We are coming up on the second of two blue moons that we’ll have this year.
I don’t know what the odds are of having two blue moons in a year, and my geekery level isn’t high enough this evening to find out.
I’m too busy trying to paint a Mexican wrestler.
Good news- a trio of great shows at CORE New Art Space. Opening tomorrow with an artists’ reception on Friday evening, this show features three artists at different points in their careers, working in different genres.
All three are gifted and dedicated artists, and I recommend you come to see this show if you can.
My friend Claudia Roulier, is one of the three artists in this show. Claudia makes me feel like an underachiever; she is so prolific and talented, and her (often delightfully creepy) work is a must-see!
May those who love us love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts,
And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we’ll know them by their limping.
I mistrust my own feelings of delight and have for several years, knowing that what goes up must come down.
But- I feel delighted nonetheless and the light is certainly changing in Denver. All at once, things are warmer and brighter and the arrival of spring seems certain. This has lifted my spirits considerably… I have cut forsythia branches and taken them inside to brighten the house within the next week or two. They are johnny-on-the-spot reliable when taken inside at this time of year; outside, it’s much iffier. Late freezes can kill all those hopeful buds.
I have a largish painting, a Cabatisto, on the easel and in the works this evening.
I have a smallish painting about earworms in the works as well.
It is Lent and that means something to me, though I’m not sure why.
I think of Lent, I guess, as the darkness before the dawn and a good time to exercise self-sacrifice- knowing that this must have as many meanings as there are souls out there.
(I haven’t smoked in two months. I think I smell fabulous, but that’s entirely subjective.)
This is something else that delights me as I paint tonight- a pianist named Geno Pallila. A lovely Chopin improvisation. I thank the gods for technology, which makes this huge world smaller in so many inexpressible ways.
however, is a tragedy. The Morgan Adams Foundation was created to help raise money and awareness for children affected with cancer.
Artma is an art auction that takes place every other year to fund the Morgan Adams Foundation, and I am pleased to be donating a painting to Artma again this year.
I’ll be donating “Abracadabra,” pictured below.
The event takes place at the Denver Studio Complex, 241 S. Cherokee St. in Denver, on February 6th from 6 to 10 PM.
50% of all sale prices will go to Haitian relief efforts. From the Westword article:
Here’s how it will work: To buy a painting (ranging from $200 to $2,600), you first make a donation for half the amount to Save the Children, Care, Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders; all of the charities have been vetted for effectiveness and work done in Haiti. A computer will be set up so that you, the consumer, can make the donation and get a tax deduction for your generosity. Give your receipt and the remaining half of the painting price to Penner Howell, and you’ll walk away with a great piece of art and the knowledge that you’ve given to a good cause.
Good art for a good cause conceived by one really great guy.
At present I have 26 canvases (albeit small canvases, for the most part) begun but not yet finished in the studio. I think this is a record high for me.
Would that my muse would light in here, into this drafty old garage-cum-studio and give me the deep soul kiss I need to light a fire and finish these paintings.
Or at least, finish a few and make tangible progress on others.
I feel like I’m treading water right now.
I have not smoked a cigarette in a fortnight now, and I remain hopeful and feel strong about this.
Saw a remarkable film a couple of nights ago. “Werckmeister Harmonies” is one of the most perfectly complete-feeling movies I’ve seen. Nothing was missing, and nothing seemed extraneous. It becomes devastating to watch as it progresses, though, so if you’re looking for mood booster you may want to stay away from it. I’m still trying to work out the meaning of it in my slow and plodding way, and might have to watch it two or three more times. I link to the absolutely beautiful opening scene here:
One of my guilty pleasures (and since giving up cigarette smoking for the zillionth time twelve days ago, I cling fiercely to those pleasures I have left) is watching the TV show “House.”
I almost jumped for joy tonight when I recognized Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain” playing in the background of the final big dramatic resolution scene.
This is not only a great song to paint to, I use it as a sort of timer on my Itunes to help me through studio tasks I don’t enjoy.
The song is just about ten minutes long, and though I figure I can put up with anything for ten minutes, I don’t have a stopwatch or a kitchen timer.
Paint Fumes 