Not so round circles

The End of Loose Ends

2012-01-11T22:29:00.004-05:00

December was a fervor of painting. I completed multiple things that had been kind of just hanging around waiting.

Frank Leslie is finally one part stencil, one part oil painting.

The sum of the Outlaw Series.

It seems like forever ago when I started in on this...back in 2008. My original plan was to draw out all of the horse anatomy and break the head up into a bunch of multicolored geometric shapes. I did the head and it just looked like some weird easter egg pastel jumble so I scrapped it.

The next idea was to put the head and legs in realistically with oils, but then I thought it might work as a transitional piece between my old circles and my newer stuff if I added in the circle bit.

Then it didn't look complete and the composition was a little off so I drew up the head and slapped it on.

Happy New Year.

Quiet Dog Bite Hard

2011-12-04T20:24:00.001-05:00

I spent all weekend painting. Here's where it stands as of now...

Earlier in the week I started to add black and white to the underpainting.

The executive decision was made to drop the shirt a bit so it didn't look so crotch focused...that was the word on the street from my female friends. The background was added in to help see how the shades of gray play off of one another.

The stockings are in and the shirt is more developed...still playing with the bottom bit and the right side.

However the shirt is starting to look real. It kind of makes me want to touch it so I know I'm on the right track. I also need to put some hair back across her shoulder but it has to dry first.

Go Big Or Go Home

2011-11-13T20:25:00.001-05:00

This one is a biggie. 30" x 40". In fact, it's the largest I've ever gone and after the time it took to grid it in and then do the underpainting it's got me wondering just what I was thinking.

My friend and model Ms. LL.

Here's another dilemma, the above almost has no background painted in (minus the lamp) and the below has a background. I'm not sure if I should go the normal route and paint realistically or do something a little weird and different with it.

A glimpse of my studio.

You Talkin' To Me?

2011-10-25T19:18:00.002-04:00

I just finished. Towards the end I made the decision to repaint the background so the edges of the stencils couldn't be seen. I'm undecided if I should have left them or not...

If you're in town on Friday come see it.

Bobby's Hero

2011-10-04T21:31:00.004-04:00

The beginning of Stencil Jesse James vs. Oil Painting Jesse James. Did you ever see that Brady Bunch Episode? I've had it in my head ever since I started working on this.

Still probably another few hours to go. Man. Those Dorian Gray eyes are kind of freaky.

New Kids On The Block

2011-09-25T18:23:00.005-04:00

The newest members of my little guitar family. I figured since I didn't really purchase anything while in Iceland, it made sense to buy not one but two guitars at an estate sale. You understand.

I also started goofing around here.

förumaður/langhlaupari/drykkjumaður/þjófóttur

2011-09-11T19:06:00.024-04:00

Once upon a time two Erins sat in a bar. One Erin was telling the other Erin about her travel plans. Within 10 minutes the other Erin made a decision to come along for half the ride.

Greetings from Iceland. This is what the town of Reykjavik looks like.

...and the harbor.

The first day we rolled into town we heard a large crowd. Turned out it was the school kids on their first day back. Apparently the new kids get basket tossed by students in togas.

Ég er víkingur

The weather in Iceland is a little moody although quickly changing. The temperature was in the fifties for the most part and I even got a little sunburn.

My favorite installation inside the art museum demonstrated by Erin dancing while ghost people appeared on the screen but not in the room.

I hope not.

I liked this photo with the below title.

The lava fields on the way to the Blue Lagoon.

Ahhh the Blue Lagoon where I swam with over 200 different kinds of bacteria. So beautiful. I lucked out in that my bus arrived just in time to snap some pics, soak for a while and then snap some more as the sun was setting.

Here is the super chill Icelandic horse which sports an extra gait know as the tolt...somewhere between a walk and a trot, super comfortable.

These guys were just chilling in the meadow waiting for their picture to be taken.

Whoa.

An article about hipsters in the Icelandic paper.

