— I completed my newest wood engraving and returned to Larkspur for a day of printing on Gray\u2019s antique Vandercook, a marvelous piece of equipment to which I\u2019m blessed to be given access. No. 11 at the Paddock<\/em><\/strong> is derived from a digital I took at Keeneland during the recent Fall Meet. I also took the opportunity to finally create a numbered edition of Waiting for Joe<\/em><\/strong>, my first block under Wesley\u2019s guidance. Needless to say, this low-res image is a poor representation of the actual engraving\u2014<\/p>\n — Although my hope was to devise \u201cThe Original Joe\u2019s Christmas Box\u201d for our CAC\u2019s holiday exhibition, I did manage to deliver Cosmic Cusp,<\/em><\/strong> a fusion of previous year-end compositions. I made the deadline in response to Dana\u2019s suggestion, and the resulting piece is a stronger effect than the individual mixed-media components. That\u2019s synergy for you!<\/p>\n — Sara Jane stopped by today to take her first look at my latest portrait commission, and it\u2019s no exaggeration to report that she\u2019s delighted with the result. Three Girlfriends<\/em><\/strong> is a departure for me. I haven\u2019t worked with acrylics in ages, but I chose the medium for what I thought would be an appropriate interpretation of her original photograph. The picture of ladies posing dramatically on a beach suggested a series of translucent glazes to capture the luminosity of the morning surf, and lent itself to the back-lighting of the figures. I’m pleased that it worked out as well as it did, but I had the notion that if I patiently built up layers of thin color and milky washes on a smooth panel, I could avoid a brush-stroke technique (not my strong suit) and rely on years of experience handling liquid effects. I put in some necessary details with colored pencil, but the sealed acrylic surface made it more like \u201crubbing\u201d tones and highlights, as opposed to typical drawing. In the final analysis, it proved to be a very interesting exploration. <\/p>\n — EKU\u2019s Chitauqua Lecture Series Juried Art Exhibition (wow, that\u2019s long) has once again favored one of my collage artworks. The upcoming \u201cFreedom\u201d show will include Fifteenth Cosmosaic<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, and I\u2019m looking forward to the opening reception on January 23rd. As most people familiar with my work already understand, this series of spontaneous \u201cmystical\u201d compositions originated with graduation presents for my nieces and nephews. I\u2019ve never been certain about how it might appeal to a public audience, but perhaps this is a good indicator.<\/p>\n — Three years ago I wrote about Paula<\/a>, who lost a bout with cancer too early in life. During that time, the KBBC worked to find a way to put to good use the proceeds from the sale of the \u201cShare the Road\u201d specialty license plate. On December 11th, we finally had our public announcement of The Paula Nye Memorial Education Grants<\/a> for bicyclist and pedestrian safety. — I came back to the Blue Bank Farm this month with a muzzleloader and tried my best to close the season with some venison. Didn\u2019t spy a single white-tail, but had to hear about Greystone\u2019s Astrea dragging in a ruined ten-pointer that somebody failed to successfully track after the shot. Such was my luck as a hunter this time around. I haven\u2019t enjoyed being in the woods this much for goodness knows how long, plus I had the rare opportunity to hike the knobs with brother Fron, as we marked boundary lines and plotted a mutual strategy for selective logging throughout our holdings. I have no good excuse for not connecting my soul with the land on a more regular basis. I allow myself to forget how much I will always love those acres. Folly! <\/p>\n — There is much room for gratitude and optimism in the coming cycle. Nevertheless, there are many significant challenges for all of us to face in 2009. I know a guy as old as me who has been retired from GM for eight years. He\u2019s a nice man, but did he genuinely work hard enough during 20 years of employment to deserve a big income and benefits from the age of 48 until he dies? That could easily be twice the number of years he put in as a worker, or, if he takes care of himself, even more. Now, it\u2019s one thing to dodge Taliban rockets in God-cursed terrain. In my book those brave Americans have earned a more-than-decent pension. But assembling ugly, inefficient cars that most thoughtful people would rather not drive? That\u2019s \u201ca horse of a different color.\u201d Our nation would\u2019ve surely crashed decades ago if all corporations had been managed as poorly as the Detroit auto companies. And they want to continue juicing the taxpayers to avoid restructuring under bankruptcy? Now, that\u2019s what I call audacity.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
The endorsement of our effort by the Transportation Cabinet and current administration was not a foregone inevitability, but when they realized: A) Thousands of plate buyers had made a voluntary contribution to help make Kentucky roadways friendlier to non-motorized travel; B) The Commission\u2019s intent to independently administer the allocation of funds would cost the state nothing; and C) The grant program was a fitting tribute to an employee who had worked to diligently promote highway accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians … How could they not support our concept? To their credit, the Lieutenant Governor and the Mayor of Lexington were at the Horse Park for our kick-off event<\/a>. Strangely enough, David D, the public information professional who had shown enthusiasm for our project from the beginning and had orchestrated the media splash,<\/a> died suddenly at work a couple weeks before the scheduled announcement, and that made the event even more tinged with emotion than anyone could have expected.<\/p>\n