I have two lemon trees in the back yard that will be bearing two variety of fruit in the next fews weeks. I also have an orange tree. Hopefully, I will be able to get lots of subject matter for my paintings. This "Lemon Study" is on canvas, 8 x 10, oil. I used a heavier mixture of Stand oil and turp, about 50/50, for the background and just stuck with the Liquin Original for the lemon and the greens. This painting was made to viewed at from about 5 feet or so, so until I figure out how to do a proper photo the right size, click on the smallish painting to get the gist of viewing it from that distance.

Bummed but not for too long...

Well, as most of my friends know I ran into a bit of bad luck and a string of bad health issues that delayed my departure for New York just long enough to make it not worth my while this time...so I postponed the trip and will have to make due with working here at home and maybe taking a few nearby workshops. I am bummed because I wanted to see my good friend Richard and attend the classes. But I am determined to make it back there some time soon...enough, now back to work...

Preparing for NYC

As I prepare mentally for my sojourn to NYC, and the Grand Central Academy, I have been reading through, again, Juliette Aristedes book, Classical Drawing Atelier. In it are the basic fundamentals and some in-depth instruction on the classical drawing methods of great representational artists throughout the last few hundred years, and particularly those of the nineteenth century atelier's that were so prevalent in Europe at the time. The methods and thinking are sound: make a good drawing and the painting will follow. Above all else, get the drawing right. Modeling form is fun, difficult and often frustrating for the art student. This book explains step by step the processes needed to acquire the skills to master representational drawing. I took a workshop from Juliette back in 2007, and enjoyed it very much. It opened my eyes to the work involved in developing the skills see and think as an artist. Although, I did already "see" as an artist to some degree, this strictly reinforced what I had instinctively started to develop. Consistent hard work is the key. Developing ones eye and skill takes some time, but I am confident that, since I have been drawing and painting since high school, as a part time artist, my development shall not be impeded by age. I am optimistic, and look forward to immersing myself completely in art. Next blog…about the art galleries I plan to visit. Love it already!
http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Drawing-Atelier-Contemporary-Traditional/dp/0823006573/The Photo is a self portrait by Juliette.

Finding a Sublet In NYC

Having been out of the city of New York since 1992 after having lived there for 8 years, I can honestly say I forget how crazy it is to find a living situation there. As in most things, it's always best to "know" somebody. But I know only one person left from the old days and he shares a small apartment already...not something I can dive into. So, I've been looking on Craigslist and what I thought was almost a done deal on a sublet has turned South and now I am hot on the trail of a new sublet in the East Village. I can honestly say it reminds me of throwing bread crumbs into a pond of carp. A frenzy-like atmosphere emerges and you start to stress and get caught up in it. I have been jerked around by at least two (I think) would be scammers, whose sublets were just a bit too good to be true and who wanted me to wire them money. That was a laugh. One woman actually said I could not send my friend to see the place until I gave her a deposit because she had shown the place to a few people and they didn't rent it. Good luck with that! Another potential scammer answered one of my emails at 2:30 AM Pacific time. That means he is either a very early riser or he was someplace other than New York, say maybe Russia?!? Who knows? Anyway, I found a guy, who happens to be a trader on Wall Street and was born and raised in Half Moon Bay, CA. The same place where I own a home and recently moved from. Small world. We'll see what happens. And, BTW, all the places I've seen pics of are small, cramped even, with maybe 400 sq feet of space. My how we take space for granted here in Phoenix!
Out for now...

Well It's Official...

I will be spending the month of September in NYC, studying part time at,
The Grand Central Academy of Art. http://grandcentralacademy.classicist.org/nightclassesdrawing.html
By part time, I mean, M-TH 6:30 – 9:30 PM, and Sat 12:30 – 4:30 PM The tickets are bought, the sublet is waiting, and I am ready to head back to NYC! The school was started by Jacob Collins, Dan Thompson, and others. I had the pleasure of studying under Dan for a workshop in 2007 in figure drawing. What a great guy. He also studied with Jacob Collins at The Water Street Atelier, also founded by Collins.
http://grandcentralacademy.classicist.org/waterstreetalumni.html
I've also had the pleasure of attending a workshop with Juliette Aristides, also alum of the same school. http://www.aristidesarts.com/
I had the pleasure of taking a portrait class from Jacob Collins in the early 90's at The National Academy of Art in NYC. Mr. Collins has been a huge inspiration to me and my pursuit, although part time, of being a better artist. And although I have pretty much been a part time, or Sunday painter, as I like to say, I have been inspired to take my art to the next level. Unfortunately for my music, I have found I no longer have the energy or the will to play full time in a band. I will, however, pursue that as a "Sunday" drummer/singer. At The Grand Central, they teach in the classical tradition, where skill in draftsmanship came first and was highly developed. This will be the foundation of all my future artistic endeavors. To be achieve above all, a good drawing, all else will follow. I will start will "cast drawing" and "figure drawing." As I am a part time student, this will only be for one month, but I am completely psyched to be able to immerse myself completely in my art work. I will be documenting this incredible journey through this blog...
Wish me luck!

Chuck

It's Been A Long Time...

It's almost been a year since I had my second knee replacement surgery, the first one being in Feb of 08'. It's been a long hard road, having been in a wheelchair for 3 years prior to the surgery, I wasn't even sure I would ever walk again. I'll never forget choking back the tears driving home from a doctor's office after he'd told me he could not do surgery on my legs, they were just too contracted...Luckily, I found a brilliant DR. at Stanford Medical that did a great job on me. The wheelchair kind of snuck up on me. I used it to ease the pain of walking but it robbed me of that task completely. My knees just locked up and I could not straighten them out to walk at all.

