Kelly's Place

The personal pronoun.

2009-04-03T15:37:00.001-07:00

I looks like another spring-like day here in Wainwright and things are looking up.
The newspaper is doing well and we're forging ahead with new ideas and things we need to work on. I think the readers will be surprised as we see some fresh design work turn some heads, and the death of the personal pronoun...
I'm sure it will be for the best.

Type rest of post here

The Queen!

2009-04-03T15:36:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile

2008-09-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

I haven't been keeping the blog up for sometime. I was using the area to post photos of paintings that I had been working on. The thing about it, is that I think this can still be used, like it should to convey thoughts and feelings, not just a way to show off whatever new work I'm doing.
Things are a little topsy turvy right now here, and things will have to be worked out over the next couple of weeks before I can share anything. At least of value.
I've been invited to be one of the artists at the Wainwright Ducks Unlimited dinner, November 15th, which should be pretty cool. It's a way to continue to expose my work to new people, even though the wax stuff I've been doing has been seen for the past two years at our Arts Festival, but not much outside of that crowd.
On the writing side, I'm working on a fun project, working on a serial killer thriller, which I will share my working title, The Chimera.
I'm over 60,000 words in and I'm coming towards the climax of the story. I'm thinking and re-thinking how the whole thing should end, and so far, I think I'm on the right track. We'll have to see, I guess.
The Ghost Dance, the unpublished manuscript that I finished a few years ago, now, I've sent a package out to Coteau Books and I'm awaiting a reply. I've got all the fingers, toes and appendages crossed in anticipation. Of course, that causes cramping.
Wish me luck.
k

Spirit Horse

2008-04-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

Here's one of my pieces that I created for the Arts Festival. It sold within the first half hour of the show and I had plenty of positive remarks and those that would have purchased it over and over. I think it's a combination of the movement that the painting has, with the horse's mane, as well as the cerulean blue colour.

Wainwright Arts Festival 2008

2008-04-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

WIth the 2nd Annual Arts Festival in the rearview mirror for this year, I can look back and reflect on the show and festival's successes and failures.
First of all, I think that for failures, there were very few. Some things need to be tweaked, with the food and perhaps the set up of the show, but overall, it was definitely a success.
Everything from the literary night with author Pauline Gedge to the final part of the art show and sale, it went over very well. We had about 400 at the art show, which is I think up considerably over previous years.
I personally sold five pieces at the show, better than I have ever at one of these things. The more my wax stuff gets out there, the better, I'm educating people on what I'm doing and I still believe that the original pieces with the wax and acrylic paint are connecting with people. I'm happy with that.
That's very satisfying as a an artist.
I've put in an application for the AFA Art Acquisition program, and I hope that the Alberta Foundation for the Arts picks one of the four that I submitted; The Warrior, the Haida Raven, The Buffalo Honouring Skull and the Bighorn Sheep.

The Rhino

2008-02-14T11:36:00.001-08:00

Another new wax posted, he was just completed in the last few days, so I can bring him to the Wainwright Arts Festival's Art Show and Sale on Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23.
I'm really happy with how this guy turned out, and it was something that I've been thinking about for some time. I hope that he goes to a nice home that will appreciate him.

Scorpion

2008-02-14T11:33:00.000-08:00

A simple scorpion that took months to finish, because I was using that water-soluble oil paint, which I had never used before. It was awesome for the background and the blending, but I was frustrated by the time it took to dry. I think I can find some sort of middle ground, either with addition of a medium that can increase the drying time.

The Spirit Bear

2008-02-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

The Spirit Bear commission for good friends of ours. I'm really pleased with how everything turned out.
The Spirit Bear is neither albino nor related to polar bears, instead being a color phase of the American black bear. Because of the ghostlike appearance of the bears, "spirit bears" hold a prominent place in the native mythology of the area.

The New Wolf

2007-12-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

This wolf is one of my new favourites. I'm really excited about how it turned out, and on top, because it was a little more difficult to do, it makes me feel good. I think being able to overcome an issue or a challenge makes it all the sweeter.

Over the past few months, I've been kinda in a funk when in comes to painting, as I noted in the post below. I'd finish a piece and be happy, then back down in the dumps looking at the next piece that's started, but unfinished. At one point, working on multiple pieces at once was a way to keep moving forward, one's drying while the other is being completed. Well, that can catch up to you and bite you in the ass when you start a bunch, but don't finish them.
This wolf was started back in mid-October, during the open house at the Oilfield Art Gallery. Once I got it home, I had a tough time working on it, too many other distractions, I painted the Carousel horse instead and avoided this one, and two others that I have sitting on the floor of my office/painting room. I cannot start another until I finish these pieces, they'll turn out too, I'm sure, but I just have to push through and finish, otherwise they're not only physically laying there, they're also sitting in the back of my head, waiting to be completed. My sub-conscious is demanding I get them out of there, freeing up space. Apparently, it's crowded up there.

Feeling a little funk

2007-11-27T15:32:00.000-08:00

It's funny, since my last painting was finished and sold, I've been kinda in a funk with the painting.
I'm not sure why, but things were zipping along with the photos in the Lloydminster Source and the Meridian Booster of me doing a wax piece. Then there was a really good story written by Katie from the Source in the "Powerin' the Patch" special section and that was very encouraging. But, since then, I've not been as driven to get some work done.
It could be that I was turned down for a painting for a fairly high-profile fundraiser because I was too expensive, and the fact that my work just has not been selling in the Oilfield Art Gallery in Lloyd.
Maybe that's not the right spot for me, maybe the clientele just doesn't find what I do interesting. I'm not sure.
I hate that feeling, that bit of discouragement that can easily sap the life and fun right out of painting and doing the waxes. Yes, I know that they've done well, and better than I could have expected at the beginning, but now that I'm a year plus into it, perhaps I'm expecting too much...
I guess I'll wait and see. Working to get the next Arts Festival in the can first before I go hanging up my brushes. I think I may be a little too sensitive when it comes to sales. I've had plenty of positive feedback, and that's great, but when you sell a piece to someone for their home, you know that the piece has made a serious impact on someone. I love that.
I need that gratification, I guess to continue to push me to keep painting and keep working. With the Arts Festival coming up in February, I was worried that I wouldn't have enough work, now I have more than enough, especially if nothing sells in the four months my 10 pieces were at the gallery.
I'm sure I'll feel different tomorrow on it, but that's the problem with artists, too damn temperamental.

