A new painting in my series. 24"x12", oil on canvas.

Exploring more of my new hometown.

From this evening's walk in my neighborhood...

On the Broadway near my place in Providence versus Broadway near my former home in Seattle.

Photo taken in my current hood on my way home this evening.

Settling into my new job and it's the first week I'm not exhausted when I leave the office. Tomorrow I plan on getting back into my old routine of hitting the studio after work. I've also been slowly looking for an apartment of my own, hopefully for July 1. I do miss having my own private space and yet at the same time, I'm enjoying the inexpensive rent.

I had a small adventure on Sunday as I was getting ready to leave my parents' home. After placing my laundry in the trunk and slamming it shut, I realized I left my keys in there. No, I do not have a trunk latch in the car. And no, my back seats don't come down giving me access to the trunk.

It was 4:00 pm and I had planned on being home by 6pm to chill before beginning the work week.

AAA sent a locksmith out who had to take apart my passenger door to get to the lock so he could make a key. I was finally on the road by 7:30. Normally I always leave an extra key in my bag but that very morning I saw it on the dresser...hesitated...and chose to leave it there. See what happens when I don't listen to my intuition?

On the plus side, it gave me a really great couple hours with three of my nephews as we chilled on the front porch.

It was my first Mother's Day with mom in 14 years. We also celebrated her 80th birthday a little early because it was the only time her kids would be together in the next few weeks. It was a lovely time. I love my mom.

Two other little (24"x12") paintings I worked on today.

Very productive studio time. Reworked four of the six currently in the series. It was one of those really rare really great studio days where I feel I'm finally beginning to get a handle on this painting thing. I'm tracking the progress of each. Some changed drastically and others, not as much but the little made a big difference. Here is one of the majorly changed pieces...still in progress. Oil on canvas. 28"x22"

Across the street from my new job is a little park with a bike path and picnic area. It's right next to the river and the falls, with old mills and this beauty - a gorgeous remnant of what once was.

The color you see is what is there. All I did was pull out the vibrant foliage color so the structure would stand out.

On the way to work this morning.

Photo from the other night.

Things I saw within a few blocks of each other while driving home: Throop Alley (which tickles me and is a perfect name for an alley), a Megabus (Prov to NYC) at the embarking point, dead in the water with a big ass tow truck in front of it, and then the X Factor semi blocking the street next to the Civic Center forcing us to detour because Simon Cowell and friends are in town doing auditions.

Last night, while walking to India Point with my friend Matt.

Although I've now relocated to Providence RI and am slowly settling in, I'm pleased to announce a new show, "The Space Between", opening in Seattle this week on Capitol Hill. Sadly, I can't make the opening but will be there in spirit.

Thursday, May 10 - Saturday, June 9
The Blindfold Gallery
1718 E Olive Way, Ste A
Seattle, WA 98102

Opening, Thursday May 10 from 6 - 9 pm
website: www.blindfoldgallery.com







The Space Between

We are drawn to others for various reasons such as shared interests, mutual attraction or physical circumstance. No matter how well two people may appear to fit, it is the space between where the unspoken differences reside. It can be a vast chasm filled with deafening silence, grief or anger. It can be a space that permeates with restful stillness, lust, excitement, love or passion.

My ongoing meditation has been on the space between the two.

I fell in love with b&w photography back in 1982 when I was required to take a b&w darkroom course. That love pushed me into working in a custom lab for six years, spending hours in the darkroom processing work. The education I received in viewing a multitude of images was invaluable to structuring my visual sensibility.

When I left the lab, I stopped taking photos because of the expense. Every day, I'd long to capture images but didn't have the finances to engage in such a practice. In 2006 I purchased my beloved little Lumix TZ1. My camera is always with me. I'd shoot with no other intent but to take hold of a scene.

It was only when I began painting the viaduct that the camera also became a tool for painting as I'd work from the photos of the crumbling structure. And I was still taking photos simply for the love of it.

A few months ago as I was going through my photo library of over 20,000 images, I began to notice how the paintings reflected the photographs and vice versa. My imprint, my preference for light and composition played into both mediums. It didn't matter if a photo was taken four years before a certain painting. They held my mark.

Not once did I have the desire to print or exhibit these photos. When approached for this show, I feared that in doing so my photography would become self-conscious. Other than periodically capturing scenes to paint, I liken the bulk of my photography to doodling - rapidly moving pen on paper. It is my sandbox where I can play with no responsibility. But the possibility of pairing the work heightened my curiosity and so here I am.

from tonight's outing...

photo was a total accident. finger slipped. because i'm using a dropcloth in this studio (and yes, it's new so not yet spackled with paint), immediately began painting while barefoot. have yet to wear shoes while painting in this new space. it's now become part of my painting ritual.

Series slowly coming together, although none complete. I'm really enjoying the journey with this grouping. Here is the 6th in the self portrait as a youngun' series. For the first time, I'm actually numbering them and so can remember which came first, even as they can dramatically change.

Driving past RISD this afternoon and noticed Benefit Street was blocked off. They were having some type of fair. I wanted to pull over and check it out but didn't have the time.

Busy, busy week. Wed and Thursday I focused strictly on work in an attempt to get a handle on the new job (which I really like). Heavy duty concentration for 8 hours a day left me too wiped to paint after work.

Yesterday after work I needed to run errands in preparation for this weekend's tasks. Today, I needed to send the remainder of the art work express mail for my show that opens next week. I also needed to work on the show statement and other details. And...I had to finish other paperwork and mail everything out for my relocation reimbursement. Originally I planned on spreading this out over the weekend. But I locked myself in the studio and found momentum. So things that have been weighing on me for the last few months but couldn't complete without further info from others finally were completed this afternoon.

Huge load off my shoulders.

And it means that tomorrow can be a painting day. Yeah!!!

Taken at Horseneck Beach on Saturday afternoon.

First day at work. It was good. Much lower stress level that what I've had for the last decade. Came home after work instead of painting so I can slowly readjust to a full time job. Also, I only slept about two hours early this morning. Part excitement. Part nerves. And a big part noise...from my new alarm clock.

I've been playing Goldilocks with alarm clocks.

The first one I purchased two days ago has such a big display that it was too bright. I returned it yesterday and decided to pick up a non-digital one. The older kind. It went tick, tick, tick all night long and kept me up. I returned it today and picked up a smaller digital clock. This one should do the trick.

I'm actually really excited to begin my new job tomorrow.

The downside is less time painting. I'll have to return to painting after work and on weekends.
But...it's a regular paycheck. And hopefully leads to permanent with health insurance so I can stop paying it out of pocket.

Also...it's lilac season!