it’s in the mail

I completed the box for “i can’t be what i once was” and sent it towards Alexandria via FedEx. Here are some pictures of the box before it was sealed up.

the bottom, which is identical to the top except it’s a 1/2″ smaller all the way around

To build the box, I started with two 4’x8′ sheets of cardboard. The painting is 35″x46″x3″, and factoring in for 2 inches of foam on all four sides, the box needed an interior dimension of 39″x50″x7″. After scoring, folding, and taping the sides in place, I put two 1″ pieces of polystyrene in the bottom and on each side. The polystyrene can be found in 4’x8′ sheets at Lowe’s or Home Depot.

polystyrene on sides and bottom

After the polystyrene is in place the painting (wrapped in tyvec) is placed inside the box. Two more pieces of polystyrene are then placed on top to cover the  the face. Once everything is as snug as a bug, the lid slides over the top and sides, and gets taped all the way around.

the painting wrapped in tyvec

polystyrene on top

Of course, after I had the box ready to go, I found out it wasn’t going to fin in my car. So, I shoved it into the trunk, let half of it hang out, strapped it in, and drove it over to the FedEx office.

I ended my weekend with a trip to the lumber store. I left with one 4’x8′ sheet of masonite, and eight 1″x3″x6′ boards. I cut everything down, and will start construction on thirty-two 10″x10″ panels. I still need to get 10 more boards (just in case you did the math), but I could only find eight good straight ones today.

Tomorrow night is the second seminar in the entrepreneurial workshop at SRAC. We are supposed to bring any of our marketing materials we use. I can’t wait to see what everybody brings.

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busy weekend = late post

This week’s post was delayed because of a really busy Sunday. I spent the entire day driving to New Orleans and back (with a stop in Covington), but for good reason. It just so happened that the timing of an exhibition closing dovetailed wonderfully  with a necessary delivery.

The 46th Annual Juried Summer Show presented by the St. Tammany Art Association came to a close, and since I had driven the two paintings down there, that meant that I had to go pick them up. So I setup the pick up day for Sunday since Leigh’s schedule at the Bossier Arts Council includes Saturdays and there is no way I’m going to spend 10 hours in the car with Sophia (our 2.5 year old). However, it lucked out that I only had to bring one of the two paintings back home.

On Wednesday I got a call from Taylor at Graphite Gallery. Dirty Linen Night went well; he sold 3 of the 5 paintings I sent him, and he wanted more. Only one was available since the shows with NCLAC and Gallery Fine Arts Center are still running, and one of the paintings returning from Covington needed repairs (absolutely no fault of STAA). He was cool with a Sunday visit, so after I picked up the work from STAA I set off for Royal Street. I was psyched that I got to see the gallery and talk with Taylor face to face. He seems like a cool guy (also from Oklahoma) and I hope we can continue to work together.

the one that went to Graphite Gallery

the one that needs repairs

So after a good chat and a pit stop for food and gas I returned home to sleep, go to work on Monday, and attend the first of a 4 part series “Visual Artists Entrepreneur Intensive Training Program” facilitated by the Arts Council of New Orleans, and presented by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. The first session was great, and I look forward to the remaining 3.

Although I was doing a lot of leg work this week, I was able to complete 2 pencil drawings.

This coming week will be busy with building a box to ship work down to the Alexandria Museum of Art, and buying lumber so I can build so more panels. For those interested, next week I will post pictures of the box as it’s built.

the painting headed to Alexandria Museum of Art

Thanks for checking in.

It’s been a busy week. I think my studio is finally clean! Well . . . as clean as a studio can be. I’ll post a picture of the studio in all its glory next week.

