Chester makes a cameo appearance in Susan's video

Thank You From Susan Isaacs from Save Blue Like Jazz on Vimeo.

That's right! Incredible, funny actress/author Susan Isaacs has 3 of my paintings and you can see them all in the background of this video she made. How cool is that!

In case you're wondering more about Save Blue Like Jazz (the movie) and would like to donate to it (there is still time!), here's a link.

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.

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. 

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

This Year I'm going Pro

That's right. I'm going Pro. Not in football or some other sport, but as an artist. Ok, I'm not quitting my day job, it's not that drastic or daring. But at least I've now got corporate sponsorship - sorta. I just signed on for the largest painting I've ever done. Two 4 ft by 6 ft canvases combined to create one massive painting. I'm going to need a bigger easel (hah, when i read this i think of "you're going to need a bigger boat"). I ordered the custom canvas yesterday, and will be placing an order with cheapjoes.com for other supplies soon.

Not Alone – proposed set for a grief counseling center for children. This is just a rough sketch.

Also in the "i cant believe im doing this" art news, I'm working on a children's book with 2 very talented writers based on my "To Send a Prayer" series. The thing is. I have to create like 15 new paintings at a size that is better suited for the book's layout. In 4-6 months, I should be able to sell you a book that I illustrated. Crazy! 

I have one of my 12"x36" paintings that I sold through Facebook and need to ship to.... wait for it... Sierra Madre, CA. Does that make me a nationally known artist?  ;)   - Update, so I went to Fedex at the suggestion of Deeann Rieves who ships her work all the time. I couldnt find a good box so I just took the painting there and hoped they had one. they did have one for paintings but it was huge! We boxed it up using that box and then weighted it and figured the shipping. It was going to be 100 bucks. After I picked myself off the floor, i suggested we cut down the box and try again. It took at lot of work (on the Fedex girl's part not mine. I just supervised.) but we got cut the box down to about a third of the original size. At the new size, it was only going to cost 30 and that included the box i purchased. WIN

Now I just need to get commissioned to illustrate a favorite band's cover art (just give me a call Over The Rhine, Avett Brothers, Amber Rubarth, A Fine Frenzy, I'll be happy to cut you a deal. hey if we're going to pretend, let's shoot for the moon.) Or I could be represented by a fancy art gallery. It'd have to be something pretty BIG to top what's already happened. I've pretty much surpassed any expectations or goals I had set for myself this year. 

Fudge now on Flickr

Susan E. Isaacs likes my art. :)

So last evening, I attended Donald Miller and Susan Isaacs book tour stop at Hope church here in Memphis. amillionmiles.com It was a great evening. Susan Isaacs is the author of Angry Conversations with God. She's sorta like a cross between Anne Lamott and Amy Sedaris, another author and a comedienne that I really like. So please take that as a compliment, Susan.

Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir by Susan E. Isaacs (Author)

So after her performance that is based on her book, there was an intermission and she was signing books in the lobby. I waited in line and got my copy signed. I was too embarrassed to really introduce myself. Sure we had exchanged like 2 emails, but who's going to remember that. "Hey Susan, Do you remember me. I'm Richard Fudge." Yeah, right. She's a nationally published author on a 65 city book tour.

A little while later, I work up the nerve to tell her that we have an art gallery here at Hope and that there are a couple of pieces that I did that were directly inspired by her book. I'm thinking she's busy, will think its sweet, but won't really care. But no, she got all excited. She asked me for my name again and I said Richard Fudge. Then Susan said, "Oh Richard FUDGE! Oh why didn't you say so the first time. I'd love to see your paintings and can I get a picture of you in front of it."

I was floored. Susan Isaacs literally just squealed my name. I mean come on! I'm just an average artist. I've been in few galleries. I'm not a big deal. So she was all excited and ready to go see the paintings, but Donald Miller was about to begin his talk. So we planned to meet afterward to visit the gallery.

After Donald Miller spoke, I went out to find Susan. She had already visited the gallery (how she found it I dont know). She was all excited about the work and was just full of encouragement and support. As we walked to the gallery, I explained the where the inspiration had come from etc.

We got to the gallery and took turns taking photos in front of my paintings. She asked if it was okay to post on her twitter and facebook accounts. Heck, yeah. I also showed her one other painting of mine a small piece titled "WHY!?". It was also inspired by her book. She loved it and offered to buy it.



