This came across my radar today and I thought it too good not to share.
I’ve recently noticed a rise in social media posts of these infographic-like of images instructing and/or reminding people of the importance of the correct usage of grammar and spelling.
Personally, I’m tickled pink by the memes and I intend to do my part to keep the momentum speeding full-steam ahead.
My most recent work is modeled after a painting that I originally created close to 15 years ago. At that time, the first version of this painting (titled simply “Wind”) soon became my most popular painting to date and large-scale, fine art prints of the work can still be located in galleries around the country.
“Wind II”, 36″ x 36″, acrylic on canvas, ©2014 Michael Sprouse
But recently, it felt time to reinterpret the work with an updated vision. I enjoyed the painting process in the studio of revisiting the work tremendously. Artistically, the discovery of the nuances that became clear to me during the painting process after 15 years were genuinely surprising and satisfying.
“Wind II” will enter exhibition on April 27th of this year, but it is currently available at a pre-exhibition discounted price for interested parties. For purchase inquiries into “Wind II” please feel free to contact me here.
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| "Wind II" work in process, 36" x 36", acrylic on canvas ©2014 Michael Sprouse |
Shortly after the exhibition purchase, I was contacted by a well-established, international art printing house who soon thereafter licensed the work. The company printed large-scale giclée on canvas reproductions of the painting which sold all over the United States and Europe.
It eventually became one of the most popular and recognizable paintings of my career.
To this day, some 15 years later, I still receive emails from people with photographs of prints of “Wind” that they have encountered from Los Angles to London and places in-between or requests from eager, potential collectors with the wish of purchasing the original if available or a print (the publishing company closed their doors a few years ago after the owner retired following a long and prosperous career.)
For many years, I would respond with an apologetic explanation of how the original was long purchased and the prints were no longer being produced. I further explained that I had no plans to recreate “Wind.”
That is – until this week…
For no particular reason other than it simply felt like the right time to do so, I have been busy in my studio recreating one of the most popular works of my early career.
This version, currently titled simply “Wind II” - smaller than the first painting measuring in at 36” x 36” - will still deliver all of the compelling visual elements that made its forbearer so popular.
While I don’t often publicize my work before completion, I have decided to release the news about this soon to be completed work now with the offer of a pre-completion, pre-exhibition substantial discount on the purchase price.
I’ve attached a photo of the work in process on the wall of my studio next to a print of the original version of “Wind.”
For those of you who have long thought about owning one of my original works for your own collection, the perfect chance to do so is now knocking on your door.
This discount is only valid until Saturday April 26th at which time the work will be entered into exhibit. “Wind II” is available on a first come, first purchase protocol.
For those interested in purchase, I can be contacted via the contact page on my website at www.sprouseart.com.
Cheers and Happy Spring.
I stumbled across this lovely visual treatment of Henry David Thoreau's insights on happiness as created by the very talented Australian artist Gavin Aung Than (Than is also the creator behind the wonderful Zen Pencils.)
Sublime and gentle in its eternal truth, this visual is too lovely and the message too important and too valid not to share.
Enjoy the tried and true way to happiness…
One particularly cold, bleak and blustery day in January of this year, I came across a little tucked-away shelf of house plants while grocery shopping at the local Safeway.
The plants, nestled in little sienna brown painted plastic pots, had a tropical aura about them and their lush green leaves and bright, cheerful blooms, shone like bright beacons of the coming promise of Spring, warmth, and sunshine.
Plus, they were under 5 bucks each.
Immediately, the sucker-for-a-bargain section of my psyche (firmly planted by my Depression-era raised Yankee mother) leapt into action. I moved closer to the display of the cheery, tiny pots of sunshine as a vision of one of them happily fitting perfectly on a lonely, winter weary shelf in my bathroom filled my mind.
Moments later, I had one of the pots in my hand. It was a small, yet well formed plant with a cluster of vibrant yellow flowers encircled by healthy green leaves. I could almost hear it greeting me a sincere good morning in that happy sing-song way as I stepped out of the shower.
The clerk at the checkout informed me that the plant was called a primrose and that they they had been very popular that week. He further explained that after they were gone, they wouldn’t be getting any back until next winter. The sucker-for-a-bargain section of my psyche internally smiled with smugness because the only thing better than a bargain is bargain that’s flying off the shelves…
After purchase and arrival home, I realized that I had made the right decision the minute I repotted the primrose and placed it on the bathroom shelf. It did indeed brighten the bleakness of a cold winter morning and the blooms gloriously lasted for weeks.
