a one-of-a-kind item all completely made by hand. To find out more about them you can click on the link http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

Inspirational Artist

2011-03-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

I have never done this before but I am promoting another artist that I discovered on Etsy who has really inspired me with her watercolor pictures of natures gifts and has become a new artist friend as well. Jody VanB is this artist and she is also a mother of two little boys but manages to do so many paintings on every evening occasion when her little ones are off to bed. Furthermore, she is a success on Etsy having sold 237 paintings in all in just a little over a year. I don't suppose my blog gets so many views but I do want to share her work because it is so elegant and pleasing to the eye. To see more of Jody's work up for sale check out her etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jodyvanb

Presenting the DESIGN

2011-03-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

I was contacted by a band called the Design who asked to use my octopus etching in a promotional flyer for their show taking place at the Wind Jammer in the Isle of Palms South Carolina. I love the text worked in with the image which fits together perfectly, they did a really nice job so I asked for a flyer for myself. I only wish I could check out the live even myself which is to take place on March 31st. It is a beautiful thing when artists of all kinds can network together via the internet and despite physical distance their lives can come merging together in a way. The artist who contacted me and is in the band has her own etsy shop too, where she makes really cool wrist bands. You can find her work at http://www.redkatblack23.etsy.com/.

Go Figure Show

2011-03-11T10:17:00.000-08:00

The show had a great turnout and was a delightful gathering of warm and friendly conversationalists. I was taken aback by all the support and accolades given about my work which was very well received. I do look forward to having more shows in the future. Here are some pictures of the opening last night and there will be more to come from Sam's camera. I was so grateful that everyone who could come came.

Go Figure Art Exhibition

2011-03-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

After a 10 year hiatus my work is finally going to be featured in an art exhibition. I have made my move to Canada a period of artistic renewal and am delighted that in such a life change I was able to produce enough work to present. The show is taking place in Belleville at Gallery Artplus and has opened on March 3rd with a reception taking place on March 10th from 6-8 pm. The link below is to the gallery itself and provides photographs of my work, some of which I myself had not had a chance to photograph before getting them out, but paintings look so much better in person. I am really excited and hope that the show will have a tremendous turnout. Please stop at the link below to see more information about my work and the show which has 3 other wonderful artists.

http://www.galleryartplus.com/artists/view/?id=1294

Go Figure

2011-02-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

I am really excited to announce that I will be a part of an upcoming exhibit called "Go Figure" at the Artplus Gallery in Belleville. The show will be up from March 3rd to April 9th and the opening for the show will take place on Thursday March 10th from 6-8 pm. I haven't been in any art show in about 10 years and I am thrilled that I have created a body of work that can finally be shown in a gallery. As an artist I have been busy with parenting and teaching and until I moved to Canada to start things anew I didn't seem to have enough time to paint. I took up the brush again last July and began vigorously working on portraits using for my subjects my daughter Isabella, wife Sam and friends in the area. I was surprised at how quickly my work evolved and it felt that each painting was a leap of progress from the one before it. I even made a little money teaching oil painting to adults in a local art shop in town but our finances have been pretty tight. I have had 8 hours of just painting each day for the last 2 weeks to complete some of my biggest works for the show. I love the gallery space that the work will hang in and I am really excited to see how my paintings will look altogether. I have attached a link to the exhibit below that gives more details about the show.

http://www.galleryartplus.com/exhibits/

Sleep and Us have gone our seperate ways

2011-01-26T10:21:00.000-08:00

Our little angel is a sleep stealer who for the past week has done his best to make sure his parents are awake, awake, awake. Jude has been going through some changes, much of which had to do with his teeth but now maybe he is just growing, growing, growing. We love him so. He has so much energy and even when he winds down and you think he will nap for a good while, he just proves to us that a young toddler only needs a good 15 minutes to recharge himself. Productivity has been difficult but we are hoping for a break in the storm.

Origami Valentines

2011-01-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

These lips can open and close for singing, kissing or talking. Heart-shaped messages can be placed inside them to be left for a loved or admired ones. You can find these handmade origami lips for purchase at http://www.pipodoll.etsy.com/

Ode to California Animals We Met

2011-01-16T09:38:00.000-08:00

This morning I stumbled over our many animal pictures taken when we lived in California and it brings back memories of how amazing it was to live there.

New Handmade Books

2011-01-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

The fancy blue and flower printed books are designed with a Katazome paper which has been printed by hand. The orange book is designed with a Chiyogami paper that has been silk screened. Both types of paper are tedious to make and add to the unique beauty of these handmade books as objects. To learn more about these books and how they are made or to obtain one for yourself, please visit http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

Valentine Kissers

2011-01-08T17:05:00.000-08:00

Introducing Valentine Kissers! A newly featured item now listed on http://www.pipodoll.etsy.com/ made specifically for Valentines day. Sam and I have been making these origami lips for years just for fun and they have always delighted people because they can open and close like a real mouth. We decided it would be a neat idea to offer these up to the public for Valentine festivities. Little notes in the shape of hearts can fit snuggly into the mouths themselves while they are in standing position. These lips can be a sweet Valentine sentiment when left behind for a friend to discover. For more information you can click on the link above.

Handmade Sketchbook Journals with Chiyogami Cover Design

2011-01-06T14:43:00.000-08:00

I have been working on a new series of sketchbook journals that have Chiyogami paper on the cover. The Chiyogami paper is absolutely beautiful and a costs a good amount for a small sheet but makes for a gorgeous book cover design. I am very excited to present the others of which there will be 10.