Erin and I caught some type of international kennel cough from the hostel we stayed at. So far after 5 days of antibiotics I'm still laid out and have to go back to the doctor tomorrow for better drugs. Viking maladies are rough.

This is Oskar, our host dog. Oskar nei!

In Icelandic cemeteries they plant trees on the graves.

This is what they put on the gravestones of those lost at sea.

The black sand shore right before it started to rain.

Takk.
If you want more go here.

The Dishes Are Done, Man.

2011-08-15T22:27:00.002-04:00

Done. Finally. I am so excited to work on something new.

Artist Lockdown

2011-08-07T23:38:00.006-04:00

This weekend = self-inflicted artist lockdown. Summer is a busy time and I've been slacking on sitting in the studio. Above are projects I'd like to get to.

This is my list of ideas.

Bought some new spray paint. These came with some really strange tips that you can rotate but the paint comes out in a confined line. Not a huge fan but I was too lazy to break into my stash of tips. It's hot out and I was renegade spraying in my garage at 10pm to avoid the mosquitoes.

The idea is to leave one outlaw in the spray painted style and to do the other more realistically in oils. I thought I'd try giving myself a head start by using the second stencil as the underpainting.

Listen to this and check out Abe Lincoln.

Yeah, yeah...

2011-07-04T16:58:00.005-04:00

Ugh. I am so close to finally finishing up this painting...if I could only find the time. I'd like to re-do the background as I've dragged my hand across it so many times, tighten up those lips and add the veil shadows. My parents were in town for a visit and they like to run down to the studio to see what's new. My mom asked if I was going to lighten the veil and I said, no. I hate that veil. I think I've laid it in countless times now and every time I think to myself well, if I had to do that part over again I'd do it completely different. I guess I'm a slow learner.

The Return of Heidi and Summer in the City

2011-07-04T16:15:00.003-04:00

Roadtrippin, Part 1: Nashville

2011-06-27T22:31:00.013-04:00

Hello Nashville.

TN is full of clouds.

Nashville is full of music too. Everywhere you go has at least one live band. This one was our favorite. Nashville is also full of mohawks, believe it or not.

Always help your bass player, this one also plays for Hank William III, with a shot while he's soloing.

Local color.

Katy K.

Hatch Show Print.

Diana's. If you're an old school Port Huron kid you know about this place. Gibson bought the whole place and moved it to Nashville in order to get their hands on the Violano-Virtuoso.

The lovely people at Katy K and Imogene +Willie (check out their blog) suggested we hit up the nD Nashville Launch Party hosted by American Picker's Mike Wolfe when I asked them what was going on that night.

It did not disappoint.

The party was at Mike's new Nashville shop Antique Archeology.

Mike Wolfe.

Not a bar!

We saw the dirtiest dancer of all time. This was Jenni's reaction.

Check out the Slash hair.

A couple of hams at the Loveless Cafe.

Roadtrippin, Part 2: Elvis and Memphis, Plus a Little Ohio

2011-06-27T22:12:00.007-04:00

Graceland.

Elvis liked mirrors or maybe it was just the 1970's that liked them but they're everywhere.

Solid Gold Hits.

Unicorns.

A Graceland palomino.

Mrs. Presley.

A ghost.

I loved the colors on this marquee.

Ohio. And it's god like lighting.

Birthdays and Getting Her Done

2011-06-02T19:57:00.005-04:00

I like to make stencils for friend's birthdays. This dude taught me how to paint. No, not Harry Potter. John Z.

Last we left off I was here...

Then I was here... aaaaaahhhh, scary zombie mouth!

Then a paint miracle occurred. That dude I stenciled above told me to stop painting so thinly because you could see through my layers of paint. He's been telling me this for awhile but it finally sank in. I still have a lot more to finish but she's looking all right.

Also Happy Birthday Liath!! Thanks for the encouragement.

Work-In-Progress, Take Five

2011-05-04T23:10:00.003-04:00

Here are a few shots from a weekend spent painting. The right figure is just about done. There's a minor part to the bottom of her skirt that could be blended a little more and maybe just a hint of non-dirty color on her upper back.