Later that evening, Susan send me this email:

Hi Richard

I was so glad to see you tonight. It was a real privilege to see your work, and I’m honored that the book inspired you. I’m so thrilled to get your painting, too! I let my husband know to look for it in the near future. I posted your pics on my facebook, and tweeted about it.

One woman really liked the “Hey God!” painting, and I let her know it was for sale.

Anyway, I really enjoyed meeting you. And I really do hope you submit to International Arts Movement. I know a few people there. Well besides Mako .. Christy Tennant and Mark Meehan. They’re great. You need to get your work out there.

Thanks again, tonight was a terrific evening.

Susan

----

How stinking cool is that! I'll be smiling for days because we met.

Video of a live worship painting at The Stirring

This was Arian's first time to paint live on stage. She did a great job and even finished the 24"x30" painting in the 1.5 hour allotted time.

More pics from the opening

more of Arian's prints.

works by Cara, Erin, and other Stirring artists.

works by Gail and Kathy

To Send a Prayer - Opening Reception

The always helpful Cara works on our floating envelopes installation.

Prints by Arian Armstrong which you can also buy from her esty shop.

Paintings by Arian Armstrong which you can purchase the original or a limited edition print.

Works by Arian and Richard Fudge.

More images to come.

Opening Reception for To Send a Prayer at the Stirring

Exhibit description:

Is God listening? Why do so many prayers go unanswered? What’s the point of prayer? How can I make my prayer time more satisfying?

Please join us as we explore these and other questions through artistic expression. The exhibit will feature the work of Arian Armstrong and Richard Fudge along with other local and national artists.

The work will be divided into two types; paintings that explore the visual metaphor of a prayer being akin to a letter, and paintings that focus on visual expressions of prayer through painting, drawing, and photography.

"This show holds a lot of exciting firsts for me — my first multi-piece show, artists I've never met, an audience who has probably never heard of me, all in a city I've never been to." says Arian Armstrong. "I'm honored to participate in this event and have high hopes for the relationships this opportunity will bring. This 'To Send A Prayer' experience has challenged me as an artist and a Christ-follower and has given me a broader vision for collaborating with other artists in The Body, both locally and afar."

Arian Armstrong:
Arian Armstrong lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two boys, ages 1 and 4. After graduating with a degree in theatrical set design she and her husband followed the call to live in Japan, then Boston, and recently back home to Cincinnati where they are both living and loving the freelance life. She juggles a variety of creative roles — artist, graphic designer, illustrator, set designer, crafter, photographer — all to fulfill an insatiable desire to create, communicate, to make known and to be known.

Richard Fudge:
Richard Fudge received his BFA from the University of Memphis in 2003. He pursues his passion for painting by creating works in his studio and live on-stage during The Stirring. As the senior artist and gallery manager at The Stirring, Fudge promotes the enrichment of the worship experience through visual art.

Opening Reception:

September 27^th
5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Viewers are invited to attend The Stirring worship experience which begins at 5:30 pm. During this special service, Arian Armstrong and Richard Fudge will create original artwork live on stage. Following the service at 6:30 pm, guests can view the exhibit, enjoy refreshments, and listen to Valerie June, a singer/songwriter of soul-stirring blues, as she performs what she calls “Organic Moonshine Roots Music.”

“To Send a Prayer” art exhibit will be on display from September 27^th to November 8^th.
The gallery is open 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. The Stirring Art Gallery also can be viewed during Hope Church’s regular office hours.

Where:

The Stirring Art Gallery in Hope Church
(located upstairs inside Entrance 1)
8500 Walnut Grove Rd., Cordova, Tennessee 38018

www.hopepres.com • www.thestirring.net • 901-755-7721

Background on The Stirring Art Gallery:

Various works by local artists are currently on display at The Stirring Art Gallery, located inside Hope Church. Many of the paintings were created live on stage during The Stirring service. Each month, a different local artist volunteers to paint during the service. The completed painting(s) and several other selected works by the artist are then displayed in the gallery and available for purchase by contacting the artist.

The Stirring meets every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Hope Church at 8500 Walnut Grove Rd. in Cordova, Tennessee. For more information, visit www.thestirring.net.

Return to Sender: Does God get my prayers?

To Send a Prayer sermon series - Sept. 13 - Oct 25 - Sundays at 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Please join us as we explore common questions about prayer through music, live painting, a creative atmosphere and a relevant message – all in The Stirring’s unique style.