Here is some really interesting information about how this Chiyogami Paper is made:
To create a single sheet of Chiyogami, each base sheet is silkscreened with as many colours as there are in that particular pattern – in most cases, four or five colours. After the base sheet has been pasted to a wooden board for stability during the silkscreening process, the first screen silkscreen is registered and ink applied. Each sheet of paper is dried on racks to allow the ink to dry between applications. The screens for subsequent colours are painstakingly registered so that the colour layers lie precisely in relation to each other.

New Year Outlook

2011-01-03T04:55:00.000-08:00

Reflecting back on things past with the fuzziness of memory in order to live more truthfully in the present. Each day is a gift not intended to be wasted or discarded. Inspiration is brought forth by action and not the other way around.

New Handmade Journals Available

2010-12-30T18:39:00.000-08:00

New Sketchbook Journals are now available in my Etsy shop! A lot of work goes into the making of each book, made with high quality materials in the pursuit of making a very versatile books for artists and writers alike. The books above consist of Stonehenge Paper with a natural torn edge look. To find out more about how these sketchbook journals are made you can read about them in my online shop.. http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

Sold Sketchbook/Journal

2010-12-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

New Sketchbook Journals for the New Year! There are new ones to come but several wonderful books left in my shop at http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

In the Snow Belt

2010-12-19T09:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a view from my art lair down in the basement which used to be a small workshop that had been abandoned for years, mired high in mice poop and sawdust. After a heavy clean from top to bottom it is now a homey little place where I can work and not freeze. This view is through the window that I open to let out the toxic fumes of oil and mineral spirits. As I write this it is snowing in big soft flakes falling gently to the ground capturing the essence of a snow globe. Just 10 minutes away going east there is almost no snow at all and here we have at least a half a foot. I am grateful for having snow this Christmas, having not any in since living in California for the last 5 years.

Luca Oil Painting

2010-12-15T18:25:00.000-08:00

I am excited to share that I just sold my first commissioned portrait painting today and Luca's mom really loved it which is great because a mother has a very discerning eye when it comes to a portrait of their own baby. Katie, Luca's mom drove an hour and change to pick it up and brought Luca too who is Jude's age. The both got to play together for a little bit and go in and out of the snow fort outside. Sam and I used the money for the portrait to go shopping for Christmas gifts and have just come home after hours of buying gifts.

Handmade book Sold

2010-12-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

One more handmade sketchbook sold in my shop! I am so excited to share these books that are carefully made for artists and writers alike. More high quality books can be found in my shop in time for the holidays and for New Year beginnings.

Snow Home

2010-12-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

For Isabella's Birthday I built her a snow hut of sorts with giant balls of snow which was in a perfect state for packing. I think I was outside for several hours before I was done. The only pictures we got were of Jude playing in and around it as he was really excited by it and yelled out in gleeful tones as he approached it. Then entrance was just at his standing height and inside the snow fort Isabella could stand straight up without her head touching. Grandpa Joe and Isabella engaged in a snowball fight and Sam crawled inside with Jude. Since that night the snow has been melting and today it is freeze raining but I am grateful that we all got a chance to see it.

The giant snow ball at the entrance is to close up the entrance so that the neighbors dogs who run loose at night don't run inside to pee in it as they do on other things.

Sketchbook Journals

2010-12-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

I just sold a tall handmade sketchbook journal in my shop just after posting them last night! More are still left to buy in time for the holidays. http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

New Sketchbook Journals added to my shop

2010-12-09T16:36:00.000-08:00

These are handmade books for artists and writers alike that can now be bought in my shop http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

Port Perry Christmas Parade

2010-12-01T17:46:00.001-08:00

Last night was the Port Perry Christmas parade which took place along Main Street through the center of town. For once I saw a Christmas parade with snow, which covered the ground outside the high traffic area of strolling pedestrians. Christmas lights could be seen all over town in sidewalk trees and shop windows. Outside cafes there was the selling of hot chocolate with generous amounts of whipped cream and tasty things to eat. We took refuge from the cold in the Native Canadian store Native Focus which is owned and run by friends of ours who also have two little boys. Inside Erin made hot chocolate for everyone while Jude and I strolled around the store waiting for our chai latte to cool down. For such a small town I was surprised by the crowd and heard said that some folks had set up their chairs hours before to reserve an ideal spot for viewing the floats. When the parade began, it began like any other Christmas parade, people dancing around in gift wrapped boxes and folks sitting on hay bales on a flat bed pulled by a semi truck. But we were really impressed by the animals. A horse with a winter maiden was adorned with a rope of lights, illuminating the horses features in an ethereal quality. Reindeer were paraded in next, followed by lions, llamas, sheep, goats, and a girl riding center between the huge humps of a camel. Jude was up on my shoulders for most of the time in pure contentment, undisturbed by the blaring of horns and drums. I will openly admit that this small town parade was even better than the Christmas parades held in Oakland California.

Changing of the Seasons

2010-11-25T11:19:00.000-08:00

Well winter is definitely here in Scugog which one can tell by the seeping chill that gets inside your bones despite all the layering you can wear. The icy wind penetrates through your clothes or winds its way up your sleeves, pant legs and the opening of your winter coat. The sky today is grey from the horizon up, the jack-o-lanterns aged with turned in mouths and squinty eyes, and all between is colorless and gloomy. My little studio in the garage is no longer adequate and I have now moved down into the basement amongst the sawdust and cobwebs of an old abandoned wood shop which resembled an abandoned ship before I set out to clean it. Like an archeologist I moved gradually through layers of sediment that coated the floor and all other surfaces. Evidence that several generations of house mice occupied this area had to be swept up and stacks of tools, wood and wire piled up like the game pick up sticks had to be rearranged and put into some semblance of order. I am proud to say that hours of exacavating has found me a nice little studio in which I will be making paintings through the winter season. Sam and I have been working hard to get some things in order for future sales and I have gotten my first commissioned painting to work on as soon as the photographs arrive. Sam will hopefully have her work up in a few shops, one local, one overseas and another in the states, before Christmas shoppers have completed their purchases.