I'm really pleased with the skirt. I think really I captured the leather. Dang! That bum looks nice. Dear Lauren, I think I may have embellished your butt a little bit.

The hair also came out nicely...like you could touch it or maybe think about touching it.

I just started in on the hat, trying to lay in the shapes correctly and make it look 3D...still a lot of layers and definition to come. The rest is all underpainting. I think I've been avoiding her face/veil dilemma but I'm excited for the challenge.

The Debut of Van Houten

2011-04-26T08:53:00.001-04:00

This is my band Van Houten. Before December, no one really knew how to play an instrument. The cops shut us down Saturday night but not before we were able to finish our set. Here's a cover of Beat Happening - Bewitched.

The Inbetweens

2011-04-20T00:32:00.003-04:00

This is still very much a work in progress but it's starting to shape up. The left side is still all underpainting and hasn't been touched. The right side just needs a little cleaning up on the dress and hair...a bit more paint and some minor details.

A stencil for my band. This is worth a listen.

Dualities

2011-03-29T00:01:00.004-04:00

The underpainting. This one is going to be really challenging and yet beautiful. There are a lot of details that are in soft focus...

and this veil is going to make me be very painterly by the end, that is once I get it drawn in.

The beginnings.

Twins. Differnt eras. Dualites.

Thanks for letting me borrow your style.

Dear Golden.

X-mas In March = Mollusks + Comics

2011-03-24T12:06:00.005-04:00

For x-mas, my sister bought my mom and I a private comic lesson with Jerzy Drozd. It was a really great idea and a totally fun time. Jerzy taught use about the 3 layers of comics, the importance of a good story and the rhythm and flow of pacing/paneling. Above is a drawing I did trying out his different inking pens and below is the beginnings of a mini-comic about Lightning.

The myth, the legend, Lightning, the amazing aquarium snail! My friend Paul hooked me up with an aquarium and a few of his select brood. I'm now the proud owner of Acorn, Rascal, Thurston and Lightning. Angelfish are cool but Lightning is like the lovable golden retriever of the tank.

Ok. Lightning is gonna do a trick. He's going to scale this chunk of plant.

Amazing. Lightning actually zooms around the tank at a decent snail pace. He's kind of speedy.

Frank Leslie.

2011-03-19T14:25:00.003-04:00

I'm suppose to be in the studio working on an oil painting but instead I'm finishing up an outlaw. It is still too cold for spray paint so the white and gray layers = roll on, while the black was done with a brush. It was a lot fussier of a process. Warm up already, Michigan. Below is the first of the outlaw series...more to come.

Freeze. Don't Move.

2011-03-19T09:39:00.010-04:00

An old haunt. My hometown. Lake Huron.

While the Great Lakes rarely freeze all the way across, they do freeze in parts...and Lake Huron gets a lot of ice flow traffic as it travels south. The night before I stood under the Blue Water Bridge listening to the slushie like sound the ice makes as it flows through the shipping channel.

These little sand droplets are formed from the meltwater, loaded with sediment, dripping off of the sand covered ice. The beach was covered with geology terms that day. I busted out cravasse, alluvial fan, ripple marks, fluvial...

My mom and in the background Canada.

Sand covered ice.

Cairns.

Cravasse!

The oldest operating lighthouse in the Great Lakes established 1825.

Things Were Kind of Fuzzy Between Us

2011-03-09T21:55:00.012-05:00

Project 3/33 = impromptu weather. It's really foggy out, actually more of a California kind of mist. Scientifically speaking, I think it's called advection fog.

This picture made me remember this video.

Just down the road from where I live are a few of the city's experimental trial in halogen streetlights.

Long exposure + self timer + car hood.

Watch Out, The Wolf Bites

2011-02-27T21:15:00.002-05:00

After 12 weeks of work, it's done.

Pet me.

I'm a proud parent of this one. And no, it ain't for sale.

Outlaws in the House of Aquariums

2011-02-25T01:09:00.005-05:00

I just got in from making art with my friends. Their house is full of aquaria, multiple tanks and countless angelfish in various stages of development. It's a space of creative ebb and flow...perfect for Project 2 out of 33.

