Down Time

"Gram Parsons"-ink

"Yoshimi"-ink

"Death Heads"-watercolor, pen and ink

On Getting My Life Together Blues

Hello all. After a long hiatus on the blogging front, I'm back with some new sketches. It's been terribly hectic around these parts with moving, working and stressing. Everything has gelled into a little creative ball and I've been working on new music for the first time in months. Also, my new apartment has allowed me the ability to start creating new paintings! Finally, more large scale work is to come! Enjoy the new batch of Moleskine works for now! Peace.


"Ginsberg"-ink pen

"Ayahuasca"-ink pen

"Untitled"-watercolor

"Untitled"-watercolor

"First Salvia Divinorum Experience"-ink pen

Gary Higgins: Millenium Park 6-23-08

The long-lost psych-folk singer/songwriter Gary Higgins made a rare concert appearance at Millenium Park this past Monday, for free nonetheless! It was a mesmerizing performance of old classics and new gems. I was so happy to see one of my favorite musicians performing songs from one of my favorite albums of all time! I got some photos that, unfortunately, don't really capture the beauty of the monumental event. Read Gary's story here on the Chicago Reader site. Be sure to check out/pick up "Red Hash", his 1973 cult favorite album, recently reissued on Drag City.

Keiji Haino

Portrait of the black god of Japanese noise. India Ink wash. Been listening to way too much mind-melting stuff by this fella lately.

Old Growth SKetches

A series of small sketches I did last year. I just came upon these again and kinda liked 'em

"Anthem of the Sun"

An image of my newest work entitled "Anthem of the Sun". Commissioned for Todd & Margaret Woodward. Mixed media diptych on two stretched canvases. Each panel approx. 30"x40". Completed May 2008.

A very "freeing" experience to delve into the completely abstract realm (somewhere I generally dare not tread). Using the array of colors, expressive strokes, and angular/organic shapes was a real treat for my generally uptight and restrained method of painting. A good experiment!

South Shore Line 5-11-08

Currently Reading:

I'm trying to read these simultaneously. It's a little confounding. I can't seem to just stick to one book at a time. I get too excited to read the next on my list and then I end up overlapping them. Just another idiosyncrasy.

Hyacinth

Hyacinth watercolor for Mother's Day.

Beards on the Radio!

Local independent radio station and website Vocalo is broadcasting a talk about beards this Friday and Saturday. Should be interesting. I was actually interviewed for the program by host/producer Jesse Seay whilst browsing at the Occult Bookstore on Milwaukee and Division the other day. So I may be on the radio, sounding as spacey as ever. Check it out, all the info is below.

Currently Listening to:

Coil "The Ape of Naples"

Autechre "Quaristice"

Flower Travellin' Band "Anywhere"

Dead Meadow "Old Growth"

The Allman Brothers "Brothers & Sisters"

Cast Spells

Some prospective album cover designs for my good friend Dave Davison's music project Cast Spells. Dave is also the guitarist/vocalist for Chicago's own indie rock fav's Maps and Atlases. Check 'em: mapsandatlases.org

The Dead Finch

A finch flew into a window at the fieldhouse of Kilbourn Park the other day. I thought it may be stunned, but after hours of no movement, my friend Jeremy and I decided to bury him in the plant cage. Did a quick pen and ink drawing of him before we put him under the earth.

Band Portraits: Growing & Feathers

Joe Denardo, guitarist of Growing. Pen & ink, marker, colored pencil.

Ruth, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist of Feathers. Watercolor.

Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse-Apr. 27, 2008

Some sketches I did of the greenhouse I work out of for the Chicago Park District. Beautiful tropical gardens on the inside of the place. I did the interior sketch a while ago and finished up the exterior on break last week. Figured I'd put these up in support of the plant sale this weekend at the greenhouse. Take a trip and visit! Pick up some plants!

10 AM-3 PM this Saturday and Sunday.
3501 N. Kilbourn Ave.

Chicago, IL 60641

Influence: Drawings of Musicians April-May '08

Catalogue of Psychoactive & Mystical Plants