Judge For Yourselves...

Video guru and madman Les Martin cut our latest installment in the never-ending Big Meadow series, in spite of all of our failures as viral marketeers. The video features an original soundtrack by Impossible Gardens.

Going Viral

I haven't added any new entries to this page in a while because 1) I'm not sure if anyone is reading it and I hate wasting my time, and 2) I've been vlogging instead. Since the conventional approach of applying for grant funding for this project has come up empty so far, I attempted to approach the problem through a more modern method, viral marketing. With the help of my friend, former colleague, and esteemed videographer Lester Martin, we carefully crafted a viral marketing plan that failed miserably. The idea was to document the creation and development of the project's first painting, Big Meadow. We underestimated how common a practice this was, that our idea was far from unique. You can see the first try at this in my last entry from 3/10. We're gonna continue with the plan of filming me painting, but probably toss out any notion that this can be successful as a viral marketing ploy. Art just doesn't capture the imagination the way that singing dogs and laughing babies do. We shot more footage last night and will be editing and posting that soon, and hopefully will be adding some original music from a musician friend of mine. It will be pretty fantastic, although I think it may get a grand total of 13 or 14 views on youtube. Whatever. Keep on charging the enemy so long as there is life.

A Little Taste...

First Painting

No amount of inadequacies on the part of the art supply or shipping industries can stem the creative tide that is unleashing as I type this. I have this fear, however, that in order to complete the claim of 12 paintings as outlined in my proposal I may need at least 5 years, unless someone ponies up at least the 70 g's I'll need to pay for materials and keep my family alive while I paint. This painting is a little different from what I had originally envisioned, and may seem a little off-topic for this project, but who cares? It's imposing, just like the impression I had trying to force my way into the reeds back in January (see post from Jan 23 but please don't laugh at my crappy video). The next time I explore something like this it will be a lot closer to home. I discovered some sights along the Delaware River waterfront in Gloucester City the other day and the next venture will explore that river front on the New Jersey side from Gloucester City south into where it opens up and becomes the Delaware Bay. Water craft is desperately needed for that, as well as for FMFTS, which I hope to score in about a month or so. I've decided to plod along with this project, whether funded or not. What else can I do? I have to paint, and The Meadowlands is calling me.

Box

Exactly 17 days after my first attempt at buying materials for my first painting, a small box from FedEx jammed full with 6 yards of canvas was sitting on my doorstep when I returned from the store this morning. Also, to add a new level complication to my system of purchasing canvas and stretchers is the fire over the weekend at Philadelphia International Records at Broad and Spruce in Philly, in the same building as Utrecht, where I usually buy stretchers. If there is a God, he is certainly having fun with me. At least I can finally start.

Waiting For The Man

Today is sunday and its been exactly one week since I placed my order with Pearl Paint for my canvas. I realize there were weather issues here in the Northeast but 3-5 days have come and gone. This is beginning to remind me a little too much of a certain UPS situation from August and September '09. Do I have to start writing scathing e-mails again? Maybe I'm blacklisted from package services. My only friend in the shipping business these days is the good old USPS. The guy likes my dog, that makes him OK in my book. Plus I always make sure my sidewalks are clear when there is snow on the ground.

Life's Little Hurdles

Maybe God doesn't want me to paint The Meadowlands. Pearl Paint on South Street in Philly is gone, as I learned when I went there last Friday, so I bought canvas at Utrecht, but they don't sell the 52" rolls I usually get (which fit nicely on 48" paintings). This first one I want to do will be 48" x 72". Utrecht had squares of canvas, so I bought a 77" x 2yd square, thinking the 2yd side would have a little extra, but it didn't. So I ordered a 53" x 6yd Fredrix roll from Pearl online, knowing I would have to wait a few days for the FedEx guy before I could start. I thought at least it would be here by the end of the week, but now the weather forecast is looking rather bleak. If snow stopped the USPS last Saturday, I couldn't imagine FedEx making deliveries Wednesday or Thursday in the snow they're calling for. So now I wait. And wait...