| Video |
[Aug. 10th, 2007|01:17 pm] |
Here's fun little piece I did from our trip to Peru last year. This area called Nazca, is an area of controversy and speculation.
Video here |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[May. 11th, 2007|06:37 pm] |
Here's a photograph of my Grandmother with her family as a little girl. My grandmother is located in the left center, next to her father and baby. I was so happy to get this photocopy of the original when I was back in Iowa. There's something powerful about old photographs, particulary those that reveal family history. There is an uncanny resemblence of my my kindegarten picture and this photo of my grandmother.
My grandmother at 90 is slowing down but stubbornly refuses to retire and stop working at Wal-Mart. It gives her something to do and keeps her busy. But it a bid sad to see her still working so hard.
Today I was called in to substitute teach second grade. The discipline aspect of teaching is a drag. However the children are so transparent and I'm sometimes amazed how fast they can pick up concepts. There was one child today whom I let use the bathroom. 30 minutes later I realized he was missing and another student told me he has this habit of disappearing. :( Luckily I informed the teacher across the hall and sure enough this boy was in a bathroom on the other side of the school.
You notice the wide spectrum of student ability in classroom setting. There are those who are obedient, go above and beyond to please you. Then there are others who just test patience with annoyances. You just have to keep you cool. I feel at a little disadvantage by not having a child of my own, but I belive I'm getting a little better at managing children and the classroom. You do end the day with satisfaction of passing a long a bit of knowledge and seeing the smiles on their faces. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Apr. 13th, 2007|10:18 am] |
I haven't posted forever, but here's two photos from Iowa. I was there March 16th for my Grandmothers 90th bitrthday. Great thing is she is still sweet and has all her wits about her.
These are doors from an abandoned roadside gas station.
I'm finally feeling better after a week long battle with cold. I likely picked it up from one of the kids while substituting. I have to remind myself to wash hands often when I teaching at school. |
|
|
| New video on youtube |
[Feb. 14th, 2007|07:16 pm] |
|
Here's a recent video of our Dog Picaso getting a bath. There are a few technical glitches I need to work through, and I suspect the wmv file I uploaded gets further compressed by Youtube. I need to figure out how to acheive better quality uploads. |
|
|
| Creative desperation |
[Jan. 8th, 2007|01:20 pm] |
I keep fighting the thoughts of financial justification of my art - i mean should you really expect to make any money making art. I'm looking into substitute teaching which should be good experience and some side income. Helen wages, surprisingly for a first year doctor is less than I made in my regular jobs. And it doesn't get much better for the next four years. And she wants to focus on psychiatry with the low income, disadvantaged and immigrant poplations. So it won't ever pay as much as thoracic or brain surgery. I hate the stress of money. I miss the West coast but perhaps its because I haven't been on this side of the country for that long.
I found a few places to hang work locally - and a few bites here and there. Starting over sucks, and I have to preserve. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Dec. 30th, 2006|06:15 pm] |
I have to post this pic - even though I swear we wouldn't do a Holiday photo with our dog...
:) The photo is taken with my video cam which renders still images not as great as a dedicated digital SLR.
I hope everyone has a great New Year!
 |
|
|
| Job Searching |
[Dec. 23rd, 2006|01:37 pm] |
So the way our bills are accumulating, I'm going to need to look for a job. Even though Hlen is in the medical profession, her 4 years of residency and the hours she works don't pay extremely well. No overtime, and the hours she has worked divided tby the pay and she is making less than minimum wage. Top that with the stress of being responsible for human lives, mainly those who are reckless with them can make for worn out wife.
This area of Baltimore isn't as art friendly as Seattle, or perhaps I need more time in the area. It took me a couple of years before I became familiar with the scene in Seattle and my work sold every once in awhile.
Ideally something that is part time such as substitute teaching. Helen suggested this, and I like the idea. Passing on knowledge and by being a substitute wouldn't require me to write lesson plans and allow time for continuing my artwork. From the continuing studies painting class I took this semester, most galleries to take you serieously as an artist want to see 20 pieces of consistent theme. Unfortunately I get bored that I find it hard to sustain the enthusiasm. But making art is a voyage - and any journey like life has its ups and downs. I tell myself to continue and preserve.
