The Art of Life

Ricko Manifesto Update

2010-02-28T20:20:00.004-06:00

Within a few hours, month number two for the new year will be history. So how am I doing with the challenges and goals I put on my plate for 2010?
The answer is that all in all, it has been a very good month. My major focus has been getting healthy and staying that way.
During February I totally reprogrammed. I changed my diet, and I began using free weights three days a week and I am working at aerobic exercise seven days a week. I also spend time each morning on the ole yoga mat doing some stretching and meditation exercises. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, as for eating healthy I give myself a 9. No processed or fried foods for an entire month!
In the exercise category I give myself a 5. That's low but in the past it would have been a negative figure. I will do better!
Don't think I told you this, but as part of my efforts to gain more inner peace, I made a vow to eliminate as much idle chatter or chit chat as possible. Instead of talking so much, I am trying to be the "observer" or "listener".
There are two conversations that I observe, first is the chatter that takes place inside my head, the "inside" voice. The second conversations are those that take place with the "outside" voice.
Observing the inside voice has exposed how many angry conversations that are taking place, in my head, in any given day. Did I say day, hell, I mean minute. With the inner voice I am continually giving myself and others hell. This discovery has let me know to a large degree, just how far I have to go, to gain "real" inner peace. However, I can't get down on myself, as Eckhart Tolle says, "awareness is the first and most important step on the road to discovery, to inner peace." Now, I am aware! The challenge going forward is to silence that inner voice, that inner chatter, that is blocking and holding me back from true peace.
Observing the outside conversations that take place around me and those I join in, has made me aware of how much "war" takes place in daily conversations.
I have noticed that I and many others, spend a major portion of our time lifting ourselves egos)above others. I refer to these conversations as "war talk". The act of lifting ones self above others is warfare, a struggle, regardless of how innocent the words may sound.
Here is an example, I can't believe he didn't do that! or I can't believe she did that! Such statements are warfare because they imply that "I", the speaker, would never do something so wrong or heartless, therefore I am a better person and they are below me. Such statements put others down and lift us up to an imaginary, higher moral ground.
So, what have I learned?
#1. To be at peace, I must control the inner conversations and the tongue.
#2. My conversations about and with others, reveal if I am a person of peace or war.

My best quote of the month comes from the book Rumi, The Book of Love. "Judge a moth by it's candle." (Now that's powerful!)

Nope

2010-02-28T16:41:00.002-06:00

Changing one letter expresses the disappointment many Americans now feel in Mr.Obama. Not since Harry Truman has a president experienced such a sharp drop in popluarity over such a short time in office.

Title: Nope
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20" unframed
Price: $250.00
I can visualize this on the rear bumper of over a million autos in America. At a dollar each, that makes me a millionair in the making.

Two Soldiers

2010-02-28T16:18:00.001-06:00

For the past few days, in addition to working on landscapes, and graphite drawings, I have been working on some political statements. I have an new friend that made the comment that I should consider writing and I agree. I have always wanted to be a writer and in a way I guess I am. Paintings like this one and the one before I consider to be two visual essays.
This painting is about contrast. The contrast of the black and the white and the contrast between two soldiers and their military uniforms. The soldier on the left is Gandhi, the soldier on the right is the American modern day soldier. The implied contrast is the opposing views of each. Those of you that know me know where I stand on these opposing views.

Title: Two Soldiers
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16" x 20" unframed
Price: $250.00 plus shipping

Wind Brake

2010-02-28T15:46:00.000-06:00

This is also a painting of a scene from Folly Beach SC.

Title: Wind Brake
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 6" x 12"
Price: $150.00 plus shipping

Low Country Marsh

2010-02-28T15:41:00.001-06:00

This painting has special meaning. It is the view from the balcony of Meghan's Condo at James Island, SC. I did the painting over the course of a couple of days. I would love to keep this one, but a guy has to make a living.

This Painting:
Title: Low Country Marsh
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 12" x 24"
Price: #325.00 plus shipping

Low Country Textures

2010-02-28T15:25:00.000-06:00

I have been working on this painting, on and off for a month. I have wiped it out and started over three time! It just sits agains the wall and haunts me. What I visualize in my head I just can't seem to get on canvas, however, I do like the the textures I have created. If you like this painting as it is, and will give it a good home, I will make a real deal.

This Painting:
Title: Low Country Textures
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 18" x 22" Framed in solid oak
Price: $25.00 plus shipping

Blake's Painting

2010-02-28T11:14:00.003-06:00

Back in 2004 I must have done a couple of dozen paintings similar to the one you see here. I called the series, Rick's Chicks. Blake, my youngest daughter decided she was going to muscle in on dads turf and show me what she could do by creating her own lady. Her creation is the painting you see here. I was and remain damn impressed.
Now six years later, Blake has gotten married and she and her husband Nick, who is in Iraq, have made a creation of their own. He, their creation, has a name and it is MR.Cowen Danger. Danger is due to plant his little baby feet here on planet earth in approx. 30 more days.

Building Chairs

2010-02-11T08:18:00.000-06:00

I am back in the chair making mode. The chair in the attached photo was made back in 2004. It has been outdoors now for five and a half years! The paint job need a re-touch, but the chair itself ramains in good condition. It was built using red cedar and stainless steel screws. This perticular chair is a modification of my original adirondack chairs. As you can see in the photo it is designed to sit higher, which makes it easier for those of us over 30 to get in and out of.

