Where I'm at...

I think it's time I provided some sort of general recap, posted some images, and tried to work through the collection of ideas and thing I'm thinking about/working on.

Although I haven't been posting, I have been managing to make a fair amount of work considering I have 3 jobs and an internship to work around.

The most recent painting I posted has evolved quiet a bit. Worked in some darker colors, trying to establish a better sense of space. I also started adhering some plastic (trash) to the canvas and recently built up the surface with some more spackle. (I have a gallon of spackle now!!!)
I've been thinking a lot over the past few months about recycled material, unrecyclable materials, our carbon footprint, reducing dependence on petroleum based products, how one person can make an impact, etc. Grappling with this, and that as an artist how am I supposed to follow through with some of these ideas and still be doing something useful.

So I've been considering how I can use these more un-reusable, un-recyclable materials in painting...stryoform, plastic wrapping, wrappers from feminine products, etc. Trying to use these materials as a means of building up texture in a painting. (But still using the modeling paste I had originally been using...well, now spackle because its more affordable.)
But when are those materials just something to create and build up a surface and when do they start becoming important to the concept of the work. Frankly, I never expected to be using trash in my more and, as much as I am trying becoming more environmentally sound and want to be able to spread that message, I don't want to beat people over the head with it either....
While still keeping my other interests/inspirations relevant...nature, the universe, flow, process, etc...

Meanwhile...
I'm also making these handmade journals from materials I (more or less) already have lying around: drawing paper, newsprint, packing paper, cardboard, images from old calenders, maps, old prints from various undergrad classes, etc. And this is more a 'business prospect' i suppose.
I'm hoping to get an Etsy shop going in the next few months and start selling these books. And maybe some more craft or even food items (infused olive oil, hot sauce, etc.), as I've also been cooking a TON lately and am constantly experimenting with new things, making up new recipes, making more and more things homemade...reducing my dependence on the grocery stores/mass produced "food" items (big business).

So on one hand, I have this more "fine art" painting practice i'm trying to reestablish and rework through. On the other hand, I have this "craft" book making practice that i'm putting some focus into and would like to turn into a more serious business, if possible. So can do my own thing, and to hell with working 3 part time jobs..

There are some other projects lingering around: shrub sketchbook (coming soon), cd cover design (in progress), video stuff with James (on hold), learning how to use my sewing machine (75% failed attempts)...

Rant over...images coming soon to put some context (maybe) to some of these ideas...