The Rebellious Curator

This is a framed oil painting I recently completed of a (safely contained) night time campfire.

It seems an appropriate time to express how incredibly saddened I am about the devastating fires to our south and the unimaginable loss of property, forests and wildlife.  

I painted this right after I completed Mona Lisa. After struggling with the challenges of copying another artist from a photo, I couldn't wait to get back to the way I was used to painting, freely from my thoughts and without any references. I started with a black canvas, threw out a quick horizon line, and then went at it quickly but deliberately, with a large brush. After 2 hours and just before my students were to arrive for class, I came up with the title "Every dark road should have a path to hope" I realize there are some compositional issues and the painting is far from perfect, but the point is, that sometimes an artist has to let go and let the painting paint itself. Is it a reflection of my thoughts? Yes, I'm sure it is, but the viewer can take from it whatever they want. Any thoughtful art has a way of doing that anyway.

For a time, I regularly painted full moons above grassy meadows. I sold 2 of them, and the one above remains, along with one I painted of myself as a child in a tree titled "Me Thinking, 1970" which is not for sale. Not sure why I went through a phase of moon-painting back then, but here I am once again, painting night scenes on black canvases.

This time, cemeteries.

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes

Art is knowing which ones to keep

I always liked this photo of my fridge magnets. I have always wanted to do a series of photos about people's fridge magnets because I think they can tell us about who we are .

They say to go back to the things that made you happy as a kid. Whatever that was. 

These are just some of the things I enjoyed as a kid and still incorporate in my life today..

Cats, animals, miniatures, nature, art, art history, board games, books, bikes, beads, poetry, and music.

Consider revisiting some of the things you enjoyed as a kid it will make you happy.

I pulled into Nazareth

Was feelin' bout half past dead

I just needed some place where I could lay my head

"Hey mister can you tell me where a man might find a bed?" 

He just grinned and shook my hand, "No" was all he said.

Take a load off Fanny

Take a load for free

Take a load off Fanny

And you put the load right on me

I picked up my bag

I went looking for a place to hide

When I saw Carmen and the devil walking side by side

I said, "Hey Carmen, come on let's go downtown"

And she said: "I gotta go, but my friend can stick around."

Go down Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say

It's just 'ol Luke, and Luke's waitin' on the judgement day

"Well Luke my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"

He said: "Do me a favor son, will you stay and keep Anna Lee company?"

Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog

He said: "I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack my dog"

I said: "Wait a minute Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man"

He said: "That's OK boy, won't you feed him when you can."

Catch a cannonball now, to take me down the line

My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time

To get back to Miss Fanny

You know she's the only one

Who sent me here with regards to everyone.

Robbie Robertson