New Paintings

Christmas is a great time of year to put my art skills to good use. I am making several paintings to give people as presents as opposed to spending money I don’t have. The first two pictures are gifts, one is safe to show because I don’t think my father has found this blog (if you have dad, click away now or ruin the surprise!) The second is for my girlfriend’s mom, so it should be safe unless Melissa shows her mom.

The third painting is for myself. I’ve seen it.

For a long time, I thought that every piece of art should be significant and meaningful. Intimidated by this, all my paintings would be abstract expressionist. I also believe that after the first generation of abstract expressionists, that style had served its purpose and was dead. I have finally gotten to the point where I can allow myself to paint figurative images and let them be as random as my normal thought process. I don’t feel like I need to figure out some over-riding symbolic significance to my images. Those might be buried in my sub-conscious anyway.

With no more dilly-dallying, here’s what I’m working on:

Picture Space

A polar vortex in 3-D at Venus' south pole, as seen by the VIRTIS instrument on board ESA's Venus Express. Credit: ESA / VIRTIS-VenusX / INAF-IASF /Obs. de Paris-LESIA (G. Piccioni, IASF-INAF)

A view of the Puppis A supernova remnant with a close-up image of the fast-moving neutron star RX J0822-4300. X-ray data (pink) and optical data (purple) highlights oxygen emission. Credit: Chandra: NASA/CXC/Middlebury College/F.Winkler et al.; ROSAT: NASA/GSFC/S.Snowden et al.; Optical: NOAO/CTIO/Middlebury College/F.Winkler et al

NASA Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity used its front hazard-indentification camera to capture this wide-angle view of its robotic arm extended to a rock in a bright-toned layer inside Victoria Crater.

The image was taken during the rover's 1,322nd Martian day, or sol (Oct. 13, 2007).

Victoria Crater has a scalloped shape of alternating alcoves and promontories around the crater's circumference. Opportunity descended into the crater two weeks earlier, within an alcove called "Duck Bay." Counterclockwise around the rim, just to the right of the arm in this image, is a promontory called "Cabo Frio."

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Hill of Snakes

Needless to say, we are a numerous and diverse species. As an individual, it is hard to look into others and see all the facets of their mind that cause them to act in certain ways, either as an instigator or a reactor. It is clear, without understanding reason, that some people are good and some people are bad…

Do not be afraid of the hill of snakes as it covers your town. Only shall you be afraid if you are among the disastrous cheats. For those who liken themselves to liars and thieves shall be swallowed by the constrictors and those who shall call themselves friends to those they shall deceive and bring sorrow, you shall taste the rancid nectar of the viper’s tooth.

Do not be afraid as you sit with friends who you have not wronged, or with neighbors who you have not stolen from. Do not fear if the truth alone has passed from you tongue. In the case that you have lead your life with virtue, you shall not fear the hill of snakes. The only trepidation in your heart is for those you love who have done you wrong. This longing to save those who shall be swallowed by the serpents is what shall save you.