Jesus and Mary Doll Set

Update! I've just finished the Mary doll so now there are two dolls in the line for the 'Spiritual Joys Collection' - Heavenly Dolls. I don't know but there's something about these dolls. I think talking to the dolls is therapeutic. Also if you have one of a loved one who is away, that would also be the case. Perhaps for families and children who have a family member serving in the armed forces overseas to have a doll of them would be especially beneficial. Remember to let me know what you think via comments or email me.

My Latest Project

I have just started another summer project in cloth doll making. I call them "Loved One" dolls. If you are missing someone you love, just have a photo of their face put onto a doll. Great for moms and kids alike. The sample shown at left is my "Jesus Doll". He is great to hug and talk to! You can order these dolls directly from me via email, I can custom make to order. Some of the spiritual dolls may be available for sale in local outlets also...watch this blog for news.

Copies of the "Sentinel" historic poetry chapbook, prints & cards of Lacombe's Flat Iron building are now available for purchase at the Interpretive Centre in Lacombe.

Live Earth - Love the Earth

Here I am showing my support for LIVE EARTH. What a great concert! This is my artwork titled "Earth Koi" which I dedicate today to all the people who are responsible for and who attended, organized or participated in some way to put on the Live Earth concert. It's a great day. Show your support, reuse, recycle do whatever you can, it's the only Earth we've got. Love the Earth!

More recent work

Ok as promised my Kiwi Collection...so far.

I didn't take the greatest pix of these as I was in a hurry but you kinda get the idea. I really like these fruit and beverage. They turned out better than I hoped. Next I am working on Raspberry, Papaya and some Red Wine.

New Work

Once again I've changed subjects and, as they say, and now for something completely different. Here's a peek at some of my latest work which I hope will be showing up in the gallery in September.

Pictured are "Pomartini" and "Four Chambered Pomegranate"

A Philosophy of Art

Now that I'm generating pieces at a fairly decent clip and within a variety of mediums it does'nt mean I've forgotten what the art is all about. My being so busy is about how full of creativity I am right now and I guess you could say I am tripping over myself in an effort to get it out of my head and onto paper so to speak. Well generally this happens with my writing too and verily I say to you this is how I am naturally, it's not just the caffeine! I'm always creating, always working. Though I don't stand much on Jackson Pollock's creations, I do agree with what he was getting at: that the point of art is to get to the heart of creation and yourself perhaps and isn't that exactly what we try to do in life? We are all seeking purpose, the raison d' etre even if art or life bites back we keep on trying. Believe me art and life have bitten back at me more than once and I'm sure they did with Pollock too. So I seek to get to the heart of art, to interpret my experience of art for myself and for others and to seek out the heart of life and creation that exists within the aesthetic. To boldy go where many have gone before but with my own unique lense. I tend to resolve the difficulties of drawing and composition's relationship to visual impact through a variety of encounters with subject and medium. The result is what you see here and I can extend through both visual and written forms of the communication. Now we see that the heart of the matter is in fact communication, the artist and writer are both heavily engaged in a manner or process of communication, not always neccesarily with the audience but often it is a dialectic with self.

Check back later and see what I am working on now. Also I'd hoped to have the photography postings up sooner but right now my camera has a dead battery so as soon as I can get to the store...

My art display at the Gallery On Main, Lacombe.

Ok my bad for not posting more frequently! Already a
month since my last one. Right after the art show I was busy getting ready for another show. I've been painting up a storm and working on my crosses for sale this summer. Time flies and the Spring Show at the gallery was last weekend. I'll post a pic of my display after this post. Now I can relax a bit. We have a sale coming up on June 9th so I will post info here next week.

