Gone but Not forgotten

Early Xmas

Daughter Ev got an early present from Santa due to urgent need. She's making some cool sculptures. She has the ability to envision things in 3D. I'm in awe.

Thanksgiving!

As you can see from the picture above, it's a good thing we WASPs came over bearing food to feed the poor unfortunate savages who so mismanaged this land. God must be smiling at all the improvements we've made. Happy Turkey Day ... or Tofurky Day if you are so inclined.

Long Time No Post

I haven't posted anything here for a long while because I haven't done anything for too long. I haven't painted much for the last 3 months and it shows. I attempted a small painting yesterday and boy, do I suck. I forget that it takes some work to get back into it. My hands don't do what I want them to and I lack any kind of vision of what the painting should be. I guess my new mantra will be- Paint More.

Drifting

Some of you might know that I make pipe racks. My cousin Mark and I have a website - twocousinspiperacks.com . It's fun and I get to play w/ power tools. The latest pipe rack seems to be getting a little too close to my art work. It's pretty unsellable. Making stuff that doesn't fit in my art world or my pipe rack world probably isn't a good idea. Sometimes one has to do what one is driven to do ...I guess.

Great Art!

My granddaughter Polly is fast becoming an artistic genius. This is the best painting I've seen for a while. She calls it- Rock Climbing a Ladder

Strange Days

My mother died a week ago today, my uncle died this past Saturday and tomorrow is the 1st anniversary of my father's death. It's been a weird year.

early morning gray walk

The Price is Right 2010

Opening Friday @ David Lusk

Cocteau's Orpheus

Just finished watching Orpheus for the first time in years. I think my reality might have changed.

A little something new

These are small- 12.5" x 15.5"

Rene Magritte

Thinking about Magritte who died over 40 years ago.

The Big Show!

Oh boy! Daughter Is and I are in this show. If you're anywhere close to NY, stop by and take a look.

Nice start to the day- Review in the CA

Just saw this review in the Commercial Appeal. Kind words are always welcome.

future project

I need a gallery floor and a bunch of plastic ware.

New Memphis Art Blog

Artful Memphis

yes, this is self serving, but I want to mention a new blog about Memphis art. Christopher St. John is a good writer and seems to be an insightful reviewer (as well as a good painter). Memphis needs more good writers writing about the local art scene.

click on Artful Memphis... it's a link

Man, it's hot!

After seeing my utility bill this month, I have tried to use the ac in the studio as little as possible, but it's up to 92 in there now. I've got to turn it on. I'm sweating like a pig and feeling very lethargic.

Head 'em up!

Cow ready for the trail drive north ... to the Hamptons

Back to it

The show is up @ DLG, the opening has come and gone, so now it's time to get back to work. Fortunately I have the "next project" waiting for me. Every year Silas Marder Gallery in Bridgehampton NY invites 50 artists to paint 3, 8x10 canvases to be included in 'The Big Show". It's a fun diversion from my normal routine and working habits. Painting on canvas is something I haven't done much of for ... a long time. I've got the canvases built and primed and I'm ready to start. I think it will be fun, even though I don't have a clue what I will paint.

Blur

I intended to take photos at the opening last night, but the one above is the only one I got. It seems to summarize the experience pretty well though. I talked to a lot of people I didn't know and didn't have a chance to talk to the people I do know. It all went by in a sort of whirling blur.

Try not to sound stupid

That's my only thought when talking about my stuff. I forget everything else.

Here's a review from The Memphis Flyer.

New Book

The postwoman just came and dropped a box at my door step. It's heavy and is the Paul Thek book I have been impatiently waiting for. Boy, oh boy! Over 600 pages and 500 illustrations of the work of one of my favorite artists. I've never seen so much work by Thek. And it all looks great.

Hanging the Show Today

Preview

OK- my show @ David Lusk is next week. We're hanging it Saturday and the opening is the following Friday, the 9th, 6-8pm. Please stop by if you can.

Painting Frames

The Last Thing

Making frames. Sometimes it would be real cool to have a studio assistant.