This here is outlaw Buckskin Frank Leslie. Story goes that his shooting skills were comparable to Doc Holiday's. Well, I'm your huckleberry. Once it warms up enough to actually spray paint Jesse James can have a partner in crime.

In the meantime, wolfy is starting to take shape. I think one more session should finish off the painting.

Saturday's Snow

2011-02-05T23:56:00.017-05:00

Lace up tight, the snow is high.

Icicle fighting with Heidi.

As I snapped this her icicle broke off and hit me in the head.

Robot drawings hanging in the Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair.

A run in with an old friend.

Inside the Gallery Project.

A pencil drawing of the Tiger Stadium during demolition.

Donuts.

Saying hey to some alley ponies. C'mere Pony!

Drinking kombucha at the Food Co-op. Heidi kept getting some nice pieces of strains. Gross.

My impression of an elf while holding up the blind portrait that Heidi drew of me.

Heidi holding up my blind drawing of her.

A series of the lights underneath all the snow...

Safe and warm back at Heidi's hideout.

Heidi paints too. Here's the latest thing she's working on.

Mr. Hutz Is Dreamy

2011-01-30T21:36:00.007-05:00

Hello again, Eugene Hutz. You're looking good. The background is in, the coat is done, the hair is a work in progress, the shirt is the wrong color red, the 'stach is down, the beard needs more work as does his one eye and ol' wolfy needs some loving but not too shabby for Week 8.

I think these last two are from Week 6. Maybe? Back when I was "cold trippin", as my art teacher said, over the small details. In fact, he asked me how I felt about painting today and I said, you know how you're always telling me to block in the big stuff, forget about the details and after I'm done using a color I should hop around the canvas and see if it's anywhere else in the painting? Yeah, well I finally listened to what you said and it works.

Project 1/33: Electric Tape Ave.

2010-12-25T13:54:00.002-05:00

Here they are, art project # 1 (out of 33). Surplus of electrical tape + baby grid paper moleskins = pimp my notebook.

The Atomic Number of Arsenic

2010-12-22T20:30:00.006-05:00

In just a few hours I'll be the atomic number of Arsenic = 33. It seems like a perfect number and I am excited to be turning it. Someone said it's the Jesus year. Upon researching, since I'm not a religious person, I read that Jesus performed 33 recorded miracles. Going 7 days without showering in the summer was so easy, I decided to try making 33 pieces of art in my 33rd year. It just seems right.

In the meantime:

Here's the first layer of paint on the newest endeavor...many more to go.

If you need some brightly colored electrical tape, I'm your huckleberry. My new found love of certain electrical/musical devices has gotten the best of me.

Stay warm.

We Have The Wolf By The Ear

2010-11-28T23:12:00.003-05:00

"But as it is, we have the wolf by the ear, and we can neither hold him, nor safely let him go." - Thomas Jefferson

Oil painting number 2. The assignment was to collage something that's not in the original picture. This is the underpainting. I'm still debating on the background.

The photo/collage I'm working off of.

Learning To Oil Paint Minus Outlaws Part 3

2010-11-08T23:36:00.006-05:00

Session 6: My eyes are blue now. Somewhere along the line I goofed up my lips. I had trouble fixing it so I ignored them and worked on adding another layer of paint to my cheeks.

You can tell here that I'm still looking really blurry but the cheeks are smoother and taking more shape. My lower face still looks mask-like since I didn't get around to that area.

John then suggested that I drop in a more solid background to help bring out the colors in the face. Here the lips have been adjusted and the lower half of my face has been layered to match the cheeks.

This was session 7. Subtleties. I worked on blending the colors of the forehead and cheeks. Things look smoother and more life like. The nose especially takes on more shape here. Still need to work on the lower half of my face/neck and finish my hoodie but it's getting there.

Also I'm still working on my outlaw stencils but I've been slacking lately. Slacking = either working on the self-portrait or playing with the light coming in from my front window on Halloween morning.

