June 14th, 2009
Hayley was one of only three nominees for The Advocate-Messenger Female Athlete of the Year award, but she had the luck of finishing her high school career during the impressive tenure of young Kaitlin Snapp.
Did you miss her first act?
Dig this—from AMnews.com:
Hellyer was a five-year letter winner in basketball and finished her career with 1,903 points. She was a team captain her sophomore, junior and senior seasons and was a three-time All-Area performer. Hellyer also earned all-district and all-region honors during her career. She has signed to play basketball at Campbellsville University. In softball, she was a four-year starter at shortstop and made the All-Area team twice. She was the Rebels’ leading hitter last season. Hellyer, a 4.0 student, was also an academic all-state pick. She is also a member of the Pep Club, Beta Club, Change of Heart, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Ladies and gentlemen, stay in your seats for Act II.
Posted in Awe, Family, Sport | 1 Comment »
June 6th, 2009
†
Little Whitley
son of Walie and Winston
R
I
P
Posted in Death, Pets | Comments Closed
May 25th, 2009
The greatest invention that could ever exist in the history of the human species is a pause button for holidays.
Posted in Holidays | No Comments »
May 20th, 2009
If this current shuttle mission hasn’t given you a few goosebumps, you’re no true fan of the manned space program. We haven’t even scratched the surface of all the astonishing feats an astronaut could potentially achieve.
Posted in Awe, Space | No Comments »
May 15th, 2009
I now offer personalized watercolor artworks created by hand to commemorate highlights from any adventure experience, including a milestone hunt, trek, climb, dive, eco-trip, research mission, or sea voyage. My archival-quality originals are executed to reflect the “golden age of expedition-style illustration.”
I met Maria at the Safari Club International dinner. She won a commission through the silent auction held that evening. It took her a year to decide precisely how my donation should be redeemed. It took me even longer to deliver the finished work.
Six years after a hunt in Zimbabwe marked by disappointment and sadness, she had returned to the continent with a highly successful safari in South Africa. Ultimately, she trusted me to appropriately interpret her personal triumph.
This piece signifies a breakthrough in my long journey as a traditional illustrator that began with the home-study Course for Talented Young People in the 1960s. I wish some of my former instructors could see it.
Maria Eckerle Safari (+detail)
John Andrew Dixon
Ink, watercolor, colored pencil
14 x 11 inches, 2009
Collection of Maria Eckerle
Posted in Art, Business, Creativity, Hunting, Studio | No Comments »
May 12th, 2009
Cousin Dan let me know about a picture of his nephew Eliot (with an impressive smallmouth) that’s currently featured at the Bob Coan site. It’s been a while since I saw the lad, and—wow—is that generation maturing fast or what? Tom C responded, “That reminds me of the time Uncle Ed caught a big catfish in the Stillwater. Then he distracted me and put the fish on my hook and threw it back in the water; I was about eight.”
Dan thinks Tom’s recollection of my dad is a good reminder of “the kind of guy he was.”
It is, indeed.
Nice “hawg,” E.D.
Posted in Dadbo, Family, Fishing | No Comments »
May 11th, 2009
An apartment house located about a half block from our home burned while we slept last night. Bruce said he heard and felt an explosion. Dana and I figured that the frequent sirens and steadily increasing traffic noise downtown has inured us to sounds that would otherwise wake us up. It’s amazing what one can get used to. Reminds me of when I was twelve, and, for a few months, our family slept only a few feet (literally) from the active B&O rail line that ran through Tipp City. I did awaken when the police rang the doorbell at 4:30 am, looking to take a statement from Bruce about the fire. Rumors have circulated today concerning the potential of foul play. If it turns out to be arson, I hope the culprits are nailed, but the greatest concern to me is losing another old structure in this endangered historic district.
Posted in Bruce, Crime, Dana, Family, Home | No Comments »
April 17th, 2009
For the rest of my life I shall draw and paint pictures of my father. Of course, I can’t say I know what he’d think of that, but I suspect his feelings would be mixed. Modest enough to be uncomfortable with the practice, he probably would have approved, on the other hand, of my using his image as a mechanism for continuous artistic improvement. It’s natural for me to think about him on his birthday, what he would be like in his 80s, or how different my life might be if I still had access to his evolving wisdom, pragmatic perspective, and keen sense of leadership. Whether we comprehend it or not, each of us has a meaningful influence by our very presence in the drama of existence, affecting our world and others in countless ways. Perhaps our departure from the stage will be less profound, depending on how we have played our part. If one is as beloved as my namesake, the absence is a deeply felt void which sends ongoing ripples across the surface of family life.
Posted in Art, Birthdays, Dadbo, Death, Family | No Comments »
March 31st, 2009
March exercise—day thirty-one— As I finished my morning walk on this final day of what has become the most experimental month of the year for me, I faced a blazing sunrise and could appreciate the logic of peoples who worshiped our nearest star. My feelings transcended the beauty of a cloudless sky and the refreshing air. Perhaps the ritual exercise inevitably falls short of ambitions, but there is no reason not to look at all that I have in my life and be incredibly grateful. My faith, health, optimism, and creative drive have been restored, and that’s really what it’s all about.
