About a girl

Once the visual muse calls, it becomes challenging to turn it off. That's what happened the entire weekend...

Did some large-scale pieces - 36" x 48" [ink & color wash] and a few 11" x 16" [ink & pencil]. Most of the work is whimsical in nature and I can walk away from the weekend a happy camper.

Curiousity triggers my subconscious

I continually think of things in terms of "visual interpretation". Sketching has always been a centerfuge for a lot of my creative expression - thousands of drawings later I am more amused than ever. Although ideally I would love to paint every image that I draw, it's not entirely realistic given my schedule. Still, the art of drawing is an amazing voyage into the subconscious and an intrepid process of discovery.

Experience

where do we go from here?
maybe take it to who knows where
the future is now i swear
then again in this love we share...
experience

love comes to those
who give it up most
and those who don't wager lose
believe it or not
you get what you got
so bring it on home to you

darling, where do we go from here?
maybe take it to who knows where
the future is now i swear
then again in this love we share...
experience

friends come and go
life is a show
someday we'll walk on air
believe it or not
you get what you got
so bring it on home from there

darling, where do we go from here?
maybe take it to who knows where
the future is now i swear
then again in this love we share ...
experience

it's pure experience
it's pure experience
it's pure experience

Listen to Experience.

(eyeneer music publishing ©2005)

She’s got great skin…

Saw the movie “The Queen” this week. I am a sucker for bio movies – having just finished writing my second biographical screenplay (or what I like to call "revisionist history").

Anyway, Helen Mirren’s performance was superbly done and she was 100% convincing of the real article. Suddenly I began thinking about Queen Elizabeth II's skin.

I got to meet HM Queen Elizabeth II & HRH Prince Philip, The Duke Of Edinburgh - back in 2002 during their Golden Jubilee visit to Victoria, BC. Under rather absurd circumstances, I was invited to the Royal event at Victoria's beautiful Town Hall. The Queen’s rather friendly “secret service” gave us the 411 on Royal protocol (i.e. do not turn your back, do not speak unless spoken to, etc.).


The Royals arrived and toured the building, then spent some time surveying the art. The Queen signed the Town Charter and then somewhat casually mingled with the guests. As Queen Elizabeth II approached me, she asked where I was from. When I told her that I was from California, HM replied, “Oh, it’s so lovely." She asked about my work and I told her that I was into entertainment and technology. The Queen nodded and appeared to smile ever so slightly.

I shook her glove as she extended it to me and looked into her eyes. Her demeanor was very pleasant, although she did seem a little bit in auto-pilot mode. Prince Philip followed closely behind, locked his stern eyes into mine - surveying me as though I were of Ragamuffin stock, and then shook my hand with a grip that would have made Bubbles proud. The Queen has lovely skin.

When inspiration strikes...

Back in the early part of the new millennium, my friends Dan & Erma hosted a massive house party in Mill Valley called "First Friday". Random musicians would show up with their respective instruments and play until the wee hours of the dawn. There was never a shortage of dancers to sway & swoon to the infectious melodies and improvisational grooves.

"First Friday" eventually became far too massive of an event to host the hordes of ecclectic folks that showed up every month. So, Dan & Erma decided to take the party "pro" and went on to create their own musical space; the wonderful Larkspur Cafe Theatre.

In a fit of inspiration, following a legendary "First Friday" jam session that lasted until the break of dawn, I went home to write and record a song based upon the evening's adventures. The ensuing song, like most that I write, came pouring out of me like gin from a still. I called it, humbly enough, “Friday Night Shuffle”.

I rang my friend (and fellow Shanghai Noodle Factory drummer) Vince Littleton to tell him that he was needed. He came over the next day, set his drums up in the living room, and proceeded to add a human rhythmic touch. While perfecting his drum part, he kept poor George Lucas' son (to whom he was giving drum lessons to at the time) waiting.

Inspired by this growing infernal racket of a creation, I called up Bobby Strickland - horn player extraordinaire - to gather a proper horn section together. I wrote the horn parts in about 10 minutes and we then laid it down on the tape. I sang & played guitars and Hammond B3 (conveniently located in my living room). Fellow Shanghai Noodle Factory bass player, Mike Sugar, sang the background vocals along with me.

Richard Fischer mixed the track at "In The Pocket" up in Forestville the following week. The result is what we call "cheesy inspiration". Wish you were there...

Enough gab, now it's time to listen to the song: Friday Night Shuffle.

(eyeneer music publishing ©2005)