The PADUCAH PORTFOLIO

I've given myself about 4 months to complete the artwork for this project, and with the month of January about to end, a tiny bit of panic has seeped into my usually very well controlled and organized thoughts.  (At least I think of them as being controlled and organized.)  But, refusing to give in to even the slightest bit of panic, I will continue with my well planed and organized work schedule.  (Yes, I think of it as well planned and organized.)

The truth is...I am having fun!  There is always something new for me to do, a new subject, a different medium, a new size, or perhaps a new group of photos to take.  Here are several recent additions to the Portfolio:

Grace in profile...watercolor

A Great building...markers

I like bricks, but...pen -ink-markers

Paducah Built...pen-ink-markers

One of these days I will get back to the acrylics, maybe evens some large canvases, but until then...I am Paducah bound.

The Little Man

When I was a young boy, perhaps 4 or 5 years old, my mother would occasionally give me a treat; It was always something special because of what it was, but peven more because it was unexpected and unrelated to anything I did (or did not do) or to any holiday or celebration.  It could be a candy bar or pack of gum, but more often than not it was something related to art, crayons, a coloring book, and even a set of watercolor paints.  She always told me that a little man had brought them for me.  Although I never met the little man, he became an important person in my young life.

I was not aware of him gradually disappearing from my life, and do not remember ever asking about him.  He simply quietly withdrew, or so I thought, and although I may have forgotten him, he never forgot me.  That little man gave me so much more than an occasionally special treat; quietly and without my awareness, the gifts continued, gifts that would remain with me for the rest of my life, enabling me to find my way through all the years that followed.

The little man was very remarkable; wise beyond the limited education I know he had.  He had the uncanny ability to see people as they really were, to understand them and be sensitive to their needs and their failings.  He was devoted to me, loving me as only a parent can love, but wise enough to trust me, and allow me to go out into the world to become what I was intended to be.  He never asked for anything in return, and wanted only for me to be happy.

The Little Man left me, on a gray December day in 1991, but her gifts to me, and to others in her life, have endured endlessly.

REGROUPING

January has become the time of the year when I break from my usual work routine, more mentally than physically, and re-assess what I’m doing, and look at what I would like for the year ahead.

One of the events I am eagerly anticipating is a visit this April from my daughter Sara who will be conducting needle-felting workshops during her stay here (I’ll be posting more details about this later).  I will be exhibiting her work in Gallery 5 and will host an opening reception on Thursday, April 25, from 5 to 8 P.M.  Her work is amazing.

 You can see more of Sara’s work on her website, Sarafina fiber art.

My main effort continues to be the Paducah Portfolio, which keeps me as busy as I want to be.  When the weather cooperates, I take off with my camera exploring the neighborhoods and areas of town I have not visited during our 10 plus years in Paducah.  It brings back memories from 1985 when I was engaged in a similar project in Wilmington Delaware.

Broadway starts here...or does it end here?

I’M HAVING FUN

moving from one drawing table to another, switching from watercolors to pencils, to pen and ink, and to markers… it keeps the boredom blues away.  My focus is entirely on Paducah architecture for the book I hope to have ready by next fall.  To keep it interesting and lively I am letting the subject dictate the medium I use, from formal watercolor renderings to loose pen and ink drawings, black and white, and in color.

Here are a few of the first paintings and drawings in the portfolio:

Alone in Mid town...markers, pen & ink

A little bit on N. 3rd St.   markers, P&I

Slim Jin's Bar-B=Q...pastel on toned paper

The Back...P&I and markers

Bellewoeod...watecolor

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD(S)

 

There are many reasons why I love the work that has come to define my life, the ability to design my own day, the mixture of solitude and social interactions it provides, the freedom to choose not to work when the spirit moves me, and high on this list…the ability to move from one task or project to another at the slightest whim.

For most of the second half of last year my efforts were directed to working with acrylics on canvas and panels; these imagined landscapes varied in size from 8x10 inches to 36x48 inches.    This year, exercising my prerogatives as CEO, President, and Chairman of the board at Gallery 5, I am devoting most of my attention to works on paper – primarily creating the art for my Paducah project, as well fulfilling several commissions.  So, for the umpteenth time, the work- stations in the studio have been rearranged so I can have several works in progress at the same time, watercolor, markers, and pastel.  There is a common misperception that I am prolific because all I do is work, but the truth is, at least half of my time in the studio is spent with my feet up, reading, listening to music or “resting my eyes”.

Hey…it’s a good life.

Drawing and whatever

Drawing and watercolor

Drawing...pen - ink - markers - pastel

work in progress...Jim's BBQ

work in progress...Grace Church

MEXICAN LASAGNA

 INGREDIENTS:

Ten-inch tortilla wraps

Salsa

Basmati rice…1 cup

Black beans…14 oz. can, drained and rinsed

Diced tomatoes…14 oz. can

Portabella mushrooms – small…6-9

Leek…white and light green part thinly sliced

Kale…about 2 cups, chopped

Garlic…2 medium cloves, sliced lengthwise

Cilantro

Enchilada sauce

Three cheese mix

Olive oil

Cumin

Salt and pepper

Fresh lime juice

PROCESS:

Cook the Kale in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain, and set aside.

Cook the cut up mushrooms and leek in olive oil over high heat until well done – about 10 minutes.  After 5 minutes add the kale to the pan and the juice of ½ lime.  Remove from the heat and set aside.

Cook the rice per the directions on the package, in the water used for the Kale

In a separate pan, cook the garlic in olive oil until soft, then add the tomatoes and beans, plus cumin and cilantro. Cook until all the tomato juice has evaporated.

In meat loaf or bread baking pan, place a thin layer of salsa on the bottom.  Place the tortilla so half of it covers the bottom and add a layer of the tomato-bean mixture.  Fold the remaining half of the tortilla over and cover with a layer of rice.  Place a second tortilla over this, and add a layer of the mushrooms and Kale.  Fold over the tortilla and add a thin layer of salsa, cover this with the enchilada sauce and cover with a generous layer of the cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees, covered, for 10 minutes, and uncovered another 5-10 minutes.

Serve with sour cream or low fat yogurt.

Note…the sequence of the layers of ingredients is entirely arbitrary, as are the ingredients.