Reflection

With my middle exchange daughter now on her way to the wild frontier of adulthood, it allows me a moment to reflect on my journey through adulthood (at this time). When reflecting, it's sometimes great to look at a picture that encapsulates the memory of high school or college and allows the emotions to wash through. I honestly haven't thought too much about high school unless reunions are about or an exchange kiddo is in our house..... which while writing this means it does come up more often than I give it credit for. ANYWAY, whose blog is this? So going through my high school yearbooks and pictures last night and the only picture that (mostly) reflects my HS class is this one

What a wild day in the mid-'90s. When I look at this picture and reflect, it strikes me that at the time of this picture, all these people were looking up at a photographer, with no idea that the people looking back at them would be almost 30 years after this picture was taken. At the time, the thoughts of being with your friends, who was going out with whom, who broke up with whom, which teacher was giving an exam that day, how were you going to explain a grade to your parents, and what that afternoon would look like. Maybe a show to watch on the TV, watching the nightly news with your parents (Tom Brokaw was da man), or staying over at your friend's house, or your partner's house if the parents weren't around. Who knows. If anyone had an idea of the future, some were eyeing college with hope and a dream. Others were ready to make a living and be on their own for the first time. And even a few already made up their minds and signed up to join the military. The future was out there. Waiting to be explored. It was a fountain that everyone wanted to drink from.

I look at this picture in a general sense. Not at each individual in the picture, but the whole (except for Mr.Patrious head in the back as he was retiring at the end of the year). Eye'ing the breath of fashion everyone is wearing. a hodge podge if you will. The hairstyles. the darkness of the clothes as I wonder if this was taken in the fall. ....... We looked pretty normal, even by today's standards.

That is what having kids allows you to feel once more. Watching them have an eye on the future. the unknown, and wondering to yourself and hope their future is bright. What will 30 years in the future be like when they stare at their class picture?

My middle exchange daughter graduating

For some years now, Deb and I have been proactive in opening our home to exchange students for High School. We've done this 2 times before. Once with a South Korean, and another with a Brazilian. All the kids provided an adventure that can't be beaten. My first Brazilian is still near us. Graduating from high school, then graduating college in Wisconsin, then working as a Researcher at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Very proud papa.

After 5 years of taking our first Brazilian, we decided to take another as our experience was amazing with the first. We worked with ISE (international student exchange) to get things started. The lady we worked with was/is amazing. She recommended our last and she did a number with the suggestions of the new kids. Got a list of 5 kids from all over the world. Turkey, Austria, Mexico, and 2 Brazilians. We choose our kid on three points. (1) she's Brazilian (super easy) (2) she was an artist, (3) She was a straight-up beast of an athlete. She specialized in team handball is good. Good enough to travel outside of Brazil for ball. This allowed us to know she could do sports throughout the year, which she did with Volleyball, Basketball, and then Track.

Anyway, from the moment she arrived at the airport and she FOUND us (not the other way around). it is been a great ride. From eating ice cream at our favorite spot (Grand Ole Creamery), and weekend art projects (oil pastel youtube channels), to me picking her up and asking, "How was your day" and not accepting anything but a complete breakdown of her day. She just made it work. Like my last Brazilian. They talk. They have personalities. They care. They warm up to you and thus, you warm up back. I can speak on just how wonderful they are.

But like all fun times, a "year" has gone by, and watched as this amazing kiddo grew up to be a woman. Taking her to the graduation ceremony allowed me to realize the growth this young woman has gone through and was watching her take the next step in life. I don't tear up often, but I was overcome by the enormity of the moment and did shed a tear (it might have been smoke in the air). As exchange parents, these moments stick. just like you watch your kid have their moments, you see these young adults have theirs, and it's not lost on many.

I gush about my kids. Deb and I couldn't have our own, but we have gone about having as many kids as we can. From adopting our baby to hosting an exchange kiddo. We want a full life. they offer that. the moment we took in our first from South Korea, it's one of the most rewarding moments in my life and we knew that it was just right. it allowed us to grow and be better parents with our baby kiddo. I've grown artistically through them, and grown emotionally as well.

Thank you to all my kids, and most of all today, my middle exchange daughter from Brazil. You are my pride in life.

WIP - First National Bank sign

“Work_in_Progress - First National Bank twilight”

WIP

Size: 16x20

Drawing: N/A

Oil Pastel: N/A

Re-experiment with Color: N/A

Acrylic Paint: WIP

Oil Paint: N/A

I must admit that clouds are not my strong suit. I've always been pained by the flow of my clouds and how they impact my pieces. which in the end, drives me nuts. The construction of this piece is the 1st sign adorned on the First National Bank building. Have an open-source picture that is beautiful and wanted to replicate it to Canvas.....which has BEAUTIFUL clouds. Yeah, not easy for me. so what do I do? I reverse the process and work on the foreground (the sign and scaffolding) and try to do the cloud later. yes, I know. back ass words. But once the foreground is complete, I can get another throwaway canvas and work on the clouds. finish, cover with white paint and redo the process till I get the cloud right. once complete, will paint the cloud for the First National Bank piece. Perfect idea.....probably not. but wanted to do this.

Blind Crossing

“Blind Crossing”

Done

Size: 12x36

Drawing: N/A

Oil Pastel: N/A

Re-experiment with Color: N/A

Acrylic Paint: May 26, 2023

Oil Paint: N/A

After partaking in a after dinner playtime with my daughter one evening, I became fully absorbed in the process of assembling Lego pieces together. To my surprise, the final product possessed a distinct charm that captivated my interest. There was an undeniable connection between the creation and myself, as if it were destined to be. Consequently, I asked my daughter whether I could keep it, and she said yes. Presently, it resides in my studio. Upon completing the previous Monty project, it was an obvious choice to embark on this new endeavor.

