Stories from the son of a veterinarian, behind the scenes sneak peeks into my studio, and first access to fresh oddball animal art
I Wiped Out. A Lot. Here's What I Learned.
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Hey Reader, A couple of weekends ago I travelled down south to the hauntingly beautiful land of Savannah to check in with the gallery. I of course hopped over to the sleepy coastal town of Tybee Island to catch some surfing with my beach bum buddy, Nick. It was a calm two days of letting the vastness of the sea fill our souls. Going way back to since I was a kid, I have wanted to give surfing a try. I am a bit wet behind the ears (pun intended), I only recently picked it up in the last year. But with each session I learn a little bit something more while making sure that I am first, having fun. This particular surf session weekend, I had a simple goal of catching (trying) as many waves as possible. To not wait. Not wait for that “perfect” wave. Oh sure, Nick and I took our moments to simply tread in the oceanic abyss, watching seagulls and pelicans above as the crescent moon popped up from the clouds. (We swapped our regular “dawn patrol” session for “night beach”) When the waves started firing, I started catching any and every wave. The immediate wipeouts occurred. Some I couldn’t even get to my pop up and just rode the wave like I was on a beach float. But eventually something cool started to happen. I started to feel my board and understand the connection to the wave. More and more I was able to get to my knees. Then to one knee. Then, eventually, standing. Some waves were better than others, but all of it is enormous amount of joy. I stopped worrying about catching the perfect wave and simply enjoyed my time because if you wait for that perfect wave, it may never come. Add Sprinkles, THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOWOcean waves support a variety of marine life. The tidal pools that are formed by waves, supports the microhabitats of crustaceans, mollusks, algae, and many small fishes. Upcoming In-Person EventsJune 26th - 28th - ATHFEST, Athens, GA July 9th, 5-8 pm - Opening Reception for solo show at Cleveland County Arts Council, Shelby, NC |
Oddball Animal Artist
Stories from the son of a veterinarian, behind the scenes sneak peeks into my studio, and first access to fresh oddball animal art
Hey Reader, I turned 50 earlier this month. As with any birthday, it’s always a time of reflection and introspection. I have this deep-seeded need to make people laugh (or at least smile). I think it comes from my dad? He was a jokester in a very thought-provoking way. You would slap your knee while pondering the absurdities of life. Clearly that stuck with me. Through my paintings, I like to weave a bit of a yarn: A screaming bat being blessed by a donut as a halo surrounded in gold leaf. An...
Hello Reader, Dad famously didn’t care for chocolate. “It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just not my go-to.” This drove Mom crazy of course because she loves chocolate. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, molten lava chocolate cake (with a scoop of ice cream) and of course death by chocolate cake are absolute heaven for mom. Us kids definitely got Mom’s side gene when it comes to this versatile culinary creation. However, one of my favorite quotes from Dad when confronted with this chocolate...
Hey Reader, His compressed and hunched body may seem grotesque to some. His cryptic scurry might seem like some horrible monster in a scary movie. To me, there was beauty and inspiration. He knows no different. It is all he has known. And after it all, he is simply a playful, fun-loving creature of the world. No more, no less. By now, you may have heard of Jimothy, the sweet raccoon hanging in the neighborhood streets of Seattle. Jimothy lives with short-spine syndrome. With some backyard...