Pablo Picasso, Tete de Taureau (Bull’s Head), Bicycle saddle and handlebars. 1942, Musée National Picasso, Paris This year it was decided that gift cards of a pre determined dollar amount would be exchanged between family members for Christmas. I actually had never...

Every Xmas tree lot looks the same. Most of the trees are around 6 ft. They all are triangular shaped and green. The prices are different depending upon certain looks and models of trees. I think the noble fir is the most expensive although you can’t see this...

Above: "Stenographic Figure" by Jackson Pollock.  1942. 40" x 56"   A name is a placeholder for something. A title is another version - albeit a tiny one - of a work of art. What makes a great name? In the baby books they warn parents to be to stay clear of names...

Six weeks ago I had an operation on my Achilles tendon. There was a small tear that probably occurred from years and years of trail running. After this particular surgery you can’t put any weight on your foot. As a result you are on crutches all the time and, as if...

I am on the plane flying towards San Francisco having just taught a workshop in Portland. Mulling over what were some of the more memorable moments of the weekend my mind settles on one in particular. Of course, it is always fun to meet a group of artists and it is...

Usually I know what I want to write about. For some reason this week nothing has emerged. I don’t feel particularly crazy busy in my life, which is usually the precursor to feeling uncreative. Actually everything feels pretty spacious. For me this is usually the set...

I am wondering about why some people care so much about how things look. I know I do. I notice when things in my world don’t look too good generally they don’t work so well either. The thoughtlessness of design often crosses both appearance and utility. I see the...

I am going back to my old high school as part of “career day” this week. There are some designers coming, an owner of an ice cream store and probably a few others, maybe a lawyer, perhaps even an astronaut, all assembled to talk about different careers. Everyone has...

Over the past few years, I have occasionally noticed how things line up - events or chance meetings with people occur that positively affect my life. Sometimes it almost feels too surprising to be just by chance. You might hear of something, then a friend tells you...

I endeavor to stick to the subject of art in the context of this blog. However because my art is my life much muddling does occur between the personal and professional. To try to separate the two seems forced and frankly is just not my experience of how a career in...