Some more small pieces

These are done on 10.5' x 14' paper using oil pastels and, with one, watercolors. As I've said in the past, oil pastels are for when I'm lazy and want to sit on the couch and piddle around. I've started to discover that it is more than that. I really like them. I like to move them around with my finger. I enjoy taking linseed oil and making puddles on color or maybe using an old toothbrush to create interesting textures. They are also fairly easy to repair when I screw up.

Recently I've started to combine them with watercolors. The oil pastels serve to provide a resist and the watercolors can fill in between oily areas easily. I like some of the patterns that can be created too.

This first one is a dark (scary according to Karen) piece. Still I've tentatively called it Forgiveness. Don't know why.



Next up is a companion piece to Marcel Duchamp's Chin that I did a while back. This doesn't have the nuance of the other yet but I'm working on that. Working title Duchamp's Face.



Next up is the piece with watercolor. It's called Ant's View. The watercolor is much of the blue. The crooked nature of the piece is intentional. I'm not sure what I'll do with the area around the frame.



Lastly we've got a portrait of a young sort of goth woman. Titled Suzy because I was typing this during a Randy Newman song in which Suzy is a character.

Hope you enjoy them. Comments, suggestions, criticism are encouraged.

A couple of small, quick pieces and some links

I'm on the mailing list for the wonderful artist Linda Carmel of Chapel Hill. (The website was designed by dear friend Jackie Helvey of UniqueOrn Enterprises and owner of Carrboro.com.) Her latest email noted that her work is being shown in a brand new online magazine called ArtSync: the Art Magazine of North Carolina. It looks interesting. I'm particularly happy to see a focus on young (read teen) artists. Check it out.

Next. When I am lazy and/or uninspired I will sit on the couch with a cheap little crude paper book and my fancy crayons (oil pastels) and just play. Here are a couple of recent doodles.

A Wee Landscape. This is sort of a study for a larger piece.



The Other King. A version of the holiday card that didn't make the cut.



Folkart Grandma. Done after a visit to Ginger Young Gallery which is dedicated to Southern self-taught art.

What a day!

I'm overwhelmed. The emotions wash over me. I stare out at the snow continuing to fall in big flakes and get little work done. I watch the people in the Inaugural crowd - white, black, brown - bundled up with huge smiles and tears streaming down their faces.

My mom called me last night to tell me about when she was teaching at Provine HS in Jackson, MS the first year of integration (62 or 63?). Her principal apologized to her for putting some of the black students in her class. She made everybody sit in alphabetical order. Her voice cracked as she reflected on her small role in this great journey that is this country.

More photos of the snow in Carrboro are here.

Andrew Wyeth dead at 91

Obit at the NYT



Photo credit NYT

Obama Inauguration events in Carrboro

01.20.2009

The day we've been waiting for! Here are a few ways to celebrate with friends in the Free Republic of Carrboro.

First at the wonderful Glasshalfull restaurant and wine bar at 106 S. Greensboro where lovely Karen and I will hang out for a while:

Hi! Glasshalfull would like to invite you to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama with us on Tuesday evening, January 20. Chef Ricky Moore will be grilling a custom-made "Barackwurst" served with all the trimmings and delicious GLF French fries. Some tasty vegetarian options will be available as well. In addition to all the choices on the wine list and the beer taps we'll feature a special cocktail to toast the new president and get the party rolling! The big screen TV will cover all the festivities in DC.

We hope that you can join us any time during regular restaurant hours beginning at five.

Roughly catty-corner to Glasshalfull at the Century Center, 100 S Greensboro, is the culmination of a four year art project by Hunter C. Levinsohn

"A Chronicle in Cranes, the Finale" has been a four year art project which began January 20, 2005. Each day an origami crane was made from the first fold of the first section of the New York Times. The project will end on January 20, 2009 along with George W. Bush’s second term in office.

You are invited to come to the Carrboro Century Center on Tuesday, January 20th from 6 to 8:30 pm, walk into and out of the last four years safely and learn to make an origami crane.

Lastly, down the steet at 204 W. Main is the Obama InaugurOation with live music. Hope to see everyone celebrating the rebirth of America!