Here is a new "look up" piece. I took the phrase Look Up and made it into a picture by turning the text into Morse Code (12 bars, 8 dots) and had intuitive fun with the structure. Look Up has played various roles in my thinking and art making but as of recent I have become interested in the Quietism movement and researching them and looking at the phrase as an antic dote to the navel gazing so prevalent in our culture (as in look up from your belly button). The modern slang, navel gazing, originates from a philosophy of contemplation that started with the stoics in Greece, and was furthered by the Quietist sect and they were an interesting group in Europe that co-incited with the Reformation. The idea with the Quietists was that if you could bring your self to a blissful, ideally selfless state of mind, that God would then inspire you since your ego had let go. That form of thought was highly frowned upon by Pope Innocent XI and the Catholic church so as a negative way of describing these folks they said that they navel gazed, as a way to describe they considered to be the inward, apathetic, selfish, form of Christianity. There are a bunch of great back and side stories to this story as well.

Here are some new things. I am doing Barrett Johnson's new album cover which I am really excited about. In the mean time the above are two potential posters for the guy. Below is a new painting. I like my new "look up" painting. My whole artistic project is starting to gel for me and it feels really good. I have never overly worried about having a total sense of cohesion of thought when it came to a "project" but for the first time in my life I have become aware of a certain amount of peace, and better concentration, that comes from narrowing my focus without becoming too concerned with tying my self and brain down. I'll elaborate on this more in a bit. In the mean time enjoy. And big ups to my Japanese fan base who has no shortage of commenting energy.

Two new pieces one large 5' x 7' and one quite a bit smaller 18" x 24" guy. I like these pieces quite a bit. Bringin' the gospel yeah yeah out and about. It was fun to work with text and figure some more.

Tonight I finished the last of my "It's O.K." series of gospel songs (refer to earlier posts to see the rest).

lp cover lover

took a surf through lp cover lover today looking for inspiration for a couple of record covers that I am working on right now. found these gems. i even fashioned my own (can you tell which one???) for funzies.

leo carillo and a new large pieco.....

New jams

New paintings and a studio shot. I have been painting a lot lately, YES!!!

Here's a new piece.

Here's a line from Rainer Maria Rilke that struck at my brain and heart:

"Sometimes a man stands up during supper
and walks outdoors, and keeps on walking,
because of a church that stands somewhere in the East.

And his children say blessings on him as if he were dead.

And another man, who remains inside his own house,
stays there, inside the dishes and in the glasses,
so that his children have to go far out into the world
toward the same church, which he forgot."

Mmm, mmm..