Christmas Fine Craft & Decorative Art Show & Sale

2010-11-18T07:52:00.000-08:00

Taking breaks from art/craft show preparations by getting some sushi at Kyoto House.

A snapshot of one of our tables full of Sam's wares full of gnomes, ornamental owls, holiday cards, origami decorations and baby tee shirts with Sam's art on them. I am so proud of Sam's talent and I am a huge fan of all her work.

All things in pipodoll.etsy.com are handmade and one-of-a-kind. There is a truly special feeling in things handmade that can be felt in the objects themselves. We are very excited about our upcoming show taking place this weekend, Nov. 21 Lions Community Centre, 157 Elgin Street in East Cobourg. http://www.makeitindie.blogspot.com/

New Grandma Jude Painting

2010-11-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

It took a bit of time to convince Jude to let me do a portrait of her. She is a spiritual being and a writer who incorporates her sensitivity and zest for life in her work. Her hair flows free and untamed as she is herself, letting things go and not bound by thoughts of should, but believes in following the natural flow of things as they come. We have had many conversations over warm tea in the kitchen about art, writing, and view of life as it presents itself in all things.

New Paintings for Sale

2010-10-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

I have just added 3 new paintings to my online shop which are available for sale! You can find them on http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

Isabella Painting

2010-09-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

This will be my sixth painting since I have moved here to Port Perry Canada and I am currently working on my seventh and eighth. Each painting has its own challenges but I am learning through the struggles and developing gradually, I can see it. This shows Isabella at the age of 9, right about the time we landed here. She looks to be a dancer in this picture and has a braided piece of string wrapped around her head. I will make some little adjustments to this picture before I put it in my etsy shop for sale. My other paintings are now in a contemporty art store in downtown Port Perry called Meta4.

Come and Support Us Artists

2010-09-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

Sam and I will be attending this show to sell our art! We have been working hard to make our dream of becoming independent artists a reality. Since we have moved to Canada we have been given time to spend our days making things that we can sell. I will have for sale a group of paintings and mixed media works while Sam will have all the many wonderful things in her shop (http://www.pipodoll.etsy.com/) and more.

A Disapproving Look

2010-09-11T11:32:00.000-07:00

A Disapproving Look- Original Oil Painting

I am happy to announce that I have just added this painting into my online shop for sale. I have not had the opportunity to photograph the stages of this painting's development but it has been one that I have been working on for the last 2 weeks or so. This is a painting of Sam in her favorite plaid dress that she is even wearing today. More detailed photos can be found on my etsy shop http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

along with further details.

Large Original Oil Painting of Erin

2010-08-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here is my newest painting that I have just added to my shop! It is an 18 x 20 inch portrait of a woman named Erin who Sam has been friends with for many years. Erin is an artistic being and a mother of two little boys. I was drawn to Erin's unique and captivating face which I was eager to paint a portrait of. More visual details of this painting or purchase information can be found at my online shop: http://www.onetindrum.etsy.com/

My studio

2010-08-31T15:52:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken by Sam of me working on my first two paintings in my little outdoor studio. I have since made a studio within the garage for a more consistant light source using a number of day light bulbs to provide a lighting that is true to color. The weather here has been random, with humid haze in one day and autumn cool breezes on another with the occasional lightening storm in between. I have now paint on all my clothing so far which I suppose I wear with pride. It is good to make new work. I used to listen to an Ipod of my favorite music as a source of inspiration but now I prefer the quiet. At night when I work I am often visited by little mice that climb the shelve and the rafters of the garage space without paying me too much mind.

New Small oil painting of Erin

2010-08-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

This is a new painting that I have just added into my etsy shop! It is an oil portrait of a friend in town named Erin who is a mother of two little boys. She also lives a very creative life of painting and art making with her boys.

Large Erin Painting

2010-08-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

This is a new painting that I am doing of the same girl. The previous painting below has been worked on for two sessions or so but I didn't get a moment to photograph it and will probably do so when it is done. This painting however is much bigger and has been a real challenge for some reason as I struggled to get the foundation of the facial features right and spent a grand chunk of time editiing. Some days are just bad painting days where the planetary arrangement plays a part I suppose. It was a beautiful day to paint outside but doing so I have discovered is challenging when light is continuously changing. The best days to paint are the over cast ones when the light conditions are stable. I am thinking about creating a more controlled studio environment in the garage. This canvas has been put together and gessoed myself but I find the canvas is a dry surface as opposed to masonite even after 4 coats of gesso and sanding in between coats. Let's see if tomorrow is a more promising day at the easel.

New Small Erin Painting

2010-08-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today looked stormy but I decided that I was going to paint outside anyway and so began this new small painting. You can see that I had to use boards to elevated the canvas to my eye level as I like to stand when I am painting. At first I struggled when working in such a small dimension but soon enough the portrait began to come together. I have several other canvas of this size that I made myself, the stretcher bars assembled from recycled wood. Each canvas is an object in itself. I don't know the size off hand but it is about 10 or 11 inches high but not quite a foot. Erin is a friend of Sam's and I am just getting to know her but I have been delighted to paint her and her son Callum. I will be looking for other new faces to paint as well. For the painting above I will work on it until it has a more finished look.

Callum session 5

2010-08-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is the latest look of a new painting that I am working on.

