At the beginning of this month I’d decided to have a bit of an internet fast, and embark on an art project.

The internet “fast” consisted of me staying away from facebook,( I was spending way too much time there) reading blogs, and the assorted other wasterful surfing which invariably happens whenever I go to a computer.

I decided I would be checking email, and responding.  I was also posting pretty regularly on my blog, and reading those comments, and responding back to those folks who commented.  I even did go online for a few art-related things like ordering some supplies, and looking at a few art-sites, and reviews about art and craft books.

At first, staying away from it was pretty difficult.  Especially from facebook, as it was a main source of connection to New York, since our move.  It was also difficult cause I’d find myself checking my email all day long, and since the computer is already logged in, what’s the harm in checking my blog again for comments.

I discovered that I need to turn off the computer in order to really stay away from it.  That’s what I intend to do after this mornings daily check-in of sites.

After several days, probably about 2 weeks worth, I started not missing it as much, and I started to find a little more time in my schedule.  That was, after all, the inteded purpose.  I wanted to make more art instead of surf more.

The project was 30 places.  The goal was to draw/paint one place per day.  I did not meet my goal. some might call it a failure, but I don’t.  I think I averaged about one drawing/painting every other day.  I call that a success compared to many other months with no art.  I also have come up with some things that work best for me to do all the time, like sketching and journaling with art.  Those can happen just about every day without much effort.

So what’s next…

Well, december is busy enough, so I don’t have a project overaching.  I have several craft-related projects I hope to attack, like knitting, sewing an re-upholstering a chair I got for free.  I also hope to keep myself weaned from too much internet time.

I hope to continue to have more time with God, and more time building new relationships in my new surroundings.

Oh, and I almost forgot, I am going to be working on the new sermon series design for Graffiti, as well as a project moly-x-portrait 3, where several artists from around the world exchange their moleskine journals and collaborate in drawing each other’s portrait as well as their own.  This is a long-term project, nd I have to do 2 portraits a month.

Here’s my first self-portrait.  You can follow more of the artists’ works here.

Anybody embarking on any interesting projects?

What can you give up to do more of what you love?

Yesterday, we went and met my parents in Stroudsburg for a late lunch, while they were on a weekend getaway from New York City.  Afterwards, we went and hung out in their hotel room.  The kids played a few games with grandma, Fabio talked about computer hard drives with Raquel, my dad was working on his sermon, and I drew the hotel room.

pen drawing on moleskine

It’s fun to have these journal-like slices of life.

How are you keeping a record of your life?  Whether great or small, fun or difficult, each moment is valuable, and worth remembering.

Meanwhile, for the past several months, he parks himself on the couch, with his laptop in front of him, and his headphones on with some electronica and other music, and gets to his homework.

Pencil drawing on large moleskine

This is the homework spot, since he doesn’t have his own desk.

Here it is.

It’s inspired by a picture I took when I was on a mission trip to Indonesia, 2 years ago.

It was a year after the tsunami, and this was one of the places affected.  There used to be things, houses there, but it was all devastated.  I heard many stories from people and how the “sea is coming”, and their attempts to run to the hills.

I was there at sunset, and there were many palm trees.  And that is all.

It’s good for me to keep some of those images fresh in my mind, so as not to forget what happened there.

Even when on this day, it looked so beautiful and peaceful.

This piece was a challenge from an artistic point of view.

It’s made on a 10×10 canvas with Caran D’ache watersoluble wax crayon.   It was my first time using this material as the main material for the whole piece.  I struggled to make it work, but I’m glad I did it.  It was weird because I would color with it, and the use a brush to smooth it out and blend it.  But at times, this would end up lifting up the paint, which was very frustrating.  This is one reason why it took me long to finish it.

It’s not a great photo, because the piece was bigger than the scanner, so I had to do it in 2 parts.  I will re-upload with a photo of the piece later.

I’m fairly happy with the final result but would love any comments and critiques.

Any body have any places they would like to suggest?

I am, however, experimenting, and using my awesome new easel, so, those things are great things.

Just to keep you checking in, here’s me, working on the new easel.  Isn’t it awesome?!!

Any guesses as to what place I’m painting?

5″x7″ watercolor on 140lbs. watercolor

A quick piece, loosely based on a cemetary which we can see from the boys’ playroom window.

It’s a quiet place I walked to, while I was birdwatching.  I also watched this squirrel rest here for a few minutes.

I should have photographed my process, but by the time I thought of it, it was too late.

(approx. 5″x7″ watecolor on watercolor moleskine)

Mixed with this painting, comes a lesson.  Something about transience, and our inability to keep things the same.  I’m still learning and processing it.

This tree in our backyard went from this…

to this,

in about a week.

It turned yellow just as I was starting 30 Places, so in my mind, I made a mental note to paint this in the next month.  I had no idea how fast this…

…would happen.

It was a matter of a couple days.

I started sketching the tree when it had probably half of it’s leaves, but by the next morning, when I went to paint it, it had less than a quarter.

It was extremely fun and enjoyable to paint, even though it took me several days to actually get it done.

And as is often, when I approach something I haven’t done in a while, I feel a small trepidation.  Doubts about my inabilities.  But once I start to do it, as with this watercolor piece in my moleskine, I am amazed at how my skills in the medium come back to me, and I am thankful to God for my talent.

It’s a building on 6th Street, which I saw and took a picture of, last February 6th as we walked around the Lower East Side, to celebrate our anniversary.

Still on very limited internet, and planning out the next few places.  I hope to have some in watercolor and possibly even acrylic sometime this month.

9×12″ watercolor paper

sharpie and prismacolor markers

I checked my email a couple times, and logged into this blog, to check my comments, but other than checking for a recipe conversion, not only did I stay away from the internet, I stayed mostly away from my computer, except to upload some pictures.

It was weird not going to the computer all day to check on facebook.  I felt the pulling of it, but I’ve always been pretty good with my will, and you can pray for my continued discipline….

I don’t know what anyone else is up to, but I know that I did a lot today.

I cooked 2 meals.  I played outside with Willik.  I made pumpkin pie.  I explored the immediate neighborhood and took several bird pictures, soon to be posted at my the photoblog.  I went thru several boxes in the studio/guest room, and I found some of the supplies I need for the next few weeks, with Fabio’s help. And tonight, after the boys were in bed, I even made some art.  The whole reason for this endeavor.

I just finished, and although I’m not thrilled with the scan(it’s a bit too light), I’m happy with the piece.

“honeymoon in venice”

approx. 4″ x 8″

sharpie and colored pencils on watercolor paper

So I devised a plan, to “fast” from the internet, unless it’s directly related to my art, and basic communication.  What I mean is, I will only get online to post a blog entry/art, or to respond to someone regarding blog/art.  I will also be checking my email twice daily, and responding as time allows.

I will also be enbarking on a similar project as I did in years past, with 30 faces.  This time, it will be:

30 places.

I hope at the end of this month I will have 30 pieces of art.

I very much need your comments and your input.  I love questions, suggestions, compliments and adulation and encouragement.

I also hope that this will be a time of much inspiration as I look inward and upward, to see what’s next…

Thanks for the support.

And since it’s Halloween, I will part by posting a few pictures of 2 gorgeous boys, wearing some cool costumes, made by yours truly.