A New Chapter ...

As you may have noticed over the past couple of years, blogging has become the "in" thing when it comes to communicating your ideas with the rest of the world. It seems like everyone has a blog now and, it seems, they are just as bad about keeping it going and current as I am. Yes, there are many blogs out there that are added to daily or weekly or even hourly. But, there are even more blogs out there where you find the most current posting is over two years old, there are cobwebs in the corners, dust on the tables and a distinct echo when you call out to see if anyone is home.

And I am just as guilty of that as anyone. I have two other blogs and one hasn't seen me visit it in over six months. The other gets updated as I move from project to project in my second love of a hobby, gardening. My girlfriend and I just bought a house a few weeks ago and there was no backyard, so as an artist, it looks just like a blank canvas to me. When I get finished with my vision, even Monet will have to smile.

But, this is my art blog. This is where I shall impart all of my considerable wisdom in all things art. Should take all of about five minutes.

As an introduction, I am Dave Casey and I have just, in the past couple of years, entered into the second half of my life. A few years ago I came to realization that I wasn't doing some of the things that I had always wanted to do. I wanted to learn ballroom dancing. I wasn't much interesting disco or nightclub dancing, but ballroom has always captured my imagination. About four years ago I decided to take the plunge and have thoroughly enjoyed myself in the world of tuxedos and chiffon.

Other things I've placed on the back burner of the "someday I'd like to do this" stove hiking and backpacking. Now, I go every chance I get, which still isn't nearly as often as I would like. There is something about tossing my sketch pad and some pencils, some lunch and drink and maybe a book into a backpack and heading up into the hills for a day. I'm still trying to figure out how convince my girlfriend to go for some overnighters, but I fear that is a hopeless endeavor.

But one of the things that I have always regretted not giving more time to was my art. I've always enjoyed picking up a pencil and piece of paper and just seeing what I could create. I have been a pencil artist for as far back as I can remember, but I m only now starting to venture into paints and canvases. I have started to take my art more seriously.

I have always been self-taught and feel there is nothing wrong with that, but at the same time I like to see what other techniques are out there. I have, over the past year or so, amassed quite a collection of art books, both on how-to and on art history. I have browsed eBay now and then to see if I can pick up some back issues of various art magazines and now have quite a few years of issues of The Artist Magazine and American Artist.

I like to attend a weekly figure drawing workshop when I have time and, even though I feel quite inadequate when comparing my work to the others around me, I can definitely see a lot of improvement as I flip through my sketch books.

And tonight is First Friday. I think I'll try to make it down there and see if there is anything to inspire me. I've been down there a couple of times and I have to admit that I don't see much of anything that grabs my attention while I meander through the different museums and storefronts. I guess I am more of a classical artist and the new stuff is lost on me. I did see one fellow the last time I was there who was stuck at the end of a dark hallway with about a half a dozen figure drawings hanging on the wall. They were fabulous works. I couldn't afford to buy anything from him the last time I was there, but if he is there this time, I may just have to pick up a piece or two from him.

Anyway, this is the opening of my new blog and I am looking forward to exploring the world of art and my progression as an artist and if you'd like to go along with me, I would certainly love the company.

Until next time, keep on painting and drawing. Take care.

©2009 Dave Casey
QUICK SKETCH 01
Graphite pencil on paper, 12 x 9"

Just a quick drawing I did this evening. When my girlfriend looked at it she asked, "how come her boob is pointing at the ceiling?" I told her it was because, "she's young and they're still perky." She looked down at her own chest and in a moment of remembering days gone by she quietly said, "yeah." It's hell getting old.