Okay it’s that time of year again. I can’t believe it’s come back around so quickly! Seems it was not too long that I was getting ready for the 7th Annual and now here it is, almost here the 8th Annual Lacombe Art Exhibit & Sale!
Get ready to be wowed by the outstanding talent of local area artists once again on April 27, 28 & 29 at the Lacombe Curling Club.
This local show grows with every passing year and exhibitors and the public alike are thrilled with the uniqueness and quality of the show experience. The Gallery on Main is once again one of the local sponsors. If you have not visited the Gallery lately you are missing out. Jenna is pulling out all the stops and for a fresh and innovative display from Alberta’s original artists. You can view over 800 pieces now of fine art and craft by professional painters, potters, glassmakers, sculptors and more. Their Spring show is coming up in May so make sure to watch the ant for more details! Meanwhile you can take in the Lacombe Show to enjoy three exciting days featuring guest artist Pat Matheson of Bentley, delicious food from The Gourmet Café operated by
The Pallette Pleasers and of course the eclectic display and sale of work from over 50 artists. To address feedback from last year, show hours have been shortened slightly this year and run as follows:
1 to 8PM on Friday, 11AM to 6PM on Saturday and 11AM to 4PM on Sunday.

The Art Show Cometh

Ok it's practically here. I have been so busy getting ready for it that writing (other than that of the advertising my stuff for the show variety) has fallen by the wayside and that includes my journalling to this blog. It's late and I'm not even sure if I can spell anymore so please bear with me.
May as well write about the show then. The 8th Annual Lacombe Art Exhibit and Sale starts tomorrow and runs through Saturday and Sunday at the Curling Rink. There you will be able to view the works of over 50 local area artists and purchase original art, prints and cards.
I'm with a couple of other artists with The Gallery On Main booth. So if you are from around these parts please stop in it only costs $2.00 to get in and well worth it.

You know, I am sooo tired of March looking like December should have looked! It's the first day of Spring and it's snowing! I think the guy on the radio said heavy snow...whaaat! It's almost Easter and let me tell you I refuse to do Palm Sunday in three feet of snow. Stay tuned!

I Will Remember You

It's the reason I don't like March. The Ides. My best friend died on March 13th, 1995. My brother, Garry Ronald Cousins, known affectionately as "Gaz" died today, March 11th, 1983. Today this post is dedicated to both of them for Richard I say his favourite line from his favorite movie series, " I have been and always shall be, your friend. Cheers to you, Richard Gordon Austin Beal, I miss you. For Gaz, my brother, my twin separated by 14 years but I felt you as my twin brother none the less, I know you are near me at this time and I know you are happy. I just wish we could go have a drink together and maybe a dance, maybe in a hip nite spot in Spain again. You have climbed your stairway to Heaven and gotten off at the top. The top of your form, the top of your life. I love you guys.

Spring Please Come!

Oh yes. We need it really. Here in Central Alberta it's been winter weather for way to long. A sure sign of spring...I bought open toe shoes today. What I like about buying shoes is what most women like...fat or thin you can always get shoes. Even if you have big wide feet somehow it's not as bad as buying clothes. Shoes always look good-trust me. I have to wait tho till all the muck and wet is gone before I can wear my shoes outside or they'll get messed up. They are nice pumps in a suede leopard print...just my style. Do I need more shoes? No but that's the point. It's fun to buy and have them. I can reconcile the whole thing by saying some of my old worn out shoes are going to the garbage this spring and it that may happen or it may not. It doesn't matter. It's ok to buy shoes and feel good. They don't make you gain weight and hey if they were on sale it's a bargain. Did I mention also that Nectarine Cider is really good? Well it is. Maybe that's why I have so much to say about the shoes. Oh well. We enjoy it while we can. March may be back to Lion status next week but right now I am loving the Lamb.
Cheers!

Waiting For Spring

I've been busy but I've been sick too. The Cold from Hell. Anyway, I'm back. I still am not 100% but I am working towards feeling better and eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring. Shrove Tuesday is nearly upon us and Ash Wednesday is up to bat next and looking outside all I see is snow just mounds of it. But today we do have the sun and it is much warmer. That groundhog was on drugs. I am starting a painting today and our wine is done now too. Time moves on. The spring Art show needs to be prepared for because April is also not long away once things start on the thaw that will be it. Our band is getting ready to play actual gigs and I have not been able to sing for the last two weeks because of the cold. Comments about world affairs? None really. I look outside today and the sun warms and cheers me, I have little to gripe about or comment on, for now anyway. Here's a shot of my paintings in the gallery display. More news on that next time, later peoples!