Callum session 3

2010-08-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

The painting is coming along gradually but we have had some rainy days here which makes it impossible to paint. I noticed that today I was very reluctant to take chances in my work and found myself laboring over areas of the painting rather than working on the painting as a whole. The colors here are not quite as vibrant as they appear in life and I quickly took a snapshot of this after 6 pm so that I can record the stages of my work after each painting session. I would like to begin a new painting right away and come back to this one, if only so that I can be again more playful as I felt when I did the Isabella painting.

Isabella Painting

2010-08-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

This is a new oil painting of Isabella that is the first done in Canada. I just made it a new addition to my shop online.

The Sunday painter is no more

2010-08-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

For the last week I have been painting again with oils outside in front of the garage where I keep an easel and table with a big pallette on top. I get apprehensive about beginning again but as soon as I begin painting again I feel at home. I like to listen to music on a loaner Ipod I found in the house which is my muse and I paint towards the late afternoon and early evening because the day is coolest at that time. The above picture is the beginning of a new painting that I am doing of a child of a friend of ours in Port Perry. Sam takes pictures of my subjects and I get them enlarged at the local grocery store. I have been painting on board or masonite which I find is a smoother surface than canvas. The canvas in the painting above I made myself using the ends of a crate we had in our patio garden in California and then cut a piece of board to fit. I made two that are identical in size. The other I did a painting of Isabella that I will soon be putting into my esty shop to sell. Sam and I have been working together to give attention to making art. Sam gets the morning hours through the afternoon until 3 pm and I get the hours after until dusk. Today it has been raining since early this morning so if I do not get to paint, I may be working on some little watercolors which I have been doing in my off moments. The watercolors are abstracts that I get to play around with color, line and composition.

Coffee Culture

2010-07-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am now landed in Canada and have been here for a good two weeks but still feel as unsettled as my first two days. My travels east, solo rockhounding, was full of precious finds and precarious situations and environments. I visited Gold Hill, a ghost town in Utah and camped overnight at Topaz Mtn. where I found some precious topaz crystals by sifting through the overdug places at the far end of the arena there rather than pounding away at the rhyolite. I went above the salt flats of Wendover to find a lovely colorful agate and chalcedony pieces scattered over the ground each one a different color than the others. I split shale at a fossil quarry to find trilobytes of different shapes and sizes. One of my favorite sites was in Wyoming where I found little wind polished pieces of petrified palm wood which hold all the detail of the wood and many containing agate. Since I have arrived at Sam's parents house my travelling has ceased altogether. In the first few days here I was working tirelessly on cleaning out the garage to make room for our things which were arriving by truck from California. We had to remove a lot of stuff from Sam's room just to make a space for ourselves and the process is ongoing. Our schedules have changed drastically. We have been getting up around 9 or 10 in the morning eating lunch around 3 and dinner at 9. By the time both kids are in bed it is just about 10 in the evening and we stay up for several more hours. The house is overcrowed and it feels closed in and heavy. I am not at liberty to clean up or out any of the rooms but I have done so in places anyway. The change has been hard on both Sam and I who are trying to find grounding in this new place. For me I am out at a coffee shop today to get a break from the house. At dusk is when the mosquitoes come out and they are absolutely ruthless as they attack you in the droves.

2010-06-14T17:46:00.000-07:00

We have been packing for over a month, little by little, box by box, until our home is no longer home but a transitional station on our way to something new. I have greatly anticipated this final week of school but yet can't quite wrap my head around the idea that so much change will happen so quickly.

Easter Break Travels

2010-04-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

Easter Break

2010-04-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

Well we have finally been given the green light by Canada to emmigrate there and we are all delighted. We have waited for over a year now for my paperwork to be approved by Canadian immigration. It will be great to be reunited with Sam's family and to get some help and support. I am thrilled to move on to a new phase in my life but it is going to be really hard to leave California and all the wonderful natural attractions and breathtaking coastal scenes but there is more out there to be experienced. I will remain teaching art until school is out for summer break and then Sam, Isabella and Jude will fly to Canada while I will tie up loose ends here and set out on a cross country excursion to meet them while rockhounding and seeing the sites. My sister has proposed to ride along with me for the trip and it would be really great to have a partner in this adventure to camp and dig in the dirt. Today marks the beginning of Easter break and we have plans to head to Bakersfield to dig up some sharks teeth (actually that's just me, no one but me likes to hunt for treasures) then we are going to stop at all or as many historic Spanish missions as we can which is something Sam has wanted to do for a long time. I am going to make a sketch diary of the mission adventure, noting the artwork and architecture and such.

An Elusive Thief

2010-03-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

A stranger came into our building yesterday in the middle of the day and broke into two apartments on the floor above us, one being directly above our apartment. By the markings on the door jams it was discovered that this person used a pry bar to ease open the doorknob lock which is not difficult to do with the old hardware that is currently on all the doors in the building. I myself used a flimsy card to crack open my neighbors apartment across the hall when he accidently locked himself out and the building manager was out. If only the neighbors above had made sure to bolt the second lock on their doors, they might have prevented the theft of their belongings. Both of apartments had computers stolen and other small expensive items. The apartments like ours is in the back of the building where it is quiet and on the third floor next to the stairs which would give the thief/thieves an easy escape route as well as distance from all that enter the building. The building gets so quiet that one could hear anyone coming by stairs or elevator. We are going to hold a meeting in the lobby with the residents of the building this very evening to discuss measures that can be taken to ensure that our apartments are secure and that we are taking preventive steps to keep out unwanted individuals.

