Skull Project Revisited

Finally finished Dutch. Friesen painted to look like Delft-Ware.

Detail with eye and jaw.

Forehead detail.

Gracias hung for display.

Eye and jaw detail.

Forhead detail.

Now only a dozen or so more to go.

A Rockin' Post

Kimmy has her bat ears on.

High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon.

There were several amazing bronzes of bat faces. Unbelievably cool.

so cute.

This is Thomas, he lives at the High Desert Museum.

This is one of the types of fossils we found on our "dig".

Ted finding fossils.

This is what the dig looks like behind the high-school in the town of fossil.

Believe it or not this is in John Day fossil beds. These are the Palisades and many fossils of plants, sticks, seeds and trees can be seen along this trail.

These formations look similar to the "hoodoos" in Bryce, but while the Bryce formations are sand-stone these were fomed by ancient Lahars.

true.

Just because I collect cats, doesn't mean I collect cat knick knacks. Okay? Okay.

Hey. It's me.

May 1st, First Friday Art Night & my new series "Sixty Years in Sixty Days, A Whimsical Journey through the Chinese Zodiac"

Ravenna!!!

Ravenna at Wildlife Images.

Ravenna and the Chicken Hamster that sings the Chicken Dance Song.

Chicken, Ravenna and Lion

Ravenna's Story

Shhh. Don't tell. This is the book and stuffed animals I made for my sweet little Great-Niece Ravenna for her third birthday. Click here to see the story.

ants?

This arrived in the mail about a month ago, but alas, because of all of the reading required for school I have barely cracked it open. Maybe my reward for doing well on mid-terms will be I get to read a chapter.

And. I know. This blog is supposed to be anything but ants... but, you know how ants are... where there is one.... more are sure to follow.

New Years Day Hike

My girlfriend Teresa and I went for an amazing hike just down the road from her house on New Years Day. The air was moist and crisp.

Just a slight breeze, the trees are waving their colored prayer flags.

I won't say where this place is, not that it is a secret, but there are a lot of hateful fundamentalist rednecks around here and I wouldn't want to put the retreat's peacefullness in danger.

This is Buddha Padmasambhava, he was recognized as the second incarnation of Buddha and was responsible for founding the Tibetan school of Buddhism. Lama's from Tibet came to the retreat several years ago to erect this concrete Buddha. Looking at the picture to the left of the Buddha housed is a large prayer wheel that spins continuously.

New Project- Delft

This is Delft. That was the cow's name. I am painting her in a delftware pattern taken from Ted's Grandparent's wedding vase.

Random Holiday Pictures

Our visit to the bay area to see my family.

Our niece Chloe is so gentle and sweet

Tristin is sweet too and very playful

Me and my brother, Jeremy.

A nice sunny day to play soccer

Wildcats!

Tristin taking Chloe for a drive on his John Deer. He is making sure he runs everything over to his sister's dismay.

Back in Oregon for my birthday. Ted gave me a pinata, what I always wanted. It is the most awesome pinata ever! My present was inside... lots and lots of dark chocolate and waded up money.

Dia de los Muertos- Tribute to my Grandparents

Me and my grandparents, Bapa and Fluffy, used to go swimming at the pool. My grandpa Bapa had to take out his contacts and wear his big black glasses which he called his eyes so he could see. His glasses made his eyeballs look really big. When he smiled his eyes smiled too. My grandma Fluffy always wore a swim cap when she was in the pool. Her swim caps were very colorful and made of rubber and they even had rubber flowers on them. My grandma Fluffy was very light and could never dive or sink to the bottom of the pool.

Hand sewn (except the fancy border, I did that on my singer), made from wool felt and felt that was made from recycled plastic bottles.

Pumpkin Carvin

These are all pumpkins that we grew in our garden this year, this totem pole is about 3 feet high.

Also... had to carve the kitty pumkin, the teeth are made from the seeds.

Art Studio Progress and Completion

Here is Ted. Ted is the best. Ted spent his entire summer building us an art studio. This is a picture of Ted before he knew what he was getting into.

This hole is where an old tree stump was that we had to remove and fill in with rock.

Step 1: Foundation

Completed insulated foundation.

Raising of the first wall.

Two

three walls

Ok, we'll just skip to 4 walls, some windows, Tyvek and partial siding.

After building the trusses we put them up.

half the trusses and some plywood for the roofing.

Whew! Finally all of the trusses are up.

Primer paint.

We painted the studio Enchanted Forest, Pacific Pine and the trim is Corn Husk.

Come on in, it is time to play.

Going back in time for a second... dry wall....ugh!

Hi Ted!

Floor Prep.

Flooring, check. Window trim, check. Base boards, check.

Ok... time to move in!

Kimmy's first project. I am making a squirrel gargoyle.....he he he.

Clay studio side, complete with throwing wheel (not shown) table, drying rack and slab roller.

Library.

Painting side.

Painting and drawing side and front door.

Front Door.

The view into the garden from the painting side. (Also my new series of paintings, dancing chickens, becawk!)

The building took Ted all summer to build, he insulated the "beejebers" out of it with plenty of ventalation. His attention to detail was phenominal and the work space is totally functional. Good Job Ted!!!

and Thanks