Christmas Eve eve post

 Well, it's almost Christmas. This is pretty much my favorite time of the year. As a Christian, I try every year to find deep spiritual meaning in this holiday, but I tend to get caught up in all the hub-bub like everyone else.With all of the holiday "hustle and bustle", it can be a challenge to stay in a disciplined, create mode of working. I must say, that it has been much easier for me the last couple of months. I have recently re-established the habits of mind and body that make it easier to flow with some proficiency. It's mainly due to the fact that I want it so desperately. This "white whale" that we as creators seek, be it music or the visual arts, I have sought it out for most of my life that I can recall. I will get out of the daily grind and do what I feel that I need to do. Working for an organization that is struggling to prove it's validity (the public school system) with all of the politics and other bullshit, compounded with the stress of the job is proving to be unlike something that I wish to continue. I will find a way to do what I need to do.
     Anyway, these three pieces are my most recent offerings. The first, is called "such a great cloud of witnesses". This is loosely based on a scripture from the bible:
Hebrews 12

 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Somehow my late pappy showed up in the painting, along with some other familiar or not, faces. I love you and miss you Spec.

     The second is a work in progress for a first grade student at school who's father lost his life in a fire, saving his family. Truly tragic, the boy Jose, is holding up pretty well because he knows his father is an angel now, who watches over him. This is an attempt to capture a beautiful image for the family's Christmas card.
     The third, is a more finished version of a pen and ink sketch that I was working on, just to play with a bit of character development. It is about circumstances, or forces that threaten to "cut down" my dreaming tree.

New stuff/update

 Working on another painting, slow but steady. The pen and ink is just a practice sketch. I keep having this vision of these baby-like characters and trees. I started the painting, but ended up gessoing out the sky a couple of times. Just wasn't happening. Anyway the sketch I did tonight was a lot more fun, and ended up with a clear concept. Avoid those that will try to eradicate your dreams...The saw-creatures are coming toward the boy's tree of dreams/visions that he is guarding. Stand firm and keep dreaming. A little cliche but true. I'm not sure how the painting is going to turn out though. I have to decide on colors and such. Oh BTW, my art show was a lot of fun, I got to explain some of my work to folks and got a lot of feedback and affirmation. I am looking forward to doing more work and having a bigger, better show next time.