It wasn’t until the blooms began to fade and drop and the leaves began to brown and crumble around the edges that I decided to read about the primrose. According to everything I read, the plants were known as “throw-aways.” Once the bloom was gone, toss it out and move on as getting them to rebloom was next to impossible.
It may have been the most depressing words about a houseplant that I had ever come across – not that I spent much time reading sad stories about houseplants, but the idea of tossing out my little pal that had brought such cheeriness simply because his usefulness was questioned made my heart sink a little.
My green-thumbed Yankee determination kicked into high-gear. I was not only going to save this little plant, I was going to carry it across the impossible valley of darkness and into the magical land of “Rebloom”.
And that’s exactly what I did. Say hello to my resurrected, re-blooming as of this morning, little bit of sunshine Primrose buddy. And realize that Spring really is just around the corner and that sometimes the impossible is possible…
Hopefully, the mouth-breathing morons responsible for this low-brained reprehensible action will be brought to justice. It doesn't take a psychic to know that the men being sought probably consider themselves "real" Americans, are devoted to the likes of Rush Limbaugh and FOX news and identify as Tea Partiers (or worse).
AP Photo / Thomas Graning
The only bright side to that probability is that, generally, the Tea Drinkin' kinds who complain the most about the government usually do nothing about it. Many have never stepped foot into a voting booth let alone attended a public meeting or written a letter or made a call to their representative.
No, far from it. Instead, they opt to wallow in the fetid cesspool of ignorance barking their puerile and inane words to whatever like-minded nincompoop willing sit still enough to listen.
Predictably, these two didn't have the balls to carry out their hate drenched and deplorable action in the middle of the day. Rather, they opted to do so in the pre-dawn murkiness of a Sunday morning when, according to one maintenance worker who saw them from afar, they could shout "racially charged rhetoric like "white power" and the N-word" while wearing their much treasured "camouflage attire." I bet they even made it back in time to gleefully attend some snake handling church revival meeting with their normally dim-witted eyes all alit with pride for their cowardly act.
I suppose, in Mississippi, stupid really is as stupid does. Let’s hope in this case, the authorities will find these two backwoods buffoons and show them that there are indeed not so stupid and very serious consequences for their actions.
Noose Found Around The Neck Of Statue Honoring Civil Rights Icon At Ole Miss
Put down your candy hearts and Valentine’s Day cards for a minute and get a load of the original Bubble-Headed Booby himself (AKA Tom Perkins).
Tom Perkins in his best Dr. Smith from Lost In Space pose. Oh the pain! The pain!
Apparently, Perkins (a venture capitalist, who recently made a lot of people angry by comparing progressives to Nazis) told an audience in San Francisco Thursday that people who pay more money in taxes should get more votes.
The audience, making the understandable assumption that he was kidding, responded in laughter to his inane comment.
Imagine the awkward silence and shock that must have sucked the air out of the room when they realized that he wasn’t kidding – not in the least. In fact, he told a CNNMoney Reporter offstage that he “intended to be outrageous, and it was."
He didn’t mean outrageous as in ha ha hilarious. He meant it as worthy of causing outrage to those around him.
It’s wildly moronic, but it’s just the kind of crap-speak these clueless plutocrats love to utter at any opportunity that arises. The basic ploy - have mic will open mouth and spew forth garbage because even garbage will stick to the wall of those stupid or delusional enough to believe it.
The one perk of Perkins? He has time against his side as he’s just south of being older-than-a-pile-of-dirt. Soon he and his fellow selfish, warped and woefully misguided lot will be tossed out with the rubble of forgotten history making no more of a mark on it then the dissipating smoke from the wick of an extinguished candle.
You can read the entire news article on the Huffington Post here…
Certainly several of you out there in FBville will find an occasion to utter the F-word today during an attempt to weather the weather or, at least, you'll encounter its sharp cornered, four-letter-damn-it-allness at some point during your day.
Perhaps it will occur when the mild-mannered town librarian flies feet first into the air after a trip fantastic over black ice. Or, maybe as you watch your neighbor's teenage son donut spin his I-like-to-pretend-to-be-an-adult SUV directly into your new mailbox.
Why not embrace the inevitability and ponder the f-word's fascinating history as you slug back your coffee before grabbing the shovel...
