Too Close for Comfort

Barack Obama waits to speak in Aberdeen, South Dakota May 31, 2008 (Reuters)

This is in no way a political blog. I talk art and life and cats and kids. But after my painting this weekend, seeing this picture pop up on Yahoo! News jolted me a bit. I mean, I get it. But, man...

The Process

inspiration

prep

hour one

hour two

completed work - Homage to St. Nicholas

next night - Art Conspiracy 4 - grid 43

the auctions begin

sold to the highest bidder

If you want to walk on water...

Last Christmas my friend Amy gave me a book by John Ortberg called If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. In the book, Ortberg uses Peter as an example of how, unless we completely trust Jesus and follow His example, we will continually hold ourselves back from the life He wants for us. If you want to accomplish amazing things, you have to take that initial step... you've got to get out of the boat.

Matthew 14:22-33 (New International Version)
Jesus Walks on the Water
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
28"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29"Come," he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Well, this weekend I am happy to say that I got out of the boat THREE times, and I am still grinning ear to ear. Complete and total joy. :)

Friday night I attended a party at a local gallery where I knew no one. I used to be friends with the owner, but that was years ago. History. Awkwardness. Santa mayhem... and SUCH a great time! Joy.

Saturday night was Art Conspiracy IV, and the first time I had my work on display since college. I was a bundle of nerves as THE MAN Rob McCollum auctioned off my painting... and it sold!!! (Pictures to come.) Word on the street is that AC4 raised $28,000+ for Preservation LINK, Inc. Joy!

Finally, this morning my church held a Christmas concert. Our Choir and Praise Team/Band have been working diligently for months on this labor of love... and I had a 5 min solo. The program was different than anything else we have done before and a huge success. JOY!

To quote Mase Masalosalo, "God is good! All the time!" "All the time! God is good!"

Will you be getting out of your boat this week? Come on in... the water's fine.

First show in... forever.

And it's not really a show. It's a show/charity auction/concert/party.

It's Art Conspiracy, and here's how all this works:

A couple of months ago AC4 sent out an APB stating they were accepting 150 artists this year -first come, first served- and I emailed back in time. That was it. No portfolio, no nothing. My cat could be an artist in AC4. As a matter of fact, if my painting doesn't work out tonight, I might claim he painted it.

This afternoon after golf (that's right- I'm a golf coach today) I pick up my charcoal/paints/brushes from home, change into many layers of sweats, and head down to an unheated warehouse in Dallas.

I check in, get my badge and a 2' x 2' piece of primed plywood, and start painting. I have about 3 hours to create something that will auction for at least $20... because $20 is not only where the bidding starts, it's also the amount I'm going to need at least one person to yell out tomorrow night or I will jump off a bridge.

Have I mentioned that a few of my friends are also participating? What happens when their paintings sell for $200, but when the bidding starts on mine, the record scratches and all you hear is crickets? I'll tell you what happens. Read the last six words from the previous paragraph.

Back to the countdown. Tonight after I have completed my masterpiece (of s?), I turn it over to AC4 to be installed, then pop over to a pre-AC4 party. What happens after that isn't any of your business.

Tomorrow night at 6:30 all 150 artists, along with the volunteers, bands, and gen pub converge on the warehouse and start the "show." It goes a little like this, or so I'm told:

Drink
Auction
Drink
Band
Can't feel my toes...
Drink
Auction
Drink
Band
Can't toes my feel...
Final Auction

And yes maam, I will be sure to post my creation. I'm actually pretty excited about it.

Canterbury Portrait

Canterbury Portrait. 2007. acrylic on canvas. (Commissioned)

No, this is not my Art Conspiracy IV painting. If I could do this on plywood in two hours then I'd be the one teaching Umlauf.

Instead, this is the portrait I painted for a friend and mentioned in a post a few months ago.

Well, I'm posting the photo now because I have finally come to terms with this painting. If you don't paint, then maybe you don't understand how it could take a year to be able to share your work, but it has.

Feedback is ok. Really... it's ok.

Note to Self (Art Conspiracy IV)

"When filling out information, remember that you have TWO email addresses."

I could kick myself. Again.

This Saturday I will have a painting up for auction at Art Conspiracy IV in Dallas, benefiting Preservation LINK, Inc. The whole reason I signed up (other than charity) was so I could get re-introduced to the Dallas art community. Other than the auction, there is a pretty little printed program that will contain the 150+ artists' information... except mine. See, I forgot which email I sent the Art Con peeps, so I have been missing all the deadlines. :(

But listen, just because I'm not in the program doesn't mean I'm not participating. I am. So please some out and support the kids. Tickets are just $10 at the door.

More info here.

Hope to see you there!

www.designelson.com

My website is officially updated in time for Art Conspiracy IV this weekend.

New bio.
New résumé.
New artwork.

Check it out, then mark you calendar for Saturday night. I think I'd have a seizure of happiness if anyone I knew showed up before my painting was auctioned off...