Lewis and Clark

While laying on the grass in the Emerson Elementary dog park with my dog pal bodhito, we met these two chaps. Clark is the large fellow up front. He's 9 years old. Louie is 8 years old. They are Pembroke Welsh Corgies, a hearding breed. Their owner explained that she could not let them off their leash because they were very fast and would run all the way home. I told her that I was an artist and interested in making drawings of the dogs that visit our neighborhood dog park. She was really excited about my project and invited me over to her house sometime to see an oil painting of the boys that was done by her artist mother.

view from the grass

This term ive been feeling bankrupt in terms of ideas. Ive been suffering form what you might call a creative block. I began thinking about the last time I felt this "stuck". It was spring of 2006. I was trying to decide where to go to Grad school. It was between CCA and PSU. I couldnt decide I had two weeks left before I had to make my decision. I tried everything. I went running every morning. I went for long rides on my skateboard. I took a hot bath. I made a list of positives for both schools and they came out equal. I was paralyzed in a state of indecision. So I went to see my accupuncturist. He told me to " Lay on the earth". A day or so went by, it was raining outside so I tried lying down on the floor in my room. It didnt help. I was trapped further and further in my thoughts. About a week later the sun came out and it was Portland's first day of spring. I stepped out of my backdoor and entered our yard. I flopped down on my back. It was wonderful. Finally a moment of clarity.

It would be fun to organize a creative unblocking event where a group of people lay on the grass together.

the pie project is back!

Ive been thinking alot about Allan McCollums visit and this idea that artists are supposed to make "signature works". So there are probably millions of great artworks out there that have never been made because you think of an idea and realize someone else has already done it so you stop... That said, Ive decided to start the pie project again... This is a service where I offer to deliver a fresh baked pie to a person of your choosing. Anyone may request a pie to be delivered by bicycle within the portland area sorry i dont do gresham or beaverton on bicycle. The service is free or for exchange. A pie may be traded for something, anything it could be a tangible object or an idea or thought that is of the same value... Traded objects, or ideas will be documented as a part of the project.

snackbar drawings

Some things Ive been thinking about...

Eric was talking the other day in class about his systems for getting things done. Id like to invite other artists to submit systems for getting things done here.... id like to compile these systems into some sort of self help manual for artists.
1. How do you motivate? How do you kickstart your day? Do you get up every morning Jog and meditate? Drink a cup of coffee on an empty stomach and work?
2. How do you organize your life? Keep a day planner? Make a to do list? When do you check the list?

Hurray!!!!

its friday! today marks the start of not only my first real weekend since the start of school, but its also the date of my first REAL blog entry.