New Works In Washington & On An Internet Near You!

It's been a while since I news-ed at ya'll, though that doesn't mean I haven't been busy! As you can see, my website has been extensively reworked to showcase the newer film I have been shooting. During the winter months of 2014, flowers obviously became scarce in Michigan and I found myself in need of new inspiration. Through a number of experiments with varying degrees of success, I found a great passion for film dyes, particularly my own venal blood (drawn my a registered nurse in a sterile environment) and baking soda.

I've found that blood offers a dreamy effect, bringing out greens and pinkish reds and offering a softness to the image that I didn't expect. Of course, most film soups are most intense at the end of the roll, where the dye settles the most. This part of the film is not soft or dreamy, but it still has those greens and pinks. The colors brought out in the chemical processing always amazes me. With baking soda, I've gotten a shocking array of colors, and I've found that a big part of the results depend on weather you soup pre- or post-shooting. Pre shooting seems to results in blotches of purples and greens juxtaposed with near natural spots. Souping after seems to offer oranges, neon pinks, and hi-liter greens. I haven't souped enough yet to get it down to a science and, honestly, I believe there is no science when it comes to souping with baking soda. Regardless, the process is infinitely fun to play with.

I was so happy to participate in my first out of state show! Le So Gallery in Toledo, Ohio was a lovely space and I am happy to announce more out of state shows in the pipeline in the future, perhaps even some out the country ones later this year.

Currently, I am proud to be a part of the Citizen Bigfoot show at Wenatchee, Washington's ode-to-Sasquatch show at Radar Station Gallery. I highly encourange every suburban Seattlite to check it out! Can't make it? See if you can spot any familiar great apes in this amazing video.

Next up, I will be a part of Arts and Acts this weekend in Northville, Michigan, selling some new prints of Detroit, as well as some old favorites of Northville. I am also teaching classes all summer at The Northville Art House, a non profit center for the arts.

Last month, I released my third full length album, "Black Thumb". While I released silently into the world, it has gotten more immediate listens than any of my past works which was shocking to me and meant a lot because more than any of my other works, this album deals with the loss of my father. It takes me a long time to talk about things that have hurt me deeply and the loss of my father probably has stung more than anything else in my life. It has almost been five years, so I figured now was around the time to start talking about it.

This album is also important because it is the first time I am happy with my vocal performance. Whereas "Glass Sipper" was autotuned and processed to hell and "Skin & Bones" was purposefully 'restrained and pretty', I decided to make "Black Thumb" sound like the kind of vocalists I actually like to listen to, destorted and degraded. I took a tip from the degraded staticy sounds I used on "Skin & Bones", However, where "Skin & Bones" delved deep into the musical aspect of the album, "Black Thumb" is almost exclusively an ambient vocal record.

Almost all of these songs were recorded immediately after I wrote them. Usually when I write, I am in a very emotional state. Most of these songs were recorded after crying. I finally quit smoking after a years-long battle with it so only one song was recorded after chain smoking, the war-torn and empty sounding opening track "Chapter Nine", about a dream I had about my father. If you only listen to one song off of my album, please make it "Chapter Nine". If you listen to two, make the other "Armed Forces".

All news is good news! As always, inquire for art prints!! They are priced to move until I set up a webstore, which will hopefully be by the end of July!

Thank you for your support, everyone!

ALSO! Are you a fan of my work? I highly recommend you add me on facebook! For the past three years, that thing has been languishing and I have barely updated it at all. I've never had any desire to create an "artist page" but I would love to keep people in the know. If you are interested in seeing updates, feel free to add me! As long as you haven't personally wronged me, stolen my moonstone ring, or broken up with me with the past, I'll definitely add you! ^___^