These are a few monotypes, from a demo for class last fall.

Rio Chama Valley, in northern New Mexico. Auctioned to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Oklahoma this spring, in Still Water.

A while ago I ordered some paper on a roll. This drawing is about 6 ft. long. the material at the moment is just charcoal. There seem to be some nice things happening in some places. The far right seems to be out of step with the rest. It has some strength, and movement though. I find that I spend a lot of time looking, I need to know what is actually happening before I can move further.

This is the final state of what is now titled personal space. Things ended up getting more fragmented than I had hoped. Another canvas is stretched and ready to go.

Battle between Heroes and Mediocrity

I decided to stop messing with this. I am no longer in the place I was when it all started and if I go on, I will unpaint most of it. I started it as a diptych, so that I could solve some issues with composition and edges. I don't know now if I've solved anything.

There is a quote, that I keep in the flotsam that I drag around with me. It keeps me focused on a direction, not a destination, more of a compass heading.

Note from Martha Graham to Agnes Demille

There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is or how valuable it is nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or in your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.

No artist is pleased... there is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than others.

I hope you find it useful.

This is an updated image of the second of the two canvases that began together about a month ago. Like siblings, related, but very different. Each will go its own way. This one is still moving, like a dance, each move changes everything, and determines the next move. The challenge is to sustain, and nurture the life of the work.