George Michael - RIP

I, like many of you, was so shocked to hear that George Michael died today. I always thought his voice was so strong on the song "One More Try" soaring from low to high with ease. On Twitter someone posted him singing a Queen song (with David Bowie and Seal, no less, looking on from the sidelines). I always thought that no one could match Freddie Mercury's or Elton John's vocals, but George Michael could. And who could emulate George Michael's? Not many. Some singers make it look so easy. Maybe the singing is the easiest part of it for them, and living life is the harder part. Please read this article by the great Bob Lefsetz on George's artistic contribution, and what it costs to be an artist.

Please also read Rob Sheffield's great tribute to George in Rolling Stone, here.

Shadow and Light - Elaine Badgley Arnoux (Excerpt)

Here's a brief 8 minute (the entire documentary is less than 30 minutes) clip of the short film, "Shadow and Light - Elaine Badgley Amoux." I thought it was a fascinating look at a great female artist. I especially love her quote, "that she was old when she was young and did not become young until she was old." Let's all be forever young (to quote Bob Dylan, another wise soul).

Party Dress

I just can't seem to pick up shimmer and shine with my camera or phone.  I spent a very long time on this--it has beads and glitter and tissue paper and acrylic, and two kinds on enamel, and...well, you get the point.  I went out to eat with a very good friend of mine, the last bit of the post-Thanksgiving weekend, and everything is now twinkling with Christmas decorations.  The holiday is working its way into my art.

There's my friend Cindy, or Cinderella as I call her, in the background.

Pierogies and Street Tacos--fusion food, baby!

Santa Smells A Tulip

Happy Magical Season!

Headband in Oil

Well, I just couldn't leave my "headband" drawing from a few days ago alone.  It just felt like he wasn't done yet.  Here he is in oil.

Horace Went Shopping on Black Friday

Horace fount the perfect tabletop Christmas tree on Black Friday.

This is filled with shimmery, lavender sparkle, you just can't see it in the picture.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  This month as FLOWN by, and now we've landed on the great feasting day of the year.  Not to overdo the aviary references, here's a giant doodle of a quite charming fowl.  I actually drew him last year, but never posted him.  I added an acrylic background to the colored pencil and ink, because always important to accessorize a turkey. (-;

Headband

I toyed with the idea of drawing this man's left eye to perfectly match the right, but I liked the way it looked as if he were ominously moving forward--one eye closer to the viewer than the distant left.  I felt like he was coming our of a city tunnel or a hospital or a psych ward.  I sketched this quickly on a large shard of paper--all ink and dried out ink brush.

Hamilton

On this day in current events, two views of a play.

Oil, Ink, Enamel on paper

Sharon Jones RIP

I just read the sad news that Sharon Jones has died.  She had an incredibly powerful voice reminiscent of the great 1960's soul singers.  In fact, she was known as the female James Brown.  Her 2007 CD, "100 Days, 100 Nights" and the song of the same name had me in awe.  It completely pierces through your entire body as it blasts--and blasts is the only thing it could do even if your volume was turned down to 1--from the radio.  Yeah, you can listen to it on itunes, etc., but her music was meant to be playin' hard on your car radio with the windows down and your hair flying.  Her band, the Dap-Kings, lent their old-style grooves to Amy Winehouse, as they backed her at times as well.

I knew Sharon had pancreatic cancer, but she fought with such a force, you felt like she might be one to crack it.  If you haven't seen Barbara Kopple's documentary on her, "Miss Sharon Jones" which just came out this year, you need to.  Filled with the incredible talent and fighter that she was, her story of perseverance and song will leave you mourning her all the more.  Honor her by watching and listening.

Click here for The New York Times' article on Sharon's passing.

Click here for NYT's article from this past July when Sharon was still touring.

100 Days, 100 Nights

Works on Paper Art Show

Here are some photos of the art show I had earlier this month entitled, "Works on Paper."  I'd say 98% of what you see was completed in 2016.  Not everything is shown here, of course, but you can get an idea.  I only showed unframed pieces this time around.  Also, the half of the pics are ones I had taken.  Half, including the close-up shots, were taken by other people.  I apologize for repeats.  I wanted to acknowledge the contributions of others who were there.  Every media is here:  oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, ink, and mixed media.  Hope you like it. (-: