Art - it’s an audience that completes a work...

art awakens the senses
composing reflections from life's reasoned fences
encoded skill and mind is the foundry
beyond the grip of night's emotional boundary

Space is Out There

Thanks to folks such as the people and friends supporting APOD we have at our internet fingertips an impressively large quantity of very high quality artistic and scientific images from the seeable universe. These are wonders to behold and some would argue enough for our astronomical appetite. But for others the thought of exploring space from the comfort of a faster than light starship is a bit more palate pleasing. However, travel to even our closest stellar neighbor is well beyond a reasonable human journey today. But these space traveling dreams so many of us have likely indicate possibility. I believe we look and outreach with hope to the heavens because it's part of our nature. How the distant star trekking dream is fulfilled who can say... maybe heaven has the answer!

life’s flame burns like fusion
propagating emotion like starlit nebulae
who can hide from its beckoning
to the stars… onward outward… ever reaching
for love's reward

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV. 

1 Corinthians 13 

Space Traveler

1978 - Acrylic and ink on acetate with background photographic print

This is my rendition of Ed White's historic 1965 spacewalk. The above space traveler was drawn with black ink on one side and painted on the opposite side with acrylic in the fashion of early animation cel production. Today's production animation is predominantly done with computers eclipsing this hand labor process. 

Balance

1977 - Acrylic and ink on acetate

This started as a drawer handle sketch and evolved. It's called "Balance" due to its compositional symmetry. The inspiration stems from experienced personal relationships and a decorative drawer handle. If you look closely at the center of the image you will see two separate humanoid heads merging together to form a third... two looking toward the center and one looking at you, three perspectives from one source... Kind of like how two people in marriage can act as one... and if you will allow, a symbolic model for the Christian Holy Trinity.

Beatles

1975 - Acrylic and ink on acetate

This was my first work in this medium... I found it when cleaning out my files while sheltering in place. I had mistakenly painted George's pants yellow before I painted the Yellow Submarine so I opted to paint the submarine tail red instead of starting over.

Ken's Ride

1979 - Acrylic and ink on acetate

"And I'm hovering like a fly, waiting for the windshield on the freeway..."  lyric quote from the band Genesis, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, released 1974 - The highlight that I painted on Ken's windshield reminds me of the inevitable bug collisions experienced on a motorcycle. I reckon it's a good argument for a full face helmet...

Angle Wrangle

1982 - 11x14 Lithograph 

I did the "whole nine yards" production of this work including sketch, pen and ink, rubylith color overlay, grayscale screens, camera ready mechanical, graphic arts camera work and printing on a 1250 Multilith offset printing press.

Dragon One

1971 - Pencil Drawing 

I believe this is my first dragon drawing. I found it when cleaning out my files while sheltering in place.

Traversity

1980 - Metal Etching/Carving

I made two of these (left and right) for my 1979 Kawasaki LTD 1000 motorcycle (below). The two holes align with a gas tank mounting bracket. It started as a pen and ink drawing that was etched in magnesium then I carved it out of the etch panel and painted it gold to match the LTD's blue and gold pinstriping.

Fireworks

1976 - Watercolor

I love dragons! This painting is the third of a set of three watercolors.

Log Cabin Church

1981 - Acrylic watercolor on illustration board

Next to this Ed's Art Share website, Log Cabin Church is my personal favorite work. This church is very inspiring to me. My adopted mom always said this painting was my masterpiece. I don't disagree. I discovered this beautiful church in 1973. In my imagination, I love how the two buildings are allegorically reflecting the Christian Bible "Old Testament" (wooden log cabin - the Tabernacle was built of cloth and wood - Exodus 26) and "New Testament" (stone/rock building - "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18)

Also in my imagination, the ghostly shadow in the painting that is approaching the front of the stone church is symbolic of the evil (Hades) that threatens us all. I took artistic license there and replaced the road that runs directly in front with the grass and shadow. I also omitted the power lines. The original church was held in the small log cabin. The stone/rock church was built later as the congregation grew larger.

In 1981 the stone church front doors were green but they have since been painted red. I like red as the better color for the doors because the red best symbolizes Jesus's life and purpose. (Jesus's blood is our "Door" to Heaven.) I see the color white (like we see at the log cabin doors, rock church building and clouds) as a symbol of the Father since white reflects all colors (I feel God is reflected throughout the universe when we look for Him. He is the Artist with the largest palette and singular infinite skill.) I see the color blue as symbolizing the Holy Spirit like the sky all around us. (God's Spirit interacts with us constantly like the air we breathe... when we are still, He is readily apparent. Psalms 46:10) 

Red, White and Blue... sounds familiar doesn't it. Our great country was founded on religious freedom. But lately, our foundation is being challenged. "A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Portal

1971 - Original pencil sketch

2008 - Wacom Intuos3 Drawing Tablet, MS Paint

This work was a study for a Christmas card.
(Can you see the dragon's head?)

Who of age has not pondered life’s destination... whether it is to a final resting place or another beginning. And who does not want truth as the foundation of reason.

Believing in something does not make it real... we humans are not that powerful. Truth makes a something real. Truth is what we seek and humility is what we should know. John 4:23

climbing the tree
what to see

dare i aspire
a journey higher
to find key
beyond the lee
stars of fire
twigs of pyre

soul to rest

in angels nest

Grasp

1974 - Pen and Ink

Grasp and balance as in "Get a Grip" -  Your world is spinning and moving and has been gradually slowing down since shortly after its creation. Your time here is numbered so don't be satisfied with all you have learned... the earth will too soon blanket this life in quiet solace. 

Isaiah 65

HummerHead

1992 - Computer Animation

Commodore Amiga 3000, Imagine 2.0 software - I won honorable mention in a national Computer Animation competition for the Amiga computer with this work. Unfortunately, this digitized video is made from a VHS tape. I no longer have the Amiga computer this was built on that would provide a sharper image. 

Motional

Drawing selections done for animation with music and film caption quotes for fun.

1977 Pen and Ink Group

"Watching... and waiting... for a friend to play with..." Moody Blues words... Peter Gabriel space alien outfit...

"Eruption..." Erupting guitar master Eddie Van Halen

"I had to get it out of me, if you know what I mean..." Back in NYC, Genesis 1974

1974 Pencil Drawing Group

"Which way did he go, George? Which way did he go?" Willoughby wondered

"Trapped in birth on celluloid..." Peter Gabriel, imagery engineer

"The crawlers cover the floor..." But not for long... more Peter Gabriel imagery engineering

BACK TO TOP - MEANDERINGS - DIVERSIONINGS - MEETINGS - ENDINGS