The Carousel Horse

2007-10-26T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm really pleased with my new wax, The Carousel Horse. I'm also pleased to say that she's already been purchased.
There's just something about the merry-go-round horses that are intriguing. They have an element of child-like joy, but also a kind of dark side, scary movie in the run-down carnival type thing. I'm not sure which I like more.

The War Pony

2007-10-11T15:48:00.000-07:00

As a companion piece to the Lakota Warrior is the War Pony. Painted in acrylic paint with my wax technique beneath, this piece is one of my favourites. The painting of the red circle around the eye and the three lines across the bridge of the nose is a common image seen on Lakota war ponies.

The Buffalo Honouring Skull

2007-10-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

The Buffalo, Tatanka, is the symbol of the spirit of North American plains Indians, and the wax painting of the skull is a way of honouring the buffalo and the traditional ways of the Aboriginal people.
The copper bands on the buffalo horn is copper leaf. The painting is 20"x20".

Haida Raven

2007-10-11T15:35:00.001-07:00

The Raven, the trickster is depicted here in the Haida style. Each night, the Raven steals the sun, and each morning it gets away.
My version is also done in the wax technique.

Little Frog

2007-09-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a new little guy that I did for my friend Terry. The little 8x10 acrylic with wax was a lot of fun.

OIlfield Art Gallery

2007-09-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Starting last week, I have 12 pieces at the Oilfield Art Gallery in Lloydminster, Alberta. I was contacted this spring by Jackie Mohrbutter, the gallery owner about putting some of my work in her gallery.

So, at the end of August, I brought up some pieces that are not oilfield related (some of the gallery is oilfield, some is not). I did one old-style derrick in wax, but otherwise the pieces consist of the Grazing Buffalo, Bighorn Sheep, a winterwolf, Venus in wax, a couple of abstracts and a number of others.

I'm really excited to have my wax "Clemmer Technique/Effect" in a gallery setting. Last year at the Wainwright Arts Festival, was really the first time that my wax/acrylic paintings were on display. I think the technique and the paintings themselves take a little getting used to, perhaps it grows on you (not like a fungus either), and it takes awhile to appreciate the detail in the texture.

The Crow and Buffalo

2007-09-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

These little guys, both 8x10s were commissions from the Brod family in Illinois. I met Don and Deb at the ISWNE conference in Rapid City, and although Deb didn't win the silent auction bid for a little buffalo similar to the one above (Bix Waltner took that one home), but she was interested in a buffalo in wax for Don.
She liked the idea of a crow as well, for her, so I came up with these two little fellows and in turn for a few dollars, she also sent me along two of her autographed novels. Pretty good trade, I'd say.
I think they turned out well.

Corporal Randy Payne

2007-08-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, CFB/ASU Wainwright commanding officer, Lt. Col. Norm Rochon commissioned me to create a painting that was to memorialize Corporal Randy Payne, the Military Police officer stationed in Wainwright, that was killed in Afghanistan in April, 2006.

Colonel Rochon was specific that he wanted a painting to reflect the bravery and commitment and friendship that Randy Payne had shown to the Wainwright military base.

This wasn't an easy task. I had a number of photographs from Randy's time in Afghanistan, as well as a few candid pictures that I was able to pull from Randy's brother, Chris' website. From this group of photos, I had to paint a specific pose, but find a different photo to do the face (because in the photo of his entire form, his face was covered). Then, I had to take the right photo of his face, but find an entirely different photo for his eyes, because the good face pic, he was wearing sunglasses.
So, I laboured over the painting for many weeks, painting on it, then putting it away, concerned that I was going to have a break down. I was afraid of not having something good enough to give Lt. Col. Rochon as he was leaving his post. This was also an important painting because of Payne's significance to Wainwright and the people who still are here.
The painting was to be a gift from Rochon to all ranks at CFB/ASU Wainwright before he left Wainwright.
So, needless to say, I was concerned.
After some 'gut-check' time, I pushed through all the doubts and managed to finish what I think is a pretty good representation of Randy, plus a solid painting. I was given some freedoms by Rochon to just paint what how I saw Randy, but that wasn't good enough for me, I was positive I had to do this man justice.
Gladly, when it was done and donated to the Jr. Ranks Club in Camp Wainwright, all the responses, including those from military police officers that knew and worked closely with Randy, were very positive.
Can't ask for anything better than that.

Lakota warrior

2007-07-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

On my return from South Dakota, I felt compelled to paint this Lakota warrior, using my own wax/acrylic technique. The Clemmer Effect... I dunno.
I completed the painting just this past weekend, and I'm really pleased with it. Every once in awhile, you can create something that you sit back and wonder, "Did I do that?"
I think it's one of those pieces that the stars align or something, but I think as I was painting it, I was worried that it was not going to turn out, and after some advice from my wife (who has a very good eye for detail), the went back to work, and I was just blown away with the end result.

There's a surprise in the eye, when you look very close.

It may sound kind of weird for the artist to be surprised with his own work, but I just can't help but stare at it. I've had some of my work turn out really well, and I've sold a bunch of my waxes that I've really loved, but I think it's a combination of the subject matter, and the fact that it really is one of the best pieces that I've done, or at least one of the ones that I'm the most proud of.

Crazy Horse Memorial

2007-07-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

A view from the visitors center with a scale model of the sculpture - the artist's vision

Little ol' me up on the arm

While in South Dakota for 9 days, I was lucky enough to hit the Crazy Horse Memorial twice, and luckily they had two blastings during those two days. The first trip with the ISWNE group took us right up to the top of Crazy Horse's arm, next to the 90' tall face. It was spectacular. The group of weekly newspaper editors were treated to being up in the 263 foot-long arm, which normally cost $125 per person to do.

Up the granite nose of the 90-foot tall face

After spending some time on the arm, we were taken back to the gift shop, restaurant, artist's studio, etc. Where you can see what sculptor Korczak's vison was of Thunder Mountain. Crazy Horse's story is an amazing one, one of the few war chiefs of the time that never lost to the cavalry in battle. He was one of the chiefs that took part in the Battle of Little Bighorn, where Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer and his 7th Cavalry were killed. Crazy Horse finally submitted to coming into a reservation, because his people were dying of hunger. Sadly he was stabbed through the back by a cavalry bayonet while being taken to be questioned, after the army told Crazy Horse if he came in nothing would happen to him or his people.

