20acrecarcass

Revisited

2011-12-24T13:32:00.000-06:00

All our Colors
2008
38" x 26"
Pen and ink on paper

I finished this piece right around the time my son was born. That's a bit over 3 1/2 years ago. A few nights ago, as I was moving some things around in the basement, I pulled it from storage. Years later I have fresh eyes, and I can now clearly see that it needs revisiting.

I've never been the kind of artist to hold my work in some kind of holy fashion, thinking it's beyond reproach, regret, or re-touching. I see what I don't like, and I'm comfortable changing it...even 3 1/2 years later.

Another idea, revisited, that has entered my mind is fishing for pike on the fly. I've put more effort into chasing big browns on the shoulders of the seasons..strictly swinging streamers and buggers. I've also become addicted to smallies. I have over-looked pike for far too long.

It was not always this way.

I spent a good deal of the my youth fishing for pike. Trolling waters in Canada and MN with my father and grandfather. I can distinctly remember landing a nice 15 pounder in Canada when I was around 9 years old. Certainly the largest fish for me at the time, and probably one of the most significant fish I've ever caught.

So, for 2012, it's time to make new work and fish new waters, but along the way I'll be revisiting old works, and fishing for a familiar prey.

November

2011-12-18T19:51:00.001-06:00

Cold day in November down at the Ford Dam. Nothing but cold water and some casting practice.

New Works 11.9.11

2011-11-09T17:23:00.000-06:00

Carcass/Engine/Totem #1 & #2
2011
Pen, acrylic and ink on paper
11" x 11"

Fight!

2011-05-14T10:48:00.001-05:00

Another classic.
Me against Seth.

5" x 5" each
Mixed media on paper
2002

ME, MY BROTHER, DIO, AND THE DEVIL

2011-05-09T19:30:00.000-05:00

Savoring the victory

2011-04-19T19:03:00.000-05:00

On April 16th, my club, Stegman's Old Boys took home the championship at the first ever SOB Cup, presented by Northern Brewer. I pulled double-duty manning my post at center back for the SOB's, and making sure the homebrew was flowing all day for the 6 thirsty teams.

The next day, I had to get to the aftermath. Sore muscles are no excuse for ganky kegs and a ganky jockey box, shit needs to get cleaned. I brought the PBW and BLC out for some serious action. I managed to find an appropraite beer for the occassion, Odell's Myrcenary Double IPA.

I ran PBW solution from one keg to the next, trying to conserve water along the way. I finally ran the PBW solution from two kegs through the jockey box, followed by BLC solution and finally a cold water rinse of the lines and taps. It was wet work, but the smell of victory was in the air, so it seemed perfectly fine to me.

SOB's in 2011!

2011 Fishing report #2

2011-04-15T20:02:00.003-05:00

So, I've been out 3 times over the last month or so. The first time I hit the Kinni with my son. Dawson was along with his daughter as well. This was our first weekend-outing-with-the-kids attempt. We didn't land, hook, or really see any risers, but the kids did all right tagging along and both Mike and I got a good workout backpacking the little rugrats around.

A few days later, I decided to return to the Kinni and work one of my favorite runs. Those who fish the Kinni know the spot.

I hooked four nice fish through the run but didn't land one. I was swinging a soft hackle, and then a GWO parachute emerger. I love this little run and it always produces in the early Spring. I just brought my rusty-ass JV game....oh well.

I did see some exceptional local art....something about the economy, gross consumerism, and/or something about drinking Bud Light under a bridge.

Around mid-April last year we saw a couple-few great days fishing small wooly buggers for hungry bruisers on the Rush. I had a couple days lined up just for this occasion, hoping the river levels would look good and the weather would cooperate. I tied an assortment of buggers using green, red, yellow, brown, and white...essentially mimicking a brown trout. For whatever reason, the larger specimens seem to go ape-shirt for this color combo around this time of year. I just swung little buggers with my three weight all day while watching some punters nymph....hope they caught a few too. Here are some photos from "bugger hatch 2011".

Just Nice Be Out

2011-03-17T20:05:00.000-05:00

I started this little drawing at the end of 2010 for Mr. Dawson's birthday. Well, it's finally done. Happy b-lated birthday MZA.

Just Nice Be Out
2011
9" x 9"
Pen, ink and colored pencil on paper

Cask day with Damian McConn of Summit Brewing Company

2011-03-11T14:45:00.001-06:00

Mike and I filling a cask..on our own.

Damian, "don't fuck this up blokes"

Summit's mountain of casks

One of the casks we dry-hopped

Chip getting that B-Roll

Cask-washing machine - super cool robot

Damian showing us the ropes

Put me to work, I have a good attitude

Mike and some big fermenters

Unchained #6 - Gold Sovereign Ale

Summit Brewing Company
Gold Sovereign events

Fly Fishing 2011 - report 1

2011-03-08T20:05:00.000-06:00

The first day out for 2011. It was about 30 degrees in the air, and just over freezing in the water. Ice in the guides, not a hit, but a can of Dale's Pale Ale from Oskar Blues warmed me up (pack it in, pack it out). I bumped a family of swans as I waded along....they were the highlight of the outing. The New Glarus haul didn't hurt either.