Tomorrow is Christmas eve and we're heading to Helen's parents. I miss my family in Iowa but unfortunately we don't have the cash flow to travel. Probably just as well as I see the news and the lines at the airports with delays makes me a bit thankful. |
|
|
| Video on Youtube |
[Sep. 10th, 2006|01:55 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  chipper | ] |
I just finished a video documenting part of our trip to Macchu Picchu. Thanks to Gurlskout for prescreening and giving me feedback. Video , here |
|
|
| Blind Woman in Remote Village |
[Sep. 1st, 2006|11:11 am] |
I haven't posted to this journal for a longtime, but I have received a few reminders to update it. I want to keep this journal somewhat separate from the journal I update on my site. Here is a photo from Peru. I'll have more photos on my travel section of my website and media of our trip to Peru soon.
 |
|
|
| .61 cent check |
[Aug. 3rd, 2005|09:06 pm] |
Good grief - my wife hands me an envelope from cingular and expecting a bill, I open to find a check. A whopping 61 cent check - I feel wealthy. In other news I have some paintings hanging at Starbucks in the International district - it's by the bus tunnel. It's a mix of India photographs and art, as well some new still life pieces.
I read today 15 American soldiers killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb. I have a nephew in the army who is probably destined for the war zone of Iraq after he completes training. My feelings on the war remain anti - and I can't help think of my nephew and worry. When you have relatives involved, you can't come out and express your opposition to my family as much as I would like. My nephew being only 18 will be thrown with responsibility and see things that will undoubtedly shake him - and in a world where radical Muslim extremism is ready to pounce on you and show no mercy. I still support him, and I feel bad he is part of the American blunder in Iraq. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Jul. 4th, 2005|04:54 pm] |
Helen is doing better physically, and yesterday we received the police report from the accident. The report pointed to the the fault of the driver in the truck and not Helen. In his report the guy claims the sun interferred with seeing the light. Well buddy, when the light is bright and you can't see - You slow down!
Helen's lawyer friend on the east Coast says we can sue for a whole lot more, but we want the whole thing behind us. Meanwhile, my job sucks. Although its been the best paying job I've had - the level of what you have to know is enormous. That's not bad - but its in areas of data analysis, SQL Query, domain and IP level stuff that I just not passionate about stuffing this information in my brain. I need visual stuimulation, or a job that I'm using these talents in some respect. I know I'm stressed cause the job is still new, but my heart is not in it the way I'd like...
There is light at the endo of the tunnel. I really only have to work until the end of March - before Helen and I leave for Peru for a month and we'll find out where Helen's residency will be for the next 4 years. If its in Seattle, I will still leave work for a part time job and piant more. No more sucky office jobs - I'll avoid them like the plague. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Jul. 4th, 2005|04:38 pm] |
Still life w/ Broken Angel
<td>
</td>
|
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Jul. 4th, 2005|04:35 pm] |
Still life w/ Lemon painting
<td>
</td>
|
|
|
| Count your blessings |
[Jun. 14th, 2005|08:54 pm] |
Seesh - so Helen was in a really bad car accident Sunday evening. Luckily she walked away from the accident in good physical shape, although talking to her on the phone she reveals her neck pane and ailments - I just hope she makes a full recovery physically speaking. Turns out she was doing everything right but some idiot runs a red light - big truck of course - this is Boise, and crashes into our poor little white Honda. Now the guy is claiming he is not at fault. Several witnesses filed reports that he indeed ran the red light so we'll let the insurance companies duke it out.
The important thing is I have Helen - for a moment thoughts raced in my head. I mean what if she had not lived - crippled or incapasitated. Life doesn't extend you freebies - but I feel powers above us all had a hand in this. Thank you God.
Damn cars and damn idiot drivers.....I'm flying to Boise Friday to pick her up and we'll drive back to Seattle via a rental car. |
|
|
| Finally |
[Jun. 6th, 2005|09:25 pm] |
I haven't sent out an official update, but my art website is completely re-designed. This was no small task - being i'm picky as hell to get the website looking the way I want. Helen provided great feedback which I made changes, and its amazing how she has an excellent eye for details and improving something even if she is not an expert in this case design. The big thing about my website is having is having prints for sale.
The new job is kicking my butt - all around the amount of info you have to know is sometimes overwhelming. It requires a fair amount of SQL, html, knowledge of server scripting etc, and the coworkers are all extremely bright. The job pays well but its a job I can't snore through nor have time to look look for political opinions or create livejournal posts on the internet. The days go by fast, and often when I look up at the clock its late afternoon.
