brad has good news

Update

2011-05-17T19:22:00.001-07:00

Hey! Again life has got the best of me. I've been really busy and sadly this blog is not too high on the list of priorities. But here's some things to be looking for in the near future:

* New Musical Venture (first album almost complete!)

*More Work for me in the Summer and Fall at Olympic College

*New Paintings (check them out on www.brad-dinsmore.com)

*Gearing up for art shows (exhibit in Carlsbad, CA next week, cleaning up for Parlour Room Gallery's show on the 28th of this month, and working like mad to fill up a gallery for a solo show this fall at Helen S. Smith Gallery at GRCC).

* Plus look forward to possible and unpredictable rants at any given time.

Butch T in the House

2011-02-19T19:36:00.000-08:00

When you paint a mural for my sister and her husband, you'd better bring a bunch of crimson paint.

Here's a picture of the mural I'm painting in their "Coug Room." It isn't quite finished, but you can see it's coming along. When it's done we'll have to have a celebration - Cougar Gold and Boones Farms passes. Go Gougs!

This Is Love

2011-01-26T15:41:00.000-08:00

Check out my website to see my latest batch of ballpoint pen drawings. I'm planning on doing a bunch of paintings very similarly to these drawings. Just wait for 'em...They're going to be good.

New Job!

2010-11-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be teaching Drawing again. I will begin teaching at Olympic College in Bremerton WA January 3rd 2011. I am very excited to be a part of the art program at OC and to share my passion with students, faculty and the community at large!

Too Much Good News

2010-11-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

I am so blessed that I really haven't had time to blog. I've got a pretty sweet drawing in the works, messing around writing a song (or two), working (and finding more work as a teacher again!), preparing for another Parlour Room show, and spending time with my wonderful family and friends. So much to be thankful for!

South M

2010-10-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

There's usually a lot of compromise with murals, and this one was certainly no exception. It was already weird before I introduced Sasquatch into the picture and maybe I just pushed it over the edge. But overall it was fun and I thank everyone that contributed in the craziness that took place on South M Street in Tacoma.

Mo' Mural

2010-09-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

Today we started painting a mural at 35th and South M Street in Tacoma. Feel free to drive by and honk at us. Oh, and please wait until we're finished before you start tagging it.

Tacoma Murals

2010-08-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

The city of Tacoma's Community Based Mural Program has selected me and a bunch of other artists to work together with the community to help clean up vandalism and vulgar graffiti with murals. I helped paint this mural at the Portland Ave Community Center in Tacoma, WA. I specifically worked on the turtle's with wings, despite my opposition to the obvious Nintendo Super Mario Brothers' Flying Turtles reference. (I just think that killer turtles that hunt Mario and his brother Luigi might undercut the positive message of hope and unity. Although, I guess it shows that even flying killer turtles can set aside their differences and let a girl with antlers ride them in a peaceful utopia). At any rate, it's been a fun experience working along side a bunch of talented artists.

Open Mic at Parlour Room Gallery

2010-08-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

That's where I'll be.

Good To See You

2010-07-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

The opening of Good To See You at Parlour Room Gallery is this Friday, July 23.

If you bring a can of food for the Puyallup Food Bank, you'll be entered to win one of my drawings.

Heron in Gig Harbor

2010-07-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a view of the Heron (Eyes of Action) in the Threshold Building in Gig Harbor. It will be on display until August 31st. It will then be auctioned off to raise money for Peninsula Hands On Art at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club on September 18th, 2010.

2010-06-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

Parlour Room Gallery

Starting July 2010

Opening Exhibit Good To See You

with a special performance by musician James Coates

contact parlourroomgallery@gmail.com for details

New Adventures in Found Fabric and Blanket Wall Art

2010-06-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Heron Update!

2010-04-28T00:19:00.000-07:00

Today the Heron made its way to Waters Edge Art Gallery in Gig Harbor, WA. Stay tuned for more info.

Collaboration with Kathleen Casteel

2010-04-20T15:04:00.000-07:00

Kathleen Casteel and I have been selected to create a Heron Sculpture for the 2010 Salmonchanted Harbor. Here are some pictures of our process.

Remembering a Wonderful Life

2010-03-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

John Alan Ahola

Today the world lost a truly amazing man.

