"Hung Up" and hangin' out

Oh, I almost forgot to mention the highlight of my Las Vegas trip was getting up and singing a few verses of "Hung Up" with Madonna. Me and Maddy had a blast at a club called Madame Tussaud's. She's shorter than I thought she would be and her complexion was a bit 'waxy'.

On The Drawing Board: Added Effects

A piece like this has many more special effects than most of my other works. The special effects are things that I typically add or refine once the figure or object is 'established'. These would include, secondary highlights and shadows, reflections of light and color, body hair, sweat or water etc. Here I have all those plus all the effects from the pool, the strong turquoise color, the distortion cause by the water, bouncing light and so on. I have been looking at numerous pictures of people in pools, and though I know that all these elements have to adhere to the laws of physics, I only have to represent them. The light and water is so chaotic with so many resulting variations that I only need to make it look right and pleasing. If someone wants to argue that a shadow would be shaped differently or a reflection would be a different color, I at least have the defense of 'artistic license'!

My Top 10 iTunes for 2/23/2007

1. "Here (In Your Arms)" - Hellogoodbye
2. "By The Way" - Jenna Drey
3. "Playgirl" Ladytron
4. "My Love" (Paul Oakenfold Mix) - Justin Timberlake & T.I. (video spotlight)
   
5. "We're The Pet Shop Boys" - Robbie Williams & Pet Shop Boys
6. "Soul on Ice" - Yello
7. "Afraid" - Nelly Furtado
8. "Beautiful Morning" - Ace of Base
9. "Open Up Your Eyes" - Sophie B. Hawkins
10. "Stir It Up" - Howard Jones

Green denotes new entry.
Links will open your iTunes (if you have it installed) and take you the selected track sample.

Survived Las Vegas

I got back from Las Vegas Friday morning. It turned out to be a less then smooth trip. Turns out it was NBA All-Star weekend, which drew a large crowd, around 250,000 extra visitors many of whom were rude and obnoxious, and dangerous. There were 3 shootings while we were there, one in the MGM Grand parking lot, and an additional 350 arrest that weekend. The entire Las Vegas strip was rather disgusting.

Speaking of MGM, I would never stay there again. After arriving at midnight, they had overbooked and given our room away. Completely defeating the purpose of making a reservation. At one point they were going to put us up at the Hooters Hotel across the street. Finally at 3 a.m. we got a room.

On The Drawing Board: Liquid State

Since I started posting 'in progress' pics of my works, I have to say that I haven't gotten much more comfortable with it. The problem I have, is because I concentrate on one small area at a time, to the point that it may look finished, I think a lot of people will think a certain section is finished, when I know it's not. So I hope that's not the case and you all reserve judgement and critiques 'til I unveil the completed work.

That said, I am really liking the underwater effect of this piece, and am already looking forward to getting back from Las Vegas to finish it.

Article in MGW News Magazine

If you live on the west coast, especially in Sacremento, San Francisco, Seattle, or Palms Springs, pick up a copy of MGW News Magazine, it's free! The new issue that comes out on Monday has an article on the release of my book "Summer Moved On", and a short interview with me.

www.mgwnews.com • www.myspace.com/mgwnews

Leaving (for) Las Vegas

For the third year in a row Edward and I are headed to Las Vegas. He attends a conference and I tag along. It's a nice getaway but since we are not gamblers and we've been there 2 years in a row if we had to choose we'd pick somewhere else. But that is where the conference is and that is where we go. I take the opportunity to make it a business trip for myself as well.

I've come away with 4 pieces inspired by my trips out there. The first was the cowboy "Carson", followed by "Leaving Las Vegas" (pictured). On last years trip we tacked on a couple days at the Grand Canyon, which inspired my piece I called "Natural Wonder". Finally came "Blowout", which drew upon our road trip (from Vegas to the Grand Canyon) on historical Route 66 through Arizona.

Of course, as always, it won't be all work! It is Vegas after all.

Blizzard of the Century?

Here in Massachusetts we are experiencing our first real snow fall of the season. Every time a bit of snow is forecast it's really quite entertaining. Whenever there is a slight change in the weather, the people here shrug and say "well, that's New England". So it's so bizarre seeing people react as if it has never snowed here before. Perhaps because I come from upstate New York, 60 miles south of Montreal, where people just dealt with the cold and snow that I find the people here so comical. Here in Massachusetts just a mention of snow in the forecast and schools and businesses announce closures the day before. This is not North Carolina folks, as they say, "this is New England!"

And without fail the local TV stations have to send a reporter out into the parking lot to show us what snow is. Without exception they bend down and paw at the snow just in case you aren't familiar with the concept. Then they grab a scraper and illustrate how ice forms on car windows. Pair this with the exodus to the grocery store the night before to stockpile 8 weeks worth of food and water and I just scratch my head. Hard to believe that every soccer mom in the state is driving a 12 ton 14 wheel SUV tank to go to Target everyday but becomes housebound with 3 inches of snow fall.

Kiss Kiss

Hypocrite Mit, the Pander Bear

The vile former Governor of Massachusetts, Mit Romney, or as I like to call him, 'Monster Head', has announced his run for the Presidency. I really, really dislike him. Admittedly I disagree with the twisted beliefs of most political conservatives, since for the most part they go against the principals of America, (equality, freedom, liberty and justice for ALL). But even so, they generally truly believe in their own misguided notions.

Mit Romney on the other hand, simply adopts these misguided positions to rally support for himself. His stance on issues change with his political goals. He has flip-flopped on the issue of abortion, going from promising to not change the laws to claiming he is pro-life. He says that in this country "we have cheapened the value of human life so much that he needs to make it clear he is 100% pro-life." This is out of the mouth of someone who supports the war in Iraq.

He also once said that he supports rights and equality for gays and lesbians. Yet as one of his very last acts as Governor he did all he could to eventually get same-sex marriage overturned in Massachusetts. An act that only served as a way to pander to the religious right when the issue of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts is brought up on the campaign trail.

At the end of his interview on NBC's Today Show, he said that Americans want a person of faith to lead the country, and that he believes in God and he has the values for the country. We have suffered the results of a president elected on his supposed faith and values. We aren't electing a Pope, folks. It's time we elect a president based on competence and intelligence and leave faith and 'value' to religious leaders.