Same picture but in color.

Sass.

National Geographic posing.

Learning To Oil Paint With Outlaws Part 2

2010-10-11T22:20:00.004-04:00

Session 5: After a little friendly art critique I worked on putting my eyes in. It freaked me out in a Dorian Gray kind of way. Still have many more hours of painting to do and I need to fix my upper lip and eyebrow.

I finished x-acto-ing my Jesse James stencil. Here are the three layers on top of one another.

Bang. Bang. The final product.

Learning To Oil Paint With Outlaws

2010-10-03T19:45:00.006-04:00

My friend John is teaching a handful of pals how to traditionally oil paint. This is after session 1-3 which went something like this: transferring the photo to the canvas using the grid system with the 1:2 ratio, doing the under painting (which is what you see in brown), and then starting in on the first thinned out layer on the face and a bit of the hood.

Session 4 was getting the entire canvas covered in paint. Due to color theory it's best to lay all the colors down to see how they interact with one another, before fine tweaking everything. I still don't have my shirt, eyes or neck in but you get the picture.

Me. There's still a lot more to be done. This is just the first layer.

I've been really creative lately and making a ton of art. My new idea is to stencil a bunch of outlaws. This here is Jesse James (not of the tattooed variety).

I'm thinking 3 layers with white, gray, black on an oval canvas.

The Process

2010-09-05T22:11:00.007-04:00

No need for black lungs.

Make yours like mine.

Test. Test.

Layer uno.

Layer dos.

Layer tres.

This isn't finished. I've recently been inspired. The new series I'm working on = Blood Work...see below.

My Summer Vacation (Part 3): Portland

2010-09-01T20:03:00.009-04:00

My Summer Vacation (Part 2): Whidbey Island

2010-08-31T23:20:00.009-04:00

My Summer Vacation (Part 1): Seattle

2010-08-31T22:47:00.007-04:00

Shopping Cart Races (Part 2): Friends Come In Boxes

2010-08-18T01:28:00.007-04:00

This is a giant box. Carrie and I were walking back from the end of the race when we see this in the distance. As we approach it I'm thinking we should jump on it but out jumps these kids .

They kindly invite us in. Six of us fit comfortably and we await patiently...to pop up and ask for cigarettes.

Making friends in boxes is easy. The four of you rule. Thanks for the box time.

Goodnight. I mean Good Morning.

Shopping Cart Races (Part 1): The Heat is Hot

2010-08-18T01:07:00.009-04:00

Pre-Punk Week Shopping Cart Races start with the Head Mistress of the Race, Jenna, but I know her as Betty Beretta. All night long she got text about how the cops were really gonna crack down. She just rolled her eyes. The heat is hot.

My derby girls.

Give it a week. This is gonna be the new hipster tattoo.

Participants.

Walking and taking pictures with no flash in low light situations = tricky but kind of interesting, visually speaking.

The starting line.

And they're off.

My pants happened to match the road lines. Imagine that.

Carrie scores a cigarette with her line, "Hey I'm handicapped. Can I bum a cigarette?" It works like a charm as does having 2 plates and six screws holding your foot to your leg.

Zombie Town.

Forest and Erin riding away.

Like A Seasick Sailor

2010-08-15T21:25:00.008-04:00

The Alchemy of Malacology

2010-07-10T01:40:00.005-04:00

The bros and bocce

2010-07-05T21:03:00.004-04:00

4th of July = 2nd annual pig roast. I brought my camera this time but only caught a bocce game. The photo philosophy was to get in there quick, gonzo like and then relax sans camera for the rest of the evening....you know, make Hunter S. Thompson proud.

Vintage Figment

2010-06-27T23:47:00.002-04:00

I love it when things go wrong.

And when they go right.

Time Zone and Name Changes

2010-06-06T19:31:00.015-04:00

My dear friend MJ (who is now actually MF, but some old habits never die) just got married on her dad's farm. I was invited to be a part of it and hit the 9 hour drive in 3 planned stages, Chicago, Madison and then Westby, where I spent most of my time romping around Hidden Springs in a dress. The farmland and wedding were beautiful and for whatever reason I didn't snap any pictures out there. Sometimes it's more fun to just be in the moment.