3 new drawings

2011-03-01T19:12:00.001-06:00

Bird 1
9" x 9"
pen on paper
2011
Another Bird
9" x 9"
pen on paper
2011
Skull
9" x 9"
pen on paper
2011

Steelhead Family

2011-02-19T11:56:00.000-06:00

A Steelhead Family - Official HD video 3.1 from Andrew Hardingham on Vimeo.

Good story, great editing/music, and just the right length.

before/after

2011-02-19T11:49:00.000-06:00

top- original bottom - after adjustments
Adjusting a photo with Aperture. I bought the program with my current laptop to do minor adjustments on images, but have yet to really monkey around with it. Hopefully, I'll start taking photos this Spring that prompt me to actually read, and learn, the program.

2011-02-06T08:06:00.001-06:00

Push 1,2, and 3. These are about 20" x 20", pen and spray paint on paper. Looking at these again I'm inspired to do more pattern work. The end result is so satisfying, and the process is simple and meditative. Producing work in this vein is probably the closest I'll ever get to elegance.

Play some SunnO))) and just zone out for a couple hours.

I like my Booze Mart

2011-02-05T14:19:00.000-06:00

I'm a big believer in supporting your local fly shop, local brewery, and local bottle shop. When my wife and I moved to the edge of St. Paul proper, 1 block from West St. Paul, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find a good bottle shop in reasonable distance.

My first two attempts yielded scant selections of both craft beer and quality wine. I avoided the nearest shop as it was/is called Booze Mart (actually Booze Mart II, so there was an OG Booze Mart?). Being that I had struck out twice, I figured I'd give it a shot. To my surprise, it had a decent-enough selection of craft, and the wine wasn't bad either. They even had New Belgium on tap for sample....not bad. When I brought a 4 pack of Surly Furious to the checkout, the gal working asked if I was, "into craft beer". I said yes of course, and she informed me that the "original" Booze Mart another half mile up Robert St. was much bigger, and had a huge craft beer selection.

With almost 2 years under our belt in this neighborhood, the OG Booze Mart has become an top-notch bottle shop. It was great from my first day, but they've added to their selection and have some great people on staff. Getting all the limited release stuff, bombers, and keeping a good stock on hand has become a norm there...which I can't even say about the "best" bottle shops in the Twin Cities. They have a great single bottle selection and being that their a bit off the path, beer lovers in my neck of the woods have it to ourselves. If you find yourself in West St. Paul, check them out.

So, hats off to you Booze Mart, you make St.Paul and West St. Paul shine. Not that it needed help.

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=booze+mart&fb=1&gl=us&hq=booze+mart&hnear=Saint+Paul,+MN&cid=15043729654889436631

Greg's boat...

2011-02-03T20:09:00.000-06:00

mock not the mock-up. build boat, throw poppers, drinks beers. sounds like a Summer.

Babe

2011-01-14T19:24:00.000-06:00

funny memory. Many years ago I was commissioned by a talent agency to paint a mural of the "Girl in the Moon" for Miller High Life. It was a minor part a huge event for Miller distributors from around the world. They put me up in a suite in MKE for 3 days and paid me a handsome ransom for a poor grad. student. I was in the High Life room, obviously. There was a dude fixing an engine, a dude making a bar, me painting a mural of the girl, and Babe signing autographs.

He liked the painting.

Staycation 2011.

2011-01-11T19:50:00.000-06:00

2 days at home to finally draw, and monkey around with my new tying vise and projector.
The work is coming along; pen and ink-wash drawings on watercolor paper (smaller scale), and large paintings with acrylic and pencil. All black and white. Hopefully, I can build a solid body of work over the next few months.

ruminations at the gate of 2011

2011-01-02T12:10:00.001-06:00

2011 I hope will be a year to cut the fat, and focus on what I'm really passionate about. I'm now a believer that if you don't feel strongly about something, don't bother doing it...and don't keep it hanging around in your head (or basement) just in case you change your mind. Cut the rip-cord and let yourself go.

2010-12-30T19:24:00.000-06:00

the start of a series of drawings I will show this month at Tarnish and Gold in MPLS.

swinging the Bois Brule

2010-12-11T19:53:00.000-06:00

Slint swinging the Bois Brule from Jake Keeler on Vimeo.

Great fishing conditions until a land hurricane forced into some intense euchre matches this past Fall on the Bois Brule.
Swinging water never gets old.

2010-11-12T17:16:00.000-06:00

some fresh paint on the walls, collect my reference materials..and, big surprise, draw a skull.

the last one...

2010-11-08T14:15:00.001-06:00

the was one of the last major pieces before I took a break

Him
46" x 62"
mixed media on paper
2009

Hiatus

2010-11-08T12:29:00.000-06:00

About a year ago, I decided to take a break from pursuing art as a career (albeit, a part time one). This turned into a hiatus from making art all together. I had never done this, at least since my years in undergrad when I started identifying myself as an "artist". It felt like the right thing to do to gain perspective on why I was making art, and what being an artist meant to me as a 30-something father, husband, and adult-dude increasingly invested in their career outside the scope of art.