After seeing Mount Rushmore opened in 1941, Chief Standing Bear requested that Korczak come to the Paha Sapa, the Sacred Black Hills to carve a mountain for the North American Indian. "To show the white man that the red man have heroes too."

It's an amazing story, and getting to meet Ruth, the 81 year old wife of the sculptor, who had passed away in 1982, was fantastic. The family still continues to work on the mountain and are building the largest sculpture in the world, all without a dollar from the state or federal governments.
The blasting is really cool, here are the pictures below of some of the blastings...

Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole! Fire in the hole!

Mount Rushmore

2007-07-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

While in South Dakota, the first stop with the ISWNE conference was of course, Mount Rushmore. It was pretty impressive and full of the expected tourists and people marvelling at the carving in the Black Hills. It was a good time.
I was a little uncomfortable at times, when they showed the patriotic video and brought up veterans past and present to pass the Stars and Stripes to each other. As Canadians, we don't show our patriotism the same way. We're a tad bit more laid back when it comes to how we show our love for our country, and it definitely shows when it comes to something like this.

The funny thing is, we have the same love of democracy, freedom and the pursuit of happiness that the U.S. has, but we express it in a different way. We burst with pride when it comes to Canadian sports (especially hockey), and/or the Olympics, but we don't openly promote that our way is the best way. Of course we believe it is, and quietly mock everyone else, but we're not so flagrant, I guess. Not that it's wrong, it's just different.

South Daktota bound

2007-06-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

I'm packing my gear for a week-long International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editor's conference in the Black Hills. The conference runs from Wednesday (at Mount Rushmore) to Sunday. I'm really looking foward to it, and I have plans to do a little adventuring. I have full plans to see Deadwood and the Tatanka: The Story of the Bison, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and of course Wounded Knee and I plan on stopping to see Brett, the publisher of the Hot Springs Star.
It's going to be very cool, I've been looking forward to this trip since I first heard about it, a year and a half ago.
Once I get back, I'll post some pics and my adventures...

Venus in wax

2007-06-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about the masters and how my wax technique will translate. In most cases, not well, but I love the Bottecelli "Birth of Venus" so I wanted to give it a whirl. I felt that the wax would work for sure in the Venus' hair, and outline, but that's all.

It turned out that the hair did turn out very well, although I'm not as happy with the body. I made sure the face was painted as is, and I think, if I was to do it again, I'd just do the head and shoulders of the Venus, on a large canvas, instead of the whole body as well. Maybe next time.

Donation debacle

2007-06-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I updated my blog, but I've been up to my ears in stuff. All kinds of stuff. Some not so interesting, either.
I have been working on a couple of commissions and trying to get some work done, including two paintings for a recent charity golf tournament. After paying for registration and numerous other things out on the course, etc. I just don't think a painting was the right thing for their silent auction table. I guess I've learned not to spend that much effort for a painting that won't fetch very much. I really liked it, and I know I could have sold it for a decent price. So, the painting went for way under value and although I'm happy with who bought it, I'm left with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth from the whole thing.
I think this will be the last painting donation I'm going to make for some time.

Best Editorial Page award

2007-05-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Star News publisher Roger Holmes presents the Best Editorial Page award to Star News associate editor Kelly Clemmer. Roger accepted the award at the CCNA's conference in Winnipeg last week.

I was pleased to hear that the Wainwright Review won the Best Editorial Page award across Canada in the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, in its circulation class.
I was pretty excited when we heard back in March, but to have the award (nice wooden statue, even), it brought it home. The award is not mine alone, I share it with the other columnist on the page, Jonathon Koroluk. Jono and I have been friends for years, and I'm really proud that we took home this honour for the second year in a row.

The criteria is broken down to being the quality of the writing of both columns on the page, the impact, the design and the cartoon. The page is nice and clean, and we have plenty of room to rant to our heart's content, although, sometimes Jono still goes on further than his space, go figure.
The whole idea of winning an award is pretty cool, and I think its a nice pat on the back, without being too gloaty about it. Is gloaty even a word? Either way, I'm proud of our accomplishments.

Lion II - the return

2007-05-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

After selling the first lion in wax back in Januaryish, I had a couple of requests to do another similar one.
So, for a commission to my friend Dave, The Lion II was born. He is a little darker and seems a little younger and perhaps a bit more menacing. I'm happy with the results.

The Dian purple abstract

2007-05-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a break from posting, I'm looking forward to posting some of my newest work.

This abstract was a commission for Dian, and it was a very cool process to have it come together. She gave me two colours that she liked and I went from there. I'm working on a few more, and I have some completed, so I'll be posting them as I finish taking decent pics of them.
Later

Caduceus and Copper Cross

2007-03-22T14:48:00.000-07:00

Caduceus 8x10"
The Caduceus is a commission from a woman who is giving it to a doctor friend as a present.
The wax worked out really well with the doctor's symbol, and especially with the choice of colours. The big thing for me is that because the doctor is an urologist, I thought it would work in the colours that would look like water. I think it turned out well.

Copper Cross II 14x18"
The second is a cross with copper leaf that I donated to a local church fundraiser. It was pretty cool, I liked doing it, I had the epiphany early on so it was quite easy to do. The copper leaf is actually enjoyable to do, before I put a heavy black wash over it, then put the sealer overtop. Both turned out well.

Barn and fence post

2007-03-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a piece I did on commission. I really liked it, but doing pen and ink is a long process.
I've been enjoying doing the waxes a lot, but I still do some drawing for pleasure and for other people.
I have a series of commissions I'm working on, including a few I'll post below.

Buffalo II

2007-03-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

My new buffalo is one that I thought would grab attention. It has, although it hasn't received the same kind of reaction that I've become accustomed to. I think everyone likes it, but I think because the colors are dark, it doesn't provoke the same kind of feelings... I'm not sure. Maybe its the pose. Most likely I won't have him for long either.
22"x30" He's up for $500.

Bighorn Sheep

2007-03-06T09:47:00.000-08:00

My new waxes are complete, with a bunch backlogged. I'm working on a couple of commissions now, but I've got a few abstracts that I need to post. They are about the only ones left that haven't sold, except this Bighorn sheep and a new buffalo.
This monster is for sale. Frame not shown, $650.