Today’s sight bite— Saddlebreds and Angus (is that an ostrich or an emu?) —c-l-i-c-k— a sleek, reliable two-wheeler is the best way I’ve found to experience the Kentucky countryside.
Tomorrow— Springtime…
Posted in Exercise, Gratitude, Nature | No Comments »
March 30th, 2009
March exercise—day thirty— Except for some early evening labor in the back yard (our pitiable urban garden), I spent the day pushing forward a commemorative safari illustration. The project will provide a fitting close to my annual exercise.
Today’s sight bite— Fractured brick, chunks of coal, and fragments of clay roofing —c-l-i-c-k— relics of a home’s former incarnation are freed from the dark earth.
Tomorrow— Finish line…
Posted in Gardening, Home, Studio | No Comments »
March 29th, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-nine— My uncle Bob kindly emailed me a photo Dan took of how Pete framed with chestnut the picture I created of their old barn, which has since collapsed. Seeing it again raised my spirits. I made that picture during a period of heightened sketchbook activity. During those years I was constantly drawing with pen, but I created very few finished works outside my journal pages. Above the frame is an antique weather vane. I must admit to a selfish desire—seeing the kitchen wall arrangement firsthand. Of course, it will be good to see my Dixon kin, too.
Today’s sight bite— The face of a lady hunter, between the horns of her trophy kudu —c-l-i-c-k— coaxing me back to my drawing board.
Tomorrow— Into the zone…
Posted in Art, Craftsmanship, Family | No Comments »
March 28th, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-eight— At the end of last month, my astonishment at randomly meeting an art student who’d written a paper about my artwork on display at EKU caused me to write on Facebook that the incident blew my mind. Long-time friend Craig S commented that, “Dix has been recovering from a blown mind for 40 years.” Putting all nonsense aside, I’m pleased to have that student, Jonathan R, take the time to email his finished assignment to me. Coming from someone of his demonstrated talent and artistic dedication, I consider it an honor that he selected my work for investigation. There are times when I’m convinced that all one needs to do is follow creative intuition and let the universe take care of the rest.
Today’s sight bite— The plate-steel square at 300 yards —c-l-i-c-k— alarmingly small to the naked eye when positioned above the tip of a rifle’s front sight.
Tomorrow— Final Sunday of the month…
Posted in Art, Creativity, Education, Firearms, Friends | No Comments »
March 27th, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-seven— It’s been a supportive day for my aspirations as a wood engraver. I sold two prints to Dave the collector, and then Gray phoned to let me know that he’s finished the limited edition press run of Manning poems with my block illustration, Boss’s Bucket. I felt a surge of profound satisfaction. Earlier today I asked myself why I tend to study writers for insight into the heart of creative motivation, and the answer came to mind quickly enough to make me feel a bit silly—writers are obviously better than visual artists at verbalizing. Faulkner told an interviewer that “really the writer doesn’t want success, that he knows he has a short span of life, that the day will come when he must pass through the wall of oblivion, and he wants to leave a scratch on that wall—Kilroy was here—that somebody a hundred, a thousand years later will see.” Nabokov wrote that a work of art existed for him “only insofar as it affords me what I shall bluntly call aesthetic bliss, that is a sense of being somehow, somewhere, connected with other states of being where art (curiosity, tenderness, kindness, ecstasy) is the norm.”
Today’s sight bite— A worker high up on the new dome of the expanded library —c-l-i-c-k— nailing a layer of roofing with the evident skill of a specialist.
Tomorrow— A working weekend…
Posted in Art, Creativity, Nonfiction, Personalities, Words | No Comments »
March 26th, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-six— One of those days in the studio that was picked to its bones by loose ends and small, unforeseen developments. I learned that my Highway District machinations are bearing fruit (low-hanging, perhaps, with the nicer plums still out of reach). Marlene’s class was canceled, but I got the key to the room and did a solitary workout—my peculiar combination of Pilates, Yoga, and Aikido—following it up with some power-walk laps around the track. Old Hoosier ran off and sent Dana and me into the night with flashlights. We found him crossing the street a couple blocks away.
Today’s sight bite— The heavyset lady in her sweat-suit, sprinting up the stadium steps with an intrinsic athleticism —c-l-i-c-k— clearly submerged in her isolated determination to regain something lost.
Tomorrow— We begin again…
Posted in Dana, Exercise, Pets, Political Affairs, Studio | No Comments »
March 25th, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-five— I finished another animal trademark today. I ought to count my total some time. Solving visual assignments within this type of symbology has been one of the areas of greatest fulfillment in my work as a designer. It allows me to study the characteristics of a species and discover a different way of interpreting it graphically. On another level, it puts me in contact with creators throughout the ages, from the cave painters forward. Why do we continue striving to reduce the image of the animal to its essence as an archetypal form? After my dental work was completed, I realized that our scheduled bicycle ride would be rained out. The upside: this light, steady drizzle is perfect for the lawn, re-seeded to repair the harsh effects of a landmark winter storm.
