April showers and May flowers....been finishing up Paperclay/paper mache sculpture "HiveMind"...

playing with trash for 'Upcycled' show in June.....

 and contests galore....Art in the Heart possible entries...

exploring Mural madness and newly-formed community art maestros the Clark County Mural Society 

http://www.ccmurals.org

ARTISTS!!!!!go their link for contest details for Vancouver Washington's greatest ever downtown mural art project...Deadline is May 11 2012 folks so hurry!!!!!

March Madness

'Aspects of the Iconic' show at Gallery 360

went swimmingly; with last minute window display addition in front window featuring none other than Marilyn Monroe, the Queen of Icons.....

 Big Benjamin.....

 Me and my four-armed cell phone Jesus sculpture entitled "Can You Hear Me Now?" I got to smash many computer keyboards for this project, and found it to be quite therapeutic in the winter months!

Last but not least, my awesome First Friday art score from February: an original mixed media piece "Traumatic Brain Injury"  by artist Kelly Keigwin, who had a show at Angst Gallery.....  thank you and keep up the great work Kelly!
Another discovery of the month: Aurora Gallery on 1004 Main street, Vancouver Wa, with all sorts of art and framing, I will be keeping my eye on this place.  Great place to eat a cupcake and peruse some vintage finds: Swoon truly delivers a funky upbeat and tasty vibe worthy of it's moniker....lso, if you happen to be in the Battleground, WA area, don't forget to check out the art show at Starting Grounds Gallery and Cafe, located at 203 South Parkway Ave., Battleground, WA 98604. Tel: (360)687-2662 Here's a few things I have in this rotation at Starting Grounds:

Get directions

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 Special thanks to Ron Jones and Jennifer Thorenson for making all of this art possible, thank you!!!! to the galleries and 'Couve downtown scene for lots of time and hard work to bring great art to a large community!

February work and Starting Grounds Rotation...

BELOW: New mixed media piece with Shakespeare quote in background for February's art rotation starting at Starting Grounds, in Battleground, Wa. The reception is tonight February 11, 2012 from 6 PM to 9PM, and here is a map to Starting Grounds. Lots of great artists from a variety of backgrounds, mediums and areas; should be great! Thanks to Ron Jones and all involved to help make this great resource to local artists!



'Four Seasons' Gallery 360 Installation/Window Display

This was an absolute blast and would NOT have been possible if it weren't for the assistance and input from kindred spirit and local artist, Jennifer T. The show is going to be a great one, and if they ever move all of the construction equipent off of the sidewalk outside the gallery, you will actually see the quirky, whimsical installation by yours truly. With the exception of a few choice vintage toys, the entire sculpture was made from found objects, recycled fabric and LOTS of glue. As a new member of this exiting, varied, member run local co-op gallery, I am hoping to see alot of strange things going on in this window over the next year! (Eyebrow raised, semi maniacal laughter....)

 A bit hard to see due to lighting reasons, but will look much more photogenic at night, with proper track spotlighting.....

 Tiny of snippets of text/tarot cards ephemera hidden away in the trunk like buried treasure....

 Toys of an age past....

New life bursting forth.....

New work from January...working through the winter

Mixed media detail from '5ive'....a painting about childhood dreams and innocence
This is currently hanging in The Catalyst in downtown Vancouver, Washington. Full dimensions: approx. 30" x 45"

 Antique russian newspaper ephemera is visible....thanks to my mom! :)

Having a real child's handwriting made this piece enigmatic and gave it character...tried some new techniques for mixed media that I found by the talented mixed media artist, Ann Baldwin....

 'Black Sheep' peering at customers at The Catalyst

'5ive' hanging in The Catalyst...thanks crew!

'Black Sheep'  new mixed media: fiber paste, quinacridone orange paint, spraypaint, old typewriting manual, medical ephemera...currently hanging down at  The Catalyst Studio

Detail of 'Black Sheep'

and another closeup...

Resolutions resolved at last: new art for January

Macro shot from "Can You Hear Me Now?"..a project for themed show this spring called Aspects of the Iconic.....

This sculpture/mixed media assemblage was made with a plethora of old smashed computers (revenge for all those computer crashes was sweet!) cell phones, paper mache and whatnot...

The theme involves our ideas of Icons, whether metaphorical or literal....

I expored the idea of technology as icon, and how we cling to it's apparent ability to unify us, to bring us closer....when often it seems to alienate, or fail us, in our attempt to make real connections to others....

Encaustic painting for January group show invitational "The Collective" in Gallery 360, Vancouver WA

                                                    Macro of spiky alien flowers

                                        Detail of wax figures......from "Memory Garden"

final touches/extra limbs added to 'Can You Hear Me Now?'.....

closeup of little light bulbs on cyber cross...

Text on base reads, "Sustain this souol of mine" and "Who is there?"

'When night came, I felt still more lonesome' this rerally spoke to me, as this piece is about lonliness and communication in the digital age...

Text on antique sheet music entitled,"Call upon the Lord"

Well, I can't believe I did it, but I finally pulled myself out of a period of stillness and managed to complete a few ideas that I have had on the back burner for a long time. Inspired by new creative friends and a renewed enchantment with unusual challenges and themes, I feel grateful and energized to be doing what I love to do...the painting especially gives me such a sense of timelessness and peace it is truly meditative..I do not realize that six or seven hours pass and yearn to stay with it...but life calls! All work can be found online in my Etsy store, or locally at Gallery 360 111 West 9th St Vancouver Washington ...Thank you to everyone who has made my experience with these great members possible...or at the following local establishments: The Catalyst 1901 Main St Vancouver, Wa, or at one these businesses; Starting Grounds in Battleground vancouver, Wa, or Fusion Bubble Tea on Mill Plain in Vancouver, Wa, or possibly Umpqua Bank or watch for my first solo show this coming October 2012 at the Brickhouse!