A Total Write Off - Kelly's ep. March 21

2007-02-16T13:33:00.000-08:00

I felt it only necessary that I comment on the state of affairs of Anna Nicole Smith. I don’t believe that it’s getting enough coverage on the news. The passing of this woman is a great tragedy of our times. It’s reminiscent of the death of Princess Diana.
Actually, I couldn’t be more sick of hearing about Anna Nicole or the paternity of her daughter. It does suck that she died at a young age, but for everyone’s sake, let it go. Who cares? Hey, is Michael Jackson involved? If we throw in Jacko and maybe a Kennedy, this story could carry CNN for the next year.
Regardless, I’ve got more interesting (at least to me) things to blather on about. Last week was another one for the memory box.

Kelly with A Total Write-Off! host Barbara North

more after the jump

As you may remember, I will be appearing on an episode of A Total Write-Off! a reality writers show where teams of writers are pitted against each other to write a short story in under 30 minutes. It was a blast at the taping, and now I’m looking forward to seeing it on the little screen. It’s confirmed that the episode I’ll be appearing on is March 21. Mark that on your calendars. If you don’t have a calendar, write it on your hand. And don’t wash that hand.
The inevitable hygiene issues aside, you’ll all enjoy the goofy fun show. I hope I don’t appear to be too stupid, but I’m sure you’ll let me know if I do...
Another major incident happened with the hopeful future publication of the novel manuscript that I’ve been shopping to publishers. The Ghost Dance was picked as a good fit for a publisher’s imprint, and were looking at publishing my book as early as the spring of 2008. I was elated. I was excited, I was full of confidence and butterflies. I was.
The snag was that the publisher offered a ‘co-publishing’ deal, which basically requests the author to pre-purchase a number of books to offset the costs of publication, especially for a new author. It concerned me, but I held out hope.
After doing some research on the publisher and contacting a former author in their stable, I found out some bad news. The publisher is posing as a traditional publisher, but is actually doing something called vanity press. Vanity press is basically self publishing, with paying for your book to go into print. You’re paying a printer, not a publisher.
So, I’ve come close to being conned, and without the help of some smart writer friends at the Writers Guild of Alberta and the highly effective Writersbeware.org, I could have been hooped.
I had that feeling in the back of my mind the whole time, jeez, that sounds good, but I don’t think I should be paying for publication, hey, they must know how hard it is to get published.
That’s the problem, it is really really hard to get published for a first-time writer and a first-time novelist. There are people out there very willing to take your money based on your dreams. That’s the crappy part, these people prey on your dreams and can steal you blind.
So, even though I’m not published yet, I still will keep trying and follow up on some leads and not be knocked down by the charlatans that are out there, waiting.
If any of you have had similar experiences, let me know.

A Total Write-Off!

2007-02-12T22:18:00.000-08:00

I've received information from Panacea Entertainment, that the TV show that I will be in will be shown on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Access TV. The show, A Total Write-Off! begins airing this Wednesday, Feb. 14, with episode 1. Along with my three other fellow writers were taped as episode 9 of 13.

I've been told that my date will be March 21st. That will be really cool, I'm hoping that I can have some people together to watch the show and have some fun, most likely at my expense...
That's okay, I've got thick skin.

What I'm wondering about is how I came across while on the show. I quickly forgot that I was "mic'd" while we tried to pull together random ideas together to write the short story while on the air. The crowd shouting out ideas for the stories added to the show in general, and I think that the mime-dancers were pretty funny when it came to our show.

I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The Winter Wolf

2007-02-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

It was time to update and add the newest wax creation. I call it the winter wolf, although he is a black wolf. I was impressed with how fast this one came together, although I had painted the wolf completely in blue tones, until my wife came in the room and said, "Bluuuue??"
"Ah, yeah," I said. "I'm going for a little more abstract feel to this one."
"I don't like it."
Because she's not only my biggest fan, she's also my critical eye, I changed it. I think it's better because of it too. Often her gut reaction is what I had been wrestling with, and my "nah, it's okay" often wins out. This time, she caught it before I became connected to the colours.

More after the break

I did learn though that once again, anything is possible in this medium. Once I finish the waxing, I can paint it any number of ways, sometimes it's good, other times, not so much...

Funny thing is, I had barely finished it, and it was gone. Sold to friends of ours, who will give it a nice home. Someone asked me once if it was hard to give them up once I had finished the painting. Sometimes it is, but often while working on it for a number of days straight I do become attached to it. I think that when it's complete, though, I usually have to let it go, enough to show other people and be willing to part with it. Those kids have to go off and make their way in the world by themselves. Unless it's the lion (below), who got to go and live with the elephants (way below)...

I think another wolf is in order, this time in traditional wolf colours. Although, I may finally get my blue wolf after all. I've got two huge new canvases I can't wait to start on them, I just have to find the right image first. Then, look out.
K

The making of a Lion

2007-01-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

You want to see how it's done?
Check below how to go from this

to this

I’m sure my tens of fans out there are interested, just how are you doing what you’re doing? Well, maybe not, but regardless, I’m going to show you anyway.
Part of it is kind of a trade secret, you don’t want to give it all away, I think I’m the only one doing this technique, whether anyone in the world but me calls it the “Clemmer Technique” I’d be floored. Regardless, here’s the basic process of how I wax a canvas and create a piece of art work that, I feel is unique and pretty damn cool.

1. Draw the image. If you’re going after an abstract image, then drawing what you hope for is necessary, but if you’ve decided to try something a little more ‘image-like’ then you’re going to want to pencil out the basic shape that you’ll want to have.

Below is the initial drawing that I did of an african lion, from a photograph. I just did a basic sketch and then used a Sharpie marker to highlight enough to be able to see it properly under the wax.

2. After the lion is drawn, you have to light the candle(s). I know I didn’t have to tell you that, but what the heck, this is my show and I’ll instruct it how I want....

3. Begin to lay down the first layers of wax. Pic the areas that you’re interested in doing simple lines and those that are going to need multiple layers. Many lines can be laid down and or scraped off and redone, but it all begins with the first few drops of melting wax on to the canvas. How far you hold the candle away from the canvas can also influence the size of the drops as well as the angle you hold the candle and the canvas. Do you leave it flat? Do you angle the canvas to let the molten wax run? That’s up to you.