Paul Thek

Paul Thek, Uncle Tom´s Cabin with Tower of Babel, 1976. The Personal Effects of the Pied Piper.

In the Studio

Making sculpey snowmen and listening to Grand Funk. Is this really a career?

Best Wishes to Miller & Jason

Lovely wedding yesterday although outdoors and hot as hell, it was still a wonderful day. May they have years of love .

The cake topper was made by Ev- pretty cool huh? It really looks like a miniature Jason + Miller.

Studio in Summer

There are so many outside forces that influence and shape my art work. One of the most important to me is the actual environment I work in. My studio is cramped and small. On the inside it looks like a messy cave or maybe the cocoon of some slob of a catepillar, but I don't think I could produce anything in a large open warehouse type building. I suppose every artist wishes they had more space, but I'm sure even if I did. it would end up looking like the chaotic disaster zone of your typical 17 year old boy's room. At least from the outside, there is some sense of order and I think beauty and it lifts my spirit just to walk across the backyard every morning.

Still Afloat

Well, it's been a week and it's still floating, so I guess it's ok for the show.

New Sketch Book

I got a new sketch book made by my pal, Amanda Michael Harris ( you can see more at her etsy store- rainbowwrangler ). Over the past few years, Amanda has made me several sketch books and I've gotten totally spoiled- I can't use anything else (ok- I probably could if I were forced at gun point, but why would that happen?). Anyway - I love these books. I love that they are handmade and that they can stand up to what ever abuse I can think up. Thanks Amanda Michael.

Walking and Sanity

I had been walking at least 5 mornings a week for several months and then due to schedule changes here in the Crowder household, I found it easy to quit about 4 months ago. I didn't realize how much I have missed this morning ritual. It certainly helps physically, but I think the mental benefits are greater. I can't believe how much clearer my thoughts are after a couple of days of walking. Jeez- who would have thought eating right and exercise would be good?

Beth Edwards @ Lusk

Man! I saw Beth Edwards show at David Lusk yesterday. It's great. Amazing skill w/paint and they make me laugh. What a combo. Go see!

Experiment/ Test

This might be in upcoming show, but I have to see if it will stay afloat for a month. I'll leave it floating for a week or so and see how it does.

Residue

The downside of having a show of current work is the inevitable return of old unsold pieces. What do you do with this stuff? Yard sale? Goodwill? Probably storage. I've been showing my work for almost 30 years. I have a lot of leftovers. Every few years I go through and weed out the really bad stuff, but I still have a sizable amount stacked and leaned and boxed. Sometimes I daydream about an accidental fire... but it would be hard to confine a fire to just artwork. I mean, it's sitting beside old toys, high chairs, clothes and precious family memorabilia. I suppose I'll keep piling it up. Maybe I should start limiting production. I don't know. I can't come up w/ a good answer to this one. -T

Done

OK, call me "Quiter". I decided to forget about finishing the last painting. It was looking like crap and I had lost my enthusiasm. Enough is enough and I think I have plenty for the show. Now I have to build a few frames.

photo above of the empty wall in the studio.

Belated B-Day for the O-Man

Grandson Oliver turned 6 this past week. He also turned into some sort of movie star bear. -T

Break Time

I took the day off today and spent my time reading, lazing around and building this bench for the morning glory and moonflower sprouts. Back to work tomorrow. 1/2 a painting left to finish. -T

Snowman w/ Wasp

Ah, a new friendship is blossoming in the studio. I can't convince the wasp to leave the Snowman alone. -T

Real Close

I just might pull this off. Here's two more that (although not finished in this photo) are finished now. I need to finish this cup o'mud and get to work. -T

What a Dump

It's getting scary in the studio. There's crap piled everywhere. Hope to have everything finished by Saturday ....

Houses

Finishing up a hand full of 3D pieces and 4 more paintings. That should be everything for the upcoming show. It's a good thing too. I have run out of ideas and I seem to be getting stupider by the day ... hour... minute. -T

Snowman