So Long

Three words I spoke as I walked out the front door to leave Redding behind:

"So Long Redding"

As I climbed into my car, I thought more about these words.

So long have I awaited this day

So long have I enjoyed the friends here

So long have teachers, mentors, friends, and family members prepared me for this day

So long have I imagined living elsewhere

So long have I been here...

So long Redding.

At it Again

So it has been a while since I've gotten to paint and I've finally gotten back at it. This thanks in part to being commissioned to do two pieces. Commission work is awesome because I get to paint, knowing that it will pay for itself. 

Anyhow, the first one is kind of a painting of my last blog, check it out if you have yet to read it.

Its called: So Distant

The second one was a lot harder to get started but it really came together as I kept going.

Along For The Ride

In other news, I am moving on Sunday. I am so excited. For those of you who don't know, I'll be living and working in inner-city Oakland with World Impact.

It is an exciting season of life in which I am finally realizing a call and following. Plus, I get to leave Redding and experience something new.

When It Begins

So, today we got up at 4:50. We being Joe, my Mom, and Mike... oh, and me (although, I can't positively say that I was technically awake). Anyhow, we hopped in the van and started off down I-5. Oh yeah, I'm going to Hawaii for a week. 

The point of me tell ing you this is that I witnessed something that my lifestyle doesn't generally allow me to... sunrise. At first I looked eastward and saw a glow coming up... it was pink and orange. It was distant. I began to think about it. I could almost feel the curve of the earth and imagine Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York. I could envision the city. The hustle and bustle, the pretentious business people waiting for their assistants to bring them their Grande Soy Ristretto Lattes. It was a connecting moment. I looked to the east and dreamt of the future and all it held. I had a sense of bigness. The world was big at that moment.

Flash forward 14 minutes. I looked back to the east and had a sense of smallness. As the massive ball of fire (our sun) came into view, a small barn stood next to a slightly less small silo and intruded into the view. If only I had photographed the moment. You would know what I meant.

I guess this 15 minute span of moments kind of represents my view of beauty. I see beauty in bigness. The world of people. An interconnected group of capitalists, peons, liberals, conservatives, moms, and grandparents. That is beauty. But also, I find beauty in the simplicity of the man who owns the barn and the silo. The man who complains about the noise of traffic while savoring the oatmeal his wife of 47 years made for him... just like every morning.

What a Blessing.

Viola!

I feel like a made the most of today. If you read my previous blog, I had apprehension about today and what it held for me. Even so, I made some calls that I have been putting off and finally found the store that I will most likely work at whilst in Oakland. I saw an old buddy (whom, admittedly, I had been worrying about) and found out that he is loving life as much as I am. I sat in Starbucks and had some rest. 

Finally I got home and felt inspired (side note: sometimes I paint, not out of inspiration but obligation. Because there is nothing better to do and it seems like what I ought to do, those ones usually suck, but the act of painting remains therapeutic) to do some painting. I did, and I think that it turned out pretty nice:

Way Up Here

I think that it represents the peace that I found today, while trying to be busy.

What Now?

For those of you who haven't heard, I finished up high school a couple of weeks ago. I feel a certain freedom and level of achievement, but today feels strange. It is the first monday that is normal, in that last monday was all about Christmas and buying gifts and planning my week. 

This monday is one that is pretty normal: I don't work today, I dont have any plans until this evening, so I figure this is what it is going to be like until I start working with World Impact in Oakland. The question, what do I do in order to be a productive member of society now that I am not a peon in the public education system.

Do I make a to-do list and run around franticly trying to complete menial tasks all day? I mean, people do that, right? Do I sit at home and... oh, I don't know, clean? I got up today, for no reason, at about 8:30. There must be a reason for me to do that.

Well, I guess that I am going to go get some coffee, sit down, do some research on getting work in Oakland, and make some important phone calls. Here's to the rest of my life and my attempts at making something of it.

Robbie, If you are reading this, you were right all along. 

I know, I know...

... you dont hear from me in months and then... two blogs in a day. I promise that I am going to start blogging more often.

Anyhow, true to my word, I turned on some music and broke out those new paints. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but I like it:

I'm not positive, but I think I'm going to name it Taking Flight.

'Tis The Season

So, If you haven't yet noticed, It is time for Christmas. I have been kind of putting off thinking about it since at work I am assaulted by red cups, Christmas merchandise, holiday drinks, and Christmas music before Thanksgiving. It's not that I am Ebenezer Scrooge here, but I am fully convinced that Christmas is one day. Not a fifth season like all of our favorite corporations would have you believe.

Anyhow, with Christmas come presents, and I have already participated in one gift exchange. My family on my Mom's side drew names so that we each shopped for a single person. My Uncle drew my name and I was so pleased to unwrap a set of heavy-body acrylic paints and four large canvases. It was perfect. For months I haven't painted simply because I haven't had supplies. Now that I do, I think that today is the day.

I have about six hours until I have to work, so I'm going to try to paint a masterpiece. Who knows? If it's good, I might post it here.

P.S.  I am thinking about starting a blog that deals only with my art, It would be the perspective of an untrained, impoverished, artist doing the best he can with he has. Thoughts?