" Snail Trails"

 This is simply "30x30" created in October of 2021.

..........its oil pastel, black ink, tape on and off, weathered medium and so much fun creating on 30x30 canvas.

 This is my most recent for 2021.  This collage consists of grafitti pieces gathered from the Intermedia Arts (Mpls) building that was refurbished earlier this year.  Presenting "Grafitti Mind". 

Also in 2021, here you see two collages on black canvas under plexi glass.  This is a tribute to the photographer, Lynn Johnson.

This selfie is from this month and I kind of like it...its in my bathroom but a selfie is a selfie no matter where. hahhaha  so here I am in December 2020. 

 And so now, tonight, we go into 2021.  What a year 2020 has been.  Its a pleasure, a joy, a happening to leave it behind.  The virus has taken too many lives and now they say there is another strain of the same.  There has been a lot of unnecessary brutality by police, climate change is doing its thing, KoKo died on May 24th, schools have been closed, people can't gather even tho they are doing it anyway and this is just a mention of all that happened in 2020.  But Trump is out of office, a positive. Sometimes I think we have to go thru bad to get to good, I think its dark before dawn, I think we have to crawl before we walk but I believe if we have faith, if we believe then we do overcome. Many say life is a bitch and then you die...well here we are but they also say, it ain't over til the fat lady sings.  Is she singing? 

I am 4 credits away from my Masters degree.  So by June of 2021 if devastation is not too great, I will be 75 with a Masters.  What then?  I do have a tendency to go with the flow, maybe follow the wind so I don't know what I will do next.  But I will be doing something, that's for sure!!! So Happy New Year and here's to 2021!!!

I haven't been painting, only looking at it and actually thinking of how to finish my work in progress.  I feel like when I really get into it, it will be time to put it down again, but when I'm done with school I can devote my time to my creative side.  So yeah, I do have something to look forward to..thank goodness!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021

 This is a work in progress but its my tribute to 2020.  I call her MOAMOA! 

This year has been very difficult with a virus sweeping the world and causing people to be out of work, putting children in harms way by sending them back to school which is a very hard decision and even though I'm not the parent of a young child, it still troubles me.  Many people in nursing homes have died without their families.  People in hospitals have died without their families.  I just believe heaven must be full and with a lot of sad people.  KoKo left me back in May after 14 years and that is still a heavy pain. But on top of all the troubles, I have faith that everything will be alright.  It has to be!

For the past year or so, I've been doing lots of collage work.  I guess it means something but I'm also enjoying the end products.  My hands are not as steady as they were but I need to master the technique of holding a brush steady again.  Its all good!

 Tibetan Nuns (collage on wood) (2018)

Collages on oval canvases. (relatives)

 The Hen Party (collage on wood)(2019)

1 Cat for Becky (a collage)(2019)

2nd cat for Becky (A collage)(2019)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full painting: "The Ozarks" (2020)

 Full oil painting: "The Back Way". (2019)

     So now we are in 2019.  Today is the 8th day of this year and well, there is lots happening.  I am working on my MA degree at Metropolitan State University.  The excitement is normal for attending classes but over the top if I reach this goal.  I'm 72 at this writing and as Tony (an acquaintance) reminded me: I am keeping alzheimers at bay.  Another person said I should work parttime at the library because many of them are over the top age wise but still have to use their brains and minds for memory work.  Well, its all relative I guess.  None of us old farts really want to quit doing anything...

     I am painting a little again.  This feels right.  My degree is being obtained thru bookwork, not my work so it feels good to have something to fall back on.  Thank you Mr. Brice, and the other good out of my painting is my daughter, (Bianca) is a painter.  She's excellent mentally, but I'm really glad to see she doesn't mind creating.  Its a beautiful thing.  So, Happy New Year and Happy New Year.  Love to you all.




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                          The chair is my last work from 2018.  Its living in Charlotte with Eloise. 

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                                         That's Ms Edna (my mother) in the middle.

That's my sister, Bessie, in the middle with the straight skirt and again later in her life.  She was my second mama.

 

This is my dad, Mr. Brice.  I have only one photo of him so I put him in oil.

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AND, HERE I AM IN 2018...WHITE HAIR AND ALL....

