Gold Standard

As humans we possess unique quirks that make us individuals.  We tend to select our friends, lovers, companions, and spouses based on similar quirks or appreciation of these unique quirks.  

Over the years I have enjoyed observing the weird, quirky rituals my friends and family go through before leaving the house.  I have established that everyone falls into one of four categories. Some are pocket patters - persons who lightly touch their pockets checking for essentials: phone, keys, wallet, etc.  Others are scanners - persons who scan their immediate surroundings for items that may serve of importance.  Another group are runners - persons who briskly walk throughout the house looking for something that is already in their pocket or purse.  The last group are heedless - persons who constantly forget or leave items behind.

My wife is heedless because she always forgets or leaves behind her phone, purse, stack of papers to grade, or lunch box daily.  However, she never leaves her lip balm, lipstick, or chap stick.  One reason is because she has hundreds of tubes strategically hidden all over the house, both cars, and school.  

In honor of her heedless nature I created a painting to show my love and appreciation for all she does for our family despite not knowing where her phone or car keys are.  

Gold Standard, acrylic on canvas, 18''x24''

I borrowed the image of Scarlett Johansson from a Dolce and Gabbana ad, but changed the colors to match my desire for symbolism. 

The gold lipstick tube represents the most important in Amy's arsenal of makeup: lip gloss.  She will not leave the house without applying a layer of balm or gloss to her lips.  If time allows she will fix her hair so silver and metallic black were used there.  The skin tones and background are flat colors allowing the gold and silver to shine brighter.  The red nails represent Amy's heedless desire to paint her nails two minutes before we are to walk out the door.    

The Talk

When a man and woman . . .

. . . is the beginning to many birds and bees talk.  Neither of my children are ready for this talk, but I am preparing for the day. 

This drawing symbolizes not only the birds and bees talk, but every discussion Amy and I will have with Matthew and Emma about the joys and struggles of life.  Our talks currently concern sharing, hitting, pouting, and eating everything on the plate.  Couple more years the subjects will shift towards homework, studying, friendship, after school activities, etc.  Then the big talks arrive - dating, college, marriage.  I am not worried (maybe a little).

Amy and I still turn to our parents occasionally for advice, but I more often use my dad as a sound board rather than my mom.  Something about one guy talking to another guy is easier.  I figure the same is true for ladies.  

How did "the talk" go in your house? Do you still ask your parents for advice? 

Ashley Addair Meets Wassily Kadinsky for Martinis

During the basement makeover I had the opportunity to create some new pieces of art.  

Behind our game/dining table we had a long empty space of wall that needed something.  I first began looking through my collection of framed art and discovered nothing of value, however, I found four, fresh white canvases.  I really wanted five, but I had a small budget and little time; these would have to work.  

A friend of mine, Levon Walker, is married to an artist named Ashley Addair whose work I am continually drawn towards.  

During a recent unit of study I conducted in my painting class I became intrigued by Wassily Kadinsky's work too.  

With an idea in my head, some cheap bottles of acrylic paint from Walmart (the devil), and four free canvases I was off and running.  Two days later I had four pieces of non-objective art which pulled both sides of the room together.

I felt the title, Ashely Addair Meets Wassily Kadinsky for Martinis, to be apporpriate.  I borrowed the circle shapes from a painting of Ashley's, the movement reminds of Kadinsky's stuff, and some circles look like olives.

To view Ashley Addair's work visit: NO ROOM FOR HIPSTERS

To explore the work of Wassily Kadinsky try here: biographies, paintings, quotes

Extreme Makeover: Crabtree Edition

The first two months we owned our house we worked non stop revamping the main floor. We then enjoyed the next year relaxing in our dream home.

Once the honeymoon phase ended we began working downstairs in our family room. We laid new floors, painted the walls, and bought a couple pieces of furniture.

For two years nothing else was accomplished.

Before Christmas we discovered our friends nominated us to host a New Years Eve gathering. Amy and I love hosting social gatherings, however, we did not feel our upstairs alone could accommodate everyone comfortably and the basement was not ready for guest.

We said yes.

After a whirlwind tour visiting family during the holidays we had to get ready for the ball.

Our to do list:

1. Spray paint coffee table

2. Spray paint book ends

3. Buy an area rug

4. Clean, restructure, organize

5. Make art

6. Hang art

7. Decorate

8. Slipcover chairs

How do you feel about our work (feel free to leave a comment)?

Our friends at the New Years Eve gathering

A Man and His Throne

Many men call the toilet their throne. Many men find their throne to be a great place for thinking. I agree with many men, however, the house I share with my three loved ones has only one bathroom. Thinking is often interrupted by a knock.

I prefer my throne to be just big enough for me; maybe some wiggle room. The oversized chair does not work for this average man.

A throne with cushioning, arm rest, and near or at a table is preferred, but not mandatory. My throne needs character.

I currently posses three thrones. Two at home and one at work. They have served me well since my last posting to 10studios.

Since June I have pondered, imagined, conjured, and refined some great stuff. Books I have read, movies I have watched, and music I have heard have all served as inspiration.

I have big aspirations for 2012 and look forward to sharing with you my journey through a new year.

Home

In college, Amy and I ate lunch once a week at the same little "everybody-knows-your-name" kind of place and of course, keeping with tradition, we sat on the same stools each visit.  This establishment was a typical diner where the food is greasy, the coffee pot always brewing, and all pies have sky high meringue.  I felt at home sitting on that stool for lunch. 

For generations people have created soundtracks of their life.  Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros have a song titled Home that's on my soundtrack.

The chorus goes:

Ahh, Home

Let me come Home

Home is wherever I'm with you

La, la la la, take me Home

Baby, I'm coming Home

I made a painting about this song for Amy.

Home 10" X 10" mixed media

The background is a green acrylic called "new leaf green."  On top of that I wrote the entire chorus over and over in silver sharpie  Then I wrote the line, Home is wherever I'm with you continuously with a white paint pen over that.  Last I wrote Home in black all over the bottom two thirds.  

The taller, black section on the left represents me while the shorter, black section on the right represents Amy.  The connecting letters in the middle represent the kids, Matthew and Emma.