My very first book...Moon Monster

Howdy... 

hangin' in Saluda NC teaching a workshop this weekend at Random Arts.

Great time as always.

In the mean time, here is a little interview I recently did for MMCA.  Learn all about my first book:  Moon Monster.

Check it out the interview here

Here is the scoop on MMCA:

OUR STORY

We have no headquarters, which is good for the heating/cooling bill. We have no boss, no timekeeper, and no employee handbook. Then again, we have no fixed income. What we do have is group purchasing power in a world market. We are diverse. You will find not only full-time professional artists among us, but an arts gallery owner, a stay-at-home-mom, several savvy business women and more. Most of them would not know any of the others if they met in passing because most have never met face-to-face. Yet, many of the members talk daily about issues affecting their business and given that the art world relies on disposable income; there is a lot to discuss these days. A passion for adventure, exploration and art unifies the artists involved in the MMCA Marketplace, a virtual store that went up as the Dow was crashing down. MMCA Marketplace is a retail fine arts and craft shop. Its member artists make art cards, mixed media collages, floor cloths, jewelry, sculpture, paintings on paper and canvas, photographs and much more.

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE BEN!

As Al Pacino said in Scarface:  "Say hello to my little Ben!"...well, he said something like that.

So, I want to introduce you to my little Ben...Big Ben actually...Here he is....always prompt and timely,

 make no bones about it.  Doesn't he make you feel like the Abominable Snowman in Bugs Bunny cartoons..

.."I will name him George (Ben), and I will hug him and squeeze him and pet him and pat him..." 

I opted for a crustacean theme with ol' Ben

and to think he started from a roller skate, an alarm clock and a Goodwill dolly.  As my favorite Shakespeare quote goes:  

Full fathom five thy father lies, 

Of his bones are coral made, 

Those are pearls that were his eyes

Nothing of him that doth fade

But doth suffer a sea-change 

Into something rich and strange

Yep...that's my Ben..

Kali...Happy Dark Mother's Day

Last week I finished a piece based on one of the most complex Hindu deities, Kali Ma, the Dark Mother. 

 Of course she also has a benevolent side but usually when you see her she is in her dark mode of destruction.  Usually standing above the dead body of Shiva....don't worry he comes back.  He's a god after all.   She apparently also fought Sinbad...here she is now...

Thought I'd share some images of a piece I just finished.  This is my Kali, the Dark Mother.

She is life size and I am currently building a class proposal around this concept.  If you're in Missoula you can stop by the store Tsunami on Higgins Ave. and check her out in person.

 One missing feature that I deliberated long and hard on is the traditional Kali tougue. I tried it and it was too much for this particular piece.  Instead I sort of insinuate it.It is usually bright red and sort of like Gene Simmons.  In fact I really think that he used her as inspiration.  You compare and decide:

Kali:

 Gene:

Everything coming up roses...

Once upon a time....

there was a little boy who like scary things ...his father read him scary books...his grandmother took him to scary movies... and he used to go to Disneyland all the time so that he could ride the Haunted Mansion ride.  That was me...yes indeed.  I spent much of my childhood in Southern California.  Born there in fact.  My grandparents had a contact lens biz "Crown Contact Lens" in Pasadena.  When I was a kid I remember going to the Rose Parade from there office.  The floats are amazing but really it is the smell that is spectacular. 

 Of course the didn't have any Day of the Dead floats, back then like they did in 2008.

So if  you're wondering why I'm being all nostalgic...it is because I will be heading back down that way to teach at Zinnia, 

I really haven't spent much time there since I was a kid, though, but it is always interesting to see how things have changed.  I'll actually be in South Pasadena though..close enough for me. 

 I'll be teaching Shoe Shrines, What a Relief, and Island of deMented Toys.  Should be fun.  Here's the contact:  

1040 Mission Street  #103

South Pasadena, CA 91030

626 441 2181

Side-trip:

While I'm there, the Wynns, Jane

 and Tom, that is   will be in town for a friends art opening. 

His name is Chris Cooper and will be showing at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City.  

ART n' SOUL VA

Just got back from VA Art and Soul.  Super swell time teaching, hanging, and yes I did have a martini or two while I was there.  Also quite the adventure at Harpoon Larry's for dinner.  Here is the motley crew now including: the Wynns, Kecia Deveney and her friend Jane, Stephanie Rubiano, Dan Essig, and the irrepressible Susan Lenart Kazmer

You may notice the paper bag I'm holding.  It's a Corona...thats how they serve em at Harpoon Larry's (my hair sure looks poofy there).  by the way I stole this photo from Kecia's blog.