Bernie Sanders for President

detail

16"x20" Oil on canvas

Doing what I can to get people all around the world to hear Bernie's message. Calling for universal health care, free college, and a healthy planet for humanity is a gift for our future generations. We can start this journey now together, with love, compassion and unity.  I am offering this painting for sale on eBay, 100% of the final price will go to Bernie's campaign.  

This is my first attempt at a painting process video. I have a lot to learn and a tripod to buy. But we all have to give something new a shot sometime. Please share. Thanks for viewing and most of all, LISTENING 


Photo reference: Peter Yang

Audio: In 180 Seconds You Will Be Voting For Bernie Sanders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtBVu...

Mexico

One inch color study of the Maldives.

This past September, my sister got married in Saltillo, Mexico.  Unfortunately, I had no time to stop and paint there.  But I was really happy to see lots of family and it was also Jenny and Santi's first time in Mexico.  This is a small color study of one of their honeymoon pictures in the Maldives.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption - Oaxaca, Mex. - Gouache

Shortly after my older sister's wedding in Saltillo, we found ourselves in Oaxaca, Mexico for one of my other sister's weeding.  This time allowed for some art making.  This the church where the wedding ceremony happened.

Gouache

View from a hotel rooftop.

Side door into the cathedral - watercolor

I was sitting down early in the morning with this little sketch and was approached by two people with guitars in hand, strumming along.  They proceeded to share their sketchbook pages and I mine.  They gave me a cd of theirs and went on their way.  After finishing the sketch I found them in a little coffee shop, where they proceeded to play me a little tune.  I was blown away.  Turns out they are from the west coast and had just played their last gig on a Mexican tour.  Check em out: http://www.nathanandjessie.com

Pen and watercolor

We rented in a car in order to get out of Oaxaca City and found the changing nature around incredible.  From ancient Aztec ruins (Monte Alban and Yagul), cacti, sulfuric waterfalls (Hierve el Agua), to cold, misty mountain forests with piney trees and large agaves.  Such contrast.

Hill Country, TX

In May of 2015, after searching San Antonio, Austin and everything in between we found this home on a hill in New Braunfels.  I really can't express the change or experience the move afforded us as a family.  But having a canyon to hike to one of the best city parks (Landa Park) was truly a welcoming change of routine to big city life.  A magical place where lots of good things happened.

New Place, watercolor and pen.

House in the woods in New Braunfels, TX.  Time to slow things down.

Back yard #1 - Gouache 

In May during all the rain.  Luckily we were on high ground.

Back yard #2... - Gouache

Think this was in the heat of the summer.

Backyard #3

Deer sketches.

Yup we had deer.  Lots of them.

Local Hike - Pen and watercolor

Comal River #1- Gouache

Enjoying the perk of being able to hike down to the river.

Comal #2  - Gouache with Instagram Filter

Follow me on IG: Fishyburns

View from Market Street House, Fayetteville, TX - Gouache

Somewhere between NB and Houston is Fayetteville.  I include this here as part of my Texas landscape works.  My sister's inlaws are Fayetteville staples.  If you are ever in the area and need a place to stay, I highly recommend staying in one of their beautiful stays: http://blackbirdfarmtexas.com

Spain, Italy, and Siths

In my previous post I mentioned I was off to Europe.  I share with you my art experiences on that trip in February or March, or quite possibly both months.

Gouache

Arriving jetlagged to our hotel in a little town in Spain, I forced myself to go outside in the cold sunless afternoon, (with a hot coffee that went cold in minutes) and did my best to paint this lady statue before the cold got the best of me.  

Santa Maria della Salute.  Ink and watercolor.

I was traveling with my father, and we had some days to kill over the weekend, so we went to Venice.   So romantic, haha.  This place made me miss Jenny a lot.  Such a honeymooner's paradise.  Anyway, this was our view out of our hotel room.  What a surprise.

Just had to get out and paint one of these Venetian Canal bridges.

La Charmeuse de serpents. Henri Rousseau - 1907 (Trans. The Snake Charmer)

While in Venice it was cold and rainy.  I dragged my father to an exhibit about the influence Henri Rousseau had on various artists that went on to be pioneers of major art history movements, such as Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, etc.  The exhibit also had works of mentioned artists.  But it was this large feature painting by Rousseau that wow'ed me the most.

oil on canvas

Later in the year, I just had take a crack at Rousseau's "simplified" style.  Too much fun.  This is the only picture I got of it while in progress, before it got put in storage.  Another tidbit about Rousseau's art, most depict a very green, lush jungle scene.  Rousseau never visited these places, and stayed in France most of his life, painting these landscapes from stories he read about explorers visiting Mexico.  Orale!

Le charmeur du côté obscur - Gouache on paper (Trans. The Charmer of the Dark Side)

Santi is a big Star Wars fan.  He asked for Darth Vader and the background just happened.

Art in 2015

Every year since 2009 I have been making a FB album highlighting some of the year's art work.  I feel it appropriate to post them here as well, with a bit more written about each piece.  Originally all pictures in chronological order totaled to 50 photos and a lot of reading for you.  So per Jenny's suggestion I will break them up in to separate posts.  We begin the year in Houston, TX.  Enjoy!

