I’m about to head to bed but I need to tell you about my art field trip to the deCordova museum in Lincoln, MA. My friend Jane and I have been scheduling art field trips here and there throughout the area. I’m advertising the days on ArtJournaling Ning, so if you want an excuse to go out and sketch and experience art, feel free to join us or schedule an art field trip in your area! Tell me about it so we can schedule an event on AJ Ning.

This week we decided to go to the deCordova. 2 weeks previous we’d gone to Salem Common. The deCordova is a sculpture park and museum. They offer classes, which I find a little on the pricey side but I’ve heard they are very good.

Cost for adults is $12, there are various discounts if you’re a card holder of various and assorted things, like AAA. If you are a college student admission is only $8. A year membership is $60 and if you plan on going more than 5 times, obviously is a good deal. Admission on Mondays is free.

There’s a lot to see and many of the sculptures are on loan to the museum for extended periods of time. There is a lot to see. There are around 60 sculptures within the grounds and around the building.  Some are mind boggling and ridiculously cool. One that I always like to see is Jim Dine “Two Big Black Hearts.” These 2 giant bronze hearts stand 12 feet high. Monstrously large and intensely cool.  You can call a number to listen to Dine talk about the piece.

There’s a lot to see and do. The store also houses a small 2d art gallery. They also on select dates have artists come in and give talks. The artist talks are included with the cost of admission and they fill fast.

A side note, it’s good to bring a picnic lunch with you as the food sells out of the café quickly. Don’t expect to get a sandwich or a soda after 1pm.

I’ve been to the deCordova in the past, when it was free to wander the park. You now get charged for both the park and the museum. This is good because I actually went into the museum this time and it was amazing. They have some extraordinary exhibits going on and were well worth the $10 I spent on admission. (AAA member.)

In short I can’t recommend the place enough. It’s full of visually interesting things, would be a great place to take a date and is a great place to vegitate.

Spread 003 Paperbear
Originally uploaded by bkasstle

Look at all those earthy browns

The recent suicide of gay teens has been getting some national press attention. This is sad but also good. It’s about damn time that influence of bullying is discussed, blogged about and gets national press attention.

Part of me wants to scream out what about all of the kids who came before who committed suicide? What about my generation? This kids who quietly passed away with no attention? The kids who suffered with no one speaking out?

Part of me knows it’s time that my generation of GLBTA folk speak out and talk about the crap that happened to us as kids, about the presence of bullies in our school. Speaking out is the only way I know to let today’s youth know they aren’t alone, that yeah it sucks but it gets better.

So here is my story:

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Postcard #o3
Originally uploaded by virgílio

These postcards are amazing

boy
Originally uploaded by apples and ink

very cool page, love the dry brush page

Scattered Brains
Originally uploaded by Full of Wish

Great use of color in this one by Full of Wish on flickr I'd like to look close at the page and feel it's texture.

Check out this cool video by SDevi86 I love the use of paint in this journal.

“Stop thinking like the “little guys” for a start.” Hazel Dooney tweeted in response to my tweet.

Brilliant in its simplicity it goes back to something I’ve heard before, “Herger, think bigger.” Jim used to say this to me in rotation along with “Herger, get some bigger canvas for next class.” Perhaps for me working small goes along with thinking small. Sometimes it’s hard to think BIG when you have small amounts of time to work.

No offense to my DayJob but I’m really looking forward to my sabbatical during which I hope to focus primarily on art, the classes, an online sales solution and live sales solutions. I have no interest in being represented in a gallery. I don’t want to see 50% of the price of my paintings go to a gallery. I’m doing the work, why should they get 50% of that? Don’t give me the tired BS that they push sales and connect my work with buyers. Yawn. Perhaps I’m a control freak and want to know where my hard work ends up.

One of the few regrets that I have in life is that in 2001 when my art was starting to sell that I didn’t keep on making more of it. I should have stayed the course and continued to create and sell. Now I’m left picking up the pieces and recreating what was a hell of a lot easier when I was younger, jobless and without a mortgage.

The great thing about waiting to be where I am now is that technology has caught up with my ideas. I had the idea of doing online classes back in 2001 and 2002 but the technology wasn’t there. At the time you could create a private blog but UStream and the webcams available just weren’t good enough. Now they are and I’m able to do what I dreamed of back in the day.

During my sabbatical I’m looking at renting a space (perhaps with a few friends) and seeing if we can do a few shows in it. One to 3 months. It’s a simple idea. It’s a small step towards thinking bigger.

Wheels..
Originally uploaded by wil_freeborn

Again another fantastic series of watercolors (i think anyhow) from wil freeborn on flickr. This is great stuff on many levels but the great use of line and the terrific coloring makes me think of book illustrations. Don't take that as an insult, there are a lot of great illustrators.

"I'm old fashioned, but i don't mind it. ..As long you agree to stay old fashioned with me.
Originally uploaded by Cecília Murgel

Bright colors, lots of writing some sketches. love it