Goat Gotta Itch!

I took my Monday, vacation day, last week from school while it was also a rainy day and worked on a new print.  This is it.  "Goat Gotta Itch!" 
Several weeks ago I visited a friend that has about 15 goats in her back 40, and took some pictures.  This print was based on a photo I took of a goat using his horn to itch his leg.  I've seen this sort of action many times when visiting goats and thought it would be a good representation of what goats do?
For this print I decided to challenge myself and do another reduction print.  It has been about 2 years since I attempted a sunset over water reduction print, so this is only my second attempt.  I actually also used wood, so that was another added challenge.  All of my previous prints have been Linoleum.
This is a 3 color print, green, brown, and black.  4 colors if you count the white of the paper.  I started out with 15 copies and ended up with 8 that were halfway decent.  It is not easy to get the registration accurate with minimal equipment.  The size of this print is 4 1/2x 6 1/4".  Hope you enjoyed it.  And if you would like a real copy of it. Drop me a line!

Public Works Administration

Mt. Baldy from Lake Arrowhead

Franz Geritz-1928

A few weeks ago, my wife had the Antique's Road Show on PBS.  During the show a lady had 3 large block prints that she said she saved from being thrown away.  They were prints of Grain Mills and other architecture from the Mid-west.  The antique dealer that was telling the lady about these prints said they were made by artist hired by the PWA, during the New Deal.  A few months prior to finding out about these prints, which by the way were now worth I think about 2000.00, I was at the North Carolina History Museum in Raleigh, NC.  They had a special exhibit of Photography done by PWA Photographers around North Carolina, again during the New Deal.  Oh, here is the actual prints from the Antique's Road Show, just found them.  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/199802A32.html  These are really good they remind me of the works by the painter Charles Sheeler and Edward Hopper a bit.  

Charles Sheeler, Ballet Mechanique, 1931

This brings me to my desire to learn more about the printmakers of the PWA.  Who were they?  How were they picked?  What images did they portray?  When doing some research on this using Google... I found a simple quote from Roosevelt:

    "New Deal art would be art that was: …native, human, eager and alive… that was painted for the people of this country by their own kind in their own country, and painted about things they know and look at often and have touched and loved."  http://www.articlesandtexticles.co.uk/2009/04/07/the-public-works-of-art-project-pwa/

So if anyone has anymore info about this subject I would really like love to have you share!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all my "Followers" and anyone else that may be dropping in! Last year at about this time I was making some resolutions of all the things I wanted to do in the coming year. I'll have to see if I can find that list:P Hold on...

Ok, I found them, lets see how I did?  These were for 2010.

I don't usually make resolutions, but I would like to try to list out a few that I'm sure I will soon forget about.

1. I would like to do at least 5 new prints this year, I would also like to try to do more reduction prints. Already got 1 done!!!
2. I would like to do at least 2 acrylic paintings this year. Possibly have it reproduced to sell prints.
3. I would like to join the local arts council and try to sell some of my work at their gallery. 
4. I would like to participate in at least 3 art/crafts shows this year.
5. I would like to enter at least one competition/show.
6. I would like to keep up with my blog and website!!! This one is hard for me.

OK, so as I mentioned I don't do resolutions.  Here's the results:


1. I did 3 prints all in black and white.
2. Didn't do any paintings that I can recall? Might have done one for my parents, but can't remember if that was this year or 2009?
3. Still haven't joined the arts council.
4. participated in No arts and crafts fairs.
5. Entered no competitions.
6. HUmmm, not very well at that one either!


While these were pretty lofty goals and I didn't get to reach most of them, I'm wondering if it really matters.  There were alot of good things that happened this year that I didn't plan for!! And I was blessed with anyway. One major things I was blessed with a new part-time job teaching Digital Photography Online!  So maybe making New Year's resolutions is just a good way to reflect on the past year.  If you can keep up with them:)  Maybe I'll post some new ones tomorrow, in 2011!


That's all for now!