Rest on Sunday

2010-03-10T12:47:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I took Jude for a good part of the day while Isabella and Sam went to see Tim Burton's, Alice In Wonderland in 3D at the Grand Lake theater. Jude was tied to me by the moby and we walked all along Lakeshore and Grand, peeking into the bookstore, then getting Bubble tea at a tea shop. Soon enough Jude fell asleep and I found a bench to sit on, staring out before me, breathing in the cool breeziness of the day and enjoying the peace of letting go of thoughts and finding myself in the present. With children I find that my life often speeds up in a hurried pace when I don't have a moment of quiet or rest, but sometimes on a lucky occasion the baby sleeps and I get to be close to him while finding peace in the stillness of the moment. I sat on the bench for a good 45 minutes, watching people and cars travel past, with a clear mind and open heart.

Seehund

2010-03-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

Went to the beach on Saturday to Drakes Beach at Point Reyes. I ventured off for a while on my own over a slippery wall that jutted out into the ocean from the cliffs and obscured the continuation of the beach on the other side. The beach then stretched out before me with piles of large rocks strewed all along the sand to the cliffs behind. I began finding good sized pieces of petrified whale bone here and there as I walked about a 1/2 mile or so. I had hoped to see some elephant seals which I heard to be found at the southwestern tip of the peninsula. When I got back to Sam, Isabella and Jude they were changing out of their wet clothes from playing in the water. We sat in the cafe there and drank hot chocolates and to get warm. Overall it was a really great day to be had and I yearn for the opportunity to travel again.

My testimony

2010-03-05T21:52:00.000-08:00

I was in the courthouse just a week or so ago, brought in by a subpoena for my testimony involving an attempted robbery and assault on a woman who lives around the corner (the story is told fully in my blog last year during the month of May). I had chased down the man during the attack and brought about his capture for the police. Now in a preliminary trial I gave my story to ensure that the charges would stand against him and that his case be brought to trial. It was an odd experience to sit on the witness stand before a microphone facing the criminal who I helped to put there and for the most part he was looking down not often making eye contact with me. I stuck to exactly the truth and if I didn't remember something I was clear about that too, but all the evidence in what I experienced was clear enough to make a case against him. The victim of the crime was there and I have gotten to know her a bit, having run into her a few times. She still suffers by what happened to her and it took all of her strength to confront this man with her testimony. There are so many good people in the world that it is always a shock that there are those out there who really are malevolent. I have had many friends point out the stupidity of my actions, which has been expressed in so many words but I know that what I did, I would do again because it was the right thing to do.

Books Just Read of Mystery and History

2010-03-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

I am currently reading this book and I love it. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and detective novels. I can't wait to read his newest book The Last Dickens. One other book that is of the same caliber is An Instance of the Fingerpost, by Iain Pears. These books are most likely books that guys might be into but definitely those who like a book with lots of plot twists.

Working Out

2010-03-02T18:19:00.000-08:00

I have been working out for the past 3 weeks at a gym rather than running around the lake. It feels like such an accomplishment just to go and work up a sweat on the tread mill for an hour and then come staggering home knowing that I am a step closer to becoming as fit as I used to be. Being a father is tough work and I have often tended to indulge in impulsive acts of treating us all to sweets, being ice cream and extremely large dinners out. I have gradually gotten more rounded out in the arms and torso becoming ever slowly into the frame of a human baguette. I have retained my youthfulness for the most part but age appears to be catching up to me and know that there is no time like the present to start healthy routines. Through school I received a free 30 day pass to 24 hour fitness and that has gotten me started. I have been eating breakfast like a prince, lunch like a king, and dinner like a pauper. I haven't dared to weigh myself for fear that I will be concerned about numbers when what is really driving me is that I feel better and can see a slight difference when I look in the mirror.

My new favorite bird

2010-02-23T16:54:00.000-08:00

We have been visited by two Nuthatches on our patio who are now regulars at the feeders. They have the ability to walk vertically up and down trees and so these guys can just as well hang upside down to get the seed in the golden finch feeder. We still haven't gotten any golden finches yet but our house finches are common and the chickadees, and juncos too. I do miss the titmouse that we saw so often last spring but I am sure we will see one again soon.

Jude and I

2010-02-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

Lunch Break

2010-02-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

I am sitting on my lunch break at work, eating a sandwich comprised of low-sodium turkey, greens, Harvarti cheese, tomatoes, peppers and basil leaves while I am typing. I can hear the teacher across the hallway getting frustrated with his student on a math lesson involving addition and I am thankful for my current position which allows me the freedom to choose the content of my lessons. My last class just created fantastic pencil drawing portraits of Thurgood Marshall which we will watercolor next week. It is not difficult to draw students attention when doing art. Children have a natural inclination to be imaginative which is often suppressed by outside forces including certain methods of pedagogy as teachers are constrained to force information down students throats in order to meet the demands of a pacing schedule or an upcoming standardized test. I remember well the weight of knowing that much of my many students educations were determined by me when all other supports in this endeavor where lacking. I do feel really proud of my eight years of teaching and the hard work and long hours given above and beyond school time to give my students the best education I could provide them. Most teachers I know work tirelessly like this and are either grouchy about it or still find a way to laugh. It is hard for any one to imagine the task of responsibility a teacher has when facing 20-30 young minds who are in their hands for more time than most children spend with their parents. There is a place in heaven for teachers some say, but I like to hope that that place of honor could be also realized here in this country.

Fridays Clouds

2010-02-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

Today I was teaching art in a 1st grade class and had just picked them up from recess. I said brightly to several of the girl students in front of me how great it is to be alive to see such a beautiful day, with an intense blue sky and a spectacle of giant clouds as large as mountains. One of the girls said that she was happy to be alive, that she would like to live forever. Another girl said with a smile that she loves to live but she knows that she will have to die but that she didn't want to die. I found this to be a very moving statement said by such a little being who has grasped so much in such a short amount of time.

