Yeah, but, can your art book do this?

I've been gone a while from the weblog. I've had so much fun doing it over the years but I got really focused on the book project and, you know, a guy can only do so much. Kinda dumb to ignore the old standard, the go-to venue for showing off new work and stupid ideas. But that's just how I roll. I will make a concerted effort to post musings and funny junk because I think there's a need for a good laugh right about now. Even just the little half-grin with the short horse snort. You need me on that wall. So the book. It's not like writing a book is a big deal, half the people on the planet have writer proximity, they are either related to someone who has written one, is writing one or is thinking about writing one. But, about two years ago I just launched in anyway. It started as a simple notion and blew up like a big volcano.

It's going to be a very different kind of art book because it's not really about how to paint anything but why... it is the how behind the why. A rather left-brained approach to right-brain thinking with 130 plus exercises. Here are just a few....

There's stuff in there about how to look at the world a little differently. How to assess your world view. How to get unstuck.

There's stuff about play, how important it is and how to do it and then how to apply it.

Unconventional exercises that are easy. Anyone can do them. You don't have to be Pablo Friggin Picasso.

There are a series of exercises that will help you to think more creatively because creativity is not exclusively an innate skill, it can be learned. I know this because I've taught it for a very long time. In fact, my biggest AHA! moment was to figure out that this book is a broad view of a system I've used all of my life. With pretty good success. And it applies to everything not just art.

There will, of course, be paintings because it's really pointed towards the painters but there's mixed-media, writing challenges, free-association challenges... it's all in there. And, it's funny.

Can your art book do that?

I didn't think so.

I'm also thinking about a follow up webschool because many of these exercises could use a little demo. Not sure why... I should just be painting but I really do think this is important information at this time. We need inventiveness, authenticity, inspiration, joy, exploration, risk-taking and we need it now.

Currently the book is being edited by a most awesome editor (he's not yet seen the above examples) and is really helping to fine tune and also my dysfunctional grammar. I'm shooting for end of this year or sooner. It's an ebook at this point but if it takes, I'll do a print version or maybe find a publisher. Preferably one who won't take the funny stuff out.

Keep an eye on this site for new info.