Jennifer and I were honored to be invited to participate as featured chalk artists for the inaugural chalk festival at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas earlier this month (August). The venue was spectacular to say the least; to be surrounded by such an amazing collection of art was humbling. We had a theme of "NATURE" given to us by the museum and our work needed to reflect that theme.

Twenty three artists from across the country were invited to participate. Two artists were from Mexico. We were excited to finally meet other artists that we are friends with on Facebook, but had never met in person. What a wonderful extended family the chalk artist community is!

Here are our finished pieces. Both are 10' x 10' and took two days to complete. Jennifer's piece is on the left, my piece is on the right.

We were contacted by the City of Troy, Ohio to create a painted, large, 3D anamorphic FAIRY HOUSE. Anamorphic means that the image is only seen in proportion from one location, generally at the base of the image. The city wanted this done for their Sculptures on the Square event. We were not allowed to chalk on the sidewalks or the street due to city ordinances. We chatted with some of our chalk artist friends to come up with a solution that allowed us to paint the work beforehand and then transport and install it before their event started. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun! The final work is 20' x 6'.

Jennifer and I were contacted to lead an "end of year chalk experience" at a local elementary school. Originally, the plan was to be outside and chalk on pavement - BUT - then the rains came so on to PLAN B! We had the different grade levels of kids make a chalk aquarium, which as you see, they had an excellent time doing. We had about 350 kids move through our station in 3 hours. Thank goodness for adult HELPERS.

This lovely girl is strutting her stuff! Aussie Ace is a 4' x 8' mural made possible by the 2018 mural program of Summer Jam West. Artists were asked to submit ideas which were then shown to businesses interested in having a mural installed on their property in the Hilltop area. Aussie Ace was selected by Healthy Pets of Westgate to be installed on an outside wall facing W. Broad Street. If you are driving up W. Broad St. you are sure to see this girl flying high!

Summer Jam West reached out to me earlier this year and asked if I would submit an idea for their 4' x 8' Community Art Panel mural. At first I thought this might be a map project - establish the locations of the artwork that had been installed by Summer Jam West thus far. After talking with Patti Von Niessen, this was not the case. Viewers did not need to use this work to locate the other works in the community. This work would not be added to with future art installments. A quick suggestion that the Rastapus might be able to make an appearance here was all it too to get this fellow going. The Rastapus' Art Opus shows the beloved Rastapus helping paint and install all the works created so far for the Hilltop Area. Jones Lumber + Millwork is the sponsor of the panel, and they are prominently featured in the work. 5 murals and 2 sculptures are also included. I changed the water tower in Westgate Park into Summer Jam West's Jam Jar logo. The Summer Jam West Festival is held each year in Westgate Park. It was a fun project - and I can't wait to see it installed at 57 N Sylvan Ave!

Jennifer and I are working with the organizers of the annual Bryn Du Mansion Art Exhibit to create an interactive chalk piece for visitors to try their hand at chalking. We are working on a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood that has been painted with chalkboard paint. The photo on the left is the chalk outline, the photo on the right is the chalk-painted finished panel. This panel can be reused since any chalk applied can be wiped off!

We will be at the mansion March 10, 2018 from 10-12 to demo chalk painting. Stop by and visit - and bring the kids!

I recently submitted this mural design to Summer Jam West to beautify a building that faces a newly finished bike path in the Westgate area of Columbus. The finished mural size is 90' x 13', and so far, 19 artists have submitted designs for consideration. A social media campaign has been launched to get input from local businesses and neighbors as to which mural people like most. If I am awarded this project, I will have a lot of work to do to get it finished by the end of June 2017! Folks are already referring to my drum playing octopus as a "Rastapus" and an "Octafarian!"

Yes, this is a real barn. This barn can be found in Sardis, OH - and it is on the Monroe County Ohio quilt barn trail. Sardis, OH is a sleepy little town along the Ohio River. It is one of the few towns that has a ferry to transport folks across the river to Kentucky. The quilt square on the side of this barn is known as a "Mariner's Star" or "Mariner's Compass". It is a very old quilt pattern.

A very good friend of mine was very, very ill. She was hospitalized for more than a month - sometimes in ICU.
I had taken this photo of day lilies she had planted near the end of her driveway. They were in full bloom and so colorful against the summer sky. I thought it was a fitting tribute to her resolve and to her long, long fight to get better.