August 25th, 2018

cmsa; photo (top); the time was 1978 thru 80, the place is ohio university grad school studio, ( in athens ohio) where i spent the greater part of two years...it worked for me to have two more years to focus exclusively on art and artists, before the burden of real life responsibilities (like making a living) took over. Ironically that was the last time i experienced full art "immersion" until i moved into my studio at the Los Angeles Brewery (two years ago)and am again enjoying a similar life style and culture. only 40 years have slipped by in between! Photo (bottom) is my studio today on open studio friday with painters Sia Dreyfuss and Crushow Herring....It's still wonderful, after all these years

August 16th, 2018

cmSA; i learned in art school oil painting class that painting could be anything and be done any way i wanted...in fact , you didn' t have to paint in painting class at all; you could do a performance, or an installation, or a sound piece instead, in fact in my painting class these were considered the finest examples of "painting" during class crits..i think that that was when we lost the idea that painting is (among many other things!!!!!!!!) a craft that one might learn and that the practice of over many years might perfect. i have felt at odds with the status quo of the contemporary art world my whole professional life...that's why i *sigh*..

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August 13th, 2018

cmsa; "i know why the mona lisa smiles" oil sketches on linen, summer '18; Story of a trip to Maine with thanks to dear friends and "mainers" Pamela Ludwig Dreyfuss, and Amanda Green

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August 13th, 2018

cmsa; paintings on the floor are the product of newest alum Sharon (in the swing)- amazing output, done over 5 classes, and 12 days. It's just what happens when you've waited years to scratch this particular itch- brava!!!!!!she's also in the swing accompanied by her cmsa graduation guests. paint on! Please share with her please Greg Gregory Gonzales, and thanks for putting us together...Whose next?

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August 8th, 2018

cmsa; it seems strange, but i'm thinking there is bias in the western art world toward a certain distinctly american aesthetic. The more high contrast, the greater amounts of sparkle, shine and glitter there are, the more the work will be considered somehow "less" than a more reserved aesthetic...seems the only permissible perspective when making work about this aesthetic is one of judgy , tongue in cheek cynic ...think Jeff Koons... in an artworld where ANYTHING can be made into art (maplethorpe, damian hirst etc etc) this bias is surprising? wtf?

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August 5th, 2018

cmsa; Me and Todd Alan Gresley (art on 5th) are trying this;
The gallery offers "hand embellished detail , and personal dedication" as "added value" to the giclees of my work they offer for sale. The giclees are done on canvas and my work is pretty flat anyway, so it's hard to distinguish the giclee from the original . "hand embellished detail" means i hand oil paint a detail into the giclee (for a small added fee), based on the collectors personal response to the image. Here's the first one we did; giclee is actual size (52x42) and the collector wrote that the painting reminded her of her days as a "glittery" showgirl in vegas during the 60's. she sent me a pic of her in her back in the day in her showgirl finery....the detail i chose to paint in was the red opera gloves in her costume. see the original on the left , second image shows print with opera gloves and dedication added. Everybody wins because i make a few bucks and the oil paint i add turns them each into an original work, so each will be a one of a kind, hand painted artist's proof. so what do you think? I love any job where i actually get to paint!

August 5th, 2018

cmsa; look who i found on the corner of hollywood and vine! my old faux finish/ scenic painter partner the amazing Bella Lenestor , great to catch up and Kathryn Keller; you were missed!!!!!!!!!!!! To bad she's not interested , i'd love to get the band back together...thanks for putting us together Emma Stark Moore, look forward to meeting you in the flesh...best, c

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