The Space Between Us - Art House Gallery Project

2010-03-01T20:17:00.000-08:00

Crown of Thorns

This is what I sent to Art House Gallery's The Space Between Us project. It is a 4 x 6 inch piece (like everyone's). It will be part of the exhibition in Brooklyn, New York on March 19th, 2010.

I had many ideas for this project, but decided to go with my latest investigations in blind contour drawing and faith.

Often the "Space Between Us" is Us. It is of our own creation.

George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic said it best, "Free your mind and your ass will follow. The Kingdom of Heaven is within."

Blind Contour & Sutra

2010-02-16T22:30:00.000-08:00

"Permanent, inexhaustible; exhaustible, impermanent. The One Spirit resides within all the myriad things. The One has been neither produced nor made, and permanently resides without end. Among the things existing under heaven, there are those that can be seen and those that cannot be seen. For example, the soul cannot be seen by human beings. Our desire to see the soul indicates a spiritual consciousness in human beings."

-From The Lost Sutras of Jesus:

Unlocking the Ancient Wisdom of the Xian Monks

The Landslide

2010-01-27T00:04:00.000-08:00

This piece is called Landslide. It is a mixed media disaster that was the product of many of my recent frustrations. I really don't know if it is any good at all. I don't really feel like judging it. It looks like a disaster because that is what it is and that is what it was born from. With that said, I will say that it does carry some sort of abstract hope. Maybe that hope is framed in the absent mountaintop. Or maybe that hope in the mountaintop had to slide down to where we stand in the valley below.

Here is to finding the top of the mountain(even when it buries us in a massive landslide). After all, that may be the closest we have been to the top of the mountain.

Here is to finding hope in all your disasters!

More Joy for 2010!

2010-01-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

"The trees in the woods will shout for joy."

PSALMS 96.12

Best Wishes for 2010!

FedEx sucks...

2009-12-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

Usually I don't use this forum for complaining, but I would like to share with anyone and everyone that I will be boycotting FedEx. Yep, they suck. Big time. I could go on and on about what a horrible company they are, but instead I will ask that you just take my word for it.

P.S. I have nothing against the nice delivery man though.

P.P.S. Stay away from Kinko's too.

December Craziness = one post

2009-12-16T18:54:00.000-08:00

From eating oranges, to orange sunsets, to those orange bulbs in the multi-colored strand of Christmas Lights, December has been a great month.

Merry Christmas (or happy preferred holiday) and Peace my Friends.

Gallery Gray

2009-11-24T23:16:00.000-08:00

It is up and running at gallery-gray.com

Go check it out!

Tacoma's Art @ Work :: ART SLAM

2009-11-17T16:38:00.000-08:00

Where?

Rialto Theatre (Downtown Tacoma)

When?

November 18, 2009

From 7 to 9 pm

November

2009-11-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

I loved October and here's a beautiful start to November.

Tacoma, WA. (Just before dinner)

October Has been Crazy

2009-10-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't had much time to post anything. That is probably how life is supposed to be. It has been a great month of spending time with people I love (and I guess I worked a little too). Sorry blogger, you just can't compete.

And this I promise you

IS GOOD NEWS!

My Chat with a Photographer

2009-09-25T19:52:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting at the window watching the sunset, I noticed several light flashes. The flashes didn't bother me, but I was aware that there was someone witnessing the same beautiful sunset. So I stepped outside to find a man photographing the fleeting light. I then said to him, "Sometimes it just feels better to live in the moment." He asked if he was bothering me. I said no.

I asked if he was a professional photographer, and he said he was. He then explained that was the reason why he was "biased" (against living in the moment).

I thought this all a bit sad. As the light faded and the photographer left in his Mercedes, I thought that maybe his quest was indeed noble: To show this light again. But how sad this is, to settle for a small photograph in a frame when we could have taken the time to really experience the real sunset.

I was thinking before he took the pictures, that it could be the one of the last amazing sunsets around he for a while. Considering this I thought it better just to sit there and look.

The Joy of opening the Kiln Door

2009-09-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

For me ceramics, is about the joy of creation. Building something up out of clay. Then testing it in fire. You never really know how it's going to turn out (to a much larger degree than in drawing or painting). At least for me. I could go on, but I will spare you.

So anyway, look at this not-so-little "Happy Accident." Yeah, it's Bob alright. And yes he is ready to serve up some squirrel, cloud, tree, and mountain shaped cookies.

