Something good, something new, and something sparkly!

So, we spend so much of our time thinking about, dreaming about, and romanticizing relationships. It has been a very strange year full of changes both good and bad. But I think that I've handled things well, ending a long relationship with someone is difficult, then you throw in children, lawyers, a house, money, and things get ugly....Time has passed and I feel so much better now than even a few months ago. And now that old things are done, the urge to start up again with a new relationship comes around from something that in my past would have been labelled as a "diversion" or "a waste of time". I've had the time to volunteer with a few organizations and it's been very helpful as someone that has been out of work for some time. It feels like a job, the people that volunteer with you are really interesting and they actually want to be there and make a difference, even though none of us get paid, it has been very uplifting to my spirits. I still continue to look for a permanent job but I now have several part time endeavors, as well as working on my art full time, because no matter what I do, I am a full time artist.
I was asked the other day if I liked what I did? Yes, I said. But that wasn't the truth. The truth is that I actually love what I do. It is an incredible experience to take pieces of steel and create something with my hands and then it gets better when other people like what I do and want it. One of my neighbors from Decatur contacted me and didn't know that I had moved, she was disappointed that the sculptures that I put in the yard where gone. That was one of the things about her walks that she really liked. To hear that was astonishing, because sometimes, I live in a vacuum and don't think that anybody likes what I do, but the reminders come in just when I need them.

So, now I'm off onto other adventures with art, humanity, music, love, food, and the completely unexpected turn that my life has made. And now I'm headed down that path again. Or is it up that path again?

Ramblings

 

Swamp in July

Swamp in May

Swamp in January

I walked down to the swamp at the end of the neighborhood and counted about 18 geese in what remained of the water in the swamp. Apparently the water level is a bit low due to the fact that the beaver dam got partially washed away by the last few storms, 3/4" in about 1 hour last time.The geese didn't move around that much because of the lack of space but they genuinely seemed to be enjoying themselves. After standing there for awhile the frogs started up a rolling symphony of sound coming from one end of the swamp and rolling towards us, stopping, and then all encompassing of the swamp. It was a strange affect and grew louder as more of the frogs croaked in and then stopped. Strangely beautiful. The swamp changes with the seasons, last time that I photographed it was earlier this year with a lot of water and then when we had a snowstorm.

 And now for one of my latest sculptures. A little black and white "parts" dog. It was inspired by my crazy little black and white mutt, Pluto, of somewhat astonishing bits and pieces and some paint!

little-black-white-dog-metal-sculpture
Now if I could just remember the story of E and C who lived in an A-frame house and worked at an advertising agency in Zeeville. Oh well maybe another time and another place. Thanks!

What is Going on with Me? Or how I learned to stop worrying about the beans and weld.

1970 Oldsmobile 98 hubcap 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the latest hubcap clock for my etsy shop, metalartdude's metal shop. The new junkyard that I get most of my hubcaps from now just has a big pile of them and I have to research them to get the year and model. Sometimes the owner of the junkyard helps me out if I ask about something that I have no idea about, like the DeSoto with the spinner cap, probably from the 50's. That's still sitting by the bus in the junkyard. I didn't want to get it right now but I did take the Thunderbird from the early to mid 70's, it's sweet. There is a Mazda hubcap from the early 70's there also, maybe one day I'll pick that one up. But for now I have quite a few left in the trunk of my car, why yes, I do have junk in my trunk. ;P

So now time for some randomness. Lime green flamingo!

 And more flamingos!