Snow Squirrel
A nice new blanket of snow fell on Monday. My wool sweater & stocking cap have been my constant companions. I keep imagining this fellow in a sweater and stocking cap too… paper cutting idea, perhaps..
Music: Skip James – I’m So Glad
Happy New Year
I’m slightly terrified of having my picture taken. Photo by Neal Casal, Wichita, KS, 2012.
It’s been an amazing year — thank you all for being here, reading my words, looking at my photos & paper cuttings, coming to art fairs, having a chat, shopping online, buying buttons & magnets, prints, cards, and originals. A big thank you to all my vendors, folks who have hosted my work in exhibits and invited me for talks, and blogs and websites that have featured my art. Every little bit of support means a ton.
A run-down of cool things that happened in my life in 2012 (I’m surely missing a few things):
• I had my best art fair ever in Denver.
• I got to exhibit my work alongside that of Beatrice Coron, Nikki McClure, Cindy Ferguson & Clay Rice at the Topeka Public Library, all of whom I have admired since I began paper cutting.
• I got to meet and chat with Beatrice Coron.
• I had a number of other amazing art fairs, workshops, presentations & exhibits.
• I started kayaking.
• I slept under the stars for the first time in years.
• I did quite a bit of traveling and photo taking.
• I had several amazing encounters that all ended too soon.
• I bought way too many records (just kidding – never too many) and ‘discovered’ lots of new, err, old music that I love.
• I made regular acquaintance with the Kansas River Levee on many early mornings.
• I finally got a great photo of an owl (just two days ago..)
• I had a new niece (just about 3 hours previous to my typing this!).
• I explored more use of color in my paper cuttings and made some of my favorites ever (Ties That Bind = most favorite).
• I read a lot, lived a lot, and learned a lot…
Like I said in a previous post — I’m shedding some skin in 2013 and letting go of things that tend to weigh heavy.. Almost everyday I write in a journal something to the effect of “What is meant to be will be. Stay present.” And that’s all I plan to do. Make art (and animations!), not think too hard about anything, and enjoy the adventures along the way. Happy New Year. THANK YOU again for being here.
Bald Eagle Family – Dec. 29, 2012
Adult and juvenile bald eagles feasting on/ fighting over/ sharing a fish on a sandbar in the Missouri River, Atchison, KS, Dec. 29, 2012. One of the most amazing things I’ve ever watched occur in nature. I went back today and they were posted in various trees. I lucked out finding them with their meal yesterday (which they were enjoying for quite awhile until one of the juveniles tried to take off with it and dropped it in the water).
Owl!!
My fire burned long enough, and nature provided. I got out onto the roads today with my camera, and spent over an hour watching a family of bald eagles having a meal on a sandbar in the Missouri River. A last minute trip to Wal-Mart and a keen eye (I’ve got my eyes pretty well trained to spot animals from the road) yielded this owl sighting. It was certainly one of my best days as far as getting photos of the birds I seek the most.. Thousands of eagle photos to sort through (yikes! I basically made a movie of photos…). More to come.
It’s Almost 2013.. Goals?
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” -Henry David Thoreau
My goal for this upcoming year is to travel lighter: just make a lot of cool art and animations and not think too hard about anything.
Video: Terry Gilliam’s Do It Yourself Animation Show
I’ve been a fan of Monty Python for as long as I can remember and especially of the stop-motion animation work throughout their shows done by the one and only Terry Gilliam. (WARNING: There are some graphics in this video that are not suitable for children or work.. depending on where you work I guess).. If you’re at all interested in old-school stop motion animation techniques using cut-outs and are not offended by unclothed body parts and somewhat twisted humor (it’s really not as bad as I’ve made it sound, but.. I like to cover all my bases), check this video out.
Currently…
Rollover, the cat. Oskaloosa, KS, 2012.
I’m spending the next several days away from home visiting family here and there. All the while, I’m dying to get out onto some country roads with my new 300 mm camera lens. I saw two bald eagles in the last two days, plus a field full of snow geese and various hawks scouting out their scarce meals on the cold ground while I was driving down different highways.. So many opportunities for awesome photo captures and especially with a little snow on the ground. Today I bought a new pair of knee-high rubber boots to walk in shallow water (and maybe do a little early spring paddling – planning ahead here). I’m antsy to get out into nature.
I’m also in the middle of the book “The Man Who Quit Money” by Mark Sundeen– a recommended read. From Amazon.com’s description: “In 2000, Daniel Suelo left his life savings-all thirty dollars of it-in a phone booth. He has lived without money-and with a newfound sense of freedom and security-ever since.” Although it’s a lifestyle that would be a little extreme for me, it goes along with my own life & artistic philosophy that by getting rid of the things that you don’t need, the more room you have for meaningful experiences. The two most important things to me that I work towards are freedom and security, and I’ve been figuring out ways to create my own for awhile now and am always looking to simplify in all things — thoughts, possessions, etc… Til next time.
Fortune Cookie