4. You need to know that at times the wax isn’t going to do what you want it to. You have to be patient and yet, allow for the wax to be a little messy. Often what you do, that you think will blow the piece adds to it, and so make it work. If you really don’t like what you just laid down, use an Exacto knife to cut it out, or scrape the excess wax off. It comes off easier than you’d like at times so be careful that you don’t take it all off in one fell swoop.

and

5. Okay, you’ve basically finished the first step. Take a step back and look at any spots that may need more wax, or areas that need some wax removed. Look at the image and decide what you need to do, if any. At this point, the wax is quite fragile, so be careful when handling it. It lifts off the canvas easily, so take it easy. I have physically dropped a canvas at this point, and 90% of the wax fell off. I swore, then swore some more. I nearly cried. I took a break and came back to it.

6. Okay, here’s the rub. The wax needs to be solidified. It’s fragile, like I said. Once you’ve solidified the wax, and it’s all dry, you should use a Gesso or some other binding medium so the acrylic paint will stick to it. Regular acrylic paint will not stick to the wax on its own.

7. Start painting. Finish painting. That’s it. Obviously, painting takes the longest of all the steps, but by this point, if you don’t know how to paint, you shouldn’t have started this process already. Basically start with your darker colours first and work lighter. There’s always the mono-chromatic colour scheme which is very cool. Otherwise you can just keep painting over top the last colour until you’re happy or out of paint. This is the final look, with the exception of painting on a gel gloss or other effect like a dark brown/black wash over it, with the high points wiped off.
The end. Good luck.

This is my favourite comparison

The Paint Horse

2007-01-04T11:35:00.000-08:00

After the local art show, I was commissioned by a friend to paint a paint horse in wax. His wife really likes paint horses, and horses in general, so I eagerly took on the task.

After a few days and a background change to suit their house, the piece was finished and I'm happy to say that they were pleased with the finished product. I'm also really pleased. It couldn't have gone better.

Here's a detail of the paint horse image and I think it shows off the different possibilities that are out there.

I feel the more I do this, the better I get at it. I guess that's like anything.
I've found that depending on how new the candle is, what angle it's held at, and how long it has been burning all can contribute to the different lines or blobs you can create with.

I've recently sent away an application to the ACACA (Alberta Community Art Clubs Association) as well as to the VAAA (Visual Arts Alberta Association). With those memberships, that will allow me the opportunity to get my name and my work out there further than the local community. That's pretty exciting.

Selling your work

2006-12-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'm surprised. I'm always surprised when people really enjoy my work. It's not like I haven't had positive feedback before, in fact, I usually get positive feedback, but I think when you come across someone that loves your work enough to put it on their wall and look at it everyday, that's something.

I just ran into someone who received one of my pieces for a Christmas present (they got it early) and she was so complimentary, and explained that the more she looks at it, the more she loves it. That just makes me smile.

Because of the wax's unique texture, it really does beg for you to touch it. It's funny, my whole life I've cringed when people want to reach out and touch drawings, paintings or even the metal/jewellery work that I have done. The metal tarnishes with fingerprint grease, drawings smudge and often paintings are off-limits to touch. But she's right, you have to touch it, you have to feel the texture and enjoy that tactile aspect of the art work that I've never really thought about.

I'm constantly touching the paintings, as I'm doing it, and always after they are finished. Over the past two months, I've sold 10 wax pieces. I've never sold that many pieces in my life. I've done drawings or pen and ink ones that have sold for pretty good prices, because of the intense effort involved, but I'm enjoying doing these so much that I want to continue doing it, and now that I know people actually like them, I want to do it even more.

I think what I have to do, to really get this stuff off the ground, is to find some galleries that are interested in showing my work. That's not an easy task, but I'm looking forward to making this something worth doing. If all the feedback means anything, it's that I cannot just sit back, I have to aggressively go after this, or nothing more will come of it. The ball is literally in my court.

The only negative with all this is that I've put off some of the writing material that I've been wanting to do. I've started the plot outline on a new story and thinking about it, but the painting suddenly has priority over writing.

First festival in the bag

2006-12-12T15:06:00.000-08:00

I need a T-shirt that says, "I survived the Wainwright Arts Festival."
Although the full went went over pretty well, I was disappinted with the turnout. Turns out, Mother Nature was completely against us and we had one of the coldest weeks since last winter. Perfect.
The rest of the show went over well, with I think, the Art Show and Sale being the most popular of the six events.

We had 30 artists from all over our area taking part, and one of the biggest compliements we could have had were people talking about how much talent there actually is in a town of 5,300 people, and less than 10,000 within the entire district.

We are pretty lucky to have so many people interested in art or those that actually make art. Of course, we had to limit the show to just paintings and drawings, which caused a bit of an issue, but it was our first year and I'm glad that we made the decision that we did.

I sold Boneyard at the show, one of my first real wax paintings that I did, three months or so ago. I know it's going to a good home.

I've since sold two more since the show ended with people who saw pieces they really liked and now wanted to purchase them. That's great. Out of the 12 pieces I brought to the show, I now have sold seven of them. That's pretty good, especially since I didn't sell anything at the show last year. I did sell one after the show was over, but still, it wasn't nearly as good as this year. Then again, last year, I was doing completely different stuff.

I'm pretty pleased with myself and I hope to have more work done in the near future, at least things that may go over the Christmas holidays or the many new ones I hope to create.

The Whale and the Elephant

2006-11-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

I think I'm getting somewhere. These two paintings, the Killer Whale and the African Elephant have opened my eyes of what I think I can do with this medium. I'm taken aback, at times, after I look at the finished product and wonder who did this?
The Killer Whale is 18"x24" and is already sold. The African Elephant, was only up on the blog for a short time, but it too, has been sold. The elephant also has a mate, painted from the other side of the elephant's face, which went to the same buyer.

Wainwright Arts Fest and painting...

2006-11-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

I'm heading into Monday with one week left until the beginning of the Wainwright Arts Festival. I think that organizationally, it's gone pretty well, with only some minor hiccups so far. We still have some work to do, but I think it's going be pretty great. I've been working really hard to produce more and more work so that I'll have a good body of stuff to go into the art show part of the festival.

I'm not sure if the wax work, the "Clemmer technique" will actually go over well or not. People seem to like it, but you never know if they're willing on spending their hard-earned money on it, and take it home with them. It's also a small town and all that, so I'm not sure what the response may be for my work, as different as it is.

