Daily Doodle #17

Dating.  It's a risky business.  It's a gamble.  Sometimes you win.  Sometimes you lose. 

Recommended listening: "Every Time I Roll the Dice" by Delbert McCinton.  
"Momentary Setback" by Marc Broussard 

Daily Doodle #16

Neck Line – Fewer areas are sexier on a woman. The beautiful lines, the delicate & soft skin, the nape, the space just below the ear, graceful collar bones, the scent of her hair or perfume....  drives me insane. If she leans in close to be heard over loud music or pulls her hair back to reveal where she'd like a tattoo or to better show off some new earrings... you better want a kiss, girl, because it'll take every ounce of my willpower to hold back. And lately, I don't have a full tank of willpower. 

Recommended listening: "You Make Me" by Grace Askew, "Everybody Here Wants You" by Jeff Buckley

Daily Doodle #15

Gone Fishing – This doodle is from last weekend, but I didnt have time to post it. So I still have one to complete today. 

On my playlist today: "Good Morning Little School Girl" by Johnny Lang

Daily Doodle #14

It's a jungle out there. 


Overheard on facebook: My yard is becoming a jungle. I fear wild animals jumping out and attacking me. 

Daily Doodle #13

I'd Rather be Painting - I finished this last night but didn't have time to post it. So I still have a doodle to complete today. This goal of a doodle a day is tougher than i initially thought. 

Daily Doodle #12

Break This Heart of Stone – Many of my paintings and drawings have a song that influenced or inspired the piece.  I could have sworn that I had a song in mind when i started this.  No, it's not the Rolling Stone's "Heart of Stone."  I could have sworn it was a song that I was listening to recently. A Black Keys song perhaps, but I cant find the lyric now.  But the idea of how to break a heart of stone has been on my mind.  I think that it takes time like a seed cracking the sidewalk.  Or can you paint over old, painful memories with new, happier ones?  Will they still bleed through?  How many coats will it take to paint over 7 years? 

Recommended listening:

"Next Girl" - The Black Keys

"Mostly" - Grace Askew

Daily Doodle #11

Martini – colored pencil.

Just a quick sketch of a vodka martini.  They aren't really my drink of choice, but a friend made the remark today about really needing one.  I don't know what your poison is, but cheers. 

Opening Reception - Sitting up with the Dead – Gallery 210

Opening Reception - Sitting up with the Dead 

Gallery 210 

1015 South Cooper

July 16th 

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The latest show to hit Midtown Memphis’ still new but increasingly potent Gallery 210 is a collaboration between Chris Nadaskay and Melinda Eckley titled "Sitting up with the Dead"—according to them a distinctly southern tradition—a vigil over the recently departed. “Who’s passed?” one might ask. According to Nadaskay and Eckley it is modern culture’s place of archeological importance; it is the enforced expectations of heirlooms restricting the future, both individually and culturally. 

The show will exhibit a museum like atmosphere in an attempt to encapsulate the feeling that each piece is a “remnant of some future past”—excavated and historically meaningful. But what is it present-humanity culturally esteems, and how will its treasures be perceived when exhumed? What contribution, if any, will they make? Will they liberate, enlighten or impede?

Nadaskay and Eckley are both artists of repute who have a local tradition. Both are professors at Union University; Eckley is also an alumni of Memphis College of Art. Nadaskay currently works in “mixed media/ceramic wall relief”; while Eckley creates sculptural installations.

The show opens with a reception and artist lecture and runs from July 16 – August 15, 2010. The opening night reception (July 16th 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.) is open and free to the public. General gallery hours are from 9:00 a.m. – Noon, Monday thru Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sundays. For more information please call (901) 377-3372.

Daily Doodle #10 (revised)

Never Thirst 

John 4:11-14

I started this doodle at The Stirring based on the scripture and sermon for that night. 

Daily Doodle #9

I'm Not The One

 "You wanted it all, but I give you...give you none. I'm not the one." 

– The Black Keys

Daily Doodle #8

Cannonball!

Next weekend a friend of mine is having a pool party.  I have to admit that I'm really looking forward to it. The Memphis heat is really getting to me.  I could go for a cannonball dive into a pool of ice water right about now.  I am not looking forward to July and August when Memphis truly gets HOT. 

Daily Doodle #7

Redhead  

Another quick sketch loosely based on a friend's facebook photo. Still trying to get a hang of my new Prismacolor Nupastels.

Daily Doodle #6

Cut Down - colored pencil

They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. - Psalm 64:3

 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. – James 3:7-12

Project Sketchbook hosted by Rozelle Artists Guild

I participated in this last year. It was a lot of fun and there were many very creative entries. It's open to local and national artists. You should definitely check it out and contribute to the Rozelle Artists Guild's fundraiser. They only get your pledged amount if they raise the total $1,500. It's an all or nothing system on kickstarter.com

Daily Doodle #5

Untitled

Quick sketch. Just playing around with my new Prismacolor Nupastels.  

Daily Doodle #4

Some things of beauty are not meant to last. 

They must be enjoyed in the moment. 

A sunset, a rose blossom, a shooting star. 

Beautiful, brief. Savor it for soon it fades.

Brevity

Recommended listening:

"Wish We'd Gotten Drunk" by Amber Rubarth

"Pilot" by Amber Rubarth

"Dreams" by Brandi Carlile

"Shelter from the Storm" by Bob Dylan

"Essence" by Lucinda Williams

"Don't You Know You're Beautiful" by Seabird

"This New One" by Grace Askew

"A Song to Thank the Stars" by Amber Rubarth

"Near to You" by A Fine Frenzy

"Parting Words" by Valerie June

Daily Doodle #3

Outpour
Recommended listening: Rescue by Seabird

"I'm pushing up daisies, I wish they were roses.
I feel like I'm drowning but nobody knows it."

Daily Doodle #2

Overly Protective 

I had this idea about how we can be overly protective in our lives and how that protection can turn against us. Like a bird that builds a nest in a thorn bush only to have the vines grow to shut her out.

A Doodle a Day

I'm trying to kick up the creativity. So every day of this my 30th year, I'm going to do a doodle or other creative work and post it here (and on Facebook) every day.  

"I soak up the air here like I have been dry my whole life." - quote from an Asheville artist

 I grew up in the foothills of the Ozarks and spent a lot of time camping there. So I love visiting the mountains. Especially the Great Smoky Mountains. It feels like coming home. The air seems richer, crisper, and full of life. I like the smell of old forests, of waterfalls, and of mist. I cant breathe in deeply and it seems to soak into my very bones.

Notes from the Road: First stop Atlanta, GA

If there is one theme that developed over the course of the road trip, it was rushed. At times it was exciting. But as the trip went on, the lets-do-as-much-as-we-can-in-one-day got tiresome. You can't sprint for an entire marathon. Atlanta, GA was one of the quick stops on the trip. I spent just one night there.

My first stop was Ikea. And as I mentioned, it felt as though i was running through the place in an attempt to see everything and stay on schedule. I really didnt need anything from the store but I bought a package of small glasses that looked perfect for whiskey.

My other planned stop was the High Museum of Art. It was beautiful inside and out. "We're walking. We're walking. We're walking.... and stop." This was the monolog in my head at the museum. There was so much to see and I had about 2 hours to do it. I saw a roaster exhibit on display which seemed fitting as I was on a road trip. Which reminds me, I was pleasantly surprised by the much higher MPG that my Volvo wagon got on the highway. I drove from Memphis to Atlanta with a quarter of a tank to spare. In fact, I made the nearly 500 miles and 8 hour drive from Cincinnati, OH to Memphis, TN on one tank of gas. The wagon got about 33 mpg.