digdougsart blog

So the first thing our daughter did after coming back from vacation was put on her smock and start a painting on her easel.  She said it was a tree and a rainbow, both things we saw on our vacation in Hawaii.  However it looked like a volcano and a palm tree, also both on our vacation.  So it would seem, that she too paints from her subconscious, just like her dad.  How crazy would that be.  I hope if its true, that she figures this out before she gets old.  Instead while shes young  and can harness its true power.   After all knowing is half the battle.  I guess the other half would be wanting to an artist.

Just got back from vacation in Hawaii.  Let me say I feel alive and rejuivenated.  I  like the fact that I got to feel and see new experiences.   It  made me feel like a kid again.  Kind of part of the same feeling that I get when I paint.  After all I think for many of us we try our whole lives to revert back to being a kid, usually because thats when alot of our fondest memories our from. I realized this while I was there in Hawaii.  Which made me think, how can I achieve this feeling a constant basis.  I think the answer involves my art.  And doing my art full time is how I achieve that.  I think for many years I have been dead inside because there has not been enough positive creative juices flowing through me.  I believe for my sake and my familys sake that this is something I must do with all me heart and soul.  It is my greatest purpose on earth or at least a path that will lead to something of an even greater purpose.

Today as I was walking out of the courthouse I overheard a lady sobing behind me.  Wonder why shes crying, I say to myself.  Three seconds later I heard the answer as to why.  “Its been dismissed,” she says to the person on the other line of the phone.  “Yeah. thats a good thing,” she says “its been dismissed.”  Now I must point out that this is the criminal courthouse that we were walking out of.  Second I must say, I myself did not commit any crime nor was I involved in any criminal behavior.  Ok now fast forward to my visit to a said known burger outlet that was offering $1 drinks anysize.  I was craving a sweet tea and thought hey I know where I can get a sweet tea for $1….”sweet” I say.   So I get my tea and low and behold its some of the worst tea I have ever drank.  It tasted like they poured two tablespoons of sweetened new tea on top of day old unsweet tea.  Crap I think to myself, ugh this is horrible.  Then I remember, at least I was not worrying about being involved in a court case wondering whether I might being going to jail.  Besides, I probably did’nt need any tea anyways, its bad for my kidney stones.  So I dump out the tea and get some water instead.  Moral of the story I don’t have alot to complain about, just a lot of things to be thankful for.

Last night we had some powerful storms rip through our city and nearby communities.  Knowing the storm and possible tornado was coming our way I managed to get my car into the garage and prepare our main closet for bunker central.  Then I got our flashlights ready and the family.  We were watching the news and it kept saying it was coming our way.  Five minutes later and we lost our signal to our TV.   OK that means its time to move into the closet just to be safe.  Especially since we have no way of knowing if a tornado is eminent.  Once inside the closet we turn on the radio only to hear the first thing out of it.  “Its flooding down in Texas,” by Stevie Ray Vaughn.  How appropriate I think.  After about 15 minutes the hail stopped and our house was intact.   No tornado luckily.   I have not checked to see if theres any damage yet.   We were lucky, some other neighborhoods were not.  The good thing is that as of last night nobody was injured from the tornados that did touch down.   Now I will always have a song to remind me of that crazy night where I tell my daughter ” Do you want to play a weather game in the closet.”  After all we did not want to scare her anymore than she already was from the thunder.

So I have been working on some smaller canvases lately to offer some low cost paintings.  I must say its kind of weird to paint on anything smaller than 16×20 for me.  However I don’t feel as much pressure for some weird reason.  Below I will post a pic of one of those 9×12 paintings titled “Swim.”  What I like about this painting is that it just has that feeling of fish swimming in the ocean.  Just that movement of fish moving in all directions.  For me its a calming effect.  I also painted these on gallery wrap canvases.  So in essence the fish have their own aquarium.  Swim little fishies Swim.

I recently re-worked one of my paintings, the old title was “Conception.”  After breathing new life into it and more paint, I have aptly titled it,  ”The Maze.”   Which is more fitting now as its not just about the sperms and eggs.  Now it also about coi fish, eggs and sperm.  As the sperm and coi fish swim through the maze in order to find that perfect spot, or egg.  Below is a pic of the painting “Swim” that is now finished and ready for sale.   Hopefully it can find itself a good home once hatched in your home:)

I feel like a kid in school who has something really cool to share with the rest of the class.  The thing I would like to share today are pics of my work that is at the East End Gallery in Austin TX.  I took another 4 pieces down to the gallery o

n Saturday.  Below are some pics of the work before most of it was hung on the wall for show and tell:)

I was watching PBS tonight about people and crafts.   Not so much abut crafts, butthe craft of making art.  One of the featured artist was George Nakashima who made beautiful furniture out of wood.  He incorporated the kind of untouched part of nature with an architectural structure for the stability of the work.  I must say I am  a huge fan.   There was one particular scene when they poured a bucket of water over a freshly cut piece of wood.  In that one instant I felt calm and understanding that I too am connected to the rawness of wood and its core.   And even more important is I realized that I really like looking at things made of wood, especially if left in their natural form or as close to it as possible.  The core or the naked part of the tree is my favorite as it kind of shows you its true colors or vulnerability.  Its that vulnerability I feel when I paint,  maybe not all the time, but when I am truly connected I feel that flowing through me.  I think that is why I like a focus of nature with my artwork.  Especially my signature pieces the TREES.  A few years back I installed hardwood laminate flooring in my living room.  Ever since then I feel our house became our home.  Now I know why.  I believe its that same wood that surrounds me that helps the creativity flow through me.   I guess it grounds me to the earth and lets me be a part of nature.  With that said its time to paint, as I feel goosebumps and creativity flowing through me while I type.  I think I will start a new TREE painting…..I will post a few pics of my floor, I so love the color.  Its so warm and inviting.  I will also post a picture of one of my tree paintings im almost finished with.

 
So I have been in the process of building a canvas/frame all in one combo. I call it the double beef Mcwhopper deluxe with gesso.  That’s right it has it all.  A flat piece of pressed wood on top,  4 pieces of 1×4 sides for the frame, then its garnished off with nails and wood glue.  If all goes well I wont have to get my stuff framed anymore or worry about buying canvases.  I think it should give my pieces a unique presence, and bold statement all in one fell swoop.  I have never painted on wood panels before so this should be interesting.   Now I just have to figure out if I prime it with gesso, or Killz primer.  And it only took me 4 hours to build…lol…j/k maybe 30 minutes.  It went really quick once I got my new air compressor and nail gun:) Now if I could just paint that quickly I would be doing great.