Because yeah, he's a cookie jar.

I'll let you know, when he finds a venue.

Peace.

Bad News Bunny

2009-08-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

The Tacoma News Tribune didn't seem to care for my piece, The Nervous Rabbit. I can't say I blame them though. At a time, I too looked down upon craft or seemingly less sophisticated pieces. This was a tremendous error in judgment on my part. That much I can admit.

It seems to me that people often fail to appreciate the simple things. We need to make it complicated or super conceptual for it to have any value - monetary or otherwise. This kind of thinking and view can lead to a very unsatisfied life, doomed with self-loathing and judgement. Basically it is unhealthy.

What the Tacoma News Tribune failed to see, in the "predictable, boring, sentimental ceramics" was this deeper truth. My guess is that they missed viewing it (in a sense). They probably saw my honesty, but failed to see the joke. Much like they and many others fail to see life's beautiful and humorous design.

I will say that they did give the show a fair chance and an overall favorable review. And it is very hard to see or to really look at the vast amount of work. Let alone understand it. The problem lies in their judgement of "craft" and/or "folk" or simple art. They haven't understood the beauty in the everyday. I pray that everyone, myself included, can learn to see this beauty and truth.

No Pics again...

2009-08-26T00:26:00.000-07:00

Sorry about not having any more eye-candy this time. I will in the future (I promise). Anyway, I've been busy living life, so thinking about blogs and pictures has definately taken the backseat. But that's how things should be. Appreciate the fact that you're not spending your day on Facebook, or looking or updating blogs, or whatever. Let me get to the point:

Enjoy the last weeks of this beautiful summer. Cause if you're like me up here in the Northwest, you know that rain is coming. Just be aware of time and know that you only have so much. Sunny days and otherwise...

No picture. But that is good.

2009-08-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today I made two drawings. But both seem relatively insignificant in light of my walk this evening (and I think they're pretty cool drawings). So as I stepped outside this evening around 8:45 PM, I had no intentions on going for a walk. But I had to. My plans and priorities changed then and there. The moment was calling me, and I just listened. It was beautiful. I have no picture, and if I had a camera, taking a picture or otherwise documenting the walk would have spoiled it. Even now, writing this blog, seems to lessen it. Or maybe not, but that is not the point. The point is:

We need to listen to these and all moments. It became clear to me that we need to focus our attention to the present and live in it.

A friend for a Sock Monkey

2009-08-15T23:47:00.000-07:00

Days ago I found a sock monkey that was made for me when I was a child. I drew a picture of it (it in The General Dance section of my website) title FREE SO FREE. So yesterday I was thinking that he needed a friend, so I made him one. Here's a picture of the Sock Monkey I made. Oh, and wait for the painting of the sock monkeys. It will be titled Everyone Needs A Friend.

Rabbitual

2009-08-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

I dropped off my rabbit (art) off at Two Vaults Gallery in Tacoma today. I met the gallery owner. She seems pretty cool. I mean, she did curate a show about rabbits, so I'm not too surprised. If you're in the area, you should go see her gallery. It's not white walled, in case you were concerned.

So the show that I will be in is called Rabbitual. The show opens a week from today. Oh and there is going to be two GIANT rabbits there!

Today's Work

2009-08-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Today I created a new piece titled Can I Return. I was photographing it to put on my website and I accidently snapped this photograph. Enjoy.

Cameron & the Mustang

2009-08-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

Today I hung out with my friend Cameron Hatch. I brought over the Mustang to show off its new paint job. Not quite the musician and guitarist as Cameron, I let him brake it in. So I drew this little sketch, while he played.

My Mustang

2009-08-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

Today I finished painting my 1966 Fender Mustang. I had been wanting to paint it since I bought it a few years ago. Well I just decided to get some enamel paints and dove right in. I'm not a huge Mustang fan, (I much prefer my Toronado and Cyclone) but I enjoyed adding a little extra character to this fun little guy.

GOOD NEWS

2009-08-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

Hello Readers, Viewers and Friends,

I am starting this blog over! I had not been keeping up with the posts because I frankly was not interested in maintaining another site about my art. And you guys probably (if there were/are any of "you guys") weren't very much interested either. So here goes... Round 2.

This blog is not really about art. It is about life (for those who like those distinctions). It's about me, an artist among many other things, and how I'm living my life.