Today’s sight bite— At the very top of an ice-disfigured maple —c-l-i-c-k— the large crow speaks his “Haw. Haw,” and flaps upward into the misty dawn.
Tomorrow— New projects…
Posted in Studio | No Comments »
March 24th, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-four— My thoughts were with Marty today and his college entrance examination. He’s making a conscious choice to seek higher education. For me it was just a given. I’ve been spending a considerable amount of studio time designing graphics for organic pork promotion, although I need to find a way to balance my hours with a wider array of projects. I tend to do this—focus intently on a single creative task, which I enjoy, but if I can become more agile with my versatility, I believe I’ll find more ongoing satisfaction with what I accomplish on a weekly basis. On another subject, I feel like I’m getting back in the groove with the Pilates class. Back troubles took a big chunk out of my exercise program this winter, and I’m ready to put that into the past.
Today’s sight bite— Fingers of rose extend above the downtown view-scape —c-l-i-c-k— as I break the crest of a hill at sunrise and direct my walk toward home.
Tomorrow— Rain clouds and more dental work…
Posted in Creativity, Education, Exercise, Marty, Studio, Time | No Comments »
March 23rd, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-three— With an effort to minding the waistline, I tried to swim laps during my lunch hour, forgetting that Centre’s spring break closes the pool, but the forgiving propinquity of campus facilities enabled me to log a decent track workout instead. This might be the last day of fair weather for awhile, and, if the maxim proves true, we can expect March to go out like the proverbial lion this season. I’d better complete my topiary assignment in the front yard before the rain arrives.
Today’s sight bite— A Bradford pear tree in full bloom —c-l-i-c-k— glorious to the eye, in spite of its undesirable arboricultural reputation.
Tomorrow— Dental work…
Posted in Exercise, Nature | No Comments »
March 22nd, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-two— Dan W gave a talk at Shared Silence about his “50 Marathons in 50 States” achievement. We don’t meet at Mack’s cabin during this incarnation of the gathering, but Dana and I did go out to the Jackson farm later. After lunch with Marty, we helped clear the trails of ice-storm damage. Mack’s son is using the cabin as temporary living quarters, but there’s hope among some that the group will eventually return to the site for our twice-monthly meditation and discussion. When we got home, it was time to trim the overgrown shrubs along the driveway, which I probably wouldn’t have tackled on my own today, except for Dana’s effective role as “honcho.”
Today’s sight bite— Two familiar friends with chainsaws —c-l-i-c-k— attacking a snarled barricade of trunks and limbs.
Tomorrow— Back to the Mac…
Posted in Dana, Exercise, Friends, Marty, Nature | No Comments »
March 21st, 2009
March exercise—day twenty-one— Began today with a double card creation for mother/daughter birthdays. It was a pleasure to join Juliana’s celebration. Mombo looked good. Tireless Jerome provided me a needed treatment, plus his personal inversion table orientation. My family still believes in the potential of my talents. God bless ’em all.
Today’s sight bite— Handfuls of miniature horses —c-l-i-c-k— acquired over decades and ready at last for a two-year-old’s playtime.
Tomorrow— Internal and external chores…
Posted in Birthdays, Family, Jerome, Mombo, Playtime | No Comments »
March 20th, 2009
March exercise—day twenty— Today’s Rotary program on disaster preparedness reinforced my awareness that replenishing the “crash bucket” should not be postponed. What is the matter with me, that I would sit on such an obvious imperative? One must always be doing rather than avoiding. The point of the exercise is not the rigorous framework, which is a means to an end. The goal, I remind myself, is mindful accomplishment through the active cultivation of constructive habit. Procrastination is nonproductive and tied to fear. William Faulkner said that “fear, like so many evil things, comes mainly out of idleness.”
Today’s sight bite— A pile of tombstone shards like broken chalk —c-l-i-c-k— sunken into the ground, perhaps a century beyond the last time one cared whose eternal rest was signified.
Tomorrow— A journey to Yorkshire Estate…
Posted in Death, Family, Nonfiction, Psychology, Words | No Comments »
March 19th, 2009
March exercise—day nineteen— Needed to catch up on rest, so a late start plus spillover activities from yesterday’s trip ate into my plan for the day. Dana and I hit another Chamber event to test the “law of attraction” on multiple levels. Hayley was voted to the All-Area First Team in ladies basketball for her third year. She topped the area as leading scorer and had the most rebounds, assists, and blocked shots for her team, ranking first in free-throw percentage. What an outstanding way to finish her high-school career!
Today’s sight bite— Super-swank graphics for Mad Men —c-l-i-c-k— reminding me of Saul Bass titles from the same era so ably depicted by the series.
Tomorrow— End of the week already?
Posted in Business, Family, Personalities, Sport, Television | No Comments »