Monty Blind Sour

“Monty Blind Sour”

Done

Size: 16x20

Drawing: N/A

Oil Pastel: N/A

Re-experiment with Color: N/A

Acrylic Paint: April 22, 2023

Oil Paint: N/A

This started as something else, but 3 layers and 7 months later. You ever have a piece that you stare at and can never get past a certain feature. Yeah, this did for me. It helped that I watched Month Python's - The Life of Brian so many times. @johncleeseofficial was/is magnificent.  Have a great day.

“Lost but hidden”

“Lost but hidden”

Size: 16x20 in
Drawing/Pen: N/A
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: August 16, 3022
Oil Paint: N/A

5 layers of paint to get this pic. Started a blob, and painted something. Didn’t like, so painted over, paint again, etc. In the end, went with Alien and gave it some color. Not perfect, but fun to complete.

"Don’t lick the metal pole”

"Don’t lick the metal pole”

WIP
Original concept: @colorbyfeliks
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: June 20, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: Backlogged
Oil Paint: N/A

"Madness in between”

"Madness in between”

WIP
Original concept: @colorbyfeliks
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: June 14, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: Backlogged
Oil Paint: N/A

“Sergeant Strawberry”

“Sergeant Strawberry”

Size: 3.5x5 in
Drawing/Pen: March 21, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

I haven’t seen Beetle Bailey in decades, but this scribble turned into a form of Beatle. It’s funny how scribbles form pictures that surprise you and form something close to something from my childhood.

“Waylin bemusement”

“Waylin bemusement”

COMPLETE
Size: 11x14
Drawing/Pen: N/A
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: August 03, 2022
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

This painting started as my piece “Music Blinded”, but Deb and I didn’t like the layout whats so ever, so I basically blotched out the piece with a light salmon color and stared at it for twenty minutes. it eventually hit me of a Muppet/Lorax Hodge podge. Gave the podge some additional character of orange, painted eyes, and focused mostly on the fur. After the fur on the face was mostly finished, I gave some more character around the eyes and mouth. The mouth is always challenging for me. But with a few dots of white, I was able to show teeth. A small step, but a good addition. From there, I decided to add additional color that I had laying around the neck. Felt the mint color and some black was a good combo. The neck was the next step so that the piece wouldn’t be face and body, but nothing connect the two. At that, I was ready to present to Deb and she loved the different direction from the original painting. So two thumbs up

“Funnyness in nothing”

“Funniness in nothing”

WIP
Size: 3.5x5 in
Drawing/Pen: February 23, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

Walking through Mears Park in Saint Paul, MN, and plopped my butt on the entry of the park and started scribbling. It's funny how the environment can morph your artistic sense to add elements to your piece. I’m still amazed how scribbles can start so obtuse, but end with designs that are new and refreshing

“Faithfully blinded”

“Faithfully blinded”

WIP
Size: 3.5x5 in
Drawing/Pen: January 04, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

I love this piece and intend to get this painted. The piece strikes me that people stay with their partners blindly at times even though they are abused and the partner won’t seek help. Speaks volumes to me.

"Music blinded”

“Music Blinded”

WIP
Size: 3.5x5 in
Drawing/Pen: July 25, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

Was told by a buddy that I should consider using a smaller sketch pad as it can be more challenging to try a small workspace. Luckily I have an old 3.5x5 inch pad and I can challenge doing smaller pieces.
Through together a quick piece and got a musical instrument. And the buddy was right, it is challenging.

COMPLETION: “Blackout”

“Blackout”

COMPLETE
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: May 09, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: July 21, 2022
Acrylic Paint: July 22, 2022
Oil Paint: N/A

Late night completion. Love the bronze color in the background, and the color choice was spot on.

"The Count”

"The Count”

COMPLETE
Size: 10x12
Drawing/Pen: June 11, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: June 29, 2022
Acrylic Paint: July 10, 2022
Oil Paint: N/A

I love how he turned out, but the background could use some work. I like how he stands out, but gotta give some more thought to the delivery of background colors.

"Teapot”

"Teapot”

WIP
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: July 20, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

When I think of solitude, always think of my teapot. Why a teapot? I find that when I need a moment of clarity and thought, I always make a cup of hot tea. But before I even enjoy that tea, have to heat the water. That moment is so precious. Yes, there are times I’m doing other things, but normally I stop and daydream, conceptualizing the moment and what happens afterward. Yes, the tea is the result I want, but the in-between moment is ever so important.

"Thought at the park”

"Thought at the park”

WIP
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: July 13, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

While at a park, did an impromptu scribble and surprisingly came away with a child at the park. It makes you wonder if art does imitate life and vice versa.

"Blackout”

"Blackout”

WIP
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: May 09, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

Crazy night in the town. Remember to drink responsibly.

"Rail Light”

"Rail light”

WIP
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: July 04, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

Used to work for a railroad company and was always fascinated with trains and all aspects of the railroad. Tough, old-school company, but loved going to the train yards and watching them working on the engines.

"Smiling with Gummies”

"Smiling with Gummies”

WIP
Size: 5.5x8.5
Drawing/Pen: July 01, 2022
Oil Pastel: N/A
Re-experiment with Color: N/A
Acrylic Paint: N/A
Oil Paint: N/A

Life is such a funny thing. I was brought up that drugs were bad except for what you’d get from your doctor. For the first time, I tried Gummies. Between the anti-anxiety and anti-stress meds I take in the morning, the gummies relaxed me at night. Went from a small portion to a smaller portion as I don’t want a heavy high. But otherwise, living large.