There’s a well-written article covering the history of our favorite four letter friend written by Kate Wiles on the delightful language blog “So Long As It’s Words”.
You can read the article here: http://solongasitswords.wordpress.com/2014/02/12/on-the-origin-of-fuck/
Once again, leave it to a work of art (in this case an editorial cartoon created by the very talented Rob Rogers of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette) to make a most valid point about the asinine claim currently being made by the GOP which claims that Obamacare is a job killer.
In fact, Rogers does a good job on his blog of discussing the issues with these words, “The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office report on Obamacare says the health law will have an effect on jobs. It does NOT say, as the GOP would have us believe, that it is a job killer. Instead, as this story in the Washington Post points out, Obamacare will allow those who are forced to work simply so they can afford health care to make other choices.”
Hats off to Rob Rogers, his keen eye, wit and talent.
This was described as “the most fantastic thing you watch online today” and indeed it was. It’s August Schram starring in the video and actually doing the singing in a short film called August Sings Carmen “Habanera” and it’s worth every second away from whatever you were doing before…
Click on the image to view the video.
I’m not really the type of chap to bemoan the weather on any kind of grand scale. At least, no more so than then average Joe or Jane on the street sludging through the frozen rush hour commute.
But this morning, I feel the urge to sculpt a soap box out of snow, stand upon it an announce to the universe that I have had enough! Enough snow. Enough ice. Enough Arctic blasts. Enough sub-zero temperatures and enough Holy Freakin’ Hannah wind chills.
Perhaps one of the many Winter Gods or Goddesses (Ymir and Skadi from the Norse, Boreas and his wife Orithyia along with daughter Chione from the Greek, Cailleach from Ireland, Yuki-onna from Japan and good ol’ Jack Frost for starters) will put down their frozen daiquiris long enough to listen to my plea.
But I doubt it.
In the interim, feel free to enjoy this warm photo of the view taken from inside my studio to a freshly and particularly snowy and frigid morning…
During an errand run over the weekend to a local pharmacy, I couldn't help but notice the massive Valentine's Day greeting card and candy display.
I'm curious about these people who purchase Valentine Day cards in December. They must be an extremely punctual group of people.
All five of them...
Somehow, the month of November slid past my blog radar like the Girl From Ipanema disinterestedly passing oglers on the beach. Alas.
But in the spirit of staying present moment aware, I'm going to jump back in as if I just returned from checking the mail box – preferably with a fistful of sparkly Christmas cards in my hand.
Just in case you've been living under a holly bush, the holidays are here! As a matter of fact, I'll be heading out the door later this morning to find the needed parts to create my own Boutonniere for a festive Christmas Party that I'll be attending later this evening.
My goal is to arrive at Michael’s Arts and Crafts early enough not have to stand in line with the speed-of-sloth moving parade of blue hairs and their BOGO glitter adorned faux silk poinsettias hand stitched in a Chinese sweat shop so that I can make the purchase of the roll of green floral tape (also from a Chinese sweat shop no doubt) a swift and painless ordeal.
In the spirit of all that is holiday fun, I now bring you my favorite holiday themed animated gif from what is, in my humble opinion, still - after lo these many years - the best holiday animated film of all time.
Enjoy in the present Zen moment of watching Charlie Brown and his best bud Linus contemplate existence while watching the snow quietly fall around them.
And Happy holidays to one and all!
New Work Alert – I’ve been a busy man since setting up my studio that I had constructed just over a month ago. I’m happy to report that the very first work to be completed in my new studio is now ready for to public viewing and purchase.
In general, it seem that the very first of anything tends it make it more significant in some way. At least, it feels like that to me when it comes to artwork. There are two guaranteed works that will ever come out of a productive artist’s studio – the first and the last. Both of which hold unique meaning. This is the first, and as it can only happen once, it does indeed seem “special” in my book.
This acrylic and mixed-media on canvas work is entitled "Le Souvenir Soudain"
"Le Souvenir Soudain" ©2013 Michael Sprouse All Rights Reserved
It measures 24" x 36" and it's stretched on 1.5" Gallery Wrap stretchers allowing the painting to continue on all sides which gives it a 3D effect and makes framing optional.
This is currently available at the price of $2500 - which - if you're familiar with the market value of my work, is a very good price indeed.
