September 28, 2022

Archive

Untethered Excursions

When I lived in Alabama I yearly attended and volunteered at a large hot-air balloon festival. There, I learned what a tethered balloon ride was and took one, maybe once or twice. Once a hot-air balloon lifts off the ground and the tethering rope is no longer keeping it within certain parameters from the ground, safe navigation is dependent upon the skill of the balloon pilot but also upon other variable conditions such as wind. On occasion, there are balloon...

An Unbeatable Hand (Job Chapter 6)

Years ago a friend explained the game of Texas Hold’em to me.  There were conceptual reasons and metaphors to be considered in the context of the conversation at that time.  And they also said I would probably make a good poker player because I was really smart. In many tangible ways my brain does work somewhat like a poker player – but probably more like a chess player. I have high conceptual strengths in both games but one of my...

Four Recent Caricature Gigs Set to Music!

This audio-video shows photos from my most recent caricature gigs! When I am at events I enjoy the little conversations I have with each person I draw. I remember little snippets of things they tell me about themselves as I ask questions in order to listen and get them to engage with me while I try to quickly capture them. What I may ask in general depends on the event. At the Jefferson College event the most obvious questions to...

Seeing, Immediacy, Watercolor and Life…

Recently I painted a portrait from the last photo taken of a friend’s father, drinking his coffee. I saw the image shared online last summer and was immediately struck with the desire to paint from this image, for a number of reasons ranging from care and sympathy (this photo had accompanied some sharing about her father’s recent death), to the immediately recognizable artistic qualities this image presents to me as a painting-worthy photo reference. As I worked on the piece...

Awakening in Ashes

This morning I count myself among the countless human beings that awake in ashes day-after-day-after-day, and continue in their unseen warzone. They awake to find themselves seemingly drafted and re-drafted day-after-day-after-day in some internal warzone that is well-grounded in external circumstances – and to some extent in the actions of other people. People watch from afar, yet only a few are able to bring us water like “good old grinnin’, gruntin’ Gunga Din…” Not that they wouldn’t bring us water...

Magic at the Moonstone Manor

Lisa and Jon Adams were married at the Moonstone Manor mansion and gardens on June 18, 2022 – such a beautiful and magical wedding venue located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. I was honored and delighted for the entirety of my experience with this couple, the mother-of-the-bride in particular, and other family members and guests I had the privilege and opportunity to interact with during the event itself. I am always grateful for each significant commission I now choose whether to accept...