Until We Meet Again....Goodbye

My father-in-law riding in Wyoming

Frank A. Danza
February 26, 2008

"We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last."

Lazy Day

Lazy afternoon in the garden

It was a lazy day yesterday. I put on my comfy green pants and ugly pink shoes (which are probably the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned) early in the day and the day got progressively more lazy. I didn't feel like doing art at all. I was more content to play with my son and watch him play in the garden. I read a bit in the sun too.

I got more and more exhausted as the day dragged on and rest couldn't come soon enough, so I put myself to bed as soon as I put my son to bed. I believe some beauty rest was just what I needed because I woke this morning happy and ready to take on the day. No comfy greens for me today. Today is a day of get up and go and with that...I'm off!

:D

S*N*O*W!

Beautiful designs from the sky

The big news yesterday was....it SNOWED!!! It was our first snowfall. Not enough to really make a snowman or sled about the yard, but it was big fluffy snow that had design! I love when that happens. It's truly magical to catch a glimpse of a snowflake in its perfect design state. I took the new Exilim out side and the video camera to capture my son enjoying the falling flakes. We have been hearing about so many states getting snowed in, but havent had an opportunity to enjoy a bit of the white stuff ourselves this year.

With the cold snow blowing about, the warm studio was so inviting. I made a lovely pot of jasmine tea and added a bit more dust to about three different horses. I work on several at a time because the fixatives I am currently using take quite a while to dry. So, while one is drying another is getting dusted. This way no time is being lost in the studio.

Here are some of the pieces Im currently pastelling. The first two are commissions and the foal is for my personal collection so they won't be sales items. Never-the-less, I'm very happy with the way these pieces are developing.

Pregnant Arab mare

Eberl Drafter getting dusted

A special gift from a good friend

I'm excited to add the hairing details on the pregnant Arabian mare. I'm actually sorry I didn't take progress shots of her. I believe she would have made a great painting tutorial.

KA-PAW!!!

"KA-PAW!!!" There goes "Hedgie!"
Please note: this drop was conducted on privately owned property.
The area was secure and clear for such an activity.

It was an emotional day for me yesterday when I dropped "Hedgie's" mold from the rooftop terrace. It was a bit celebratory too cause it marked the official end of his production. As I was picking up the pieces I felt a sense of pride in knowing that he was born from a blob of wax and cast all by my little ol' self. Not only was he cast in earthenware china and glazed, but was also cast in porcelain. My work in porcelain is something I never thought I'd live to see. My dream is to one day look back on my personal little porcelain Hedgie and remember the pride I had this day. Hopefully he will be sitting next to hundreds of other little critters I've created.

Inside Hedgie's mold


Every new owner will get a little piece of "Hedgie's" mold. I'm a sentimental sap that can't seem to get rid of anything in the studio. I hang on to things just cause, "you never know." But the studio can't hold another dust collector and this idea of giving a little part of "Hedgie's" origin was a perfect way, I felt, to commemorate "Hedgie's" creation. It also seemed like a more valiant end to a good mold than to just chuck it in the trash. I didn't have the heart to do that.

Now, back to work. I have a Eberl drafter I'm painting to a dark forest chestnut and I'm enjoying the process and craving to have my hands in dust this afternoon. I'll have pictures soon of him to share with you all.

I Want To Pretend

I want to pretend that wishes could come true in the blink of an eye. Just for one moment, let the genie come out of the bottle and grant me just one wish. Without a doubt, today I would wish that my father-in-law never had emphysema. That I didn't just see him laying in his bed, struggling to breath, respirator doing little to nothing with his wife by his side, her heart breaking into a thousand pieces.

My selfish little self doesn't want to let go. I want to hear him share one more story of Brooklyn as he sucks down his Friday night mussels. My selfish self wants to have just one more round of happy hour today with he and my mother-in-law. Its just about that time of the day when he would call up for me, my glass of wine in his hand and cheese and crackers on the table.

Eighty four years is a long time to live. It's a shame the good ones can't go on much longer. They make the world a much better place. My father-in-law certainly did that for me. Made my little world wonderful and taught me an immeasurable amount about life and business.

Something ominous is in the air. I sense this weekend is going to be a very difficult one.

If wishes could come true I'd pull that bottle open right now and wish....
:(

Bleck!

Play Dough Pony

Bleck! We are all sick here. Coughing, sneezing, sniffling and general bleckiness all around. Made myself a huge pot of green tea last night and worked on the Horsing Around prototype. It needed some detailing work on the hooves, legs and eyes. I should be taking finished photos of it soon. Today or tomorrow I need to complete my JAH deadline. I need one more photograph for the assignment. Its the final shot and I had planned on shooting it outdoors today but its raining. Probably better off anyway as I shudder at the thought of laying down on the cold ground right about now trying to get the perfect shot.

Inspirational Chores

"Mindy" resin (commission)
and Fraley "Netzky" resin (will be next sales piece.)

1-1-08: The first day of the new year has been sorta crappy so far. Clean up, grocery shopping and ironing make for a mind numbing adventure. Blah! Im hopefully that I will be able to have some quality time in the studio tonight once my son settles down for the night.

1-3-08: I am happy to say that I finally did get down to the studio the next day and had some very relaxing, productive time down there. Too much housework is no good for this artistic soul. I get very cranky.

When I was down there I tried to turn the webcam on, but couldn't pick up a signal. My computer not finding the router has been the real reason my cam has been down. I've conducted practice sessions, but I always loose my connection at some point which I know will frustrate viewers.

I've got a real burst of energy to work on pastelling so I'm putting this energy toward finishing the lingering commissions. My goal is to really get most either done or near completion by the beginning of February. This urgency is due to two factors. A). that owners have waited far too long and B). I can't stop coming up with ideas for more sculptures. If I don't get current work done now I'm really going to be in trouble cause I find that if I don't start these new projects the images seem to torture me till I get them out and on paper on clay. At this point I really can't afford to start any more projects, but as I was doing my chores another great idea for a sculpt hit me out of the blue and the image is sorta plaguing me.

I was taking care of my father-in-law's animals and his fancy pigeon caught my eye. I'm not really into birds. Not only do I feel its cruel to keep such an animal in a cage cause I believe they are more beautiful out flying about, but they are rather smelly and messy to me. Alas, my father-in-law is one of those old Brooklyn boys who just love their pigeons. He used to fly about 100 or more in the back yard when he was well. He has one left and since my father-in-law can't really go out I take care of it.

The feeling between me and the bird is mutual. It doesn't like me (or anyone or anything for that matter) and I don't like him. But yesterday I caught him eyeing me up as I was replacing his food in his dish. His body, head and even his beady little eye looked so beautiful. The shape was amazing and in a flash I saw him in porcelain (my newest love affair) and I could have kicked myself for not having my sketchbook with me at that moment to take down the pose. I could sorta see why my father-in-law loves these animals. I would love to sculpt his bird, cast it and present him with it for father's day. If he can't be with the animal in person maybe a porcelain replica would be nice to have.

In any case, its ideas like this that are plaguing my other work these days. So, its time to finish the lingering work up properly and move onto other projects that my head is screaming to go to.