For Carl Weathers, changing from being an 'Arrested Development' and 'Rocky' icon to doing these PSA's, I wonder if he really meant it.
Regardless, I'm more interested in change within my own life. I've been thinking more and more about what I value and where I want to be in 5 or 10 years. In the past I would have told myself that happiness is enough free time to enjoy countless hours of hanging out with friends, watching movies, reading books, and playing video games. Just veggin' out and keepin' it lazy. While I still enjoy all of those activities, I'm beginning to realize that entertainment isn't really all that great. It's enjoyable, no doubt, but it's not truly fulfilling or joyous. It's nice as a reward, it's nice as a needed unwind, and it's nice to inform myself of what is going on around me, but it should not be the end to the means.
There's the idea of "working for the weekend". I think it's a system that works for some and isn't without its merits or satisfaction, but there's just something that seems off to me about it. For some people, it's a must. There are dirty jobs out there that somebody has to do and it's a very real existence for some that they do have to "work for the weekend". That's too bad, but it is a reality.
So, I must do what I must do. However, I have ideas. I have thoughts and notions. I've been thinking about how I want to live. And I've come to conclusions.
First of all, I want to be fairly self-sufficient. I don't want fast food. I don't want to rely on groceries and TV dinners and junk like that. I want a garden. I want to work the land and I want to enjoy God's creation.
I want to limit the amount of items I purchase. I want to increase the amount of items I create.
I want to say yes to more things and say no to more things, instead of being so indifferent and lukewarm.
I want to work to improve the lives of my friends and family. I want to work to improve the lives of those I don't know. I want to understand life more fully, in order to do these things.
I want to pursue God. I want to read the Bible. I want to know the Bible inside and out. I want to share what I learn.
I want to observe and enjoy life. I want to be able to leave at a moment's notice, if I must. I don't want my possessions to own me. That's tough.
I want to look at others as being made in the image of God. I don't want to be snarky. I want to be genuine. I want sincerity. I want to be clever as a serpent, innocent as a dove. I want to be a good man.
So, those are just some of the things I want. Now, I will work towards them.
I leave you with one of my favorite verses in music, by Bruce Springsteen:
As I lie on my bed right now, listening to Paul Simon's "Graceland" album for the first time (of course, I've heard many of the songs before - get real), I am counting my blessings. Not only my blessings, but my current responsibilities. Not only my current responsibilities, but my goals. And so on.
I just got back from a great family vacation. We went to Sun Lakes, a modest little fishing resort spot in Eastern WA that we used to visit when my brother and I were younger. We had a great time this weekend playing with Travis and Sadie's kids, unwinding with games of Settlers of Catan and Apples to Apples, and catching fish. I was also able to make some significant headway into The Lord of the Rings (a book I am enjoying immensely and am trying my darnedest to separate from the movies).
Deep Lake Cliffs at Sun Lakes
It was a nice break from the norm, even if it flew by and was slightly dreary. It gave me time to ponder on many things, including what I'll be undertaking this summer. I have many irons in the fire right now. There's a personal art exhibit that I have been working on for about 6 months which will be on display in Enumclaw during the month of September. There is also my application to DigiPen's MFA program, due the end of this month, for which I still need to complete my portfolio and get the letters of recommendation. I've also just donated three drawings to a little event called "Artists Against Inhumanity", which will be coming up in July. As if that isn't enough, I've teamed up with World Vision to create an original work of art to be displayed on their behalf in a special gallery dedicated to local outreach and medical organizations. I have to recheck the dates on that, but I believe the event will be in early-mid July, with the work displayed in both McCaw Hall and the Intiman Theatre. I'm thinking about doing a triptych.
Example of a Triptych, if you have no clue what that is.
That's a lot to keep track of. Plus, my place of employment just gave me a bunch of new responsibilities.
So, I'm excited to see what happens over the next few months. There are so many different directions these opportunities could push me, especially with God manning (Godding?) the rudder.
I'm still working on streamlining my life - getting rid of distractions, unneeded and unused items, and reliance upon unhealthy (physically, mentally, spiritually) foods. Recently, I donated all of my books to the church I attend, hoping that others will find some joy in them and that I may find a little freedom from the gargantuan territory that they claim. My foolish anti-Kindle stance had the rug pulled out from under it and I went out and bought one. Great purchase.
That's where I'm at right now. Weighing and altering priorities, cleaning up the excess, and finding joy in God and His work in my life and heart.
For a (possibly) recurring music feature, I will be highlighting my favorite songs, albums, decades, moments, whatnots, and hoozits. It will depend on my mood. And my drive. We'll see what happens.
For this very first installment, all you need to know is that I generally enjoy underground hip-hop. By the way, I really hate the word "hip-hop". It makes the genre sound so dumb.
