A love song

okay, an anti-love song, in honor of the fast approaching Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day seems like another holiday co-opted by capitalist enterprises and engineered to make 99% of us feel lonely and somehow inadequate, but what the hell-

I really like this song. If you like it, why not buy it on Amazon or something? Betty Davis is way under-recognized, in my opinion. I wonder if marrying Miles was a help or a hindrance…

The death of a child,

however, is a tragedy. The Morgan Adams Foundation was created to help raise money and awareness for children affected with cancer.

Artma is an art auction that takes place every other year to fund the Morgan Adams Foundation, and I am pleased to be donating a painting to Artma again this year.

I’ll be donating “Abracadabra,” pictured below.

The event takes place at the Denver Studio Complex, 241 S. Cherokee St. in Denver, on February 6th from 6 to 10 PM.

Also- Denver’s reigning king of pop art Mark Penner Howell is having a studio sale for Haiti this first Friday,February 5th from 6 to 9 PM, at 900 Santa Fe Drive.

50% of all sale prices will go to Haitian relief efforts. From the Westword article:

Here’s how it will work: To buy a painting (ranging from $200 to $2,600), you first make a donation for half the amount to Save the Children, Care, Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders; all of the charities have been vetted for effectiveness and work done in Haiti. A computer will be set up so that you, the consumer, can make the donation and get a tax deduction for your generosity. Give your receipt and the remaining half of the painting price to Penner Howell, and you’ll walk away with a great piece of art and the knowledge that you’ve given to a good cause.

Good art for a good cause conceived by one really great guy.

The death of an old man

is not a tragedy. But, still…

Rest in peace, J.D. Salinger. Finally you’ve escaped the prying of curious strangers.

I must admit I’m eager to see what works may have been stashed in that house and I hope they are published soon.

I’m sorry, Mr. Salinger.

Good-night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

Sandman (Heart Art 2010)

I’ll be donating “Sandman” to this event, Heart Art 2010, which benefits Project Angel Heart.

Casselman’s Bar & Venue, February 11, 6- 10 PM.

Billet-doux

Oil on canvas, 12″ x 12″.

Escaping the weight of darkness

At present I have 26 canvases (albeit small canvases, for the most part) begun but not yet finished in the studio. I think this is a record high for me.

Would that my muse would light in here, into this drafty old garage-cum-studio and give me the deep soul kiss I need to light a fire and finish these paintings.

Or at least, finish a few and make tangible progress on others.

I feel like I’m treading water right now.

I have not smoked a cigarette in a fortnight now, and I remain hopeful and feel strong about this.

Saw a remarkable film a couple of nights ago. “Werckmeister Harmonies” is one of the most perfectly complete-feeling movies I’ve seen. Nothing was missing, and nothing seemed extraneous. It becomes devastating to watch as it progresses, though, so if you’re looking for mood booster you may want to stay away from it. I’m still trying to work out the meaning of it in my slow and plodding way, and might have to watch it two or three more times. I link to the absolutely beautiful opening scene here:

Time to pick up a brush and muddle through.

Happy New Year! (Maggot Brain)

One of my guilty pleasures (and since giving up cigarette smoking for the zillionth time twelve days ago, I cling fiercely to those pleasures I have left) is watching the TV show “House.”

I almost jumped for joy tonight when I recognized Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain” playing in the background of the final big dramatic resolution scene.

This is not only a great song to paint to, I use it as a sort of timer on my Itunes to help me through studio tasks I don’t enjoy.

The song is just about ten minutes long, and though I figure I can put up with anything for ten minutes, I don’t have a stopwatch or a kitchen timer.

Maggot Brain to the rescue.

I have decided

to make lefse this year for Christmas.

Hour upon hour in the kitchen, with flour from hell to breakfast…

If I’m going to feel like a dour old Norwegian, my family may as well reap some of the benefits.

No angry letters, please. Some of my best friends are dour old Norwegians.

I hate winter

If I could be put into a coma until late March, that would be preferable.

The Arvada Center’s 23rd Annual Art Market.

Tonight, I’m tagging work to drop off for this (always beautiful) show tomorrow morning.

The video includes some shots from last year’s show- my paintings can be seen on the far left at 4:41 in the video:)

Hoping it’s a great, lucrative year for the Arvada Center and for all the artists participating.