It’s been a slow year in the studio. I anicipated this, and in fact planned “Holding on to Nothing” to take place before my second daughter was born. Demands of a day job and assisting my wife with her small business being what they are, I knew that a baby on top of it all would make for scarce studio time. Sleep is lucky; studio time is golden.

Now it’s been over a year, and although the econopocalypse has increased demands both for aforementioned day job and small business, in a way things should let up soon.

I’m being a little disingenuous. The slow-down in the studio has only partly been a result of familial and economic circumstance. Perhaps more to the point, what I really need to do is spend more time understanding what I need to do next…. that is much more difficult than showing up in the studio to paint. When I had a commission, I knew what to do and I got that painting done neatly and efficiently. So I can paint… no problem. And I’m largely happy to do that.

But I have a sense that it’s time to grow into the next thing, and what that might be is still a little fuzzy. Which brings me back to time — or more importantly — time to think… and energy to think.

Here’s what I know: I want to make art that whispers in your ear and gently (but firmly) forces an awareness of the now. Art that makes you notice — not necessarily the art itself — but makes you notice your self, your senses, and your consciousness.

Here’s the other thing I know: that’s tough to develop, and even tougher to pull off, especially with a tired mind.