I'm used to the regular art shows here, for the past three years the majority of paintings that sold were of flowers and landscapes, and I just don't do that. My watercolours of women were pretty good, but not something that the average person would put up in their homes. That's okay, I wasn't expecting those to sell, I painted them merely for myself. I see something that inspires me to paint, or draw, I do it.

The wax stuff is a little different, I'm still learning its limitations, and I ran into one of those limitations the other day after I had basically finished with the wax part of the process, but before I glued it all into place and the canvas slipped off my lap and crashed to the linoleum floor. The wax shattered into a million little unrecognizable jig saw puzzle. After swearing a good amount, I started nearly from scratch, being more careful and then glued the crap out of it when I was done. I actually put two layers of glue on it to make sure, and now it's more solid than I thought possible. It's not going anywhere now.

I just finished photographing my two newest pieces, a killer whale and an African elephant, both again, in wax. I'm impressed with the finished results so much that I sometimes wonder how I managed to do it, and that it turned out. It's sounds a little cheesy, but once in a while, I'm really surprised on how good a piece looks. I'm pretty confident about it anyway, and I'm a pretty harsh critic of my own work, but I love the adrenaline rush I get after I see the finished piece and it looks better than I could have hoped for.

I guess that's why I do it. Cuz, it sure hasn't been for the money...

The Clemmer Technique and encaustic art

2006-11-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

Developing the wax painting technique is something that I'm very excited about, although I'm not sure where it may take me. Maybe that's a good thing, I'm not sure. It's like starting a new relationship, exciting and yet dubious, because you may end up with the Blair Witch instead of Blair from the Facts of Life. Maybe the witch would be better, I'm not sure.

I think I need to come up with a new name for what I'm doing... waxation, The Clemmer Technique (I like that one), Kellywax, the list goes on.

One of the most exciting things that I've realized is that I cannot find anyone else doing this type of work. They are most likely out there, but I couldn't tell you if they are. If anyone runs across anything similar, please post the URL for me.

The closest thing I could find was the encaustic art form. It's really interesting, it uses coloured wax to paint with, melted and pushed on to canvas, paper, wood, whatever. It's an ancient technique that's been around for thousands of years, with a new modern thrust. Encaustic art seems very cool. I think because of its ties to the historical use of the technique make it that much more. Check out Thea Haubrich's web site for all the encaustic stuff she's doing in British Columbia.

The technique was lost for hundreds of years, but rediscovered in the 18th century. Nowadays the specially developed encaustic wax is applied to surfaces like paper, wood, glass etc. with a painting iron or the Encaustic Pen. You can use hotplates, heat-resistant sponges, palette knives etc. Almost anything is possible.

I'm looking forward to trying out some of these techniques that I may or may not incorporate what I'm doing on canvas...

Wax painting part three

2006-11-05T17:25:00.000-08:00

Here's another few paintings using the same wax technique that I've been using over the past few months. I've learned that almost anything is possible, as long as you can imagine what it would look like in wax first. Whether it's just a random abstract that turns out, or not, or if you have a specific image in mind, it just has to be translated from real life to wax. Sounds weird.

It's not really that weird, it's just like trying to translate colour into black and white for a drawing or an ink rendering. You have to find the light and shade, dimension and texture in the real or imagined image and translate it with a big freaking candle that's most likely going to drip on your fingers in the process.

This waxing has to be pushed further to see what its limitations are, so far, it's going well and under control, in a completely out-of-control way. It doesn't just sound weird, it is weird.

Medicine Wheel 16"x20" - $350

Medicine Wheel detail

untitled purple abstract 12"x 14" - $200

untitled white abstract 16"x 20" - $300

More painting with wax, acrylic

2006-11-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

Blue and White 24"x36" - sold
wax and acrylic paint on canvas

Blue and White detail

Green tree 12" x 16" - sold
wax and acrylic paint on canvas

Wax Angel with copper leaf $395
wax and acrylic paint on canvas, copper leaf

I prepare the canvas, use the melted wax as the texture, but I've learned to control the melted wax and draw with it, for fairly interesting results. The copper leafing has been an interesting experiment too.

I'm still working on making the wax more and more detailed, without losing the looseness of the medium. I want it to look like something, if it's not an abstract, without it becoming exactly something. It's like having a sculpture on canvas.
The process is fairly involved, making sure that the wax doesn't chip off and preparing the wax so it can be painted, because without doing so, the paint rolls right off or dries and flakes off. It works so far, and I'm having a lot of fun doing it.
It's almost like getting into a new relationship, it's all fun and pretty. When it becomes work, I may take a break from it and go back to watercolour or ink drawings. But for now, it's free and full of passion.

Painting, waxing, painting

2006-11-02T14:23:00.000-08:00

Blond Horse 14"x18" - $295
Dragonfly 14"x18" - $295
Buffalo in Wax 16"x20" - sold
Boneyard 16"x20" - sold

I've been working my tail off trying to get material together for the Wainwright Arts Festival, of which I'm the chair. I'm looking forward to seeing if the local market is interested in my work or not. I hope so, but I'm not too sure

I've been working on this new technique where I've been drawing with candle wax and then painting on top. I'm not sure who else, if anyone, is doing this type of thing, but I'm having fun with it and I think I'm creating an interesting technique. I've searched the web for anyone else who's doing paintings that are similar, but I've come up empty. Lots of people are doing an ancient Eygptian technique using beeswax and pigment, but I'm drawing with molten candle wax and I think as I go I'm developing the technique into something that maybe, dare I say it, original...
Hope you like it.

back to reality

2006-10-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

After feeling like I was on top of the world last week as I prepared for the taping of A Total Write Off, I was nervous and full of energy. I thought about it and was a little jittery, but feeling good. But now, only a few days later, I'm back at work, doing my regular job of covering events, like the Chamber Gala last night, and the MD of Wainwright meeting this morning and the Town of Wainwright council meeting tonight. I'm definitely back to reality.

It's too bad, because it was nice having that 15 minutes of fame, even though it's probably more like 7.5 minutes. I really don't need to be in the spot light, but I wonder why I feel this afterwards feeling, this post-show syndrome. Weird.

