The Red Stool

Ice Cream

2012-02-16T08:10:00.005-05:00

The "Elvis Burger" stand reminded me of the 'Little Man Ice Cream' Shop which I saw just outside my apartment window everyday in my last apartment in Denver. It was a hoot to watch them build it.

Elvis' Burger

2012-02-14T21:26:00.001-05:00

Strawberry Heart

2012-02-14T06:28:00.003-05:00

Sorry Ladies, this one is for Brandi.

Offline Mode on wood

2012-02-12T20:39:00.003-05:00

Here's some raw craftsmanship on wood. Notice the ink bleeding into the fiber of the wood. Why would we paint text with our hands??? Why not just print it? It's all about the process of painting and breathing deeply.

Take Time - The Books.

Error 404

2012-02-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

Tumbler Cylinder

2012-02-09T10:20:00.002-05:00

The Tumbler

2012-02-09T06:56:00.002-05:00

Offline Mode

2012-02-09T06:39:00.001-05:00

Green Leaves

2012-02-09T06:13:00.003-05:00

I began this painting after Mazie and I had a conversation about Henri Mattisse . She chose him for a report wherein she would write a little diddy on how's he doing, recreate a piece of his and stuff like that (I hated writing reports as a youngster). We began discussing the Fauves and their historical context, that art is connected to and born from the history, politics, culture of that time. She gets it!

I was smudging the pencil sketch with thin layers of acrylic onto the wooden board, you know enjoying the shear messiness of it all when the upcoming though occurred to me. The sterile, digital, perfectly aligned, saturated, back-lit interface with which we interact with daily should not be trusted. The computer screen is unlike anything in nature. We should all be highly skeptical of personal computing and our TOTAL reliance upon it. We've gotten our tour bus of trust onto a narrow bridge and I'm going to start turning around.

Face of the Deep

2012-02-09T06:11:00.002-05:00

This is sunlight shining on the back of a beluga whale at the Georgia Aquarium.

Paper Star

2012-02-09T06:08:00.001-05:00

Improv Everywhere

2012-02-08T08:01:00.003-05:00

Transcendance

2012-01-31T09:26:00.003-05:00

I saw this routine the other day of Fred Astaire dancing with a hat rack. Man, he's good!

Mug and I have been going on and on about building a dancing suit, you know?!? a suit that generates music based on dance moves the wearer makes. Tap dancing seems to be the simplest (analog) form of making your own dance music. Could a gaming console provide an account of our moves and trace our steps with audio as well as the tap dancers feet traces his? He provides his own percussive rhythm with every step as he dances - which comes first?

Gully Washer

2012-01-28T20:21:00.004-05:00

HEADS UP: The audio on this video makes abrupt changes in volume due to the nature of it's content, thank you.

How 'bout the weather! The images above depict a grist mill damn before and during a flash flood. The flooding occurred last Saturday Jan. 21st at 68 degrees F.

This vortex was the creepiest thing I've seen in a while. The body of water where we found it is about 8' deep dropping through a drain pipe. I told my brain to NOT have nightmares about falling into something like this.

Just a Couple of Guys in the Woods

2012-01-24T22:49:00.001-05:00

A Tree Picture

2012-01-19T19:07:00.002-05:00

My friend Andrew wanted me to draw this tree on a wooden frame he made from old barn lumber.

Train Trestle

2012-01-19T18:49:00.001-05:00

This trestle is located in Emerson, GA.

Taiwan Flowers

2012-01-13T14:56:00.002-05:00

Inspired

2012-01-13T07:28:00.002-05:00

Good morning fellow Red Stoolers,

I just wanted to take a moment and say thanks to everyone for being so supportive and indulgent of my occasional posts here on Red Stool. I don't know how much I contribute to anyone's process but it really tickles me still to post here. Because of the support I was inspired to take an art appreciation course this semester. This friends is the first art class I have taken since the 80's (long story). We are only a week into the class, yet I can feel the influence of all of you during class. I thank all of you for that.

Thanks

Grizz

Clark Lift

2012-01-09T18:45:00.002-05:00

Red Door at Bankhead

2012-01-09T18:44:00.002-05:00

Still Duchamp

2012-01-07T22:34:00.001-05:00

Major 5280 mischeif.