This week there were two events exhibiting my work. One in Shreveport, and the other in New Orleans, both events on Saturday. The event in Shreveport was Monoprints + Andrew Weathers hosted by Minicine, a volunteer run venue for experimental and independent film, video, art and music. This was the first minicine event I’ve been able to attend, and it was great. Catherine Nelson, Ryan Rebouche and Landry Debussy (the other artists involved) had nice work up on the walls, and the music performed by Andrew Weathers and his band was awesome. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to enjoy live music. The Minicine space is super cool, and everyone I met from the organization was very nice. Now that we live in the area I hope to be envolved with them in the future.

The event in New Orleans was Dirty Linen Night, and my work was at Graphite Galleries. I have yet to hear how the event went, but I’m sure it went well. From everything I’ve read, the event is really well attended, and it looks like a lot of fun. Maybe Leigh and I can sneak away and head down south next year.

I also received two pieces of good news this week:

The first piece of good news: I was accepted into the 25th September Competition at the Alexandria Museum of Art. This will be the fourth year I’ve participated and I always look forward to the reception. Leigh always makes sure to come along. Although she loves art shows, I think it has more to do with the fact that Alexandria is home to Taco Bueno (the only one we know of in Louisiana). The Bueno was our favorite fast food when we lived in Oklahoma, so mexi-dips and chips are always a tasty reminder of home.

The second piece of good news: This year I participated in an online competition called Art Takes Times Square. Submitting Artists with high enough ratings had their work projected on digital billboards in Times Square. Super cool idea. Well, I got my work in the billboard rotation, and now the groups that organized the event have decided to publish a book and I was selected to have some of my work included in the pages. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

the image of the book they plan to print

Okay, announcements and self-congratulations aside, now that my studio is clean (enough) I’ve been able to get back to work. Before the move I was developing an increasing desire to ease off painting for a little while and immerse myself in graphite. I know it may not seem like a lot to some, but in 16 months I’ve created 75 paintings. Although I draw in my sketchbook all the time, it’s been years since I worked on a finished drawing. To tell you the truth I was afraid I would be pretty rusty, so yesterday I started some small sigle figure drawings. Here’s the first completed one:

11 x 15, graphite on arches hot press

There are many more small ones to come, and although I’ll still be painting some, I plan on producing some drawings on a much larger scale.

still unpacking, but here’s some good news:

It’s been a busy week. Thursday night was my exhibition “with an apple in his mouth” at Livaudais Studio/Gallery. 8 brand new pieces were on display. Joli and Jason (the owners) were as awesome as usual. They always do a great job installing and promoting their exhibitions. Quite a few people attended throughout the night, and a surprising number attended my gallery talk. I always get nervous before those things. It’s hard to tell how well I do since I’m never on the receiving end of my own voice. People seemed to enjoy the show, and we sold two pieces. It was a good night.

The following Saturday, 5 of the pieces from the show on Thursday were shipped to Graphite Galleries on Royal Street in New Orleans. They should arrive on Tuesday and be hung in enough time to be on display during Dirty Linen Night, Saturday August 11. I hope the paintings work out down there, I’d love to show more. If you’re in New Orleans this weekend be sure to check it out.

Meanwhile, the Chambers.Reans.Slaughter show is still going on at the Gallery Fine Art Center in Bossier City, LA. I’m proud to be showing with two really good local artists in such a good gallery. Stop by before the show comes down near the end of September.

If you’re in Covington this next week, drop by the St. Tammany Art Association’s Summer Show. They have a couple of my paintings on display.

5 pieces wrapped in tyvec, later placed in a padded box of my own construction (sorry, no pictures of box)

Hello world!

I’ve titled my blog after the size of my studio. Although 120 sq ft isn’t very big, I plan to make it work. We (my wife Leigh Anne, and our daughter Sophia) just moved from Ruston, LA to Bossier City, LA. I have a very supportive and encouraging wife willing to give up one of the three bedrooms so I can have a studio in-home. I’m still unpacking, but as soon I’m all set up I’ll get back to work. I plan to post weekly updates of studio progress, exhibitions, and various other going-ons. Be sure to check in once in awhile.