Anyway, now I look forward to getting on with things I had long lost the feeling for, like playing my drums and singing. I got the idea for starting a band again, and since I had not been in one for a few years it's been hard getting my drum playing and singing chops back again. Sometimes I forget how out of shape my body had become...that sneaks up on you, too...

The band I have in mind would play music that I have a feeling for...a lot of Steely Dan, because I like the challenge and the sound, and Sting. I love Ten Summoners Tales, one of his best efforts. He is truly a gifted singer/song writer.

So here I am sweating and toiling away learning song and I suddenly I give in to a long standing urge I used to get....the urge to be the "front man" of a band instead of the drummer who sings back up. I want to be the lead singer...

I have taken voice lessons in the past and have sung the lead in stage musicals and sung lead vocals on a few songs in bands...

Okay...

I go back to voice lessons once a week, I buy a CD from a singing coach with a killer warm up exercise on it...I practice my butt off trying to squeeze out those few extra high notes I need...and I get a cold...a two week set back...

I have a guitar track from Stings, "Shape of My Heart" that I paid a guy to perform so I can lay down the vocal track for... as kind of a calling card to other musicians...

Like I said it's been rough...it's kind of like putting on a play by yourself in some ways, but every time I think I can't do it, I think back and remember where I've been.

I'm the type of person that completely immerses himself in what he is doing to the point of neglecting all else...Unfortunately, I tend to get to a certain level of competence and just let it go...hence the "Jack of Arts..."

But this time I think I can safely say I am sticking with it...working hard and will get it done...however long it takes, and it will take a long time...

In the mean time my painting and writing have taken a back seat. I have an idea for a painting, or a re-write to a story and I tend to just let them go...I want to be a singer, damn it! Is that so wrong...?

Now ready, breathe and .... AAAAAAAA EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA OOOOOOOOOOO OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...

Something Rare Indeed.

This is a true story...I feel like a successful lawyer today. Even though I am no where near a real lawyer, I won my first case in court!

The city of Phoenix, in an effort to squeeze more money from the tax paying public, has put up camera on the major highway systems in Phoenix. If you go 10 Miles an hour over the speed limit you get a nice photo taken of you infraction and a letter sent to your home address. I got such a letter a few months ago for something I supposedly did in December. Received a nice little photo of myself traveling along Interstate 10, supposedly traveling at 77 miles per hour.

Well, I don't go that fast because I know where the cameras are and I use my cruise control. So, just before signing the "guilty" portion of the summons, and thereby forfeiting $181.00, I decided to watch the video they made of my infraction. To my amazement, I saw not only my car but another vechicle approximately the same size as mine, go zooming from in back of me in my lane to my right and passing me. I then noticed that my car had stayed parallel to a city bus in the far right lane...

So to me this meant two things. One: I was going the same speed as a city bus. Second: That car that passed me from in back of me must have triggered the cameras and I got left holding the bag.

I requested a court hearing. Today I went to downtown to the court house. They had a Department of Transportation Officer there presenting cases to the court and a judge. I was waiting there a good 45 minutes. One lady in front of me had been nailed for going...coincidentely...77 miles per hour! She plead her case in broken English, claiming her husband had turned red and the veins began to pop in his head, so she sped to the doctor. The judge didn't buy this and ordered her to pay the fine and seek an appeal.

As time passed and the cases in the court dwindled down, I began to get a little nervous wondering if I would be able to speak clearly and intelligibly about what I believed to be my case.

My heart raced as my name was butchered by the judge. I waved my hand and was asked to approach and be seated. I was sworn in and the Judge repeated his spiel about this being a hearing and that the state was going to present evidence against me and that I could then question the officer and then argue my case.

I was delighted that the officer produced photos of the infraction that included surrounding vehicles and indeed included the mystery car that I believed had cause my dilemma.

Once the Officer was finished I began my questioning: "Do you see a car to my cars right?" Yes..."Do you see that the car to my right in partially in my lane?" Yes... 'In the next picture, do you see a city bus parallel to my car?" Yes...

The officer handed the photos to the judge. I then began...

"Your Honor, I drove these highways from August 08 until Jan 09 twice a day to drive my son to and from school. I knew exactly where these cameras are....When I received the notice in the mail I was puzzled as to how I could have been going 77 miles per hour since my custom was to set my cruise control on 65 miles per hour...then when I saw the video I realized there may be a flaw in the system. I am under oath and I believe that it was that car that pass me from behind in my lane and to my right that set off the camera, unless of course that other driver also received a ticket at the exact same time I did."

The Judge looked bemused, was his day was being broken up by an actual argument...?

The DPS Officer produced a small video console and watched the film of my car a few times, showed it to me and said..."Your Honor, I do see a car passing his and the state cannot verify that that car did not indeed trip the cameras, therefor the state will withdraw its case..."

The Judge looked at me over his glasses and said...I smiled a we bit. "Good for you..." Said the Judge.

I asked, "Am I dismissed, Judge?"

He said, "Yes, you are dismissed. And enjoy your time here in Phoenix."

"Thank you, Your Honor," I said. I turned to the Officer and said, "Thank you Officer."

He turned to me and said in a low voice, "Your welcome. Good job!"

I walked out of the hushed court room to the hallway and pump my fist. "Yeah!" I said out loud. Now I know how Matlock feels."

Obviously, there are flaws in the "camera" systems that catch speeders. I happened to get caught up by one of those flaws and luckily for me, I was able to demonstrate it to the court. I firmly believe I was correct.