I'll be the guest artist for the month of Sept. We've put a lot of hard work and thought into this series and art exhibit. Please attend and bring a friend. Thanks.

Visual Expressions of Prayer - Journal Project

I'm excited to report that one of the prayer journals is about to go cross country! Journal # 2 is about to go coast to coast from Peletier, NC to Memphis, TN to Portland, OR. That's a 3,240 mile trip by car.


View Journal #2 in a larger map

There is still plenty of time and many pages to fill. I could also use some west coast participation. some more info about the project. Currently, the plan is when the journals (there are 3 in circulation) are "full" or as they become full, I would retain ownership. More like stewardship. I am planning to exhibit the journals at my church at the end of Sept as a part of a sermon series and art exhibit about prayer. Then they will go back into circulation. I will likely display them from time to time in our gallery.

When a journal is full, I plan to make a DVD slide show of all the pages and send a copy to each artist who participates. Also, I'd consider requests to lend out the full journals to other artists or church leaders to share with their community. That will probably will depend on the condition of the journals in the end. I dont want them to get so torn up that they threaten to fall apart in your hands. Who knows what God may have in mind for it. I haven't seriously thought if through because first of all it will take a long time to fill one and secondly it was just something i started with a few friends for the fun, inspiration, and community of it.

Maybe these journals full of faith and creativity will inspire other artists in their spiritual journey. See the progress and journey here: http://2sendaprayer.blogspot.com/ To participate, you will need to email me at richard.fudge@gmail.com with your name, your phone number and mailing address.

Angry Conversations with God by Susan Isascs

I've been doing a lot of research on prayer for an up-coming art exhibit. I came across this book. It's too funny not to share (folks who get upset with the occasional curse word or have no sense of humor should not read this book).

Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir

by Susan E. Isaacs

Angry Conversations With God began when Susan hit hit forty and found herself loveless, jobless, and living over a garage. When a churchy friend told Susan that she needed to look at her relationship with God was it like a marriage, Susan decided to take God to marriage counseling.

Angry Conversations chronicles Susan's spiritual history, from childhood faith to a midlife crisis, and all the bizarre church experiences in between.

I'd like a traditional prayer kneeler

I'd like a a traditional prayer kneeler... for an art project. Do you have one at your church that is damaged or otherwise unwanted. I'd like to turn it into an art piece for my church's To Send a Prayer art exhibit in Sept. Which means it would get painted and stuff, so I cant give it back in its original condition. I would prefer it donated to me, but i could purchase if needed.

Call to Artists - To Send a Prayer sermon series and art exhibit

to send a prayer
2009 Stirring Art Weekend - Sept. 27


Call to Artists

Event description:
The Stirring is planning a sermon series and art exhibit that will focus on prayer. The idea was inspired by a play I saw in November 2008 at the University of Memphis. In the play Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl, the dead characters in the Underworld try to send letters to characters still living in the “upper world.” To help illustrate the difficulty, the stage had about two dozen mailboxes on long, slightly curved poles, approximately 15-20 feet high. It was impossible to reach the mailboxes.

The whole concept of how to send a letter above and how to receive one from below was very spiritual to me. These mailboxes on the set looked like something you might find in a Dr. Seuss book. What would a child’s perspective be on how his or her prayers reach God? How might a child imagine solutions to this problem?

It is my prayer that this exhibit will touch lives and speak to the hearts of the viewers, leading us all on the journey toward a more authentic, personal, and powerful prayer life. Our special guest artist, Arian Armstrong, and I plan to complete 15-25 paintings a piece on this theme. Because the works will be small to medium in size, the gallery will still need more work to be filled. Therefore, I encourage the local artist community to submit work for this special art show. –– Richard Fudge, Senior Artist and Gallery Manager


Timeline:
Deadline for submissions: Friday, August 28th
Selection and artist notification: Friday, September 11th
Installation: Saturday, September 26th
Opening: Sunday, September 27th 5:25pm

Artwork:
The Stirring Art Gallery will be accepting submissions of original artworks from artists in two themes; 1.) pieces that explore a child’s perspective on prayer, 2.) small works (i.e. 9"x12", 12”x12” ) that are artistic expressions of a prayer and should include a word or phrase. Artwork must be ready for installation on Saturday September 26th.