More Creations with Graphite and Charcoal

2010-02-07T12:39:00.003-06:00

Here are some more drawings and you can see how I am working to create portraits of these individuals. "Fanny Belle" the lady with the red and white background is my grandmother. She now resides in heaven. I used the red and white background to give the work a POP ART feel. For the second creation using her, I used a photo that was taken when she was in her early teens as the background. The other Lady is known to everyone as Aunt Ann. She an interesting character, she is in her 80's and has never married and has never owned or driven a car. The background I used on her drawing is a photo of her when she was 12. I placed the drawings of "Fanny Belle" and the one of "Aunt Ann" in shadow boxes which gives them special attention. The portrait of the one male figure is "Don Weatherford". He is my x-father-in-law, who passed away in 2002. I did the drawing and gave it to my x-wife and other members of her family as a gift.
If you would like for me to work on a special creation for you, simply email me some photos and allow me to create a work of art using your photo. For a limited time I am charging only $150.00 for a special one of a kind creation.

Drawings

2010-02-07T12:24:00.005-06:00

My two beautiful daughters, for my Christmas gift, paid for art lessons from an artist in Knoxville. The lady "Bobbie Crews", does in my opinion, some awesome portraits. I love her use of colors. So as a way of preparing myself for the lessons I have be doing some portraits using graphite and charcoal. The photo to the right is a sample of my work. The size is 11" x 13 1/2". I incourage you to go the www.bobbiecrews.com and take a look at Bobbie's work.

New Year, New Paintings

2010-01-29T14:49:00.004-06:00

It's a new year and I have been busy these past few weeks turning out new creations. The four below are some that I feel ready to show the public. Beginning today I am putting down the brushes and paint and concentrating on graphite and charcoal drawings. My subject nature for the most part will be portraits. If you want to be considered as the centerpiece of one of my creations email me a couple of snap shots of yourself or someone else you would like to see impralized in art and I just might choose you submission. There will be obligation to purchase and I might just choose your photo

Summers Radience

2010-01-29T14:22:00.007-06:00

Title: Summers Radience
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16"x20"
Price: $125.00
SOLD!

I think in all my years of painting this is only the third floral I have attempted. I don't think about using flowers very often because I never feel I can do them justice.

Rusty Autumn

2010-01-29T14:17:00.004-06:00

Title: Rusty Autumn
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 16"x20" Framed
Price: $125.00

The New America

2010-01-29T14:01:00.006-06:00

Title: The New America
Medium: Graphite, Charcoal, Paper, mounted on board
Size: 21"x27"; Framed
Price: $125.00
I love to use my art to make a political statement. However, I will keep my statement to myself and let you figure out what I am saying in this creation.

Tennessee River Bottoms

2010-01-29T13:42:00.006-06:00

Title: Tennessee River Bottoms
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Size: 24"x 36" Unframed
Price: $175.00

Rick's Personal Laws for 2010

2010-01-25T10:02:00.007-06:00

The main decision I am using as my guide line for what I will do and be in 2010 is the decision to accept myself for the "Modern Day Bohemian" that I am. This means that I will no longer struggle to fit into the man made systems that surround me. I have tried all my life to fit in only to have it work for short periods of time, then I am chewed up and spit out. In the past I have lost sleep about this inability to fit in, but no longer. Beginning NOW I will no longer worry about following the rules, customs and written laws the systems of the world have set for me. I will I be guided by my personal morality, principles of good taste and feelings. (The painting attached is one I did to show myself as a young child and also as an adult, standing outside the crowd.)

My Governing Laws!
There is really only one...I resolve to be an example of PEACE and FREEDOM to those around me.

I will do this in the following ways:

1. I will continually work at being non-judgemental toward others. It makes no difference what you have or don't have, what color you are, what gender, what nationality or what kind of sex you enjoy; what matters to me is your ideas and the amount of love you have for mankind.

2. I will work to eliminate any and all of "my" negative talk about others. If someone gives me negative information about others, I will not respond. My no comment will be my response.

3. I will work for peace in society at large by finding creative ways to warn others of the evils of Big Government and other man made systems that destroy freedom.

Declarations for 2010

2010-01-22T10:18:00.009-06:00

2010! A brand new year and as always I take seriously the process of beginning with certain declarations of things I will or will not do in the coming months. I call it "The Ricko Manifesto for 2010".

This year I am doing the process in a different way; #1) I am going public! A major part of this years plan is to share it with anyone and everyone that wants to listen or read and #2 I will keep a year long diary of my progress or lack there of with my new decrees.

However, before I start with 2010, I will do a capsule review of happenings in my life in 2009. Here is the short list:

Blake got married; Blake got Pregnant; Nick her husband, my witty son-in-law, got his orders to serve the military industrial complex in the land of Iraq; Mom turned 81; Dad turned 83; I turned 62; Meghan finished with the bulk of her classroom work at dental hygiene school. Went to visit Shane in Denver; Spent two weeks at Folly Beach; Met some beautiful young women I lovingly refer to as the wine sluts; learned to make apple moonshine; Justice came home from serving the military industrial complex for a third time in Iraq; Jason and Jamie purchased a camp for their duck hunting and crappy fishing adventures; Blake and I went on our second annual father and daughter trek to a UT football game. Brent and Jessica got a new bundle of love,(little Miss Savannah Jane); Mark got his second new knee; Began a new friendship and business venture with Jason and Arpyl; Blake started her college education; Sara and Beckie had a horrific auto accident; and last but certainly not least, Beckie and I decided to call it quits on the marriage thing.