2012-01-07T15:21:00.002-05:00

Thanks, Grizz

01/07/2012

2012-01-07T08:09:00.003-05:00

"Art is maybe a subversive activity. There is a certain rebellion when you are an artist at heart, even if only in the art of living."

Philip Pettit

The Habbit

2012-01-06T06:58:00.000-05:00

I saw a Habbit

2012-01-06T06:52:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered were baby sneakers disappear to? Or how wind chimes get broken?

You can blame the Habbit. Half rabbit half Hobbit perhaps. He's like a little sasquatch. Big Foot's mischievous little cousin the Small Foot.

Good habbits are hard to find
bad habbits are hard to break.

Hollow Stump

2012-01-06T06:50:00.003-05:00

I see these hollow trees from time to time and I wonder, "What the heck is in there?" But wonder does not compel me to reach my arm into the hole.

In From the Woods

2012-01-06T06:49:00.001-05:00

Allatoona Splash Beatdown Remix

2012-01-04T20:33:00.002-05:00

Last full day of the yeard

2011-12-30T17:44:00.005-05:00

Here is the before and after pics of the yeard The obviously before pic was taken Dec. 31st 2010. Right after I shaved for the final time LAST year. The other pic was taken today Dec. 30th 2011 the last FULL day of the yeard. Tomorrow Dec 31st 2011 at 10 am I will be going to a barber for a shave with a straight razor. Happy Beginning of the 1st fiscal quarter. The Grizz.

Long E Sound

2011-12-30T14:51:00.002-05:00

These are from Vivian's long E vowel bag.

The Perfect TRee

2011-12-30T14:50:00.001-05:00

Red and Blue Fish

2011-12-30T14:49:00.000-05:00

Two Fish

2011-12-30T14:48:00.000-05:00

One Fish

2011-12-30T14:47:00.003-05:00

Coffee Grinder

2011-12-30T14:45:00.002-05:00

Salt and Pepper

2011-12-30T14:44:00.002-05:00

Coffee Pot

2011-12-30T14:43:00.002-05:00

iPhone

2011-12-30T14:42:00.001-05:00

Christmas Lights!

2011-12-18T15:44:00.006-05:00

The girls are just batty over the rainbow lights - OK, OH-KAY, I am too.

Sky Date 12/15/2011

2011-12-18T15:33:00.002-05:00

This was our sky last Thursday morning as I drove 8 miles from Decatur through Atlanta at 8:15am.

This will conclude my Sky Date posting barring a really absurd contrail/chemtrail array. I will continue watching the skies though whether it's weather modification, mind control experiments, or regular ol' pollution. All of the above (get it?) should be stopped immediately anyways. I'll stop banging my noise-maker about it just remember my skepticism.

Sky Date 12/06/2011

2011-12-09T18:02:00.002-05:00

This day was particularly ridiculous. I counted 23 separate white lines in the sky above Decatur this day at 4:30pm. Just thought you'd like to know. The regular commercial jets can be seen arriving and departing Hartsfield about 20,000 feet below this series of flight lines.

Sky Date 12/05/2011

2011-12-09T18:01:00.003-05:00

Sky Date - 11/24/2011

2011-12-09T17:11:00.002-05:00

These lines were over our house Thanksgiving morning.

Prom Night

2011-12-08T17:07:00.003-05:00

Here's Prometheus bringing fire to man.

Prometheus

2011-12-08T16:55:00.002-05:00

He was a champion of mankind, known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals. Zeus then punished him for his crime by having him bound to a rock while a great eagle ate his liver every day only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day.

Adam's Apple

2011-12-08T16:53:00.002-05:00

Adam and Eve taking a byte from the apple of high technology.

What's the Matterhorn?

2011-12-08T16:52:00.002-05:00

Technomountain

2011-12-08T16:48:00.001-05:00

It's Christmas Time in Forest Park

2011-12-03T15:50:00.008-05:00

"Downtown" Atlanta Skyline

2011-12-02T15:42:00.003-05:00

Rock Trout

2011-11-30T22:50:00.003-05:00

This is a Christmas gift for some one special and I wanted to share it with y'all before it got away - get it?

