A Couple of Recent Sketches

Well, it is obvious, at least to me, that summer is in full swing around here. As always I have more to do....actually more that I want to do, than I have time to accomplish. Anyway here are a couple pages worth of sketches for past and present ideas.

Still planning on creating some screen prints. I just received my order of paper from French Paper in Michigan. Cool thing, the facility in which the paper is made is completely run on hydro electric power. And they have been doing it for many, many years. Long before the green movement came about. The paper is fantastic. It is a smooth cover with an antique newsprint shade. Pretty sweet to me. Not too many people I know get excited about paper. But man do I, weird, but man this paper is fabulous.

These three sketches are a some of the ideas I have been tinkering with.

The first is based on Noah and the Ark. Pretty straight forward. It will make a really nice screen print.

The second is of a snow globe with a church building inside it. I have been challenged with the thought of how sometimes the church isolates itself from the rest of the world. Only serving itself.

The third is of bottles floating in the sea. Much like Christianity and all of the denominations within Christianity. Similarities, but strong enough differences to keep us apart. So essentially we are all floating in the same sea, but we never connect, unable and unwilling to cross over an risk working together. I know this is a tough one. My close friend and confidant, Mike and I discussed this at length. Still have not come up with an answer yet.

Chew on these for a while and give me some feedback. Onward and Upward.

Sketches

Here you go. These are the first pages of my sketchbook to be blasted out into cyberspace. As you can see, images and journaling flow together to make an idea become a work of art. These are from my initial plans for a tempera on cardboard painting.

Sketchbook Additions.

Some of you may be wondering if I have abandoned my blog. Have no fear, I certainly have not. I have just been quite occupied with other things currently. The school year is winding down, the weather has been beautiful and the days are growing longer. Throw in a couple of kids and a wife and well...it is not as easy to get into the "studio" (actually my basement) to get working.

All of this is certainly not a bad thing. And often times I need to be pulled in different directions. It keeps things genuine. It keeps me on my toes and also slows me down enough to notice the often overlooked things in life. For example, yesterday as I was working on windows in my shop my oldest daughter comes up to my little "speak-easy-like" window and says, "Daddy, daddy, we brought you a present". As I turn around and look toward the window I notice her little hand holding a tiny white flower she had picked for me.

Typically glanced over, not so with Ella. She finds beauty in some of life's most simple gifts. Simple. Beautiful. Eye-opening. It's times like these that I just stop and take a deep breath of life. It's times like these that I certainly become more aware of my surroundings, especially the people I love that make my days complete.

Anyway, I have also been working on series of Nursery Rhyme prints along with my regular order of art glass windows. Currently I am working on the final glass design in a series of eight that has been ongoing for the last four years. If you are interested in seeing them just go to http://www.fairoak.com/ and click on Art Glass Prairie School.

I suppose I need to back track a bit hear and give you a bit more information. I am married to my wife Christy and we have two daughters, Ella and Paige.

I am a full-time high school art teacher. I also run a small business called Schuyline Art Glass in which I make art glass windows in the Prairie School, Arts and Crafts, Bungalow and Art Nouveau styles. I also am a print maker, primarily screen prints and sometimes block printing.
I also do design work as well. I have designed candle votives, stationary, pottery, tile and furniture. On occasion I do sign painting and t-shirt design.

And most recently I have been working on cardboard with tempera. Creating artwork that challenges me in ways all the others have not been able to.

Finally, when I refer to the "shop" I mean my glass shop located in a my garage. When I say "studio" I mean the basement workspace that I paint in. Just trying to avoid further confusion. Whew.....

Anyway......................to get back to the title of this post. I am going to begin posting pages from my sketchbooks for all to see. These will be the working ideas of paintings, prints and possibly sculptures. Some of these sketches will be new and some will be from months back. But all of them will be from ideas I am using or have used in recent work.

So check back tomorrow and see what's new. Until then, onward and upward.

