Who says it needs to be finished to be signed? Certainly not that guy in Seattle who snatched that purse.

Who says it needs to be finished to be signed? Certainly not that guy in Seattle who snatched that purse.

One way to look at it is to see something different than the other person. If you do, then you are an individual. If you don’t, then you’re dreaming. I can’t prove it, but I suspect that everyone is different, so there isn’t any way to see the same thing as another folk. Folks is folks, said the English teacher.

This is a one-off picture of an in-progress acrylic painting. It’s very one-version, hyphenated all the way.

There is movement in the lines that suggest a membrane with little people sharing a beer at a local pub. They could be in an apartment, but only if the apartment has a large plasma screen that is showing The Big Lebowski.

The cracks on smooth surfaces can be seen when magnified several hundred times. The cracks are there, but we cannot see them due to our size related to the surface. If we were much smaller, we could see more, but we’d miss things at other scales. It just isn’t possible to see everything at once, unless we detach ourselves from the boundaries that surround us. This ballpoint is enhanced due to the contrast that reveals previously hidden smoothness.

Whenever I feel like riding a skateboard, I realize that I don’t have one. Cravings are strange, because it’s not something we conjure, yet it’s part of us. We are connected to these cravings like we’re connected to our belly buttons. I’ve never craved another belly button. Good thing. This ballpoint pen is connected to me somehow, but it isn’t me.

At times lunch can be too much. A big breakfast can stave off noon time cravings. Craving something around lunch time may be influenced by the term lunch, which means a meal around noon. Perhaps we should refer to noon as time to eat later. This ballpoint isn’t full yet either.

The peace sign has become another gestural greeting, but I’m sure there’s peace involved as well. A story might exist where someone flashed the peace sign, and the intended recipient went medieval on the sender’s ass. Maybe it was phrased differently. I’m sure it might have maybe happened. Peace V.

A work in progress. Work. Hard. Making sure the ink is on the paper as intended. I don’t have a plan. No intention other than making the ink go on the paper. If I put… “as intended,” then it would suggest a loop. Suggest a loop. Suggest a loop. Suggest a loop. Yeah. Yeah. clickety-bang, bang. Woop, woop… !

Near the end of 2005, I drew this ballpoint image. It was done. But why. I do not remember. I’m thinking I gave it to someone, but maybe it’s filed away to be dealt with, as the plan goes, at a later time. There’s always later. Later is always.

That’s what it’s all about. Delivery. Bringing what’s owed. Giving it to them. But gently. Not too harsh. Go easy. Bring it in. Just like that. Nice and slow. Though with passion, with purpose. Don’t give in. Keep your levels up. Stay on top. Don’t ever forget. But gently.

1 year ago today I started writing daily notes on Facebook, never missing a day. Significant because I’m not sure I’ve ever been so consistent. It feels good. The notes started out as a way to document what I did during the day, with 1 pic of my mug attached. A little while into writing these notes, I started feeling exposed, and a feeling that I was spamming my friends crept in. I felt dirty. Fortunately (for me) I didn’t stop writing the notes, only changed the daily pic to something from my view, rather than of my view. Objective, rather than subjective? Anyway, that helped ease the unease – although exposure is what this is all about, over-exposure makes everything chewy. There’s a fine line. The next phase is to move these ramblings over to my blog. That way I don’t have to pretend it’s not about me, and I don’t have to wonder if I’m a spamster. Facebook has been a very interesting ride, and will continue to be as long as it fits. Social media is evolving quickly. I’m going to use it even more this year for art promotion. With all the reasons I’ve ever had for being creative, I hadn’t seriously tried to make a living with it. 2010 is the year. Satoko has been completely supportive, to the point where she wants to participate with the management of the whole affair, so how can I lose. Music is yet another goal (along with 3d design, painting, video, writing, photography, basket weaving, ballroom dancing, auto racing, movie starring, and stair climbing) that I’m ramping up for. When the dream becomes the nightmare… Well, now I have a 1-year slice of my life I can show to my great great grandchildren when I’m returned from cryogenic sleep. That’s a lot of I’m!

Artworkinprogress is an ongoing attempt to get stuff done. Once made public, it’ll reinforce in me that these pieces are still alive; still in need of completion.
The second batch of artwork that began in February of 2009 as an idea to do collaboration with a fellow artist and friend from Texas. Here’s another result of that effort.
Sketchie 2

outake 1

outake 2

outake 3
I took a train to Azabu-Juban, which is a nice neighborhood in Tokyo, and conveniently the place where she works. I said hello to her boss while waiting for her to finish up. We left the office and walked a short distance to Les Enfants Terribles, a French restaurant, as well as a 1929 novel by Jean Cocteau. We ordered wine, ordered food, ate, and drank. Excellent wine. Excellent food. Beef, lamb, fish, veggies, dessert, coffee – all served a la the French cuisine course style. A superb dinning experience indeed. Thanks, honey, for 14 years of marriage excellence. Good times, good times.

Satoko and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary at a swanky little French restaurant in Azubu-Juban. Someone was impressed.