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Posted on May 24, 2019August 6, 2020 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Companions

This piece features a combination of plants I have enjoyed since childhood – blue vervain, blackeyed susan, and daisy. As a kid I noticed that they seemed to pop up in the same ditches every year.

This thriving collection of companion flowers managed to survive for years and in doing so created a diverse ecosystem. But like anything they are a part of a larger whole. If the monarchs are happy here they will go onto a nearby garden while the chickadee will most likely continue on a quest for food leaving seeds along the way. The whole ecosystem thrives when these wild companion plants do.

As humans we contribute and take a part in the larger whole, we are no different than the plants. Our roots intertwine as we grow and add to the world. We require food, water, shelter and love in order to thrive. If we thrive so do those around us – even those we do not agree with.

The wild world does not care about superficial differences like race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation – caring about “differences” is a human thing. Focusing on such differences and allowing that to affect our own behavior causes strife in the ecosystem. Sometimes humans forget how interconnected things really are. This piece is a reminder to observe and follow the lead of our thriving wild companions.

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This piece will be on display through the month of June for the annual Unite Against Hate Show in at Brigid's Pub in Bemidji, MN. The event is a night of music, art and camaraderie in one of the coolest local establishments around, and is hosted by some neat folks from the community. See this piece in person and enjoy a fun evening out if you are around the Bemidji Area on June 1st.

Posted on January 20, 2019August 6, 2020 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Get Off My Case

Blue jays are a pretty flash of blue of among the green canopies, and a controversial figure for their love of other bird's eggs, but have you ever paid attention to what they sound like? They are well known for many things, but the way I know them best is by their awful shrieking voice that often goes on and on as they try to get their point across. They are like a crow but more shrill and like 50x more obnoxious. Despite this I LOVE blue jays, and this piece came from that place of both loving and listening to the blue jays in my front yard.

There are a few pairs of blue jays that hang out in the trees in my front yard. I am never really sure what they are doing when they start squawking but when I look up to observe I see that the couples will chase each other through the trees, two pairing up against two. I may be misreading the actions, but the story I have in my mind is of a blue jay sitcom; the crazy neighbors who live in the high rise apartment next door to my home that are always getting up to silly antics.

I started this piece after hearing a tune on the radio. It was a tune I had heard many times before. I had developed the opinion that it was verging on pop but had some neat instrumentation. The singer is typically very good but in this song he uses his voice in an almost grating way. The song has started to grow on me because the music seems effective at projecting the feeling the singer is expressing. Despite hearing the song a lot I felt I heard a new instrument this time. I identified it as some sort of horn blowing one quick note every beat. I was impressed at how I had not noticed it before and how perfectly in time it was. I wasn't sure what kind of horn it was, but I was putting on my boots and headed out the door so it was all good, no need to give it too much thought. When I stepped outside and shut the front door the song became muffled, but that horn sound continued, just a bit more shrill. Sure enough, I looked up in the trees and saw the blue jays were at it again. the new instrument was just a loud interruption by my neighbors, and man, do they know how to keep a beat 🙂

This painting represents the remorse I feel that singer is trying to express in that verging-on-pop song as well as the grating nature of the infamous blue jay squawk. I mixed all those vibes up with a bit of whimsy and joy to represent the love I feel for the colorful bird. Get Off My Case is a contemplation of what it could possibly be that those blue jays are doing when they flit around in the trees. Whatever it is, the mystery is quite glorious to observe.

I am always satisfied wrapping up a piece because it gives my mind a chance to focus on the other pieces I am working on. It also happens to be the Super Blood Wolf Moon tonight so I think it is great timing to wrap this piece up, and I look forward to looking up for a bit more inspiration tonight. Fingers crossed that it stays clear this evening!

Posted on January 20, 2019August 6, 2020 by Diamond — Leave a comment

Otter Underwater

I have been sick the last week which isn't uncommon this time of the year for most folks, but I hardly ever get sick. I usually get about one cold a year and they are often a bit more mild. I felt like a whiner this last week because I wasn't sure if I was exaggerating how bad I felt because of my lack of current experience with colds, but by the fourth day of barely doing anything other than computer work at home and laying around I realized I was truly feeling bad. I didn't feel like painting much this week. I had a long lasting headache and when I tried to get creative I would get tired. My cold started to break on Friday and my head started to clear so I chose to start a mini-canvas to kickstart my creativity. It worked. I finished this piece up today, all the while feeling better and better. I still feel stuffed up but I was able to go outside to do some yard work for a short time after completing this guy.

It has been rather cold in Northern Minnesota the last few days as well (coinciding perfectly with all the colds going around - if you are feeling ill currently my condolences! This sucks.) It has been -20° at night and barely above 0° during the day and it is only supposed to get colder. Personally, I am fine with it. I know this is what Minnesota is like and I have a load of firewood for my small home. I love Minnesota through thick or thin, hot or frigid, but it does have my mind dreaming of warmer days and climates, someplace where this otter might live. The addition of the balloon makes this piece feel like a "get well soon" card, and - so - it is! A get well soon card for you! I hope you feel better and the cold doesn't get you down too much.

This time of year is nice because it reminds us of how awesome the human spirit and body can be. If you can walk around in 0° temps and survive you are awesome! If you can fetch firewood in the evening when the temps are dipping down you are awesome! And you are also alive. Cold hands and rosy cheeks are just a cool reminder of that fact.
Another thing I am working on during these cold days is a newsletter. I have a plan to update this blog with writings about the creation process behind my work and I will also be maintaining a newsletter which I hope to be able to send out monthly. While the blog will give a very straight up description of the work the newsletter will include the more existential tidbits of my work that may seem too much to share with those who are just browsing my site here. The newsletter will delve into the thoughts and musings behind the work as it was created. If you have been thinking their may be a larger puzzle to the work I create (there is) or if you are interested in the inner most thoughts that go into/come out of the work that I create then the newsletter is for you. The newsletter will also include links to the blog and have a monthly rundown of completed work and upcoming events/ shows/ workshops all in one spot. You can subscribe here and then keep an eye out for my email in your inbox. I will not share your emails and you can unsubscribe at anytime. This is a no pressure newsletter 🙂

Alright, I am going to do some more painting now that my head is feeling better. It was so nice talking to you! I hope you get well soon and if you are already feeling well I hope that trend continues 🙂