simple sketch

Dry spell

As any follower of my blog can see, I've not been very active in posting these past two years. Neither have I been so active in creating art in general. The illness and death of a parent can tend to have such an effect on one's life. In my case, I think this has been greatly amplified by the fact that there are so many things that I don't know, and indeed that the children of many war veterans do not know, about our fathers / parents who have served in combat. I've taken on the large project this year of tracking down some of the men my father served with in Vietnam. Today I received in the mail two polaroid photos from one of my father's former commanding officers. The photos were taken in Mang Yang Pass (Central Vietnamese highlands) in early 1970. The young man in the photo below is my father, at age 24, about two years before he and my mother met. Part of me feels like I will never know the young man in this photo. Another part of me knows that, of course, it is the man that he became who raised me. 
EDIT UPDATE 4/25/20: Good to look back at this now and to know that puzzle pieces have been falling slowly and surely into place. Though this blog is primarily about art, obviously it takes in other strands of life. It's in learning to balance the strands of life that an artist creates their best work, and I'm glad to have documented the time when I first received this photo.

the Tree of Life

My father passed away a couple of days ago. In the lobby of his hospice was this beautiful, brightly-colored wall sculpture depicting a swarm of butterflies swirling about a tree. I've recently learned that nearly all cultures and faith traditions have reference to a concept of the "Tree of Life". To me, this sculpture represents the universal 'Tree of Life', lending its support to every soul, living or departed, — the butterflies in flight. RIP Dad.

looking at Einstein

Einstein reframed the way we understand the laws of Physics, 

it seems only appropriate to get a bit creative when framing his likeness.

"America Loves Vietnam"

Designed for a new facebook page I just began, titled "America Love Vietnam". This was inspired by the "Israel Loves Iran" facebook page (TEDtalk by founder Ronny Edry here) & my ongoing interest in better understanding what my father experienced as a drafted combatant in the US-Vietnam War.

"Evolution" EP by Tyler McLaughlin & concert launch party

I'm excited to have created the art (album front & back cover; art for the single) for "Evolution," the new EP by Georgetown, TX's Tyler McLaughlin — CD launch concert party for the show is Sunday, December 16 at Monkey Nest Coffee House — 5353 Burnet Road, Austin, TX — The show is from 6-8pm The EP can be ordered and you can listen to samples of the songs through Tyler's website here.

evolution revolution shirts

design for the "evolution revolution" song and project, created and spear-headed by one distinguished Mr. Tyler McLaughlin. Photos here are from the video shoot in front of Austin City Hall.