Hawk, Dec. 29, 2012 – Atchison, KS
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.
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.
Fortune Cookie
Reawaken
“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn.” -Henry David Thoreau
Happy Solstice
It’s officially winter.
Snow Day!
It actually snowed! I woke up at 4am to work on another commission and eagerly went to the window to see if the forecast was correct.. And it was.. And at 5am, as I sat at my desk drinking coffee, cutting away and watching a National Film Board of Canada (nfb.ca) documentary on igloo building (I like to get into the spirit), the power went out due to high winds. So under my down comforter I went until 10am when the power returned.. I actually enjoyed it. I loved looking out the window into the dark, snowy morning listening to wind howl and knock branches into my roof. All I needed was a lantern, a cat, and a wood stove and I’d have been happy as a clam.
This afternoon I headed out into the winter weather (it was sunny but frigid) to visit the Re-Store on a tip from my friend Jeanette that there was a contraption there that we might be able to turn into a great animation table. And she was right. I purchased an old flat shelved merchandise display and I’ll be picking it up Saturday. With a screw gun, a 2 x 4, a few panes of plexiglas and a small sheet of plywood, I’ll be good to go. Pics to come.
Fresh Air
This morning I took a little jaunt out to the country to do a photo project for my friend Jeanette and couldn’t pass up taking some photos for myself. Most refreshing was a walk through the woods where we subsequently discovered a pack-rat dwelling and heard red-tailed hawks screeching as they glided through the trees. Felt great to be out there.. and to come home with thorn-worn jeans.
Peace
Somewhere between San Diego and Minneapolis, 2012.
“Those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves.” -William Hazlitt
I got my new animation workspace all set up over the weekend (except for my animation table contraption thingy – improvising for now) with all the equipment and software I need.. brainstorming and building will begin to take shape shortly. I’ve got a few more days of getting consignment orders and time sensitive work done and out the door and then I’m ready to let my mind and knives fly.. to make some peace-loving artwork. Til next time.