~ ILLUMINATING A BIBLE ~

For the past couple of years, I've been doing some pen and ink sketches in one of my bibles. My goal was to have something drawn on every page. These range from tiny 1/4 x 1/4 inch simple ornaments to 6 x 4 inch drawings. None are pre-planned, but are "improvised" on the spot. Some look like mandalas and all are self contained ornaments. I've been using a .005 Micron pen for most of these. The first drawing is at the end of 2 Chronicles. The second is at the end of Ecclesiastes. The third is a loose drawing that I did a couple of days ago. The sizes are actual.


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ROAD WARRIOR

I had worked on this drawing for a couple of days and was pretty happy with it. I was picking up a large framed watercolor at the framers and put this drawing (which was done on a watercolor block) on the roof of my car, while I was loading the framed watercolor. Halfway home, about 12 miles up the highway, I realized what I had done. I pulled over and checked out the inside of my SUV, just to make sure. It wasn't there, and I felt really stupid. When I got home, I called the art gallery that represents me, and Anna, (one of the owners) luckily was still there. She jumped in her car and went to the frame shop, two blocks away, and saw nothing on the road. She drove to Main Street, retracing my drive home and drove about a mile. She saw a flicker of blue off in the distance, which turned out to be the outside cover of the drawing's cover. It was, and the drawing was lying a couple of lanes over. Way to go Anna!!! It was still intact and I was able to restore it. Hence the name "Road Warrior".


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- A SELF PORTRAIT EXHIBIT -

The Hawkman Studios (Troy Hawkins and Adam Mankoski) are having a month long group self-portrait show called "Me, Myself and I". It's going to be held at The Vintage Wine Bar and Restaurant, 1790 Market Street in Redding, CA. ( A Reception for the artists is on Tues, July 14 at 6:00pm. You are all invited!!! Artists involved are: S.A.Barone, Troy Hawkins, Gini Holmes, Steve Bischoff, Chuck Prudhomme, John N. Stewart, Irina Stroup, Mickey Theobald, Tami Watson and Dejon Weldon. There will be Live Music!

I met Troy and Adam last week and was amazed at what they've done in promoting the arts in Northern California. Their dream is to create a cultural explosion in the Redding area, and with 40+ art venues it seems to be happening.

I did this self-portrait in 2006 and it will be showing in this exhibit for the first time. It is a very personal painting and contains most of the people that influenced my life (i.e.: family, friends, associates). It's a large full-sheet watercolor, done on 300 lb paper.


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