Drawing-05·18·2013, 14 X 11 inches, pencil on paper
"Our greatest weakness is giving up. The most certain way to success is to try one more time."
-Thomas Edison And so it is. I am always looking for inspiration and influences. Thomas Edison has been important to me for a long time. Edison spoke often about the requirement of effort and failure in the path to success. Strangely, this quote literally fell into my lap when I opened the plastic wrap around the newest issue of Wired Magazine. It comes from a Mazda automobile advertisement. (Two more interesting quotes from the same source appear below.) In any case, my drawings, day by day, are me "trying one more time." "I know that if I scare myself once a day, I'm a better person."
-Laird Hamilton, pioneer of tow-in surfing
"By doing something radically different, I was able to jump higher that anyone."
-Dick Fosbury, inventor of the modern high jump technique
 Drawing-05·17·2013, 14 X 11 inches, pencil on paper “It all began with a shoe on the wall. A shoe on the wall shouldn't be there at all.”
-Dr.Seuss Yesterday I promised you a drawing influenced by the Dr. Seuss quote, "A shoe on the wall should't be there at all." Here it is! However it is obviously further away from Dr. Seuss than the drawing I posted yesterday. Another obvious thought: I am not Dr. Seuss and never will be. As charming and intriguing as Dr. Seuss is, my way of expression may be influenced by his, but in no way does it see the world as gloriously buoyant and full of positive outcomes as Dr. Seuss. That said, the drawing posted today does not feel ominous. This drawing depicts a strange world, and therefore it has the charm of NOT being the world we physically inhabit. I like this, and I would like to think Dr. Seuss would have liked this drawing too (he just could never have drawn it). And as explanation, I think that shoe has been glued on the wall, which makes no sense at all!
 Drawing-05·16·2013, 14 X 11 inches, pencil on paper “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”
“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
“Sometimes you will never know the value of something until it becomes a memory.”
“You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
“It all began with a shoe on the wall. A shoe on the wall shouldn't be there at all.”
-Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss was a great favorite of mine in childhood, and apparently his influence has not left me. I think today I will begin a drawing with "a shoe on a wall."
Drawing-05·15·2013, 14 X 11 inches, pencil on paper
Take from it what you will, and so shall I... The lyrics to the Elvis Presley song (below) have something to do with me and the search in which I find myself engaged.
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain’t no friend of mine
When they said, you was high classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, they said, you was high classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain’t no friend of mine
...and the forces and their directions are subtle and confusing. Even the direction of an individual force is difficult to discern. The only way to know the truth of direction is to sample one way, then the other, and look to truth and authenticity as a guide to the correct choice. This is not a simple journey. Careful attention must be paid to chose well.
Drawing-05·14·2013, 14 X 11 inches, pencil on paper
Be sure to take a look at both the images posted today. I worry some of you won't get past the drawing to view state 2 of Painting-05·10·2013. All my children deserve a viewing moment.  Drawing-05·11·2013, 14 X 11 inches, pencil on paper  Painting-05·10·2013 (state 2), 50 X 60 inches, oil on canvas
 Painting-05·10·2013 (state 1), 50 X 60 inches, oil on canvas Yes. No. Maybe. We just have to watch together. Painting-05·10·2013 has a different feel to it. So, I am breaking, i.e. shifting my approach. Is it a little fake, or growth and evolution? Definitely growth. I am moving. This is significant. Showing up is the biggest part of discovery and renewal. I am doing that. F.Y.I.: The AVA Gallery Drawing Invitational opened last night. My three drawings in the exhibit looked good and were received well. If you wish to read the Press Release click HERE.  Drawing-05·10·2013, 11 X 14 inches, pencil on paper  Drawing-05·10·2013 #2, 14 X 11 inches, pencil on paper
Drawing-05·07·2013, 20 X 16 inches, pencil on paper
Kermit the Frog, of Muppet fame, said, "It isn't easy being green." Nor is it easy being human, but I'm working on it.
 Drawing-05·06·2013 (state 1), 20 X 16 inches, pencil on paper Hang on. Inertia wants the straight path but I can feel a force pushing me into a curve. I am going to take the turn...
Drawing-05·04·2013 (state 2), 11 X 14 inches, pencil on paper
State 2 brings a few improvements to Drawing-05·04·2013, but it will need to wait at least another day for finality. Such is life in the springtime. Yes, the woman now has a left and a right foot, which is definitely better than the version posted yesterday with two left feet. Enjoy!
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