Bad Water 9

Installment #9 in this series............

Not So Sleepless In Seattle

I noticed over the past week or so that my website was getting some attention from the Pacific Northwest, particularly Seattle, Spokane and Portland. A little boredom today prompted me to do a google search of myself, which shed a little light on this phenomenon.

I'm not quite sure what Hankblog is, or what its intended purpose is. It seems to be associated with Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington in Seattle.

I apparently gave Hankblog an interview (maybe when I was drunk, which is a realistic possibility), although some fact checking may have been overlooked a bit by the interviewers. They did get the title of my painting correct, and even included the link to my website. But I'm strictly paint on canvas now. I stopped doing that mixed media stuff with random found objects like 15 years ago.

All kidding aside, this appears to be a simple case of mistaken identity. A quick google search of my name will demonstrate that this is a relatively easy mistake to make, turning up thousands of hits, including a former Irish MP, an English footballer, an an 18th Century English poet, and a former pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. There are also contemporary musicians and artists with the same name as me, none of whom I have ever met.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to attend the event on the 24th at the gallery, but I live in New Jersey and probably couldn't have gotten a flight at such short notice. Besides, meeting someone with the same name as me might freak me out, like when John Malkovitch takes the plunge inside his own head.

After The Occupation by Matthew Green, not Matthew Green

Bad Water 8

Session #8, wide shot and detail. That's all for now. This painting is actually finished in my head...

Feeling like my hands are gonna fall off. Making a lot of mistakes typing. 

Bad Water 7

Last night I didn't listen to any music while I worked. Tonight started out that way for the first hour. I think the sounds that my house makes were entertaining enough for me that I didn't need music. I also didn't feel like wearing headphones. Plus I have a permanent ringing in my ears from too much loud rock and roll and it was good to give my ears a break.

After a break I put on The Kills, then The White Stripes. And I began to think that the chemical byproducts from manufacturing CDs are probably in the water. So, too are spilled fuel and motor oil from the trucks that carry cases of CDs to stores, as well as jet fuel residue from the planes that take the musicians to gigs and recording studios around the world. I start thinking about the entire infrastructure that holds our civilization together, and how this swamp is now a dead zone because of it.

Sleep tight, world.

Bad Water 6

Nothing special to write tonight, just the 6th sitting of Bad Water...

Bad Water 5 - A Near Catastro-tree

Ah, the evils of drink. A few weeks ago, I allowed my weakness for adult beverages interfere with my craft, and the results were nearly catastrophic. I attempted to rectify the situation tonight although I may have done serious damage to what would have been a fabulous painting.

The photos below illustrate what I'm talking about and should serve as a warning to you kids about what happens when you drink a whole bottle of wine by yourself, preceded by two IPA's. We'll call them exhibit A, B, and C.

Exhibit A - Painted Under Influence

Exhibit B - tonight's pathetic attempt at saving face

Exhibit C - I have only myself to blame

So you see, kids, not only do drinking an painting definitely not mix, but Torrontes is a fresh, aromatic white, and is the most distinctive of all Argentine wines. And believe it or not, Festivo is an inexpensive, yet surprisingly delightful option for this varietal.

Finally, I present the end result of this evening's session (click to enlarge)...

Bad Water 4: Drinking and Painting Don't (always) Mix

The 4th sitting of this painting was a bit of a disaster. All I worked on was the tree in the middle (badly) and now I want to set this thing on fire before it gets worse...

And it was all because of this...

Let that be a lesson to me. I've been down this road many times and have come up empty on every occasion.

Updated Portfolio

My updated 2012 portfolio now includes my latest completed work, After The Occupation, as well as the NJ.com article from the NJ Artists show at Lana Santorelli Gallery in Hoboken, NJ. The article has an ENTIRE PARAGRAPH on Yours Truly (woo-hoo!), although I'm not entirely satisfied with the portrayal of me (shut up, Matt, no press is bad press). But enjoy the portfolio. What's missing are the "UPS 4" paintings lost after the Great Chicago Situation of 2009. The whereabouts of these paintings remain a mystery to this day. Many UPS Customer Service managers are still traumatized as a result my verbal abuse. Moral of the story: don't answer the phone when I call. And don't lose my life's work. You'll be assaulted by a barrage of words and phrases that will leave you quivering and sobbing, and the nightmares will plague you for years.

Nevermind all of that. Enjoy the portfolio. Peace.

Bad Water 3

I'm too tired to write. Its 12:30 and its been a long day. I've sat in front of this canvas now for a total of 4 hours in 3 sittings spanning about a month. Long way to go. The water is getting active in the picture and space and depth is beginning to emerge. I like it. I need more paint. Stores are closed now. Remind me why I still do this.