I still have a million things going on, chairing the Wainwright Arts Festival committee, meeting with them often, including sub-committees, trying to get enough work done for the art show part of the festival, and helping on the committee to organize the AWNA symposium for January 07. I'm also to help with Wainwright's bid for the provincial curling championships, as the media liasion. It shouldn't be too bad, but I need to be able to handle it correctly. On top, I put my name forward to be the vice-president of the Writers Guild of Alberta at the AGM this Saturday. I've been a 'member-at-large' for the past two years, sitting on the board of the WGA.

I think that is pretty cool, being the vice-prez and all that. I like the idea and I think I can still bring a lot to the board, but I'm not sure how much involvement I will have with the WGA with the addition of being vice. Our illustrious prez, Vern Theissen, explained that it shouldn't be much more than I'm doing now, with the exception of chairing a meeting if the prez is unavailable. Lori Lavallee is putting her name forward to be the pres, unless there are nominations from the floor for that position. The same could happen in the vice position, but it's not likely.

An interesting addition to all this is that I was asked if I'd be interested in putting my name forward to sit on the Alberta Foundation of the Arts board, the granting body that spends the arts funding across the province. I was floored, but I don't think I can do it too, I'm already stretched thin enough. I don't like doing anything half-assed, so I would really need to focus and be heavily involved if I was going to be involved at all. I told my MLA, who asked me if I'd like to be nominated, that I just didn't think I'd have the time to properly commit to the AFA. That may come back to bite me in the ass later, but I think it's the right decision for the time being. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Write this off

2006-10-15T21:51:00.000-07:00

Well, Friday th 13th passed with out too much trouble, in fact it was one of the most interesting days I've had in a long time. I arrived at the Catalyst Theater in Edmonton in time to meet the three writers that I'd be working with on A Total Write Off TV show, produced by Panacea Entertainment.

Barbara North, the comedian was the host, and she was funny and was able to think quickly on her feet. The 'mime/dancers' were a little twitchy, but they ended up being pretty funny at the end. The three writers I was working with were Gayleen, Anita and Ron. Gayleen is a supernatural murder mystery writer, Anita writes children's books about planes and Ron is a freelance writer living in L.A. trying to get back on as a staff writer for a sitcom.

Gayleen and I teamed up to write a short story in about 30 minutes, with useful (and sometimes weird) suggestions from the audience. Luckily things worked out for us, and we managed a good little story that was decent and yet still incorporated all the suggestions from the audience.

I'm still not sure when it will air on Access Television and Book Television, but I'm sure I'll post it when I find out. We were told it may not be until April. Overall it was a riot and not as scary as I thought it may be when I paced in the green room, eating my one grape and hoping that I wouldn't become nauseous and spew on stage. Luckily everyone was great and I didn't feel ill at all. The great thing about trying to write a story on an immediate schedule is that you don't have time to worry about the crowd or the cameras, you just have to work quickly before you run out of time. I think I probably made some stupid faces unintentionally, but otherwise it was a great experience.

Friday's coming - oh boy.

2006-10-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

It's almost here, and I can feel it in my gut. It's almost Friday the 13th. If that wasn't bad enough, I have the opportunity to have people remember me as the idiot who threw up on TV, on Friday the 13th. I'm not a nervous person by any means, but then again, I've never been on a TV show before.
More after the jump.

I wonder if Barbara North and the people at Panacea Entertainment hand out gravol before the show. It's going to be A Total Write Off, which should be really fun, and hopefully, not a total right off. I'm so looking forward to being on the stage and what it may mean, even though my manuscript is still out there, trying to find a publisher. I couldn't have a better chance to promote myself as a writer, my work and the chance to have fun and show that I can be in this business.

All too often, as writers or as people, we sell ourselves short, worried that we're not good enough and people will most likely make fun of us. Although that's probably true, as a newspaper editor, when I screw up, there's plenty of people out there who are quick to point out that mistake. That's okay, I've got a pretty thick skin, especially after four years of art school at Alberta College of Art and Design. The teachers were quick to give out the criticism, without any positive back up. You quickly learn that you better be able to take a little or a lot of flack during a critique or you have no business being an artist. The same is true as a writer. A smart person told me just the other day that you cannot please everyone. It doesn't matter what you do, someone will not like it. That's really hard for me to understand, sadly, I want to make people happy. It doesn't always happen, especially in this job.

It happened as well with the creation of the Wainwright Arts Festival. I/we took a little heat from someone that had visual art that didn't fit into our criteria. It sucks, but that's the way it is. Instead of talking to me about it, she wrote a curt letter to the editor (me) why the organizer had brushed her off. I guess Sharon was right, you can't make everyone happy, even if you're doing the best you can.

A Total Write Off - Friday the 13th

2006-10-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

It looks as though I have a date for the taping of the episode of A Total Write Off that I will be appearing in.
Friday the 13th of October. Spooky. Luckily, I'm not a superstitious person, so it doesn't really bother me in the least. It should be a crazy day, but I'm really looking foward to being on the show with Barbara North. She's a great comedian, and a genuinely nice person. I met her at the taping of her CBC special "Army Brats" here in Wainwright and then I ran into at the Canadian Country Music Awards after party. Sounds pretty swish. She's pretty funny, I think that this show will really showcase her talents. The fact that this gives me an opportunity to promote myself as a writer as well as The Ghost Dance, my fiction manuscript. (See post called The Ghost Dance.)
More after the jump.
I've sent off my complete manuscript, requested by an American publisher and I've got my fingers and toes crossed.
While I've been waiting on responses, I've written the basic plot outline of a new serial killer/thriller storyline. It's one of those stories that gets you excited as soon as you start to write it. I'm still in the honeymoon stage with it, so everything is fresh and interesting. I think once I hit 100 pages or so, then I'll probably get bogged down a bit, I'll just have to power through it. I have probably 18 scenes scribbled out on loose leaf paper, just to get the ideas down so I don't forget them down the road.
I've built fairly elaborate character sketches of three or four of the characters, which gives me a better feel for who they are, and allowing them to just react to situations they are in, instead of trying to force the characters into the scene blind.

I wonder about the kids

2006-09-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

Every so often I wonder how it's possible that people can raise children that don't turn into serial killers. We all have what seem like horror stories of when we were a kid, and if we listen to our parents stories they are a hundred times worse. "Walking to school 10 miles, in eight feet of snow, up hill, both ways... the snow was so deep, I had to carry my horse," and so on. So, how is it that we all survived? Although not all of us are perfectly intact, with some seriously bad stuff in our childhoods. Not mine, so much, the worst thing I had to deal with was growing up on a farm, doing farm chores as a teenager who wanted to do nothing but lay on his ass inside where it's warm.

