Hello everyone and thanks for all of you. I have been away for a while but look forward to starting to post again, hopefully on a weekly basis but we'll see. As per usual your comments and thoughts are always welcome and of course if you are interested in any of the pieces for purchase I will be happy to give you more information.

This piece, Isolation IV, Santa Cruz, departs slightly from some of the earlier pieces in the Isolation works. In this photograph the mass of land isolated in the vast and shifting tones of the water and sky becomes less identifiable and more anonymous - it is simply a silhouette of what is there. The expanding image to the right lets the land mass anchor the photograph on the left pulling the eye across the entirety of the work.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

Sorry for the delay in posting new images. I am currently working on a large run of images from the California series. Keep checking back and the new ones will start showing up.

In the mean time, please let me know if you have any questions for me or comments. I am always up for discussion on my art as well as others.

Thanks for checking out my blog.

This piece, Isolation III, Santa Cruz, deals with many of the similar issues that I have mentioned before in previous posts. I feel that this piece particularly emphasis the concept of isolation do to the lack of anchoring in the frame. This piece is very open ended with the exception of the small section of rock to the side which keeps the image somewhat grounded.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

This piece, Separation V, Santa Cruz, continues with the previous theme of the series. Again, these strong rock formations appear to be moving away from one another.

This piece is 4 1/2 in. x 2 1/2 in.

This piece, Coastal Flight III, Santa Cruz, evokes a great sense of freedom. The birds are held aloft by the strong winds that batter the coast and toss the water around so easily. They appear to be in so much more control of their path even though they travel through such rough winds and conditions.

This piece is 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in.

This piece, Isolation II, Santa Cruz, is again commenting on the idea of isolating that was mention a few posts ago. In this case not only did I want to convey this composition in a horizontal sense but also in the vertical positioning as well. The deep tonal range in the rock formation help to weigh the piece down in the fading horizon.

This piece is 4 1/2 in. x 2 1/2 in.

This diptych, Separation IV, Santa Cruz I and Separation IV, Santa Cruz II deals with much of the same of the other Separation pieces. I have been looking at a great deal of these images and feel that they rather powerful for a smaller piece. I must admit that I do want to try them out on a much larger scale but for now I will restrain myself to the smaller compositions. In this particular piece I think the separations in each section is then heighten by the forced separation of the pieces themselves.

Each piece is 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in.

This piece, Arrowhead II, Santa Cruz, goes back to the earlier image describing how the rock formations appear to be progressing forward. There is a great visual pull to this piece as the eye tends to follow the direction of the rock from the bottom left corner, over the actual rocks and then into the fading in the horizon at the upper right corner. The weight of the darker tones are an interesting juxtaposition to the more empty, almost vanishing, tones in the upper right.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

This piece, Isolation I, Santa Cruz, visual reaches to the idea that no matter what our environment we can somehow isolate ourselves at times. This can be seen a little bit in everyone of us I feel - those times when you withdraw ever so slightly to figure out who you are and what it is you need to move on to next. It may be that this is a very deep subconscious play or even so simple as just that extra space to breath a little on your own. I find that isolating yourself occasionally helps open the mind to new ideas and new possibilities once you do reemerge.

This piece is 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in.

This diptych, consisting of Divided, Santa Cruz I and Divided, Santa Cruz II, deals with similar issues to many of the Separation pieces. I feel that in some cases many of these issues will also touch on a personal basis - dealing with loss, separation and in this case - divisions.

Each piece is 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in.

This piece, Weathered, Santa Cruz, deals with something I feel most of these Santa Cruz images touches on in some aspect. I've mentioned this before on several pieces about how these very solid rock formations are slowly changing and becoming something else. It is a great thing to think that something that appears so strong can be changed over time by the ocean waves.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

This diptych, Coastal Flight II, Santa Cruz I and Coastal Flight II, Santa Cruz II, touches back on the image several posts earlier. I really enjoy taking these images and playing with the composition to give the new image an entirely different feel than what previous images may evoke. I feel that taking this image and looking at it as two different pieces makes them visually heavier than the earlier composition which the length helps to spread that visual weight.

Each piece is 3 1/2 in. x 2 1/2 in.

This piece, Separation III, Santa Cruz, goes back to feeling that these land masses are actually in the process of pulling away from one another. This is something that I am going back to and playing with the composition because of the power of the negative space formed between these two strong forms of rock. This is a subject that I feel can comment on so many of our lives in some many ways that it should remain relevant to each and every one of us for some time. I'll let the art historians carry on the discussion of what they felt I was trying to state about my own life in these series of photographs long after I am gone but I do feel that what they mean to me now and what they will represent to me later can be different. Please feel free to give your thoughts on what these images say to you as well as your opinions on what I am saying. Other peoples input (be it analytical or emotional) is always inspirational to an artist vision. I have found that this type of input can cause the beginnings of all sorts of creative works.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

We have all survived another Mardi Gras and now back to business as usual. One of the best phrases I have heard on Mardi Gras day is that everywhere else it's just Tuesday.

This piece, Arrowhead I, Santa Cruz captures a great sense of movement in a very stationary rock formation. I feel as if these rocks were moving right in front of me. The rocky coast of Santa Cruz was a very inspiring aspect of the California Series. This was a great leaping point for working throughout the rest of my trek throughout the California landscape.

This piece is 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in.

Now that I have pushed myself to actually finish some of my 2009 images hopefully I will be posting on a weekly or bi weekly basis. These images will be a continuation of much of what I have already posted for the end of the 2008 pieces but eventually moving on through different areas of California and touching on some of my older work in Mississippi and Louisiana.

I will apologies in advance to anyone following in the next week. As many of you are aware we are in full Carnival Season here in the great city of New Orleans. It is looking to be a promising Mardi Gras and that might have an effect on how often I am posting.

So on to the art. This piece Coastal Flight I, Santa Cruz, captures a group of birds in formation flying over the rocky terrain and rough seas these birds call home. The birds would perch themselves on these lone rocks on what appears to be a dangerous perch but in truth were probably safest here than nesting on more plush sites on the opposite shore. The bird calls over the rushing of the waves was truly spectacular to behold.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

Spectator III, Santa Cruz, this is the last of the 2008 California series. I will be working on 2009 work and posting them when I can.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

This piece, Rocky Coast, Santa Cruz, again references the idea of the power of the ocean is juxtaposed against the rigidity of the coast.

This piece is 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in.

Most of the images and themes I deal with in my work revolve around solitude and isolation. I tend to fall to most of these as a base level because that is where I feel most comfortable. Part of this blog is an exercise to give me some type of deadline to make me constantly produce and hopefully pull me away from some of these base levels. I feel like I need to get out of the habit of forced solitude - though I truly enjoy it when its just me and the landscape.

I am getting ready to move on to some of the new 2009 pieces. These will also be from the California series as I travel up the coast and further inward. The postings are going to start to spread out some more as I am working but they will be coming soon. I am also hoping to have the time to start working in some other mediums and posting those images as well. In the next few months my plan is to get back to Etsy.com and start linking some of my work for purchase but in the mean time please feel free to contact me directly for more information.

Spectator II, Santa Cruz.

This piece is 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/2 in.

Rolling Waves III, Santa Cruz, again goes back to the concept of the power of the ocean beating against the rocky coast. While the rock always appears stable we know that this force will change it over time into something completely different.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.

This piece, Bluff VI, Santa Cruz, goes back to the bluff series in exploring compositional space.

This piece is 2 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in.