Does this have to have a title? I don't think so.

The kitchen chalkboard is a forever evolving substrate of random creativity by heterogeneous artists. It always begins with a grocery list and my own impromptu sketch. It's handy exposure is like a magnet to my children and their friends. Little by little the space gets filled with bits and pieces of peoples minds. As I've mentioned before...the grocery list, in time, gets buried in the artiness of it all. 

My lavender is just about to fully explode! I tried to capture this visitor but am still getting to understand the many functions of my new camera and didn't get as good of a shot as I had hoped.

I've added a little reuse-sculpture above my fence mural. I'm so attracted to things that rust. The bright contrast of it's coiling wire against the black post pops with interest. It's one of those things that will patina in time, forever changing how it exists in the space. It's neighboring post calls for something more substantial. My mind is churning for the perfect elements...in rust of course.

Mid month during the full moon I spent some time on my front porch...with my camera of course. After the one I love turned in for the night, I was left to explore one on one with my new toy/tool/appendage/eye/?. Most images turned out blurry (could the vino have been an accomplice?). Too intrigued to go upstairs and get my tripod I found that holding my breath while leaning against something sturdy pacified my need for a clear, flash-less, glowing composition. Next time...the tripod.
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A MINI ART NOTE

Above is a final for an Art History project I did
at the end of last semester. I chose 1920's soft-cubism
artist Tamara de Lempicka to represent an artist
between the Renaissance and WWII in a composition
depicting a modern use (a cover of Portland's Willamette Week
news publication). I used my 20+ years of graphic
design skills in Illustrator to complete the piece. I was
informed WW's editor Richard Meeker became fond of
it as it was displayed on a gallery wall at school. The
school purchased it and gave it to him as a gift.

Such a cool thing.

I am truly honored.

What is it? What's it all about? Who cares.

I have an old 1920's bungalow home that provides the perfect canvas to create amazing works of art on, in and around. The whimsical fence mural now rests on my fence, basking in the summer sunshine. I have no idea what it is, all I know is that I had no expectations with the process and tried my best to keep my mind clear of thoughts in any direction. I was on auto-pilot. Perhaps from a psychodynamic perspective (Freudian) this concept came from my subconscious. Even so...I still have no idea what it is. I do know it is balanced within the space with it's wiggling multiple lines heavy on the left-view side and it's solid open deep black space on it's right and it has texture in it's many black intersecting lines which sends your eye back allowing the vibrant yellow-green to jump forward. 

So who really cares what it is? It's one of those images that has people looking at it in wonder. The kind of public art that breaks up a person's daily routine providing them with a brief moment in time to focus on something other than where they have to be and what they have to do next in order to be producing responsible organized time. It's almost like a psychological mini vacation and they don't really realize exists. Of course this is my subjective interpretation of what it could be for others and I'll truly never understand how it places in the dynamic of it all. For me it was a process of letting go of expectations and authorizing myself to be in the present moment. If it can alter someones chaotic day for just one minute of peace or creative thought, then all the better.

I have a new camera (on the art barter system!) and had fun snapping shots of random Portland things over the weekend while getting familiar with it's functions. I was on Mississippi Avenue exploring it's wonders when I came across some hens in a quaint garden shop. After returning home, the inspiration remained strong and I captured small spaces of my own garden. The mural photos were taken with my phone. I'm still getting to know my new Canon but so far we're getting along just fine.