Journaling... Journal-ing... Journalling.... With Paint

When one runs these three words together quickly... one could easily... and rightly assume that I meant that I journal with paint. That is indeed true on one level, because each of my plein air sketches at least... represent two to three hours of my life and time. Each sketch records my very personal impression of an event... a visually captured response to a particular place... at a specific time. That image compelled me to paint it... at first for my own pleasure and satisfaction. However... I make these sketches and my studio paintings to share with the world at large... in the hopes that those who might see them might be able to better understand and embrace the love and respect that I have for our beautiful planet... its creatures and its workings.

While making pictures has been my preferred "voice" to express my Self and my feelings... dating back to earliest childhood, I found enjoyment in expressing myself through the use of the written word. I always enjoyed writing short stories, essays and customarily wrote long letters to family and friends to share "news and views" in my own life. I fell in love with writing poetry early in high school and wrote poetry compulsively in various forms throughout my entire stay in high school. Only my parents and one special  English teacher and mentor knew of this "un-football" preoccupation and affair that I was involved in. It simply was viewed was viewed as very "uncool" to lug the pigskin" and smash heads after school... and then to write poetry... instead of completing homework until late into the wee hours of the evening.

I still draw and write away my life really and I do keep a journal but not on a purely daily basis. I even found that I could teach successfully, reaching students... who like myself had other interests and preferences for learning using my own strengths and preferences. I was able to legitimately support this practice by assuming teaching roles... where no specific curriculum was in place... or in places where kids had been given up on by the educational system... due to their lack of success in traditional classroom settings which were based totally upon proficiency using "The 3R's". I simply wrote my own curriculum packages and goals. My students and I thrived upon an Arts-based curriculum which encouraged.... rather than  forced students to become involved in reading and writing... by teaching/ empowering/challenging them to make use of their strength in visual arts to support...subsidize and reward their efforts to gain proficiency in language-based activities.

Back to my blog! My blog certainly does contain posts that hinge upon sharing my artistic ideas and working process. I share sketches and paintings... and try very hard to clarify and convey my thinking and motivation in relationship to my ouevre (body of work). I refuse to hide secrets. Why would one want to carry learning gained on one's journey from another... who shares the exact same passion and path in life... to one's grave? Is it not better that one's skill and knowledge be preserved and be perpetuated... taken perhaps to greater heights after we are gone from this earth? I hold that a worthwhile part of "Me" will live on onto a future that I will never see... through the works of others. Is that not enough of a piece of Immortality? I wonder...


My latest blog posts have been  intentionally pointed away from my easel production. I paint in my mind... even when my paint box is closed. I hunt and gather ideas by examining the work and ideas of others around me. Those ideas and connected thoughts transpose and distil  themselves into future directions for my painting. Writing my posts is a creative pursuit... not lightly taken. I try to the best of my ability to craft "pictures" using words to spotlight the good works of others... and to honour my family and friends. I record seasonal changes in my world... simply because these changes stimulate my creativity. You see...the word "journalling" is a double-edged sword in my artistic arsenal! I hope that you enjoy my site!

"All the world's a stage... and we are merely players...", said Shakespeare. He journalled too... in the form of plays. His plays record nearly every possible human pathway... Death... requited love... greed... dementia... cruelty... betrayal... honour... gayness... suicide... murder... all is there!

"To be... or not to be
That is the question!...

Get a glove... and get in the game of life and making art!

Stay tuned for my next post -  a profile of a very special lady... who creates beauty and personal vision from things which the rest of us retire to the landfill sites... or Goodwill depositories for unwanted personal junk!

"One Man's Junk... is This Woman's Treasure Trove".... Stay tuned!....

Good Painting to ALL!!

A  First Taste of Architectural Artist Penny Gorman's World of Whimsy... stay tuned for more!

"The Tree of Life" - a copper lightning rod cable construction

Two wood and ceiling tin Fish Fantasia

"Blue Suede Shoes"... is it not gesturally speaking ... "The King"?... captured in old lock parts!

Arlo Guthrey... or Bob Marley... Your call... and you'd be right!