Going to the roots, is a theme I visit often in my sketches, trees and globes.  Now you know where Treehouse Splash came from.

Portrait of Santi as the cookie monster (oil on paper).  I could not find this sketch anywhere, so I thought I would post here to remember it.  BTW Santi is obsessed with Halloween all year round.  Hence why he can be Cookie Monster, fire fighter, Optimus Prime, Spiderman, Batman, Superman, etc...!

Quick gouache looking out of our apartment in Houston.

View out our window, Houston, TX - Oil on canvas

I had just returned home between business trips for one night, Jenny and Santi were in Nashville visiting family.  This particular moment at home alone, I woke up early and seized the opportunity, set up a station on our living room rug captured the moment out our biggest window.  Then I was off to Spain and Italy for long work trip.

Parents driveway.  

Wow back here again.  Ok, this is around the time we started looking for places outside of Houston.  Perhaps back to Austin, or even try San Antonio.  Sorry Austin, you are getting pretty packed.  Get more trains, bike lanes (or even dedicated bike streets).  Might need an upper upper level over the upper level on I-35.  And maybe start it from Oltorf to Braker, yikes!  Anyway....

Update

Greetings of the season and best wishes for a year of peace and happiness.  I hope everyone is excited about what we are to create in the next year.  I know I am.  As one of my first resolutions, I will post here before the new year, and do so more regularly.

I was recently asked if I still made art.  Yes, I do.  I've mostly been sharing on Facebook and Instagram.  But I have forgotten this blog as my effort to share more process and thoughts behind the art I make.  I also feel FB and IG are not the best at presenting to the most inclusive group.  It's for all and this is what I've always felt is the best way to share.

Last time I wrote here my son was a young baby and my artwork seemed to be about breastmilk and the beginning of life.  So for my first post since then, I will write about pregnancy.  Yes, my wife Jenny is pregnant with another boy due mid February.  And my ability to describe my life and thoughts since this news with just words would not be enough.

As expected my sketches started seeing more pregnant bodies and themes.  But I was particularly inspired by a painting called "The Town" by Alison Blickle a painter and ceramics sculptor I came across this year on Instagram.

Last few days of my show at @kravetswehbygallery! The Town, 80 x 60 in., oil on canvas & ceramics, 2014

A photo posted by alison blickle (@alisonblickle) on May 20, 2015 at 9:49am PDT

I don't know her interpretation of the painting, but it grabbed me and I started to attach my thoughts and representations on it.   Her last three posts show the artist very pregnant and then announcing her son's home birth.  She even mentioned Birthing from Within, which was instrumental in our decision to birth at home the first time around.  Highly recommended.  So maybe, the painting is autobiographical as well.  Congrats to her.

Belly Vase

Working out composition and a little color.

Mi Vida, Tu Vida
Oil on gessoed paper

The setting in my version of "Mi Vida, Tu Vida" is Mexico by the Pacific Ocean where we plan to have our 2nd baby boy.  The vase is an Asian design where Jenny and I met.  It has trees and a river to signify where we have been dwelling for the last 9 months next to the Comal River in Texas.  The woman is Jenny peering into the vase which holds our new son. 

The fact that Jenny is illuminated by the light inside reflects the bond the two of them are forging during this time.  She can see in and feel his life.  And she is guided and assured by his light to prepare herself for the journey ahead.

Thanks for visiting and reading.  I promise to share more and maybe even some recap posts about the last 2 years.

Breast Fuel

If only breast milk solved all of our problems.  

But then, for some it does.

It's World Breastfeeding Week.  Perfect timing.  Jenny's breast and their contents seem to be the only thing that comforts baby Santiago these days.  So a lot has gone into her breasts; research, diet, sleepless nights, and hormones.  Being the curious intellectual, I thumbed through Dr. Martin's Breastfeeding Book, which has just about all you need to know about the subject.  I was aware of the benefits from classes in college, but having them listed out in front of you is eye opening, and shocking that so many babies are kept from the benefits for various reasons, such as convenience, social awkwardness, etc.  My aunt and cousins are leaders in their communities for La Leche League, an international non-profit working to further educate and mentor mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding.  In a way changing the future for some, one breast at a time.  

So here we were last week, Jenny feeding and I reading some blogs and I come across this post on Drawger.  The art by Edel Rodriguez is chilling and the article on climate change by Bill McKibben is even more chilling.  Please read if you can.  He really breaks down all the research on climate change and the role of politics and money.  

In all the joy and love that has been surrounding me and my family this past month, global warming never entered my head.  My thoughts on the future had me pondering about my son's personality, what color his gray eyes will turn into, how long will Jenny breastfeed, and excitement to be part of his development as an aware being.  But what if what McKibben says is right.  My thoughts have turned into anxiety.  What future are we leaving to our offspring if we continue the course?  

Perhaps, if our leaders and the heads of big oil, thought more about breastfeeding and the generation of little one's who benefit from it, then maybe, breast milk could save the world.