Discover a bold and beautiful New Year!

Well I am back posting. Hey I just liked that headline, I felt I had to say something with new year in it. If I had a toy store I would advertise it by saying "...find the imaginitive life of a child all in one store!" Well I need to stop hanging out at Toys R Us! I don't want to work there but I like to play there. I've no more new pix yet so if you want to see more artwork you'll need to scroll down or visit the archives. Don't forget if you are in Edmonton on Monday the 22nd come and hear me read from my current work in progress at the Stroll of Poets "Haven" reading series. It goes at 7PM at the Upper Crust Cafe, 10909 86 Ave. If you can't make it, read it on this blog.
Until next time then.

Must've Been Busy

So much for the resolve to do at least weekly posts! Well 'tis the season' you just get busy and then before you know it Christmas has been and gone. Let's not forget the real reason for the season, the birth of Jesus. Also remember to give gifts all year long, not the kind you buy in the store but gifts of kindness, love and time. Children need our love and our time most of all, even though they might say they need TV, stereos and stuffies so see who you can give your time to this season. To all my friends and relatives in England and Australia, I hope you have a very Happy Holiday and a Super New Year!

Goodbye T'Pau

More sad news. A beloved pet has died. Although Pau as she was called hasn't lived with me since about 1991, I have visited her and only last week had seen her with my daughter. T'Pau was a Red Point Siamese which I named after the 80's musical group and also for a Vulcan character in Star Trek. Pau died today of heart problems which I'm told is not unusual for an older Siamese. She was a lovely little cat and she will be missed. Goodbye Paui.

Goodbye Dennis

I have to take up a few lines just to say goodbye to Dennis Uchytil. I went to high school with him and he's about the second person I know from my class now who has died. At the reunion's we joke "oh you're still alive." But it's not funny. At this time of life you study your mortality. And now Dennis is gone. I found this picture in my yearbook. It hardly seems like yesterday he was doing some antics in class or on the bus. He was a good guy and it sounds like he had a good life after high school and was well liked. He was in high school too even though he drove the teacher's nuts sometimes with his antics. I see kids like Dennis in school everyday. I just hope they become half the person he was. Goodbye Dennis. See you later.

No Borders

I just watched a couple of movies this weekend that are somehow related. On Friday I watched United 93 and on Saturday it was Kingdom of Heaven. I realized after seeing them both that we are still fighting the exact same war today in 2006 that we were in 1184. Why is that? Well I think that I realized after viewing these movies that it comes down to one common denominator. That is Muslim vs. Christian. Funny we haven't picked on the Buddists or the Hindus. No for some reason back in the time of the crusades it was decided that the European and now the Western world in general can't seem to get along with the Muslims. Are we really so different? Isn't it true that both of us believe in a divine being. Does it really matter whether we call him Christ or Allah? The devotion that the Muslim world shows to their God simply can't be imagined by the west. You know I can't say that I've seen christian devotion compete at that level. Why are they so much more assured and devoted to Allah than we are to Christ? It's a theological puzzle that I can't explain. Are we hiding our devotion? Is that the reason that we for example don't have suicide bombers and hijackers that are prepared to die for their beliefs? What is wrong with western christianity that we don't go to such extremes to make a point for our faith. Could it be that our faith just isn't that important to our daily lives? Makes you think doesn't it. After watching United 93 it would be very easy to say that you think their God Allah must be Satan to make people do such terrible things in his name. But when you see Kingdom of Heaven you realize that europeans seemed to have a similar mindset back in 1184. So what has changed. Nothing. The more things change, the more they remain the same. The war has not changed. The technology with which we fight has. This war is old and way past it's time to end. We need to forget those theological differences and find a common ground based on mutual respect and love, the love of a creator god who is all things to all people. This is my hope for the world. I pray it is realized before it is too late.