One of the greatest (in my mind) hip-hop labels in the last 20 or so years is Quannum. It was founded in 1992 and boasts some of the most talented and respected producers, rappers, and DJs in the industry. They have created some of my favorite albums and songs, always focused on quality and aural experimentation. I hope that I can showcase some of their best work for you in this blog.
MY TOP 10 QUANNUM PROJECTS SONGS (in reverse order):
10. Pigeon John - "Hey You"
I've been a fan of PJ's since waaaay back and when he signed with Quannum I was stoked. However, while his music with them is still great stuff, his best stuff is from his pre-signed days. This song is a lot of fun, though, and catchy, to boot. I might do a top 10 PJ list eventually, because he has some really fun and well-written songs. Enjoy this fan-made video!
9. Blackalicious - "Deception"
For a song about meteoric rise and the deception that money and success can hold for people, there sure is a slightly upbeat tone to this song. It's actually rather perfect, with a slightly dark lilt and a chord progression that somehow seems familiar and comfortable. The Gift of Gab's lyrics here aren't as creative as some of his other stuff (I hate how he says Count of Monte Crisco), but they tell a good story. I used to listen to this all the time in high school.
8. Lyrics Born - "Bad Dreams"
Takes me back to working at The Sports Authority and driving around the Eastside and Seattle. Before I ever saw a picture of Lyrics Born, I always thought he was some older dude with a cool voice and some singing chops. Now I know he's an Asian man with chops. He can flow like nobody's business and his range is surprising. This was the first song on his "Later That Day" album.
7. Latyrx - "Latyrx"
One of the strangest songs I've ever heard. The first verse is actually two verses at once, one in either channel. Lyrics Born raps on the left while Lateef raps on the right. It's almost like there isn't a care as to whether or not we understand what they are saying, but more interest in the sound of voices making different melodic and rhythmic noises over the top of a nice beat. From there the song skips and sputters, finds it's groove with a few more verses and rap harmonies, then sputters and coasts to a finish.
6. Blackalicious - "First in Flight"
This one is off Blackalicious' sophomore album, 'Blazing Arrow'. It's really an almost perfect album, with many great songs, but this one in particular makes my day when I listen to it. It's got a funky, inspirational, and soulful feel to it.
5. DJ Shadow - "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain"
I once tried to make a video to this song. I was on a crazy DJ Shadow kick for a while where I couldn't stop listening to his albums over and over again. His music is very much like a soundtrack to life. It was to a point where I would just listen and imagine movie scenes. The music would essentially create the scenes for me and all I wanted to do was to film them. I've never been on drugs.
4. Latyrx - "Lady Don't Tek No"
With a classic bassline (think "Another One Bites the Dust" crossed with "The Message"), "Lady Don't Tek No" is a funky and easily listenable experience that busts the door wide open on what Latyrx is capable of. Not only is the production tight, but the verses and delivery are entertaining. If there was one song that I would play in order to try and convert someone into digging underground hip-hop, it would be this one.
3. Lyrics Born - "I Changed My Mind"
I'm pretty sure this song is a collaboration with The Poets of Rhythm (another Quannum group), but in any case it's a great song to sing along to when you just want to belt some tunes. Another showcase for Lyrics Born's unique voice and singing skills, "I Changed My Mind" has made the rounds to different remix artists and there are many different versions of it that can be found.
2. Blackalicious - "Swan Lake"
Probably one of the most chill and timeless rap songs I've ever heard, "Swan Lake" is a rare track, in that it has a whole section of shout-outs that don't ruin the song for me. I really don't like shout-out tracks, because really, why in the world should a song just have you mentioning a bunch of people that I don't know. Why would I pay for that? In any case, I really really dig this song and think it's one of the best produced beats ever. Even the first 20 seconds of unrelated and slightly off-putting DJ junk doesn't ruin this track.
1. Blackalicious - "Alphabet Aerobics"
Could it really be any other song? Blackalicious is really a heavy part of what makes Quannum such a great label and they really haven't made anything quite as far-reaching and fun as this song. They have deeper tracks, catchier tracks, more polished tracks, etc. But they have yet to make a song quite as classic as this one.
THAT'S IT!
I hope you found something that piques your interest. Let me just recommend some albums for your listening, all of which should be available on Spotify to listen at your leisure. From Blackalicious I highly recommend "Nia" and "Blazing Arrow". From DJ Shadow there's the classic (literally; it's pretty much the most respected DJ album of all time) "Endtroducing....." and the mighty impressive "Live! In Tune and On Time". From Pigeon John there's the well-received "Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party". And from Lyrics Born, there are some great songs on "Later that Day" and "Same Sh--, Different Day" (unfortunately, he's got a handful of stinkers in there, too).
I recently moved. The talkative stranger at Emerald City Smoothie asked me if I had gotten some land out in Ravensdale. I told him that I knew some people who lived out there and that I would be staying with them for a while. I didn't mention that they were my parents. He doesn't need to know that.
