the fading of summer...

I know that the calendar still reads early August, but my chestnut tree speaks differently. Ole Chester started losing most of his leaves last week and providing for a crunchy walk. Every season is wonderful, but I hold something special in my heart for Autumn.

I guess this means that days of books, papers, and extra work are near. Summer was fun and I slacked in most areas of art, except for a week of bookmaking at the Reserve. That does not mean that I did not think of art. My mind is always flooded with images and ideas as I am drifting off at night. If only I could capture those images as Dali did.

No big vacations this summer, as we traveled to Arizona in the spring. I did accompany the kids to a Brewer game with the summer rec group. It was full of fun and laughs. The boys wrote all over themselves with sharpies.

I am sad for summer to end, but am excited to be reunited with friends.

Back to Reality (Sadly enough)

Wow, a month and a half shot in the behind! Where did it go? Well, I can't wait to get back and hear what everyone has been up to over the break! I did a few things that included family get togethers here and there, indoor waterparks, talking to Delilah (she thinks I'm nuts, by the way), not so fun housework stuff, and oh, did I mention a trip to Lambeau this past Sunday?!

-26* Windchill is not so bad for 5 hours, especially when you are packed in with 72,000 other people. Besides, it was my first trip to Lambeau and my first Packer game, I didn't care that it was like the Arctic and in the end, I'm not too sad about their loss. It was an awesome experience.

I am wondering what BPJ is cooking up for this semester and I can't wait to see everyone!

The Rest of the Series

The Game of Life?, 2007

Lithograph

For a Good Cause?, 2007
Lithograph

These prints are a continuation of my series on the effect of consumerism on America. The top print deals with the issue of kids driven to sit and play video games rather than be driven to get up and move around. I wish they knew how much they are missing by glueing themselves to the box.
The next print is another one of those little ridiculous things that people do. They believe they are contributing to a cause by plastering their possessions (vehicles) with bumper stickers that are in support of those causes. In actuallity, if they would stop purchasing and using the bumper stickers, they would probably actually do something worthwhile, like save a tree...

Print Exchange

The Ridiculous Drive of Consumerism in America, 2007

Lithography

There are too many things wrong with this country today. This print is one in a series of the little things we can change on a daily basis to turn the world around. In this print, The Ridiculous Drive of Consumerism in America, I have portrayed a sight that is becoming all too common every year - Christmas in September. As a part-time mail carrier, I witness on a first-hand basis how much consumerism is getting out of hand. Every year, on the first mail days after Labor Day, the holiday catalogs come out, big-time. I see how more people than one would guess get more than 20 catalogs in a day! Tell me the world is not whacked seriously...

Honore' Daumier and George Bellows have really peaked my interest this semester. I love Bellows' quality of value in his prints. Daumier was a man heavy on sarcasm, which is always up my alley.

More work

Intaglio Etch, R-Evolution, It all starts here.

Lithography, This side of the moon.

Some of fall '07

Lithography, The ridiculous drive of consumerism in America.

Lithography, Arabian Night Kelly

Intaglio Etch, No matter how sharp our love is, we are bound.

Detail of Bound

Lithography, Shrinking Woman

This was a semester of getting to know my stone and a couple side intaglio pieces (to keep my sanity).

ongoing project

This painting is a watercolour that I did this summer. It is titled Nets for Nicholas and is part of a series that I intend to be charity pieces, with proceeds going to fund mosquito nets in malaria stricken countries. A simple $3.00 mosquito net decreases a person's risk of acquiring malaria by 90%! More information will follow as I finish the series and make the paintings available for sale.