I fight with my son to help do simple chores around the house, and it's like I've destroyed his life. Wow, how things have changed. I guess when I was his age, I fought tooth and nail not to have to go work with my dad, although the work was altogether different. I don't blame him, I guess, but I will still give him grief if he's unwilling to get off his butt and help me do a little work around the house.
It's not like he has to carry five-gallon pails full of water to the horses in the barn, in 30 below weather, or have to carry 100 pound greenfeed bales up to the loft of the barn or anything... or walk to the school bus, up hill, both ways.
Damn.

A Pretty Good Week

2006-09-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

After having my art exhibit opening at the Public Library on Monday night, I was on top of the world. I had a great weekend leading up to it, finding out that not only was my new paintings going to be on display and for sale, I was accepted to be on the TV show A Total Write-Off, hosted by Barbara North. I'm looking forward to it, it should be a lot of fun, and great for my writing career.
More after the jump.

Added to that, I received a letter from an American publisher that would like to see the completed manuscript of The Ghost Dance. It's a small step, but one that I've never achieved before. I'm very excited, albeit nervous as hell. I know that even if they pass on the book, I've made big strides in this crazy writing world.
I'm building a marketing plan to send with the manuscript, which I think will be a good highlight for me, since I'm already in the media, I have a built-in way to promote myself within the Star News brand and the newspapers I write for on a weekly basis.
I've agreed to stay on as the member-at-large for the Writers Guild of Alberta once again (AGM is in October), although the prez, playwrite Vern Thiesen asked if I would like to put my name forward as vice-president. I'm not sure about my availability and how much work that may entail, so I'm going to talk to last year's vice, Lori Lavallee what the commitment might be.
In between painting like crazy and working, I've been pounding away at my newest story idea. I'm still not sure how far it will fly, but I'm starting at the beginning, I guess a good place to start. I can see the characters forming in my head and as they hit the paper, I just haven't thought out the complete plot yet. During the writing process with Ghost Dance, I started writing it, then hit a snag when I realized that I didn't have the whole plot thought out. I knew where the story was going, but not exactly. It was helpful to sit down and draw out a basic map with scene ideas and then as I wrote the scenes other scenes formed almost of their own volition. It was like writing my favourite book, like I was reading it as it was being written. Does that sound stupid? I think I'm tired. Going to pound out a few scenes before I shut 'er down for the night.

Painting with wax

2006-09-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

Just over the past few weeks, I've been trying a new technique that uses candle waxed dripped onto a canvas, before it's painted on. I've used a glue and gesso to bind the wax better to the canvas before I paint acrylic paint over top. The effect was unplanned, but so far, the last nine paintings have turned pretty freakin' good. Okay, probably six are pretty freakin' good, the rest are alright.
I've also been pounding away at a new story idea that may evolve into another novel, but I'm not sure where it's going yet, it's just in the infancy stage. I would like to bring my sarcastic shit newspaper reporter character, Sirus Carter, from The Ghost Dance and have him continue on in another story, but I'm still mulling it over.
Another Wainwright Arts Festival meeting tonight, and we're making good progress. The arts festival will run from November 27 to December 2 at the Wainwright Communiplex, with the literary night held at the public library. Everyone seems on board and I'm hoping to sell some paintings as well as do a reading from The Ghost Dance at the open mic.
Next meeting will be Sept 28, at 7 p.m. at the library.

Wainwright Arts Festival Week

2006-09-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday, and here in Wainwright, we're working on a new Arts Festival Week that will hopefully showcase local artists, writers, actors, filmmakers and musicians. It's something we need for this community, in my opinion. I'm chairing the group, and we'll see what happens. The publisher of Star News Inc., Roger Holmes, has agreed to sponsor the group and help us out with a budget to run the events. I'm looking forward to the first organization meeting this Thursday at the public library.
Those that are interested in taking part and are from the area are encouraged to contact me at Star News.
Kelly

The Ghost Dance

2006-08-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years I've been working on a book called The Ghost Dance. It's just called an unpublished manuscript in the book world by an unknown writer. It's a paranormal story about a young half Native girl's enlightenment of her ancestors' history, including the Massacre at Wounded Knee, Dec. 29, 1890. It also explores the theme of "Injustice." The injustice of how the Native people were treated during that time period preceding the massacre as well as the injustice of over 20 7th Cavalry members that earned the Congressional Medals of Honor for their bravery... during a massacre.
I did about a year's research on the 1850s to 1890s, and delved fairly deep into the Native world, learning as much as I could, to apply to the characters and the central plot and themes of the story. The first influence was reading "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" by Dee Brown. It tells the history of what really happened to the different tribes of Indians from the height of their culture to the basic destruction of their way of life within 50 - 60 years.
The story follows Mara Gordon, a spoiled 16 year old and her discovery of not only her heritage, but the injustices. Through a series of dreams, she begins to see descendents of the MOH winners getting murdered by a painted Native warrior. Only these aren't dreams, they are really happening, and Mara sees through the eyes of the murderer. Ready to buy the book yet?
The final touches and polish have recently been completed, so I've sent off the manuscript (query and sample chapters, actually) to a few publishers and I'm looking forward to hearing from them. It's a tough road, but I'm in for the long haul (add any other over used analogies here). Wish me luck!

Thoughts on writing

2006-08-30T14:12:00.000-07:00

I've decided that I'm going to post bits and pieces of short stories I've written, and perhaps a sample chapter of my speculative fiction manuscript that I've written, The Ghost Dance. If readers come along and see something they like, I'd appreciate a comment and if anyone likes it, then I'll post the rest of the short story, etc. I'm also going to post my Column from The Wainwright Review, the newspaper I write my editorial for.
As an aside, anyone watching Rockstar: Supernova? I'm really interested in the show, I'm pulling for Lukas, the Canadian kid. I like his style and his performances, although I think that Toby is pretty great too. Looking forward to seeing what happens.

Welcome

2006-08-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

This is the beginning.
I've just created this blog, which I hope will be the start of something cool.
I'm a writer, artist and now I'm looking to become a part time blogger.
I guess we'll wait to see what happens.