October Has been Crazy

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

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

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

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...

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.

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

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.