Entering the Land of Lincoln. You'll pay...in time and toll booths.

I started getting a little surly in the line. Making faces helps time pass. That's plain science.

First stop: My friend Jill's house with of course lots of hellos and scratching. Miles!

Louie!

Sometimes it's rough having freckles.

Jill and I made a trip to Renegade Handmade.

I loved everything in that damn store. These are the things that followed me home...some cool, ecogroovy resuable/hand washable baggies to replace zip-locks.

Paper goods.

"Sorry, I'm not Don Draper". Yeah, me too.

I'm not a fan of planners and often joke about having an imaginary planner. Well I caved in and bought this one. The Non-Planner Datebook.

Smokin' fixie.

Jill took me to an amazing raw vegan restaurant called Karyn's Fresh Corner Cafe. The tamales and ravioli were delicious.

Next day: Madison, WI.

Schlarb!

Check this man's socks. I adore everything about him. We've been friends for 10 years and he's hands-down the best.

Local beer.

Antiquated and lovely.

Barometer.

Perfect spot to read.

Part 3: Moraines...somewhere on the road to Westby.

The view from the hotel.

I actually got to take a ride in an Amish buggy. Jakob, the 32 year old Amish neighbor with 7 kids, gave us a free ride with the help of Ruby and Rose.

Don't Toy With Us

2010-05-29T16:33:00.016-04:00

Mornin' sunshine.

After catching up over breakfast my pal Molly and I made a quick trip to Peaceable Kingdom. Where we touched just about every product. Idle hands are the devil's playground...yeah, yeah.

ZOMBIES!!!

MONSTERS!!!

Zombies vs. Monsters

Rastafarian finger worm.

Who dee whoo.

Oh, hello.

Molly asked me if I'd still be her friend if she bought these. Of course I said no.

All Your Base Are Belong to Us

We walked out with 2 Fly Backs and flew them all over town.

Maiden alley voyage.

Crash n burn.

Solar powered.

I pegged Molly in the face with this one but she said it was worth the shot. Spoken like a true adventure photographer.

She got me back later in the leg.

Mechanical failure.

Staring contest.

Farmer M.

Farmer E.

A Potato box...it's supposed to yield 100s of taters but last year they only got 10 small ones.

Luck.

Kid harmonica.

High noon.

Molly's cat wants out.

A disenchanted Harper...

needs a hit of catnip.

Finn. My ginger buddy.

Finn has a face somewhere between an ogre and Disney's King Richard. He's cute but his eyes don't quite track up. It gives him an endearingly sheepish sort of quality.

We stopped by a garage sale. These tags were in the actual garage.

The cover of a book called The Five Arrows.

Indeed, I bought this book because of its cover.

A Day Off

2010-05-01T12:03:00.011-04:00

All the king's men and all the king's horses were in town, so it was suggested that I not come into work. You don't have to tell me twice. I grabbed the bull by the horns and ran with him in the beautiful daylight.

This is the 2nd year Dr. Dre and I have taken this picture.

Blood on the tracks and a flamenco skirt hold.

More reflections...

Waiting.

These won't help you see better.

Josh doesn't like acid washed jeans.

Fingers and looks.

Old Town creates really great lighting situations during happy hour. It's true.

Looking down the barrel.

If you know me, then you know that peanut was mine due to the condition of the straw.

We stopped by an architectural exhibit in the Liberty Lofts. They promptly kicked us out (it's open to the public today) but not before I snapped a couple shots and we all nabbed atomic fire balls.

Walking home.

This shot reminds me of a dream I once had.

Old Ann Arbor.

Shortcuts.

Lovers/Stranglers.

I've Got A Bike, You Can Ride It If You Like...

2010-04-10T14:11:00.012-04:00

The bicycles of Ann Arbor are out in full force. Here's a collection of what was out and about this Saturday afternoon.