First come first serve for those interested in adding
"Le Souvenir Soudain" to that spot on the wall crying out for something original, mysterious and compelling yet soulful and emotive. Email me at michael@sprouseart.com if interested in purchase.I’m not usually the kind of guy who goes agog over upcoming events, but when I discovered that I would be able to see the incomparable Davina and The Vagabonds live and in person on Friday, October 18th at Bethany Blues in Lewes, Delaware I became as giddy as kid with a sack full of Halloween candy – all rich, dark chocolate, deeply satisfying candy bars mind you…
Davina and The Vagabonds in Performance
A recent press release describes a performance of DATV as sounding “like a melding between New Orleans jazz and a bluesy Tom Waits - with a touch of Billie Holiday in the vocals of Davina Sowers - this powerhouse band consists of a highly energetic brass section, piano and upright bass. Vocalist Davina is one part vaudevillian entertainer and one part real-life singer-songwriter.”
Of course, anyone familiar with my visual art and my particularly strong affection for 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s jazz and blues would understand why I would gleefully shove children and elderly nuns out of my way to get tickets to this powerhouse Jazz performance. And frankly, you should be no less zealous.
I made the mistake of missing Davina and The Vagabonds the last time they made their way to Lewes, Delaware and quickly learned to regret it. I heard from more than one awed attendee that it was a “transformative” experience. OK, that may be my word, but you get the picture…
Let’s just say that these folks had become DATV devotees like happy music inspired zombies grooving to unmistakable talent. “Unmistakable” – now that’s a strong word. It’s strong because there’s no turning back from it. And it’s a recognition that happens instantaneously and instinctively from the gut. The talent of Davina and The Vagabonds is unmistakable.
Here’s a video of DATV from a couple of years ago performing one of my favorite blues ballads “I’d Rather Go Blind” (made famous by the late, great Etta James)
So, as you can see, the Press Release was spot on. Rich, bluesy, vocals. Stand up bass. Kick-ass Brass. Beautiful…
If you plan on being in the area for the now famous Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, you should make a point of being at Bethany Blues in Lewes, Delaware on Friday, October 18th. Show times are 8:30pm and 10:30pm. Tickets are $25 and are valid for both shows.
This is all part of my dear friend (and nationally acclaimed jazz promoter and aficionada) Sydney Arzt and her Sydney's Music Revival and “The Melting Pot Of Sound” for Jazz Fest October 18-20 at Bethany Blues in Lewes.
To read more about this show and the other great artists ( The Patty Reese Band, Ron Holloway, The Joe Baione Quartet and The Reminders) that are part of the “Melting Pot of Sound” at Bethany Blues in Lewes, read the Press Release here. Oh, and if you see me there – and you will – make sure and say hello.
In today’s New York Times, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has penned an article in an attempt to “speak directly to the American people and their political leaders” titled "What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria”.
While the article is well-worded and he does make what seem to be some valid points, there are two sentences in his article that I question. After reading them, my BS Alarm sounded loudly and clearly and my Inviso-Shield of distrust popped up serving as a call out for a deeper explanation in the meaning behind his statements.
I’m the first to say that I’ve been a bit our of the loop over the last seven days (to be exact) as I have been focusing on moving into a new home. I was without cable television or internet service for a good part of the time. The lapse in service wasn’t earth shattering as I was able to busy myself with unpacking, arranging, and dealing with a litany of contractors and last minute tweaks to the new abode.
Pre-occupied as I have been however, I was still able to follow with a modest degree of awareness the unfolding of the sticky events in connection to the potential American military strike in Syria. I watched Obama’s speech and I have been able to follow quite a bit of commentary when streaming a variety of NPR affiliates.
Which brings me to question #1…
In his communiqué, Putin states that “there is every reason to believe” that chemical weapons were “used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists.”
This is the first I have read or heard of this possibility. Did this somehow fall of my radar while I was busy with my relocation or does Putin simply need a tin foil hat to go with his straight jacket? Or, perhaps it could also be a complete fabrication. In any case, in my humble opinion, it seems highly questionable.
My second question - which is really more of a rhetorical questioning of his words – is sparked by Putin’s last sentence in the article which reads, “We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.”
If he truly believes that we are all equal, why is he turning a completely blind eye to – or worse yet – enforcing and promoting the abuse of LGBT Russian citizens?
So, while I may admittedly be the potentially biased voice of a person whose early years occurred prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain, I ‘m just not certain if Putin’s words hold any deep truth in this situation.
And on that note, I’m back to my unpacking…
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