 

 So, the black walnut is reminiscent of my younger years and I still love the flavor of the nut. The fun is getting the meat out of the shell because it can't just get cracked with a nutcracker..a hammer or brick works every time.  Great memories!!...healthy eating.  This painting is oil on canvas and I cut it out to give the painting personality.  Its hanging on my wall but could be used for a place mat too...(later in 2017)

I call this one simply "HorSEY".  Its oil pastel sticks on a cardboard thing used as a cover in a coffee maker package.  It made a perfect frame for him.  I think it shows I'm trying to come back to painting.  School took the drive away for a little while but its in me so I'm at it again.  Being 71 tho, well, I hope you enjoy my work.  Times have changed for sure. (02/2018)

These are "Chickie" and "Diva" respectfully.  Both were finished in the later months of 2017.

So now we are into the year 2018.  Today is the 9th and so far so good.  I have applied to the U of M to work on my MFA.  I applied in December but found out I won't hear back until February and school will start in September.  Lordy!!  I thought I would be in there by now but this means I have lots of time to prepare. I'm excited actually because I made this decision and I'm going to see it through.  I'll be close to 74 or 75 when I'm done.  Amazing isn't it?  Maybe I will finally get to share the work I do on a level that matters.  Who knows...but as I said, I'm excited about it.

2018 came in and so far it feels good.  Time will tell.

I have been painting a little and I will share so with that...thanks for being here.

Update: U of M MFA did not work out so on to the next thing whatever that may be.  (03/2018) I will keep you posted...

Here are a few more I've been playing around with since 2015.  I thought I had quit painting but I guess I haven't.   Its a part of me and now its a part of my daughter.  Mr. Brice, me and now her.  Life is good!!!

                                                        This one is simply "friends".

This is "Elle".

                                                    This one is called "The Visitors".

June 13, 2017

In a few days I'll be 71 years in age.  71!  I am still me on the inside but sometimes I have to do a double take when I see my image when passing a window or in the mirror.  Its all good tho, all good.  I now have a new mouth so to speak and yes, my speaking should improve because my appearance surely has.  I think I'm happier and more confident just within the last week which is how long I've had this new adjustment.  These days I am in a flux because I don't have a direction, a real purpose.  I figure I do but I haven't figured out what it is.  My conclusion is to get past this birthday and maybe find a place to volunteer to get me out of here and then maybe find a little parttime something or other to boost my income.  I don't think its going to get to the point of greatness simply because I am the age that I am and this world does not recognize too many old people in the employment world.

Well, I just spilled my guts this morning and maybe I feel better putting it out there.  Whatever!  I'm two days shy of being 71!

This is my latest art piece. 

70

I'm 70 now...life is what it is but its all good, so far!

We are leaving 2016 in a few weeks.  I am 70 years in age at this writing and eager to see what lies ahead for me.  I did get a BA degree in May 2016 and my thoughts are to continue for an MFA or something.  I'm just not sure right now.  My painting has been put aside.  I decided to pour everything into studying because basically I was doing nothing worthwhile.  Life had taken a turn and it wasn't all bad but it wasn't all good either.  Now I am painting again and I'm thinking this is my gift and I should use it because its what I am, its what I have and really, its not so bad.

With this, I will be back in 2017.  Happy New Year!

(2)  Started out as "1" but after playing around with some photo enhancements on line I got this.  I really, really, really like it.  I call it "hooked".  Only because there are two panels and they are "hooked".

(1) NOTICE THE "hook"?  

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

KoKo will be 8 years old in June of 2014.  He's a handsome fat cat, don't you think?

Chaos

February Morning

Me in 2013

Friend of a Friend

Friends of a Friend

Tracking

2012, 2013

We're in 2013 and soon I will hit the 67 mark. I remember thinking 25 was "really old". Ha, that's nothing!! I'm looking forward to many, many more experiences in life. 2012 had its rewards and regrets. I now have an Associates in Fine Arts Degree, worked hard for it too!! I plan on working towards a BFA in the Fall of 2013. Plan!!! I moved to a new location in Mpls and now have a tub, an elevator in the building, an exercise room, a dishwasher. Material things and the rent went up!! KoKo is still with me. He's eight years old now and a wonderful house- mate minus the poops. He has attitude but so do I. Regret is Ernie left in 2012. They are all gone now. I'm still in denial or some void or something. There is nothing I can do about it, tears will always come I guess, people leave all the time. It's just not something that lets you get used to it since it hurts every time. This time it's lasting a long, long, long time. I never thought of Ernie as not being.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010.....HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WE HAD A BLUE MOON.....A REAL ONE!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010....SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED AND SO MUCH MORE TO COME.....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!