Silent Night

2011-11-30T12:43:00.001-05:00

The Temptations

Santa's Enforcer.

2011-11-26T18:53:00.003-05:00

I discovered this the other day when thinking about good ol' Saint Nick. Seems like in Austria Krampus is the Bad Cop to Santa's Good Cop. See when the jolly old man in red finds the "naughty child" he turns him over to his partner Krampus. St. Nick only concentrates on the good kids. Krampus then straightens things out by not only scaring the daylights out of the offending "bad" child he beats them with a switch or puts them in a sack and throws them in the closest body of water. Krampus you see is the ultimate holiday "come uppance" So remember during this holiday season if you are not so pleasant (I'm guilty of this) you get a visit from Santa's heavy. Besides, now you can't get this silly tune outta yer head. Yah..Yah..Yah..Yah..Yaaaah! Thanks, The Grizz!

P.S. This is the least disturbing video. There are some videos from Austria where people dress up like Krampus and walk around. The costumes and the Germanic language is kinda rattling.

T.C.A. Redeux

2011-11-23T13:58:00.001-05:00

T.C.A.

2011-11-23T13:55:00.000-05:00

Art Heist

2011-11-23T07:01:00.005-05:00

I entered a "piece" of artwork AT (EDIT) last week. Well, my piece was stolen! STOLEN! Someone made off with my goods. A regular art heist.

So you know, gun numbers 1 and 2 are still in design, number 3 was stolen and number 4 is in possession of a private individual who will call you ugly names and push you down the stairs if you try and take his.

Quadricycle

2011-11-23T06:54:00.002-05:00

The chain drives only one sprocket and not two, the gears on the other side need to be flipped in order to drive in the same direction. The wooden steering handles are straight from Henry Ford. And that gigantic blackU-shaped uni-strut backbone shaped can be cleaned up - I think.

With a tweak here and there this thing could be totally pimped out so, who has time on their hands to build this?

We saw this bike the other day and you should to.

Lil' Buck and Yo Yo Ma

2011-11-23T06:44:00.003-05:00

Have y'all seen this pair before ? I was taken aback - TAKEN ABACK! - by the combination of moonwalk and ballet moves. The very ending is a bit awkward but anyhoo it only lasts for a small time.

At various points of the routine Mr. Buck falls out of balance then regains it. My first thought was "he lost his balance!" (humanizing the whole dance) then I noticed the fact that recovered beautifully every single time.

Autumn.

Thoreau project.

2011-11-22T09:02:00.010-05:00

As many of you might have guessed I have an admiration for Thoreau. During this trying semester in my American Lit. class I got to do a project on one of my favorite authors. The professor allowed us to use some creative muscle. I decided since one thing Thoreau tended to push was finding ourselves via nature I decided to do a bit of a slant on that ideal.

This folder was designed and hand sewn by me. My brother in law helped out with measuring and cutting the wood and making sure the buckskin was stretched just right. Big thanks to him, since I am thanking people I wanna make a point to thank Hannah. She took the time out of her busy motherly schedule to edit my paper. Without her guidance and proper edits the paper would not be nearly as polished as it is. Thanks Tons Hannah, I really appreciate it.

Please forgive the layout of pictures here I couldn't get blogger to agree with me this morning. I really wanted the paper to have a feeling of being outdoors and perhaps a journal of some sort. The pics and back cover collage are all on photo-stock paper. The green is velvet, in case you could,nt tell from the photos. With the exception of the velvet and photo-stock paper which was added as an after thought, everything else was found around the house.

I put allot of work into the presentation of the paper for the simple fact that this MIGHT be the last creative paper I will do in college. Besides that I'm really itching for an "A" on this paper. I got to stretch my creative muscles a little here. Thanks, The Grizzly.

2011-11-20T11:32:00.002-05:00

It's getting close to THAT time of year that I refer to the silly season. Despite my personal negative leanings towards the holiday season there are things I enjoy and miss. This being one of them snowfall, true lovely snowfall. This pic was taken a few years ago while sitting on my porch couch and watching the snow fall until I couldn't feel my toes anymore. Taken in DenCo with my old film point and shoot. Thanks, The Grizz.

