Craft in America / Album Art

I am in the midst of a Craft in America marathon…of sorts. The shows are one hour a-piece, and there are only two shows, so it doesn’t seem like a marathon. Even for someone with as short an attention span as I have. It is truly keeping my interest, though. Each show is actually made up of several vignettes about different American craftspeople. The crafts are varied–textiles, ceramics, glassblowing, metalwork, beading–and that was all in the first show I watched!

It inspires me to paint. I had always planned to paint an original artwork for the album cover of The Tree Chronology, as either a stand-alone work or incorporated in a mixed media sort of way. I’m sure after midterms are over, I’ll be painting on several “free” Saturdays to create it. From concept to completion, it will probably take me around four or five weekends total. Ooooh, this one is about violin-making and lithography…

Watched This Lovely Film Today

http://www.pbs.org/ribbonofsand/

I finally baked that acorn squash that’s been sitting on the counter for longer than I’d like to admit. Now I’m further embarrassed that I’d not eaten it sooner, because it was delicious and perfect! I’d post a photo, but I scarfed it down before thinking of it.

Home updates ~ New design, photos, etc…

Now I feel a lot more organized. The site is looking a lot more earthy (tree-y to be more schpecific), which I really loved. I heard three words when I did this photo and redesign “Warm.” “Woodsy.” “Dark.” I did add a warming filter and a green filter for just the part of the photo that was the tree bark. It already had some really nice green accents in it from whatever was growing on the bark. I don’t think that I was allergic to it. I’m sure something would’ve shown up on my skin by now, right? … Right? … So, enjoy! the photo and secret video and all that.

Music. I’ve been working on many tracks right now. Fleshing out lyrics and arrangements. Trying to make it fit and dealing with my ever-present perfectionism. It does really get in the way sometimes. Aaron thinks that I should just release something. I’ll just spend a few more weeks on the instrumentals and a few more months on songs. We’ll see where I am in that time. I would’ve really liked a fall release, but there are far too many things to plan, coordinate, and just DO before getting out the quality releases that I want. So…Patience is not one of my virtues, but I sure hope it’s yours! Because it will definitely be a little while. Until then, I’ll be posting things on MySpace and VIRB* from time to time…Just so y’all can get a feel for what the songs are sounding like in the various stages. Until then, toodeloo!

Reading a bit more of Blood Meridian, then off to Sandburg’s stones to grab painting supplies and maybe a round of coffee.

Let’s see if this is working. Apologies for all the mess. I need to find my way into the light, like all technologically inept converts.

Aaron’s Aaronness

Steamboats and Time Travel

I really need to read these. Considering that PJF lived in the same town (albeit I grew up in a neighboring town up until about two years ago), I can really actually see where he got some of his inspiration. The reason I am so fascinated by this particular in the series is that it deals with someone with whom I’ve had a bit of an interest in since childhood – Samuel Clemens. It’s hard to grow up in the public school system without having read at least a few novels or short stories by Twain. Time travel “What If?” elements (a device Twain himself used more directly when he hypothesized what kind of trouble a kid would get into while at King Arthur’s court), the rivers and woods, the afterlife. I’ve known about the Riverworld series for a few years now, but haven’t made room for them in my growing “To Read” queue yet. Consider yourselves added, baby!

By the Stream

Experimenting with nature photos. We visited the Forest Park Nature Center trails again. It was difficult to get the exact photos I was hoping for, because the trails get very dark, but flash isn’t something I wanted to use…I really just wanted the natural light available. Apparently, I can’t sit…or hold a camera…still for very long. Oh well. Some of them turned out to be interested. I also got a good one of Aaron in his bushwhacker’s hat that I applied some hue and saturation adjustment to that I thought turned out well. He may or may not post it on his FB and MS. We’ll see…He has very particular tastes when it comes to photos. And these don’t include his regular, very unique (I guess?) elements of guitar, blades, mausoleums or spray paint effects. Hah!

Very Amusing.

I’m getting quite the kick out of this lady, who writes for The Guardian about music-related issues:

JUDE

I’m not sure I totally agree with EVERYTHING she says, but definitely am a fan of her thus far…

Neat new album – Free to Stream

My friend Justin Robert has released a really interesting new album. Instead of reading all about it here, though, go and read about it
HERE
And of course, if you like what you hear, he has other links of albums on his website
HERE