Contentment

Ok, This is the first time that I've done this but I've been contemplating the idea of contentment for the past few days. Mainly in light of recent events that are happening in the world and in my own sphere. It is a concept or principle that seems to get lost in daily life and living in the USA. It would seem that the whole American economy is based on not being content, needing to get new and better things to fill our lives. It also raises the question that I've heard many people say over the years, "How much is enough"? So what is the truth about contentment? Well , I believe the best place to turn is to the Bible:) Basically, I feel like I can have all kinds of thoughts about contentment, but it is the Bible that is the real authority for me and gives clear direction on the issue of contentment. I have not done an exhaustive study on contentment, but I would just like to share a few things that I thought spoke to me personally.
First of all I found the most obvious answer to contentment, it is found in the Lord. Paul was speaking in Philippians that he had "learned" to be content in whatever his situation, abounding or in want. "Learning"- jumped out at me! What does that mean? "Learning to be content." After checking a cross-reference 2 Cor.9:8-10, I found that God is the one that makes Grace abound and supplies you with every good work... Humm! Well, if you continue reading in 2 Cor. you can see that contentment, as Paul may have "learned", is gained through helping others that are in need. That seems like it would lead to contentment wouldn't it?
Paul writing to Timothy about contentment has some familiar words that you may have heard quoted by many people. "Now godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this word and it is certain that we can carry nothing out, and having food and clothing we shall be content."-1 Tim. 6:6-8
So, it seems that there is a freedom in these verses.
As I began researching "contentment" I started in the Old Testament and found some interesting advice written in Ecclesiastes. This was written by Solomon, as he was given everything that he asked for, by God. He found great Joy in the works of his hands that God gave him, But also realized that it was all vanity, grasping at the wind.-Ecc.2:10-11
Later in Chapter 5:18-19 of Ecclesiastes- He writes, "It is good and fitting to enjoy the wealth of the labors of your hands- this is a gift of God, for he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joys of his heart." What does a person who dwells unduly on his days look like? I think it is someone with regrets? If you continue reading in this chapter it paints a grim tale of a person that holds onto his wealth and doesn't enjoy it. This brings us back to the beginning of my outline here. How do you have contentment? I hope that this made sense and is a starting for living with contentment.- Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas

OK, so I stink at this whole blog thing. It's a nice thought:)

But I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And give a little update. and share a photograph too.
As for printing... Well, let's just say I haven't done any lately... but I'm beginning to feel the urge again, so maybe some time will present itself for me to take advantage of?
I have been very busy this fall teaching an online Digital Photography course with NCVPS. It has been a good experience so far. But it is demanding of my time in the evenings.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to step out to my garden and took a few pictures, so I thought I would share one. I guess my Digital Photography students have inspired me. That's a good thing!




That's all for now!

Summer Really!

Alright for those of you that have been following my blog, I'm sorry, but it hasn't been a priority. Although, back when the winter months gave me extra time to "blog", the spring and summer have kept me occupied. I have been working outside alot. I have a veggie garden, as well as a few yards that I mow around the neighborhood. Along with working part-time at Walgreen's and my usual teaching, I haven't had time to Carve it, Ink it, Print it.
We recently went to PA. and Delaware to visit family and had the opportunity to meet with some of my wife's family that are artist. They were encouraged me to continue what I have been doing with the printing. So while I am on my summer break I'm going to try to put out at least one new print. Let's see if I can actually accomplish that?
Over the weekend I was also gifted with about 100 ft. of chain-link fencing, and all the hardware, that I hope to put up around my garden area. That may have to wait until cooler weather though. It has been in the upper 90's for the past couple weeks. It is bad enough getting out in it to mow grass.
That's all for now, stay cool!

OK, It's Spring Right?

Well, here it is almost the end of March already. It has been a busy couple of weeks for me even though I have been on "spring break". It really hasn't felt much like spring here for most of the break. Cool days and cold nights, rain and wind have been the norm.
The days leading up to my break were busy with finishing up school business and deciding what I wanted to do for the 2 weeks I had pretty much to myself. I had lots of garden work to keep me busy and getting ready for lawn mowing time, as well as giving our dog Callie a much needed trim and bath. And I really wanted to work on some printing!
My first evening of my vacation the phone rang, with an opportunity... The NCVPS(NC, Virtual Public School) had a teacher's assistant position available. I have been waiting for the call for months now! Unfortunately, this isn't a paid position. But I was told by some friends that already teach for the NCVPS that I would want to take this position, it is your foot in the door, so to speak. So that phone call lead to me spending most of the first week and part of the second on the computer learning their blackboard system, and helping the teacher that I've been assigned to. This teacher is teaching 2 sections of Digital Photography, with about 30 students in each. I was put in charge of monitoring the discussion boards for the classes, and I then had to assign grades for student's participation in the discussions. Keeping track of 60 students is no small task! Needless to say that kept me quite busy! I finished up that task as the novelty quickly wore off. Which leads me back to my spring break and all my big plans!.
Here's what I did get done. I did get to work in the garden some( can't wait to start picking lettuce for my garden! and I did get to work on my lawn mowers today and got them in shape for the lawn mowing season. All that other stuff I wanted to do.... well It didn't happen:( No Printing either!!
Looking ahead I find that starting April 5th I will be taking a 5 week course on how to use the blackboard system, after its completion I will be eligible to teach an online course hopefully in the fall with NCVPS!
Well since I didn't get to do any new prints I'll share a picture of some of the flowers growing out in front of my house, They are pretty, it's too bad they won't be around very long. Yes it is spring again!

That's all for now.