I'm glad I took the break. I feel ready to make work again. The first step...collect my thoughts, ideas, images, inspiration, materials, and work space. A bit of reflection, and a fresh coat of paint always does the trick.

I grew a big-ass beard and fished more

2010-10-19T09:33:00.000-05:00

The crew heads to the Bois Brule once again for a Fall steelheading beatdown. This time around, I'm going to make less (but better I hope) casts. I'll fill my days with some reading, drawing, photo/video, and napping. MZA and I are going to start a little collab project - me images, him words...see, that should make sense. This is a sketch to work out what materials will be accompanying me on the river. The Chronomancer 2010

2010-09-07T15:40:00.000-05:00

Something reminded me of this...

Busch 1

2010-09-07T12:18:00.000-05:00

returning home

2010-09-07T12:15:00.000-05:00

I was busy fishing. Today it was in the 50's on the way to work. Thinking of Steelhead and drawing.

Brewdogin' in the Sun

2010-03-06T19:05:00.000-06:00

1st brew day of 2010.
1st brew day with Sasha.

I was there..and I couldn't do a damn thing

2010-02-24T19:52:00.000-06:00

Dudes. I was in Silvethorne CO this past week for a wedding. Turns out the season is open 365 days...and the Blue River runs through Silverthorne...and it was stacked with huge rainbows, and what I think, upon viewing more is a big Brookie? At any rate..WTF!!!!????? And everyone told me to go skiing..what the hell, I need better friends.
and look at the stupid punter fishing...what a CO tool.

2010-02-12T21:34:00.000-06:00

3000

rockets on the battlefield

2010-02-12T20:47:00.000-06:00

pulling out old albums
Ultramega OK
Black Elvis

"far beyond the wheel, damage your area, I'ma launch a fierce missile"
Cornell Keith

2010-02-09T19:25:00.000-06:00

Starting to think of the Willow...weeks away.

Cold Sun

2009-12-13T19:45:00.000-06:00

Blackpowder Blacksun

destroyed

2009-12-03T19:53:00.000-06:00

Baroness 11/27

at the cusp of 33...it's, dare I say, fucking awesome when you can still get amped about live music and a band that sounds..well..just right.

thanks for the photos Ben..that was a good night indeed.

lifer of give

2009-12-03T19:35:00.000-06:00

This time of year.
The Fall is receding to bare branches.
A lonely chill creeps up the back of one's neck.

thoughts of pushing back the lull with work.
leave the fire to wander upon a path.

My Child Howls like an Eagle

2009-12-03T19:29:00.001-06:00

All our Colors
2009
mixed media on paper
26" x 36"

2009-12-02T08:42:00.001-06:00

Radiant Husk 4 - 2009 - pen and ink on paper - 22" x 30"

Radiant Husk - 2009 - pen and ink on paper - 18" x 24"

Mountain - 2008 - pen and ink on paper - 18" x 24"

Hex - 2008 - pen and ink on paper - 22" x 30"

I like these drawings.

2009-12-02T08:39:00.000-06:00

this is the piece as it ended up in Iowa.
constructed on the spot.
it cam together nicely.

after the show, everything was discarded but the drawings in the middle.
live and die.

Reclamated

2009-09-18T09:18:00.001-05:00

I'll be showing a new piece down in Iowa at Wartburg College this October.
This is a drawing of the proposed piece, and another of an older piece titled "Black Magic" made up at the darkfarm years ago.

2009-09-16T19:02:00.000-05:00

moon

2009-09-16T18:59:00.000-05:00

2009-08-20T08:33:00.000-05:00

children of the wind waken the dreamer

2009-08-14T19:45:00.000-05:00

2009-08-14T11:56:00.000-05:00

2009-08-13T21:28:00.000-05:00

2009-08-13T20:46:00.000-05:00

2009-08-13T19:12:00.000-05:00

here and there is all starts somewhere

2009-08-07T16:18:00.000-05:00

Golden Boy

2009-08-05T07:45:00.001-05:00

PAINT

up on the range - HH and Izik

SUPERCOVEN

2009-06-01T15:55:00.000-05:00

Golden Triangle

2009-06-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

Golden Triangle
2009
5" x 7"
mixed media collage

A Rumble in The Sky

2009-06-01T15:38:00.000-05:00

A Rumble in the Sky
2009
5" x 7"
mixed media collage

skull

2009-05-28T08:02:00.000-05:00

skull
5" x 5"
2009
collage

knight

2009-05-28T08:01:00.001-05:00

knight
5" x 5"
2009
collage

2009-05-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

this will be bonkers come Fall 09'

2009-05-02T10:37:00.000-05:00

this was and now isn't it.....better before, a lesson....taught me something.

2009-05-02T10:35:00.000-05:00

isn't this just precious?

another one bites the crust

2009-04-21T07:17:00.000-05:00

the river did this

2009-04-14T20:00:00.000-05:00

they live here

2009-04-14T19:55:00.001-05:00