Not that this is a huge deal. Nor even the point of this post. For the record, I love my family and I'm glad that they are supportive of me when I need a parachute. Moving back with them is a reminder to me that they are great people with a great home and great food and that I really don't want to live with them. Again, it's not that I don't like living with them and it's not that I don't appreciate the sacrifices that they are making. It's just that the big move back home is making me rethink my priorities, goals, and lifestyle.
When I was packing and moving all of the heavy cardboard boxes full of stuff and things, I realized that I have way too many things and stuff. This led me to make lists of things I need and things I use. I haven't gotten around to cutting much fat yet, but I have a game-plan (or at least some image of a simpler lifestyle). I want to be able to move all of my possessions with as little difficulty as possible. I want to be able to feel like my life is streamlined. No clutter. No mess. No shelves full of stuff that is never used nor looked at. This is my goal.
As the coming weeks pass, I will (hopefully) be updating all two of you on how my purging process is proceeding. So far I have splurged on a Kindle, so that I can get rid of a bunch of classic novels that are sitting on my floor. I love physical copies of books, but when they cost money in print and are free, highly portable, and readily available through the use of my Kindle, I will make the sacrifice.
Wish me luck as I continue junking junk, eliminating extra elements, and donating doodads.
I was talking to my Sister-in-law (wassup Sadie) about my new project and she was saying how much she was enjoying my drawings of various authors and characters. She mentioned that she thought I should draw some Star Wars characters (as if I wasn't gonna, psshhh), but that I would probably not be able to due to trademarks and copyrights. That set off an explosion in my mind that led to me googling laws and junk having to do with art depicting celebs (both dead and alive). Not only are there legal wranglings involving rights to personal image, but there are laws to protect the photographers as well. Therefore, I won't be continuing with this project, even though there seems to be some leeway. Just too much paranoia.
I will, however, be starting a new project. It will involve the ever-frustrating use of soft pastels. I'm really wanting to simplify my art style and I've always been drawn to simple compositions and color choices. I'm not into loud or clashing colors or overly-busy designs. I really dig Edward Hopper and Van Gogh, with their studies in light, geometry, and organic shapes, so I've decided to draw inspiration from them and begin a journey into simplicity, striking compositions, and abstractions/slices of reality. I really want to focus on the man-made juxtaposed with the natural. I'm not going to over-think my compositions or subjects and I'm not trying for a masterpiece with every work. I'm merely going to find a subject that interests me and attempt to create a work that highlights it in a compelling way. Here are a couple of my first works for this new direction:
Light pole
Rooftops
I think you can already see the Edward Hopper in these works. I'm hoping to introduce even a wider variety of colors in my future works, but I really want to keep things true to life. We'll see where this leads.
My latest undertaking is a project that would have me draw at least 5 new works a week, with a goal of one per day. I've always been intrigued by people that do this sort of thing, because it's quite a challenge. Drawing, even for people that are great at it and love it, is not always very easy and many times ends with crumpled paper or scribbled out images. So, I see this as both an opportunity for me to grow in my skill, try something new, and showcase my talent and vision.
The actual project will consist of portraits of people that have influenced or inspired me in some way. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people that my life has been shaped by, and most of them are not family members or friends (though, of course, some are). Some of these people have had more influence than others and some are just steps along my path to where I am today. They are writers, musicians, athletes, entertainers, characters, etc. I feel that a person's name or face are each representative of what that person stands for and has done in their lifetime, and therefore, a portrait wouldn't just be a representation of a person's physical make-up, but a representation of their life and efforts. For instance, my portrait of Tolstoy shouldn't just make the viewer think, "Oh, yeah. Tolstoy was a great writer." It should also make them think, "Anna Karenina was a great book. Konstantin Levin's wrestling between faith and materialism affected my soul." Or, "Tolstoy was a strange dude and contradicted himself in his thoughts and actions." The viewer can take away many things from a portrait and there is a good possibility that they will take away more things from a portrait of someone they recognize.
In any case, this is my labor of love. Here are my four first drawings.
I do a fresh start every so often. This is a fresh start.
New blog. New tumblr design. New twitter account. New Etsy junk. New lease on life (old cliches still).
Why all the new? Well, why not? How's that for a question answered by a question? Turned that right around on you, didn't I?
The new is due to a reassessment. A conversation with myself. A conversation with my family. A conversation with God.
It's time I started to buckle down and try to get my art out there in the world. Whatever it takes. It's going to be a lot of work, I can already tell. Hopefully it will be fun work, though. I think it will be.
So, I'm enlisting the help of my friends. If you are my friend, please follow me. Get the word out. I hope that I give you every reason to do so. If you are in need of someone to follow you, I will be happy to. This isn't all about me (even though it kind of is, at least in this case). Follow this blog. Follow my twitter. Follow my tumblr. Follow my etsy stuff.
I will do my best to get my junk together. I'm revamping everything.