Paint Shop

2011-11-17T22:28:00.002-05:00

Patio Table

2011-11-17T22:27:00.000-05:00

Bank of America - Underwater

2011-11-17T22:26:00.001-05:00

Excavator

2011-11-17T22:21:00.002-05:00

Gable End

2011-11-17T22:19:00.001-05:00

Make Me Moo!

2011-11-13T15:08:00.002-05:00

In my path of becoming a fan of "The Residents", I got hung up on this song, Make Me Moo.
The cheesy guitars, the little voice and the lyrics all culminate into some sort of sentimental surrealistic reflection.

Rendered photo of Geneva playing at Meemaw's 83rd birthday party

2011-11-13T14:40:00.002-05:00

I love it when someone is so connected in the moment that the task at hand has undivided attention. When we are children, this happens more naturally. Every once in a while when I am painting, shooting photographs or building something, I realize that I am consumed with this undivided attention. As soon as I am aware, the moment is over....sometimes as quick as the shutter on a camera.

Around the House

2011-11-11T17:04:00.003-05:00

These were inspired by a little drawing Mazie made of a vase. I've been looking for it and I'll post it ASAP on-the-double.

Boxes

2011-11-11T17:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes...

2011-11-11T16:42:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I behave just like my dad, all big and loud authoritative like. Other times I say "let's go skating!" Mazie and I had the idea of dressing up to skate the local parking deck - on a slow Sunday afternoon of course.

Work Stuff

2011-11-11T16:39:00.002-05:00

This model came from an idea at work. We make all kinds of oversized contraptions and it's fun to make little spin-off models of something the guys have made in the shop.

Crawdaddy

2011-11-11T16:37:00.003-05:00

It wasn't until I was 14 that I would pick a crawdad out of a creek. Mazie and Vivian go right after them T the ages of 8 and 6 respectively. This makes me very nervous and the look at me like "Daddy what's your problem?"

Blue Ridge Mountains

2011-11-11T16:25:00.002-05:00

Here are some images from the Blue Ridge Mountains. A few weeks ago, we took a weekend trip up near Franklin, NC and was it sweet!

11-11-11

2011-11-11T13:22:00.002-05:00

...and nothing BIG happened! sheesh.

A place in which to play

2011-11-01T19:57:00.003-04:00

We finally discovered the trail we'd heard about last summer! It begins at the edge of our neighborhood and winds down towards the creek. Near the creek the trail winds around unexpected turns and ducks under some really dense wild hedge. The trail ends at the Path and a playground with two awesome slides.

For Decatur, this patch of woods is huge. Maybe 10 linear acres along the creek bed and railroad tracks. Next time we'll have to cross the railroad tracks and see the storied rock outcroppings on the other side.

Geo Engineering (globe rigging)

2011-11-01T17:59:00.003-04:00

I read this book and I believe these people are nuts.

Here's an interview of Jeff Goodell.

I looked at the sky last Sunday, October 30th and saw this image. What a ridiculous series of flight paths. What gargantuan graffiti! I wonder what the pilots think as they're flying by another cloud trail.

This photo was taken facing east about 10 miles north of Hartsfield Intl. Airport. These are not regular commuter flights leaving ATL. Those flights (the ones headed northbound) track along the eastern side of our neighborhood and bank left and head northeast. They do this every day - every single day at an altitude of about 1,000 feet and climbing.

Jack-o-Lanterins

2011-10-31T22:30:00.003-04:00

Mazie was Pippi Longstocking this year and Vivian is dressing the Laura Ingles part.

Halloweenie

2011-10-31T20:36:00.002-04:00

This costume would not have been possible without the "yeard". Hard to believe I have had it for 10 months now. Happy Halloween & Dia de los Muertos everyone!

Fall Colors

2011-10-01T21:57:00.002-04:00

"Daddy! This one's even got purple on it!" - Vivian

Atlanta Capitol Building

2011-09-30T21:07:00.002-04:00

Atlanta City Hall

2011-09-30T21:01:00.003-04:00

Atlanta Skyline

2011-09-30T20:54:00.003-04:00

Todd and I are working on an image for a T-shirt whose name I cannot yet utter. I will be refining this image as time allows.

