Colostrum. Watercolor, Ink and Gouache, 2021.

Well, I’ll be damned… I was watching a random YouTube video tonight about an American woman who moved to Chengdu, China (“I Left The U.S. For China - Here’s How Much It Costs”) and during her apartment tour, I noticed a print of my painting, Colostrum, on her wall. I don’t know what the odds are of seeing my own work randomly in someone’s house across the world on a YouTube video, but I would think they would be astronomical. I’m going to take it as a sign to move abroad.

False Prophets, Analog Collage.

Thought Crimes

“But he was a father”

They say, as if the limbo bar of

having had at some point

lost control inside the body of a woman

makes a man more valuable

As if we should care more about Saddam Hussein for this reason or

many other a large-mouthed and small-minded

little gunstroker

Shameless arrogance a

Hot honey burn on the roof of the mouth,

a regretful meditation

Some have no one to make a meal for

they lock their watery eyes in the mirror

stroke their victimhood gently in the dark,

each reflection congratulating the other 

on their shared capacity for callousness.

Come now, You Guys,

As a fellow spitting cobra who

Overate my savory dinner

Normally a straight venom shooter

I am also quietly unsettled by 

Esophageal recoil at 3am 

Belly distended, uneasy 

Aren’t we all fragile and imperfect beings?

Our collective thread, vulnerable 

Tired and soft-skinned

Butter aftertaste

---

"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So, by their fruits you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:15-20

I made a few little mushroom paintings on panels that will be for sale at Pittsburg Artwalk this Saturday, along with prints and some other originals. These are all based on mushrooms found while hiking.

Prairie State Park

 

A few cyanotypes from last summer and some recent September mushrooms.

Some morning Yupo flow, while listening to Irish folk music ~

...I'm arting extra hard right now, since I have to back to work soon.

I wanted to explore the texture of words (and say some things more directly), so I made a tiny zine of poetry and photography. I'm certain my literary friends could tell me what's wrong with these poems from a craft standpoint, but I'm a big proponent of just going for it, regardless of ability.

Anyway, a couple excerpts:

In other news, just trying to continue painting. I've been dealing with an overuse/mild nerve injury in my wrists ever since felting a bit too intensely at KCAI, which has made holding a brush uncomfortable. Luckily, it's improving, as I was able to finish this one today. I'm considering a series of moon snail shells in oil.

Another moon snail shell painting... oil on gesso board

Crawford County Fair

Finger Painting

We had a family finger painting day

The Ship

Longnecks

Dissipate

Visitors

 Collages. Watercolor, cyanotype, embroidery, and vellum.

Iceberg, Digital Drawing. 2023/2025

Made some changes to my digital drawing, Iceberg.

This year’s Educator's ArtLab at KCAI did not disappoint! I think I worked *even harder* this year (physically, at least) than I have in previous years… definitely feeling the labor in my hands and wrists now! Before this week, I essentially knew how to make a basic piece of felt (and attach the pieces with needle felting), but now I know all kinds of techniques. Deep gratitude to Marie Bannerot McInerney for the excellent instruction!