Flu season

2010-01-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

The day was looking so promising. I was feeling better than yesterday and my lessons were moving smoothy as I could ever wish. My 3rd period class, a 2nd grade bunch were working silently, almost in perfect meditation on patterned designs at their seats. I suddenly notice a student in the front row is up out of his seat with a blank look of fright in his eyes, his cheeks begin to puff out and he stops it short with his fist but the wreckage is coming and quick. I tell him to head to the door for the garbage, but he is at this point standing dumb and I am hesitant to approach him for fear of what is to come. It seems to be a moment suspended in the air, hanging for an unordinary amount of time, choices are flipping through my mind of grabbing him and running to the door, of running to get the garbage can, of running out of the classroom. Then what is expected comes but it comes rather ackwardly and almost surprisingly even. Barf shoots in streams out between the dam of his fingers spraying in lines in all directions including towards himself. We are all struck dumb and motionless as this happens, barf everywhere and inescapable..barf. When its over, I tell the boy to leave the room and he hesitates a bit, so I repeat for him to go to the office. In shock he walks through the barf and across the rug on the floor marking his trail with footprints as he goes. The custodian takes forever to come and the stench is reaching new levels of foulness that we are forced to evacuate the room and what was once a peaceful art making experience ends in disharmony and discord.

The latest

2009-12-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

So the rag rug is still coming along but I have been so busy that I have had hardly a moment to work on it. We just our Christmas tree and took it home on the roof of our little car and it now sits beautifully in our livingroom. Every day Jude is getting bigger and bigger and more of his personality is coming out. He loves to laugh for no reason that we can tell and his favorite thing to do is to go on walks.

My Trip to Ant Hill for Sharks Teeth

2009-11-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

I just came back from a solo trip to Ant Hill in Bakersfield in pursuit of prehistoric petrified shark's teeth and sea mammal bones. It was a good 4 1/2 hour drive from Oakland along an endless stretch of flatlands and farmland to a very commercial town of Bakersfield which is heavily marked with hotels and motels and eateries for wayward travellers on their way to someplace else. Just beyond the hub of town, just 14 minutes or so away lies a quiet stretch of giant hills that appear to lead one out to nowhere. One misconception that I arrived with was that looking for shark's teeth would be easy but I discovered that with a lot of time and patience one can find enough to satisfy themselves. One difficulty is just knowing which place to start as the digging site winds itself around the upper half of the hills and goes on for several miles possibly, which one can easily notice by the scarred line of exposed gray sediment that is exposed years of digging. It is necessary to bring a shovel to get passed the eroded places where rains have caused the soil to collapse over the productive area where shark teeth can be found. I have also noticed that greedy minded people have made sure to cover up an area that they have worked on with a piles of dirt and in one case I found a pseudo dirt mound covering a worked area that was constructed of 2, 5 gallon containers covered with a comforter blanket and a couple of inches of soil to keep out anyone from digging where they left off. As a fellow rockhound I believed this to be very ill spirited and not very community minded. A day before my trip I constructed my own fossil hunting sifter using an old drawer from a piece of furniture on our patio along with 1/4" galvanized mesh that one can find in the fencing department in any hardware store and heavy duty staples (T-50's) and stapler and wire cutters.

I wouldn't have found much without the sifter which was an essential tool in finding the teeth. I worked feverishly for 10 straight hours for two consecutive days hammering out chunks of semi soft sediment and breaking them down in order to sift through the remains for any teeth. The best teeth popped out of the material easily undiscovered until I picked through the broken sediment and found them with a semi polished luster to them, many of which had a neutral tone leaning towards orange, some bluish white and others black. In the main dig area there exists a once fairly new Chevy truck that someone tried to drive into the hills with and ended up getting stuck and leaving it there for spare parts. I was fascinated to find that around the tops and sides of these hills I could find petrified bone fragments sticking plainly out of the ground with various subtle hues of blue, white and cream to them and some really nice pieces where the cells structure of the bone was very marked and pronounced. In one soft bed of dirt just above a line of bone fragments marked by a orange tinge in the gray sediment, I found areas of green that would often contain some piece of bone or another and stumbled onto a complete limb bone possibly from an ancient seal though I am only guessing. I also found near this one, a piece of vertebrae which had a small fragment missing but still pretty well defined. Most of the bone had a rotten look to them being that they had spent some time being worn away by ocean water at the sea bottom before being covered by sediment for preservation. One has to be extremely careful when digging into the hillside that the dry soil above is very unstable and one can get buried alive easily. It is best not to dig alone just in case. The newest area to dig which people say has been productive lies further away from the CALM zoo, across from the near end of the soccer fields where one can pull off the road easily on the left where the dig site is. Here you can walk in an opening in the fence and can see the dig areas up along the top of the hills to the right. My favorite spot was to the immediate left when you walk in was on a little hill to the left (you can see the dug out part from the road). No one goes to this spot but the sediment here is much more soft and easier to work through to find fossils and sharks teeth. You will find very little without sifting believe me so bring a good one.

I have read that the Ant Hill site may contain bones and teeth that range between 12-14 million year old. The teeth there ranged all different shapes and sizes from wide to very long, and some so tiny that they could easily pass through the screen of my sifter had they not been attached to the rock matrix that I found them in. Fortunately most teeth had the root still attached though few were rotten at the ends. In all I found the exact number of 60 teeth in all, 10 of which unphotographed I gave to Isabella. The rest you can see below, the biggest of which was given to me as a gift by a friendly guy who gave me some helpful tips in hunting others like it.

below and to the right in gray are pieces of petrified whale bone that I collected at a beach site close to the Bay Area. The slightly more colorful fragments to the left are petrified bone pieces collected at the Ant Hill site.