The Paw Paw

2011-09-29T11:33:00.002-04:00

Mug and I coined the term Paw Paw (as in to Paw Paw or he's Paw Pawin') back in 1996. That was the year my Paw Paw died. He used to sit on the edge of his sofa and straight school me in checkers. He always wore a button down shirt tucked into a pair dress pants. When he would perch on the edge of the couch I could make out the arrangement of his undercarriage and it made me nervous. I could also see the naked lady tattoo on his shin bone as his pants hem rose. I never ever beat him in a game of checkers but I can beat you!

So, Paw Pawing is the way old men sit with their junk pressing against the world.

I almost blew a gasket this morning when I heard this on NPR.

Yardwork

2011-09-27T14:51:00.002-04:00

Here's a working title for an upcoming painting: Russell Imprisoned in His Father's Backyard Watching His Sons Fly Overhead.

My dad from time to time has been really controlling, harsh and critical of my brother and me. When I realized that my relationship with my dad has been more positive than his relationship with his dad and that this was a step towards the betterment of his family I felt sorry for my dad!

Anyhoo, I've been imagining who my brother and I might have been and maybe who my dad may have been without alcoholic/abusive parents. I began sketching this scene and 4 more similarities popped into my sketchbook. I will be exploring this through,,,,, you guessed it! Painting.

Even if you don't believe in the whole emo art thing the images are pretty interesting. The initial sketch is just like what I imagined. I worked out the blue flying guys in Sketchup to nail down my perspective (highly recommended technique BTW), transferred that to board and paint is on the way.

Raptor Complete

2011-09-25T21:24:00.004-04:00

The tail feather close-up represents a small victory for me. I put my brush down as I felt the must-control-every-stroke button being pushed. I "knew when to quit" and left it loose just like Rembrandt - yeah, just like Rembrandt.

bird of prey #1

bird of prey #2 - intensity alert

Man Boom in 3-D

2011-09-25T08:13:00.003-04:00

Man Boom

2011-09-24T17:15:00.002-04:00

If I were to join the Atlanta Graffiti choir I would tag with MAN BOOM. MAN BOOM (in my mind) straddles our raw genius human potential and his propensity to mess stuff up.

Toy Gun

2011-09-13T06:33:00.003-04:00

I'm not sure this quite captures the toyness I had in mind for Toy Gun. ...pressing on...

Bicycle ramps Mug, bicycle ramps.

Raptor Update

2011-09-13T06:26:00.002-04:00

I began roughing in the osprey last night yep, Grand ol' Osprey. I traced it out with a washable marker then went after it with a water brush and the lines got all jiggy out of my control. I freaked out for a while but now I love the look and next I'll replicate that wild feathery bird look with paint.

Hey Brandi check out this! 'Bout time right?

Johnathons

2011-09-07T20:30:00.004-04:00

Hannah and I took Guy on a small road trip this weekend for a surprise visit to John Kelso's gallery opening in Nashville. John's show was photos of Sacred Harp singin's. He actually handed out Sacred Harp books and sang in the gallery. He was fearless. Another surprise guest was his father who traveled up from Florida. I am happy that I was able to capture this moment of John singing with his dad in the background.

Lake Lanier Lighting

2011-08-31T16:36:00.003-04:00

Here's a favorite spot of ours at Lake Lanier. Late in the summer the sunlight bounces off the water and reflects a blue light into the shadows of the pines. The light reflecting off the red clay at the water's edge casts an orange glow onto the bottom of the pine tree limbs. The red underbelly of the green pine boughs against the blue sky is a site to see.

Late Summer Cicada #2

2011-08-31T16:33:00.001-04:00

Late Summer Cicada

2011-08-31T16:31:00.002-04:00

Cicada page here

morphing Cicada here

nah nah nah nah hey hey hey goodbye

2011-08-26T13:57:00.002-04:00

I just realized these guys were white.

Nine Years Ago Today

2011-08-24T13:54:00.002-04:00

...could not resist.

2011-08-24T13:50:00.002-04:00

Sunset August 20, 2011 (for RVG)

2011-08-22T01:59:00.000-04:00

Sunset No. 2

2011-08-21T23:26:00.002-04:00

4 o'clocks

2011-08-19T15:05:00.001-04:00