I'm a Driver. I'm a Winner.

Part of struggling with the winter blues is wanting to sleep a lot. It feels like I am surrounded by people who have more energy and ambition than me. They flutter around achieving things while I just want to curl up and wait for the spring bulbs to flower.

I have such empathy for chickens who try to fly and can't - but they try anyway. I think this painting is about that too. I'm not really sure what the narrative is. I will probably do more work on this but for now it sits in my studio while I work on other paintings. Slowly. I am a tortoise not a hare right now. Or a chicken.

This painting measures 18"x24" and is oil on panel.

Monumental Chicken

Another chicken. This one has a monumental quality, even though the painting is only 10 inches wide. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I think I was influenced by the recent Picasso show here in Seattle. So many of his shapes had strong shading and modeling, which surprised me. They were like paintings of sculptures.

This chicken ended up reminding me of art deco paintings like this Lawren Harris from 1929.

And this relief sculpture by Robert Garrison at Rockefeller Center.

More Colour in Winter!!!

Here is another inspiring video of art in Seattle. I have a hard time driving past this without causing an accident. You can see this mural by Weirdo at 2nd and Yesler in Pioneer Square. We're so lucky to have this in our city. Someone from the Aquarium hire this guy fast!

Playing With Change

Some winter days feel like a crawl on hands and knees through murky cold. I find my energy for painting very low. So this little movie about Seattle painter Fay Jones was like a tonic. There are so many inspiring images here.

I hurried up to the studio and painted these chickens who think they can fly. In a style that is more care free or "care less" than my usual. It turned out to be quite cheerful looking, but chickens are tragic figures for me too. I am thinking of this as a study for another painting that I am working on. And it is called "Things Are Going to Change. I Can Feel It", which is from a Beck song. Also not as cheerful as it might seem.

Thinking About Chickens

This little picture is only six inches wide. You can see it at Homegrown Sandwich Shop in Fremont. I wonder if it will quietly encourage folks to choose the vegetarian options. Sorry Ben!

See My Work in Enumclaw!

I hung a small show yesterday at the City Hall Gallery in Enumclaw. What a charming town to visit on a sunny day with Mount Rainier so close and beautiful. People there were very sweet. My work will be there through the month of February though I think the space is closed to the public on Tuesdays when court is in session. How strange it would feel to be on trial and have bunnies and weasels looking at you from the walls.