Wednesday, February 26, 2020

#374 • When the Cat Melts Into The Rug

 Click here to purchase this painting #374

I must preface this by stating that Gus is very well fed and cared for by his parents. But like the rest of us, he knows a sucker when he sees one.

It started the day Gus took a cruise down the street and stopped at a new person in the neighborhood's house meowing that pitiful, anguished and well rehearsed meow of his. The stranger let him in and posted a lost cat notice on Facebook. Over 10 people who had Gus' MO, answered acknowledging the rascal with adjectives like mooch, scoundrel, and user. The only one who didn't see the post and thought Gus was really lost and starving was Drew, who gave him a can of cat food and some shelter from the elements.

So now and just about every day, Gus makes a beeline for Drew's house, a quarter of mile down the street, where he spends the day. He's fed and settles in for a nice long nap. When Gus indicates he is ready, Drew scoops him into his arms and drives back down the street to Gus' dooryard where he is dropped off for the night.

Once in a while the little mooch will sneak back over to our house after Drew drops him off and try to cop a handful of Smartfood from Tom. Usually successful, he'll clean himself, curl into a ball and disappear into a warm spot on the rug in front of our stove in the living room. He melts into that rug like butter melts into a piece of warm toast.

When it's time for us to head upstairs for the night, Tom puts on his jacket and boots, scoops the beast up into his arms and carries him back across the road to his own home for the night. The following morning, the whole sucker routine starts all over again, like clockwork.

When The Cat Melts Into The Rug • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X 12" • $250

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

#373 • Oh, To Just Sit And Wonder



Click here to purchase this painting #373

I've been doing a lot of wondering these days. There is a lot of stuff to wonder about out there, but if you really want to take a break from everything out there, you need to narrow everything down to wondering about something like, well...wonder!

What is wonder?
Where does wonder come from?
Why do we wonder?
What does wondering do to us?
What does wondering do for us?
Can we wonder upon a star or just wish?
Is wonderful the end result of wondering about wonders?

This exercise could fall under the category of meditation I think, because in the end you still have no idea what it all means, nor do you care.

Oh, To Just Sit And Wonder • 9" x 9" acrylic • $250

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

#372 - The Love Bandit

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Every year on Valentine's Day morning, folks in the city of Portland wake up to a trail of red hearts printed on 8.5 X 11 copy paper. They wind through the city, taped to shop doors and windows like a Love dragon putting us on pause for a moment to smile. I attribute this magical mystery tour to the Love Bandit - a mythical figure who, under cover of darkness, flits under awnings and over rooftops, through darkened streets and back alleyways, spreading simple red hearts and whatever message we want to attach to them.

I think there's something very special about what I will assume is an act of Love. For me it's a reminder that when we all come to the end of this grand experiment we call life on planet Earth, there's a good chance we'll be judging ourselves, if we have half a conscience, by how well we did Love. So thanks Love Bandit - whoever you are. I hope the Universal Truth that "what goes around comes around" is your most just reward!

The Love Bandit • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X12" • $250



Friday, February 7, 2020

#371 • Confusing Snowflakes With Sailboats

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I was going to paint snowflakes because...well... it's snowing right now. They're everywhere - I'm totally surrounded. But for some reason, rather than snowflakes, I saw sailboats. Why this happens, I do not know. Is it because I have to work and can't ski? Is it because I would rather be sailing? Or is it because my brain short circuits now and again and simply confuses snowflakes with sailboats?

Confusing Snowflakes With Sailboats • 8" X 8" acrylic framed to 12" X 12" • $250