there is an empty space inside my heart, 

where the weeds take root.

so now,

I set you free

listen to your heart

-radiohead

Inspiration from Ireland

What a lovely land full of friendly people...

Mary Shelley dreams up the monster...

For the 'Frankenstein' Invitational at West Liberty University. I researched the original making of the story, had my friend pose as Mary Shelley (with my cat and dog doing a little posing too!) and "dreampt" up the rest. The show opens on the 31st and runs until November 20.  A fun illustration for Hallowe'en.
Oil on panel  30x36" (76x91cm)

Ramsey Anagama Firing 2012

A successful 62 hour fire this past week! We reached temperature (2,400F) smoothly and only 'struggled' with the far back....we unload in two days and we will see how the work turned out then.

Romania

                                         ' Pierrot was in my dream' 
                                          Oil on panel  10x14"/25x36cm
               Pierrot

Pierrot stands in the garden

Beneath a waning moon,

And on his lute he fashions

A fragile silver tune.

Pierrot plays in the garden,

He thinks he plays for me,

But I am quite forgotten

Under the cherry tree.

Pierrot plays in the garden,

And all the roses know

That Pierrot loves his music-

But I love Pierrot.

              ~Sara Teasdale

 Romanian translation by F.D.P.

                                          'Purgatory'   Oil on canvas  24x71"/61x180cm

                                          'Goodbye'   Oil on panel  32x48"/81x122cm

                                          'The Fairy Bath'     Oil on panel  24x30"/61x76cm

                                          'The Original Spring'
                                                   Oil on canvas   32x46"/81x117cm

                                          'The Two Leos'   Oil on panel  18x24"/46x61cm

                                          'While the heart has lost and mourns, the soul rejoices
                                          in what has been found.'    
                                          Oil on canvas    32x46"/81x117cm

                                          'Romanian materials bowl I' 
                                         Volcanic ash/rock composite from Borsec, Romania.
                                          Fired in Ramsey, Ohio Anagama kiln

                                         'Romanian materials bowl II'
                                         Volcanic ash/rock composite from Borsec, Romania.
                                          Fired in Ramsey, Ohio Anagama kiln

                                          'Romanian materials bowl III'
                                          Volcanic ash/rock composite from Borsec, Romania.
                                           Fired in Ramsey, Ohio Anagama kiln

                                          'Tavertine Mine Study'     Watercolor/Ink    12x24"

                                          'Beautiful Land'   
                                          Oil on panel with gold leaf   7.5x11"/18x28cm

                                         ' 1 Mai, 31 September'    Oil on panel   20x24"/51.61cm

                                          'Borsec I'                 Oil on panel    20x24"/51x61cm

                                          'Borsec II'              Oil on panel    20x24"/51x61cm

ROMANIA

This series of paintings are a thread along a narrative story.  A layering of the physical and emotional-spiritual journeys humans embark on.  It begins with innocence and longing, leading to confusion and despair and finally circles back to revelation and hope. Universal themes collected into the experience of one traveler. The purpose and motivation are one:  to help a passionate, beating heart laid bare find resolution. 

The oil medium allows veils of paint to represent the thin boundaries between different worlds traveled by one on a journey.  Is the place here on Earth? Or was it perhaps a dream?  Scrubbed on, with portions wiped off and aged, it is a blurring between the boundaries. These are physical manifestations, techniques used to show how a worn traveler may feel over a long journey between the worlds inside of themselves or here on Earth.  The bold outlines and heavy tones weigh down with the emotions that have been collected on the journey.  It is time to be still. The images are frozen, there is no need for excess movement, it has already been done. The Reminder to stop and carefully listen to what is inside.

Each image is a scene opening to a new path, some with a guide, a doorway or a window. Which direction should the traveler go? Has the choice perhaps already been made? With a format reminiscent of icons, the holy paintings from Eastern Europe, believed to truly be windows to the profane, scenes are fixed in memory. The atmosphere and subjects all wear the deep, pensive shroud found in the expressions of the icons. Subjected to torture (a mental Purgatory,) or scenes of elevated spirituality, icons are here now for those on their own journey to learn and take comfort from. These works are bound to the icons, and yet, have their own Western identity. This duality of spirituality comes not only from awe-inspiring light filled moments, but from shadowed ones as well. The subject matter is loaded and intense. It is not an easy journey.

Have the lessons from the journey been resolved?  Like a modern fairy tale connected to the stories of old, this narrative is just one part of the never ending thread. It is the new and the old, always blending together. Leading through many hardships and sorrows, it is a path that winds its way towards hope.  ~M. Steffl

Romania                            'Mamika'        Oil on panel with gold leaf    16x20"/41x51cm

It took over a year, but I finally am finishing the series!

Romanian materials, American bowls

I was able to gather a small amount of materials while in Romania, and used some of them in our last firing to make these bowls. I had my friend make the image of the work with the actual materials, because in a way, I think they are most beautiful.

oh, ohio

 

oh, ohio, your beauty is there, but sometimes i feel like the only one who sees you

from pigment to paint

i wonder how much knowledge we have lost because of our desire for instant gratification?

trying to learn the materials from the earth that make our beautiful work. from a stones and plants combined with work come a beauty unsurpassed. this is a truth.

Black Sheep gives Chef Derek a going away gift....

working on the Romania series

simon & garfunkel's version of 'el condor pasa'

I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes I would
If I could,
I surely would

I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
Yes I would
If I only could,
I surely would

Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world its saddest sound,
its saddest sound

I'd rather be a forest than a street
Yes I would
If I could,
I surely would

I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes I would
If I only could,
I surely would

A room with 3 views

its older, so why not post it?

Two Trees

Two trees!
Two trees!
Put on your armor with me
The time is now, we got to battle
There is no choice, you see.

Two Trees!
Two Trees!
With twisted limb and
hollow eye
To grasp unwary enemy and
see in unwordly time.

Sink your keen toes deep into secrets
No mouths to let them out,
Gather rocks with knobby roots
twisting and twining with infinite patience
We come upon them so long in pursuit.

Memories like limbs of our bodies
grown together-
Raking branches and nails!
Old wounds hardened over
Stealthily! Stealthily!
We follow closely their trails.

(one of my poems i read at the Main Street Gallery last week-- thanks Andrew for the interesting photo.)

Grandpa Beeler

Grandpa Beeler was one of the amazing old world people. He was a farmer in his 90's when he came in to pose for this sculpture class at CCC. I was the resident artist then and made this sculpture for his family.

the best artist here- period.

this is a painting done by someone i have just met recently- gerald van scyoc. without a doubt i think his work is absolutely fantastic. i have new standards! how will i ever get there? to see more of his work, go to
http://www.saatchionline.com/gvanscyoc

upcoming events

Suburbia

this is an older painting, but i thought it would be fun to post it here. i just spent a few weeks with my awesome family in seattle, but the suburbs there make one feel crazy (or at least they do to me.) i painted this a number of years ago from there.

the Northern Cascades

I've been traveling/half the time living in the Northwest for the last 14 years. And, although my heart is in my home here, I never cease to be amazed by the splendor of the NW....

Firing was a success!

It took cooperation, but the kiln fired wonderfully. We ended up with around 200 new pieces. In December, we had two shows to try and bring some of the new work to the public. I feel very good about being not just a painter, but also a wood-fire potter! Next we are working on a couple more wood sheds and a cabin! It'll be a lot of work, but I have a lot of creative ideas I am going to integrate into the cabin. It will be a great big art project.