Etsy site

I am in the process of setting up an esty account. This will be a place where viewers of my work can go and see what artwork I have for sale. If you have never been to www.etsy.com you need to go there. Great site if you are into all things handmade. Loaded with all sorts interesting hand made items for sale.

Anywho, I will have it set up shortly. No, I can't define shortly. Soon.

Makes me slow down a bit...

"At the same time, my work is about an internal war with my perception of adulthood. I am not at ease with the idea that financial stability should be predicated upon the abandonment of one’s personal ambitions. We’re told to “grow up” by teachers, cops, businessmen, and corrupt politicians. We’ve been surrounded with instructions on how to live our lives, most of which seem to be designed to hold us in place, preventing us from engaging in any serious analysis of current social and political systems. They’ve promised us security at the expense of autonomy. For this, I am expressing my early disenchantment with the life we’re supposed to live, as well as the frustration that comes with my inability to assimilate".

-Justin Santora, visual artist

Since I am home today...

here are the final shots of the three paintings I have been working on. I am still trying to figure out what they mean. I have a variety thoughts on them and I suppose that is fine. Anyway, as always, let me know what you think.

Its cold, nasty cold here in west central Illinois. Our school district canceled school today due to the bitter temperatures. Since we have the second largest busing district in the state...well that means loads of kids of all ages standing out in the cold waiting for their bus to arrive and drive them, in some cases, an hour to their respective school.

This photo was taken by my friend and co-worker Tonya. Not necessarily a fun commute to or from work yesterday. Thank goodness for warm clothes and this bit of a beard I am now sporting.

By the way, I remove the seat for one reason only...frostbite in areas that certainly don't, or at least I have heard, do not respond well to extreme cold. By the end of the day it's like riding an ice cube if I don't. Seat stays warm and everyone is happy.

In progress...a continuing experiment...

with cardboard and found materials. The first painting is tempera on card board using various whites. The second is an acrylic base with tempera on wood panels scrapped from the sides of a dresser bound for the dumpster. Sizes and junk to follow. For now chew on these photos. Yes I know they are out of order. Sorry.

Here are some progression photos of a painting I have been working on this past week. I am trying some new things with cardboard as you can see.

I have been interested in doing a painting with these hanging houses since last January. I have noticed how some artists that I admire have done similar work as well. But I had to go ahead and do it anyway.

The final piece is 36"x36". I have yet to figure out how I will frame it though. I have some other ideas for using this theme combined with various ladders that can't quite reach the houses.

I would really like to continue to explore this idea in color like I have been using, but also in tints of white. As I was planning out this painting I was very drawn to the use of various whites but, I decided that would have to wait until another time.

What is the meaning/purpose? I will let you figure that out.