September 8, 2004 - Austin, Texas - I've done my best to convince myself to give up painting entirely over the past two months.  With money a constant distraction and seemingly a larger worry month to month, the constant grind of being in the studio plodding along on new work, packaging myself nicely for my next shows, and trying to keep a smile on my face has taken a drastic toll on my psyche of late.

And despite my best efforts to convince myself this whole art world is a worthless endeavor in an uncaring, cold, and often heartless country, there's been a handful of folks close to me that have chatted into the morning hours, looked at my work, talked about art and life, and kept me propped up and going.  It's really nuts to consider, I shouldn't have much to complain about, I haven't had a real full time job in two and a half years, can paint, sleep and drink as much or as little as I want, and yet the burden of this whole 'profession' is bearing down more and more each month. 

So, with all these worries, thoughts, and fears hanging over my head, I forced myself to do the unthinkable - just keep working in studio until something broke - either the paintings or me.  And finally, there was a breakthrough. Not only was I able to finally get going and make some progress on some of the works that have been mocking me lately, but more importantly feel like being in pursuit again.  Life in general has ramped up to frantic proportions, with the uncertainty of life, relationships, and overdue bills staring me in the face, I can't help but feel enthused, enlivened and ready to take things on again. 

So without further ado, take a look at what I call progress and judge for yourself.  With two big, important shows within eight weeks coming right up, I've got plenty of work cut out for me, and I think I can finally handle it again. 

This little picture almost comes out of the series I was working on in Spring, but this time, both sides of the equation seem a bit exasperated by their lot in life.


Kind of a kick start, a fierce painting of three ladies, this painting has perhaps gotten around more than the ladies depicted.  I could tell you all the places its been in my head and on canvas, but I'm afraid it'd bore you more than this paragraph already has.


Continuing on some themes I've been working on this summer, this one will feature a street preacher clad in a white suit, standing by a ladder, as a couple walks by holding an umbrella.