By the end of two and 1/2 days of rockhounding the area I decided to stop digging and do some hiking to look over the surface of things. I was surprised to find in one area bits of evaporate material resembling something close to ulexite or colemanite which is almost transparent and clear and will dissolve overtime with exposure to water. Oh, and as for the animals, I was previlaged enough to spot an owl at dusk, a inch long and clear looking scorpion crossed before me in as I was crouched down in a hole I was digging into, and later that same day I happened upon the largest spider I have ever seen outside a zoo which had all the characteristics of a tarantula with a spiky black furry body about the size of Isabella's 9 year old hand and I watched it move ever so slowly away. I did see ants about but nothing that would worry anyone and I didn't catch sight of any rattlesnakes.

High Chair

2009-11-12T17:53:00.000-08:00

This is a high chair that I embellished by decorating the tray with vintage childrens book illustrations and then covering it in a epoxy resin material called Envirotech which is perfectly safe when hardened. Jude is yet too small to be eating let alone sitting in a high chair but it is fun to find reasons to make and improve upon things in your home with a bit of creativity. I am still working tediously on the rag rug which is more than I ever bargained for but it is coming out beautiful and is now the size of our coffee table. Poor Sam has tendonitis in both wrists and so she is unable to help but I have learned to lace quite efficiently with all the practice I have been getting. Yesterday, Sam, Isabella, Jude and I ventured off to route 1 along the coast and down to Santa Cruz to visit one of my favorite beaches. Isabella and I did most of the exploring seeking out places to climb and overlook the ocean and scour along the ground for pieces of polished abalone shell. We found one of the biggest tide pools that I have yet seen and it was filled with all sorts of sea plants, starfish, crab, anemones, and purple spikey sea urchin stretching the span of 6 feet and 3 feet deep. There was very little wind but a high berm from the tide that swept in pulling everything out to sea.

Over the Hill for Halloween

2009-11-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

Halloween night we went out at about 7 with all of us in painted face except for Jude. I spent a good while trying to make Sam look like a Day of the Dead skeleton but had to keep altering her face painting to look less scary but all in all I believe I heard several small children gasp and cry out when they saw her. Halloween was very different than last year even though we went to the same neighborhood. Sam and I felt that people were a bit put off by our dressing up and collecting candy which we are way over the hill for but I guess we wanted to partake in the fun alongside Isabella. I suppose there is a sadness in knowing that harmless fun that breaks away from social norms and mainstream thinking is often going to be uncomfortable for most people. There were several people that loved that we were all dressed up and congratulated our youthful spirit. To some my ponderings my seem childish but despite all the myriad responsibilities that I have as an adult there still is a childlike part of myself that doesn't want to grow old too soon. Currently I am lacing the rag rug together and seeing it develop little by little, first the size of a potholder, then a table mat, now a small floor mat. I will take pictures of it when I can but it will probably take a few weeks to get to the end of the braided cord.

Cat Spy

2009-10-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

We have all been sick on and off this week. I barely made it through my teaching day yesterday though the lessons went very well as we were drawing autumn trees and making Jack-o-lantern collages. I was really reluctant to call off of work for the next day so I went home and slept till 7 pm but I felt hardly better so I called out sick. So on this day, Friday, I sat up on the couch and began lacing the braided of our rug together with lacing cord which takes a long time but it is relaxing and rewarding, watching it get bigger as we go. However, Sam and I discovered that if the rug is not layed flat and there are any raised areas than it can cause the rug to not sit flat and it gets worse as you go and so I had to undo an hour or so of work to start over again. Having spent so many hours working on this thing, it is really important that it comes out right. Feeling slightly better I drove Sam and I to Isabella's school for her Halloween parade. Isabella's favorite pasttime is spying on people in the building which she has done on quiet days when we stay in on the weekend. Isabella combined her love of spying with cats and so she is a 'cat spy' for Halloween with the tail and ear accessories. We went into her classroom where her class was having a pot luck lunch and after which we painted Isabella's face. Sam and I did this together, taking turns whenever the other got stuck. We stood out in the yard watching each grade level make their turn around a giant circle to show off their costumes and all to the sound of Halloween related classic tunes like "Werewolf in London, Thriller and Monster Mash." I have been napping since we have gotten home and feel a bit better but still on the mend. Hopefully tomorrow I will be well for Halloween festivities of pumpkin carving, and trick or treating.

Art Teacher

2009-10-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

I have been teaching art for the past few days at two different schools and all this came about because I elected to be one of the teachers consolidated at my site. This has turned out to be a blessing or gift of sorts and I am happy not to have the responsibility of a regular classroom teacher. On Monday I was thrown into a new schedule consisting of 6 classes in a day with only paper and crayons to start and with only about 10 minutes of preparation time. However I have stored numerous art lessons in my head from teaching art in New York long ago and as a classroom teacher so I was able to throw something together that was appropriate. Both schools are super lacking in art materials so I hope to nudge the principles into ordering some immediately. The first school that I went to didn't even have drawing paper. This will be a grassroots program that I will be running here. The two schools are quite opposite to one another; one school in the urban valley of dangerous Oakland the other high up in the hills almost completely surround by nature, one school is primarily latino with smaller than average class sizes and the other primarily African American with few classes but larger than average class sizes, one school has me go to each teacher's classroom for art while the other school has given me my own art room. Today I taught only 2 classes but spent the rest of the work day setting up the art room which has a great shortage of materialss. All in all I am thrilled to have a new opportunity and hope to make a positive impression in both schools. Sam and I are still braiding the rag rug but we are getting closer and closer to the finish. Both of us have been without much sleep for the past two nights but we try to catch up with naps here and there when we can.