So this isn't a bike but it was next to one. It's a tabletop.

Hmmm...I think we're missing something.

A tall person owns this one.

Co-Op bikes.

Family bicycles hanging outside the Farmer's Market.

Visual bike break.

Heavy artillery.

Another casualty.

Almost a ghost bike. I've seen a few of them in Chicago and the one just outside of Ann Arbor. It's kind of a humbling moment when you round a corner. Be careful out there and wear your helmet.

My friend Peter's bike. Well one of his bikes.

Drunk bikes. These 2 were hanging outside of Old Town.

Welcome to the Hive

2010-03-29T20:22:00.008-04:00

Before we stenciled we had to tile the pattern. Dr. Dre here, just wanted to throw paint over the blue guide marks and then peel off the tape. I'm wondering if she's gonna make it another 24.

Them eyes.
Tools of the trade.

Robin egg blue.

The process.

Drinkin' and paintin'.

Blurred lines. At some point we got slap happy and came up with a whole bunch of pick up lines revolving around the nickname for my new bedroom The Hive.

My second honeybee helper, Ms. Molly.

The geometry is tight. Did you know that hexagons are the most organic shape out there in nature? Yep.

The Wall. My bedroom wall took about 8 hours...I originally thought it'd take like 2 hours. Yeah.

The backyard. Our prayer flags are from Nepal. We've got connections. Thank you, Christy.

The den. Roar.
The living room...
and a couple of my paintings.

No Ma, Really, I'm Packing

2010-03-06T15:08:00.006-05:00

I had to drop something off to my aunt who lives in the county. I forgot that the country always makes my shoulder relax and that the rpms of the car fall without me thinking about it. I love barns, farmers and outbuildings. I love the dirt and the air. I should be at home packing but instead I'm driving through the country with the music turned off and a handheld camera.

Haunting and beautiful, always a dangerous combination.

I haven't lived in California now for 6 years but my car still wears the front plate proudly...still have my CA drivers license too.

I think this is my new favorite picture.

This one has weathered a few storms. The country builds character.

Cleaning Up Our Acts

2010-02-20T19:01:00.014-05:00

A change of plans on a Saturday afternoon. The warm weather brings up car washing ideas.

I've always wanted to be an O'Connor-Zeichman...I mean Tenenbaum.

Christine likes these because they taste like medicine and are sugar free.

I never knew car washes have such a science fiction feel to them but indeed they do.

In the belly of the beast.

Hott waxx...

Jay-Z.

Clean.

Not so clean. We didn't understand this bumper sticker. Do you?

Sometimes I like to dress all in the same color.

Intermission. Next car wash, different characters.

I didn't follow direction #2. I'm a rule breaker.

My new photog Carrie. Different salty car.

To get really clean you've gotta get down and dirty.

...and up high.

It took more quarters than I originally thought it would.

Wishy Washy...my favorite name of a San Francisco laundry mat.

Carrie started to get claustrophobic.

Wet weather gear. Unfortunately the bottom of my corduroys got soaked but not as wet as the time I jumped in the pool with them on. Corduroys get unbelievably soft in water...just so you know.

Clean.

Catching Reflections

2010-02-14T18:25:00.010-05:00

I've been cleaning out my photo reserves and thought it might be time to look back again. It's also Valentine's Day so I found this quote that seems appropriate to drop today..."The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them." - Thomas Merton

Lower left hand corner. Puddle reflection. Detroit stands proudly in the background.

Me at 26 through the mirror. New to Ann Arbor and fresh from California.

Exhibits reflected in exhibits.

A bus in the Corner Brewery.

The Thai Pavilion and pond in Madison, WI.

When done right reflections can almost look like double exposures.

Dr. Dre.

Shot on my bedroom wall it's the double reflection of light coming through my widow.

Bathroom mirror.

The sunlight hitting a cd and making rainless rainbows on the wall.

Philadelphia is full of reflecting things.

Cups and glasses.

And more glasses through the handle to all my museum cabinets.