Completion

My portfolio has been fully submitted to Wichita State University! It feels like an incredible relief, but I am still plagued with a need to make more work. It is one of the best feelings I have felt in a long time! Here are some other images that were sent, I know that some have been on the blog before, but non-the-less....

"Appropriate Interaction" 10"x22" Acrylic and Ink on Canvas

"We Found It" 10"x22" Acrylic and Ink on Canvas

"It Is Time" 20"x30" Acrylic on Illustration Board

"Navigation" 11"x14" Acrylic and Ink on Canvas I am quite sure I will either go back into some of these or I will ignore them and never look back. Either way, it is done and I am pretty pleased!

Portion of Grad School App Portfolio

I have some new photos of my work for ya'll! They are being created for my graduate school application portfolio. I have learned a lot about my work in the short time frame these were created. It really has been a grueling and wonderful experience!

"In This Present Situation" -Acrylic on Canvas 36" x 36"

"Overlooking Destiny" -Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 48"

"Comprehension" -Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 30"

The Birth of a New Painting

So I just finished another painting. I actually took some process shots on this one, although I skipped a few major steps. But here is a bit of the process below.


So you may remember the "Rainbow Puke" start, well this is the base for the rest of the painting. Generally it took me a while to figure out how to fix it. The fix was as follows: a thin coat of white gesso. All that remained was some pink permeating through the gesso. (Sorry no process shot)


After the gesso dried I drizzled some yellow on it. Yellow is one of my go to colors, especially in the beginning, as it is rather neutral in its own loud way. I then started to take some new colors in, discovering shapes and forms.


Here I am simply letting the painting and the medium speak. I am discovering shapes and forms and space intuitively.


"Integration" - Ink and Acrylic on Canvas 11" x 14"
And here is the final image. I spend quite a while letting the painting dictate what needs to be discovered. I also try to let the colors do the discovery. It was in this work that I really seemed to discover a method for working. I seem to reference nature and landscape more than I realized, balanced by an intuitive discovery of the the work through its development and my medium.

Valentines Greetings!

I hate Valentines Day, as does anybody who doesn't have a significant other. Yet, it was on this auspicious holiday that I would receive a glimpse of wit. I made three versions, one rather innocent and two rather grim. I love them! To all of you Happy Valentines Day (belated).

"I got you the biggest Valentine I could find!"

"I just couldn't figure out how to mail it. Happy Valentines Day!"

"You gave me your heart for Valentines Day!"

"Oh! I wasn't supposed to eat it? Happy Valentines Day!"

"I'm giving you my heart for Valentines Day!"

"I didn't really think this through... Happy Valentines Day!"

Wood Nymph Portraits

The following are a couple of portaits I did of some nymphs of sorts. They are rather simple and just an indulgence in my imagination.


"Young Man" Watercolor on Bristol 8" x 12"


"Aging Well" Watercolor on Bristol 8" x 12"

Stanton's Garage

In the Summer of 2010, I had the pleasure to act as Set/Lighting designer for a Decatur Area Theater Association (DATA) production of "Stanton's Garage" - directed under the late Miss. Leigh Davis. It was performed in the Gateway: Morgan Theater in Oberlin, KS. We had a very small budget and had to use only paint and flats that existed. I can inform you that this set cost about $50 to produce. I am afraid I only have a couple pictures, as my other's have gone MIA. Tragically, the photos of most of my set work has vanished. As that is... indulge.

A Tree

Yes, a tree. I was recently commissioned, let's be honest... asked, to build a changing tree for my church, as a visual aid to the pastor's sermon set. I was of course ecstatic at the opportunity. The tree is made out of rusty chicken wire, scrap wood, old sketches that I couldn't stand, leftover paint and napkins. I should have taken a picture of the various stages of the tree's development, but tragically I didn't. I do have some process shots as well as the final stage of it's development.


This is the skeleton of the tree, and yes it is hard to see among the myriad of books and odds and ends I have in my room. What can I say? I'm an artist!


This is after the wire was attached and the initial layer of paper mache was being applied.


Here the texture paper mache coat is being added to tree.


This is after the initial painting and the napkin "leaves" were added. You can see that the tree stands a little over 3 feet tall and is about 7 feet across. Yes, I am thrilled as you can see. Have you ever heard of building a ship in a basement, and the problems that can occur? Well, that is the story of my life.


This is the final stage of the tree's development. The death and resurection of Christ opening the door to our future lives as a heavenly family. This was very visully powerful because for the last few weeks the tree would be loosing leaves, down to it's barest twigs and would even be shrouded with black cloth. To end so suddenly with such a burst of color and joy was, well, hopefully meaningful. The project was incredible fun!

A few images

Hey Ya'll! So it has been a very long time since my last post, and I do have some images for you. My artwork has gone on a quick hiatus as I am working to finish the set and lighting project for a high school theater production. Images to come!



This piece is temporarily called, "Conerstone Thought". I have to take a while to name my work as the name is very crucial to giving the viewer a bit of perspective, so often times, works are given temporary names till their true nature is discovered. The piece is about 10X15 inches, made with acrylic on hot press Arches watercolor paper.



"Proceeding Towards" is about 24X36 inches,made with acrylic on hot press Arches watercolor paper. I am currently not completely satisfied with this piece, and will be going back into it, but of course all my work suffers that same fate.

I am almost ready to move into my studio, as it is soon to be emptied of its other storage contents. My current projects include (but not limited to): 1)
Insurrection, a graphic novel based on a screenplay by my brother in law. 2) The set and lighting for Murder in the Heir, a high school production. 3) Of course my work in general (really right now I am gathering sketches from my hikes to begin my process) 4) and finally, moving into my studio, and really digging in! Hope you all have a wonderful day and best of wishes to all!