Its a dangerous trade off - to have steady income, insurance all the benefits that come with employment yet artistically I start to wither inside. I sometimes feel greater pressure from my ideas in my head pushing to get on canvas but I don't have the available time or physical and mental power to pursue them. I have to go back to waking up at 5:00 am and getting a few hours before work - but I unfortunately feel like I need all the extra sleep just to be sharp the whole day at work.
Helen is back in mid June and it will be nice not to sleep alone. |
|
|
| Easy Sunday Morning |
[May. 8th, 2005|02:22 pm] |
So last weekend I spent the weeknd with Helen is Boise, Idaho - She is doing a clerkship there until June. It was good being with her like in the physical presence. Talking every night on the phone is good - but nothin like actually being there.
So I got a job with a local company - and the cool thing is they met my highest salery demand. Talk about cool - and there company culture is what I want - heck there CEO keeps up a blog and is switching the IT dept part of the company over to the Mac OSX.
The only thing I'll miss about going back to regular job is spending time on my artwork - its funny because ideas that are simple but brilliant pop in my head when I spend more time doing art. I noticed that in our bathroom there is this frosted glass that slides open just beneath the mirror. The items in this cabinet such as bright blues of dental floss cases and tubes of bright colored tooth paste, etc, could be seen through this glass in a semi-tranparent iregular blurred pattern. It looked as though there were brushmarks built up in this pattern to create this fuzzy effect that I suddenly thought would be a great way to build a painting.
I'm also a little over half way done with my site update - an entirely new look. This was a big task to take on and I'm hoping to go live by Mid-May. We'll see - its coming. And what's really motivating is when a Vice Pres of some important company wants to see the new work and spend the $$$ - bad Jason. Keep updated. :( |
|
|
| A week of Painting |
[Apr. 3rd, 2005|02:55 pm] |
Wow, what a difference a week makes. I spent the week in a week long class of still life painting. The instruction was great, and it was the best 600$ I have spent in a long while. I managed to finish one and 90% done on another - that I'm fairly happy with. Its these times I wished I had a digital camera where so I could take the photo immediately and be able to share. I've been holding out on the digi camera - wanting more bang for my buck and the more expensive kind of camera. I have to hold large purchases for now due to being unemployed.
Speaking of unemployment there is a company that is interested in me, and now I go the third roud of interviews. Feeling are a bit mixed - I can't stand the thought of another desk related job. Helen wants me to work another year - she'll be working next year and making income, then I can go part time and emphasize more time in painting. I feel like I have the drive and maybe the talent, but there is a fear a painter confronts when is himself/herself that is left alone to put thought on a canvas and hope the world loves you.
I learned today from my sister a nephew of mine has joined the army. My thoughts are mixed - being in small town Iowa there is a lure when the recruiter comes around with all these promises. I hate th fact of hime going into basic training etc, onl to end up in Iraq or Afghanistan facing a way of life that so contrasts our comforts of life. Its not a walk in the park over there.... |
|
|
| I'm back.....and as a house husband |
[Mar. 24th, 2005|03:37 pm] |
I was checking this journal and realized its been a long time since I updated with an entry. Bad me - well whats new. I had my show opening at Art/Not Terminal Gallery with another artist Mark Eaton. The turn out was great and with the violin along with good food went over well. I saw many old and new friends and sold a few paintings. Based on the cost I broke even with the show so I guess thats a bit of success. In fact two guys that purchased "One Last Stand" purchased my self portrait, the featured piece on the invite card. Woo hoo!
Wish I could quit my day job and just paint, but can't say I can do that right now. In other news I was laid off at the end of January - so I've been out there on the job market and have had a few interviews. I'm also thinking about going back to a community college and aquiring a few more skills.
this weekend I'm driving through the pass to Boise Idaho - Helen is on a medical rotation for 3 months. :( Since I've been unemployed I've been good cleaning around the house and 2nite I have to do our laundry byself - not that I'm laundry incapable, its just there are many little details I've discovered with Helen about doing laundry. The wools, the gentle cycle, drying, etc...etc...
I'm doing it all bymyself tonite and I'm scurd....God Help me. |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
| |
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
jjwoodee's journal
</td>