Instructions:
Digital submissions are preferred. Digital submissions are to be formatted as .jpg at 300 dpi and no larger than 5”x7”. Mailed submissions are to include a CD of digital images of the artwork. Please include your name, phone number, email address, artwork title, medium, dimensions, and date completed with all submissions. Do not send originals. Submissions will not be returned. Multiple submissions accepted, limit five.

Send to:
richard.fudge@gmail.com or The Stirring, c/o Hope Church, 8500 Walnut Grove Rd, Cordova, TN 38018

"Release" - by Richard Fudge for Art of Caring 2009

The deadline for Art of Caring 2009 is quickly approaching, and I need to finish up my painting. 

This is the prayer that I painted on the canvas before beginning. 

This year sounds like its going to be the best one yet. The Perry Nicole Fine Art galley and art curator Jana Travis are going to host the event. I think there is some other new things this year as well, but I cant locate any details at this time.

I'm hoping that I'll get to hang with all the cool artists this time. The professional artists and the featured "Memphis Masters" get to hang in the Perry Nicole gallery. Everyone else gets set up on tables and easels in the walkway of the mall (not so cool). The last two years, I've been in the walkway which is fine. I'm not a professional, in a bunch of galleries, $1000+ a painting, sort of artist... yet. 

This year I'm hoping to make the cut. First, I'm going BIG. No more 16"x20" paintings. I am donating a 24"x48" sucker. That's something I'd probably price at $600-700 (Possibly higher. People love this image). But being big is not the only advantage, it's in perfect tune with the Camp Good Grief message and experience. This painting is going to grab your heart strings with both hands if you have ever been involved with the camp. I'm so excited about sharing this with others and raising money for the camp.

Here we are at about 80% complete.

Jay said, "Man! This is so cool! Richard, that your picture does what words are inadequate to do, in explaining camp, its awesome!"

Please join Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation for

Art of Caring 2009 

A reception and silent art auction to benefit 

Baptist Trinity Hospice House and

The Kemmons Wilson Family Center for Good Grief

Sat. August 22nd from 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Chickasaw Village Oaks Mall 3092 Poplar Ave

Prayer painting completed

To Send a Prayer series, #1, by Richard Fudge

I tend to paint to music. Probably because I got use to doing that when I paint at the Stirring. I also think that music can be very inspiring and helpful if you need to stay in a certain frame of mind. For example, if I want to express anger in my painting, I keep the hard, load angry songs playing.

So for this series on prayer, I've been trying to build a playlist that fits the theme.

"New Redemption Song" – Over the Rhine
"Thank you my angel" – Over the Rhine
"Sending me angels" – Delbert McClinton
"Alleluia" – Erin Fudge
"Wish you well" – Katie Herzig
"Down to the River to Pray" – Alison Krauss
"Help!" – the Beatles
"Thank You" – Dido
"Did you get my Message" – Jason Mraz
"Don't Speak" – No Doubt
"Cold Shoulder" – Adele
"Night Terror" – Laura Marling
"Machines" – The Jealous Girlfriends

New Memphis Mural by Richard Fudge

Doesn't that look great! And I'm installing acrylic or painted sheet metal balloon cutouts coming off the building to make the balloons look like they're really floating away.

Sigh, I'm just kidding. That image is photoshoped, but it is what I keep imagining all over town. Every building like the one above seems to call out to me. I'd like to do a mural, but I suspect it is more complex than showing up with cans of paint, a ladder, and brushes. Why didnt they teach Murals 101 at the UofM?

Better Prayers through Art

Two items that came to my attention recently that I thought were very interesting. They really reinforce the idea that art can add so much to your worship and relationship with God. Now I don't feel so bad about doodling in my bulletin at church.

Bored? Try Doodling To Keep The Brain On Task
by Alix Spiegel

The function of doodling, according to Andrade, who recently published a study on doodling in Applied Cognitive Psychology, is to provide just enough cognitive stimulation during an otherwise boring task to prevent the mind from taking the more radical step of totally opting out of the situation and running off into a fantasy world.

Praying in Color
by Sybil MacBeth

Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God by Sybil MacBeth introduces the active, visual prayer practice the author calls "praying in color." The book provides a little bit of memoir and theology and a lot of how-to. Step-by step instructions in Chapter 3 introduce "praying in color" as a way to do intercessory prayer. Additional chapters explain how the practice can be applied to learning Scripture, keeping Advent and Lent, practicing lectio divina, and praying in other ways.