New Paintings and Prints...

are currently in the works. I am still going to continue to paint on cardboard with tempera, but I am also planning on doing some printing as well. I have always enjoyed screen printing and am excited about getting back to it.

Planning on using some of my existing work and reworking it for a print version. For those of you out there who love the look of cardboard and tempera, well, don't fear. I will still be working primarily in that medium. I can't quite describe the feeling of painting with a child-like medium like tempera. And then add in the cardboard and well, I just love it. I know, I know it sounds corny but, well...it is corny. I admit it. Deal with it.

I have been thinking through some new concepts and ideas. Praying that God will continue to guide me....scratch that, I know that God is guiding. I need to pray that I will listen and respond to that guidance. That's better.

Birds, bottles, snow globes and water are just a few of the images drifting through my head currently. Trust me, I will make them all come full circle someday.

I have been reading quite a few blogs and articles on the web along with watching quite a few youtube videos. As always, people keep me on my toes with new thoughts, rehashed old thoughts and of course plenty of questions...it keeps me thinking.

A bit of an explanation.

The painting from a few posts ago. You know the one with the two human profiles and the rooster, sheep and a couple of hearts. Well, I will try to give an explanation here.

The two profiles are of me. The rooster symbolizes not necessarily the outward denial of Christ, but more along the lines of a lack of reliance on Him. The sheep/lamb is symbolic of many things, most importantly, the fact that I am not in charge and He is.

On the left I'm on top and in charge, and on the left, Christ is first and above me. The hearts are reflect both of those times as well. The dark, gray heart belongs to the rooster and the red one belongs to the sheep/lamb.

Sounds simple enough, but there is much truth here. I don't know about you but there are those times when I put me first, I put my desires and wants above others. More importantly, I realize that I often leave Jesus out of the picture completely.

It is during these times that something takes place, some type of trigger or something inside or maybe its a kick in the teeth that jolts me back to where I need to be. And where do I think that place I need to be is? Seeking guidance and direction from the lamb instead of the rooster.

There you go...take it or leave it. Any thoughts from the thousands, if not millions of people who read this blog...well...maybe not millions.

The Three Amigos

Here we are. Jeff, Jason and Joe. This shot was taken by my sister-in-law Amy at the show last week. This is one of those rare shots that does not come along too often since we don't get the chance to get together all that often.

New Paintings

These three paintings were completed over the last few weeks. They were on display at the show last week. If you were not there, well here is your chance to see them. By the way, did I tell you how fantastic the show was? Anyway....

The first one, Gossip, is tempera on cardboard and measures 24"x50" It pretty much approaches the idea of gossip from the standpoint of birds. Pretty straight forward, the only thing that might not be so obvious is the fact that all the birds have their backs to the viewer. Much like gossip, these five birds are discussing something with the intent of shielding their conversation from others, specifically those being gossiped about.

The second, What is Peace?, is tempera on cardboard and measures 50"x30". At first glance one might think this is some sort of political statement or a form of propaganda. That is really just the bait. Often times when discussing war, specifically the war in Iraq, I have noticed that many people feel that if we can achieve peace - the idea of no more violence - things will take care of themselves and we Americans can go back to our normal lives. Then I started to think about the question, "What is Peace?" and "What is a normal life?" Seriously what does that mean, specifically to the Christian?

Peace is not found with the absence of violence or war. Peace is not the result of winning or overthrowing a government. As a Christian, peace is found in Christ. The world is constantly turned upside down. Conflict, war, death and destruction are part of our lives. Not that I enjoy that but, those things are here and don't seem to be subsiding very soon.

So where do we find peace? There is peace knowing that Jesus Christ is in charge and I am not. There is peace knowing the picture is far more broad than my own little slice of the universe. Despite what is going on in the world, there is peace knowing that our lives will not always be like this.

And finally, this last one is tempera on cardboard and measures 30"x50. This is a self-portrait. The explanation is not that complicated but, I want to think about the best way to describe it to you. I will come back, maybe tomorrow, and try and do that. Enjoy.

Let me know what you think, I am always curious to know what others are taking away and adding to my works.