Life presents sudden changes

2009-10-09T20:29:00.000-07:00

So today I made a crazy bold leap to leave my position at my school. It was reported to us that due to the under-enrollment of students we would have to consolidate as a school, meaning 3 of our new teachers would have to be given other assignments elsewhere in the district. I wouldn't have been affected by this but I opted for the chance to leave and do something different though I do not know where that will land me, only that I will remained paid my current salary. Our family has been waiting on word to move to Canada to be reunited with Sam's family and so I knew that I would be leaving sometime within the school year so life provided a clear way for me to leave my school in a positive way. The crazy part is that we were given the news during breakfast at an inservice work day and were told that those opting for reassignment would have to make up their mind by lunch. I called Sam and we both decided that it would be a good thing all around and that leaving my students now would be better than later and it would save one new teacher from having to be relocated. So who knows what this will bring but I am positive at least that I made a good choice. I have one more week with my students and will not be able to tell them until the district has made its plans official. We went out to dinner at Los Cantaros to celebrate the changes that lie ahead and now Sam is tucking Isabella into bed while Jude is at his 2nd attempt at going to bed.

No time like the present

2009-10-08T18:53:00.000-07:00

Slowly reaching our artistic goals but life sure does make things challenging. School has been keeping me busy and home life with baby Jude keeps us all very busy but Sam and I set a bit of time every other night to work on the rag rug. I have a hankering to do some paintings from the canvases that I built out of an old crate that we have had sitting out on the patio for quite some time. I used the ends that were already in a squarish shape and cut to size masonite boards to fit over the frame which was nailed down with nice old flat head nails. A very rustic frame but what to paint on it? I am eager to paint portraits but do not have a model to work from yet. I have had the thought to photograph some of my students but I see them so much I would rather approach a subject without any excess feeling about them that will get in the way. I prefer having strange new faces to work with that I can interpret in my own way. I am also working towards finishing two new sketch book journals to add to my shop. I have bought a nice sturdy watercolor paper that I think will work very well. Doing a little bit of what makes you happy even for 15 minutes a day does make a difference no matter how hectic ones schedule can be.

Warthog

2009-10-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

Napa Day

2009-10-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

Today we ventured out early beginning with a run to Whole Foods to get some pastries before heading up to Napa for some wine tasting. We drove up to a favorite vineyard of ours called Christopher Creek which has been established well over 30 years and offers free wine tasting. We wanted to catch a view of the grapes before they are all harvested and we got to taste a few off the vines that make their delicious Syrah's. After this we drove towards the coast which turned out turned out to be a lengthy detour that sent us for hours on windy roads through the hills and valleys of wine country and beyond. Sam got a bit car sick so we pulled over and I went exploring down a steep steep hillside which led to a creek at the bottom. I was disappointed to find little of interest in the creek but found some interesting things in the upturned soil near a wash. I picked up a piece of chert that looked chipped away around the edges and then found a small fragment of obsidian which looks a bit out of place. On my way back up the hill I tried to cross over the narrow wash by some giant roots that made a nice bridge over it and suddenly the roots which had appeared sturdy broke from under me and I fell 5 feet on the rocks below. For a split moment I was sure I really hurt myself, even broken or fractured my left leg, ankle and knee which turned awkwardly when I landed. However, by some miracle I got away with pulled muscles and a few tender spots and was able to climb my way back up the hill to the car. We drove a few hours down the coast of route 1 soaking in the scenery painted in pink and warm hues by the setting sun. The baby cried several times as it got later and later and each time we pulled off to feed him and calm him down before continuing. By the time we got home it was nearing 9 o'clock and since we hadn't eaten we ordered a pizza with pineapple on one side for Isabella. At about 10 Isabella finally went off to bed and at 10:26 we have just gotten Jude to bed and Sam and I will watch an eposode of the Office on the computer before we too turn in.

New Computer

2009-09-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have written a new post. At the end of the summer I was in a mad rush to do as much as possible artwise before getting back to school. Then Sam, accidentally spilled water on my computer and killed it. I admit I was pretty heartbroken over it but we ended up getting new computers for both of us anyhow. The ragrug project is going ever so slowly in its development due to the lack of time when both Sam and I can sit down at the same time to do it. However, little by little we are getting closer to end of our endless roll of fabric for braiding and then we will beginning lacing the braided cords together. I have gotten excited over my own project of making sketchbook journals which has been a costly undertaking but the finished product is one of quality that I can be proud of. I have been doing a lot of looking for just the perfect paper that won't be too costly but is ideal for drawing, inking or writing on. Everything in the sketchbook is measured and cut to fit together, including the pages which are bound together with linen thread. I have posted two already on my etsy shop and hope to finish more soon.

Rag rug continued

2009-08-24T20:56:00.000-07:00

So now Sam and I are on the next phase of making the braided rag rug and I must admit this by far has been the most tedious step. One obsticle is to braid the fabric together without ending up in a big tangled mess. The trick is to unbraid behind Sam while she is braiding which means shadowing her movements by moving the giant spools of fabric to coincide with the braiding. So braiding actually takes two people and it is a monotonous task to say the least. Sam has cramped her hand out to the point of it hurting and so we are going to take a break for a couple of days and proceed our way forward. We did a sample of what the rug may look like by coiling the braid we have on the floor and it looks tremendous. We still have no idea how big or small our rug will turn out to be but we are still excited to be taking on such an endeavor. In the meantime we have been doing art here and there and I have been jogging every other day around the lake to get myself trim and in shape. But tonight we are going to enjoy a movie with some cookies and ice cream and I will guiltily jog it off tomorrow morning.