Photo of Anne Jackson, Susan Issacs, and I hanging out

Okay so I'm just there in spirit.  How stinking cool is this picture!  Susan put it best in her tweet: "Richard Fudge on the wall, Anne Jackson in the room, Richard Fudge in Anne Jackson's book. Wack!"  And that's all happening IN Susan Issacs' house.  That just gives me the biggest smile. I may have squealed like teenage girl when i first saw this photo, but it was first thing this morning. I blame the lack of coffee on the high pitch.

New series

I no longer have nightmares, but the lack of dreams is equally disturbing. Where is my joy?

It’s a practiced smile that’s on my face. In an effort to numb the pain, I numbed my joy.
Unexpected side effects. Get better soon.

I've yet to come up with some witty or profound name for this series. So that new collage series will have to do for now.  Last evening I started another 12"x12" panel and read a chapter of The Ragamuffin Gospel. I hope to have a good set of these finished in time for the Stirring's anniversary service in Sept.

Recommended listening: "Novacaine" by Amber Rubarth; "If Not for Love" by Kris Delmhorst

OMG! I'm published....

About a year ago, I was working on my To Send a Prayer series when I emailed author Ann Jackson one of my doodles for a book she was working on: Permission to Speak Freely: Essays and Art on Fear, Confession, and Grace. I didn't have any expectations. I liked her blog and her question "What is one thing you feel you can’t say in church?" really connected with me. I never really heard if she was going to use it for certain or even when the book might get published.

A spread from her book.  My drawing is on the right. 

So today I'm checking the blogs and twitter accounts that i follow when I see that Susan Issacs (another author who loves my work) has tweeted about the book release. So much has happened in my life in the last 12 months that I'd totally forgotten about Ann's book. I'm thinking to myself, "I wonder if my doodle made the book? Wouldn't that be cool." I do a little searching around Ann's website and had pretty much decided that I probably hadn't made the cut or I'd have to order a book to find out for sure when I stubble across the above image. I couldn't sit still for 15 minutes. I'm emailing friends in ALL CAPS, i post a link on facebook, and just about run up and down the halls at the office screaming "I'M IN THE BOOK." Soon I'll be able to walk into a bookstore, pick a book off the shelve, open it to this page, and state "Isn't that cool. I'm published." In all honesty, this probably isn't that big a deal, but to me... today... it's HUGE. 

2010. Best. Year. For. My. Art. So. Far. 

New work in the works

Although I've taken a break from the daily doodle entries, that doesn't mean I've stopped making any art. In fact, I started 2 new pieces this weekend based on recent journal doodles. Above is a 12"x12" painting that I started this weekend. It's not yet finished, but it's far enough along to share with you. I've got a second one that's about half way complete. I'm hoping to have them both complete in time for my art opening/open house event this Saturday. I'm not sure of the titles yet or if this is the start of a new series, but I'm enjoying doing something different from my other work.

I'm not sure where I got the quote from, but it really hit home. These unintended consequences. In an effort to stop having nightmares, you stop having any dreams. Or in an effort numb the pain heartbreak, you numb your heart so entirely that you stop feeling joy or love.

Recommended listening: "Novacaine" by Amber Rubarth

Save the Date: Art of Caring

Saturday, August 28th 

5:30p - 7:30p

The Art of Caring
@ the Clark Opera Memphis Center
6745 Wolf River Boulevard

Art of Caring is a reception and silent art auction that benefits the Baptist Trinity Hospice House and the Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief. This year the event is taking place in an exciting new venue. I hope that you'll make your calendar and consider joining me. This year I'm donating another large piece from my To Send a Prayer series.

"Release" by Richard Fudge

2010 - mixed media, acrylic

24"x48" on wood panel

To purchase tickets or for more information about Art of Caring, please call 901-227-7123
or email jay.atkinson@bmhcc.org

Daily Doodle #33

So Much Pain – When you have something immensely painful happen in your life, you have to hope that there's some grand purpose for it. You have to believe that one day it will all make sense and ultimately be to your benefit. That you'll see the beauty others miss or have greater appreciation for that which you took for granted before.  Course, if your journey through this land of pain for is long, you begin to wonder at the amount of damage. What scars will you have to live with?

Recommended listening: "So Much Pain" by Star & Micey; "Tin Man" by The Avett Brothers