tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389024512024-02-28T08:38:03.884-05:00Thom Reaves Artist BlogWords & pictures of a full-time artist thriving beyond bipolar illnessThomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-22113915498548347032015-06-28T05:09:00.001-04:002015-06-28T05:09:35.487-04:00Mania and the energy of the bipolar artist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi3a636OXU-eNczFFcGmX_oe5IAYcOYYfqZ4y5rixAauO-9H2zYwl5jZ5UZEdvFETug0Dxh_YzpJaaVTHKefitwMZd6Ad9DSGO1zuUXlVnY74oS32t1NRrTh4mKv4TKEN-KZibQ/s1600/Copyright+2014+Thom+Reaves%252C+Nyorknishes+24+inches+x+18+inches+Acrylic+on+canvas.+Photo+credit+Andrew+Wilkinson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi3a636OXU-eNczFFcGmX_oe5IAYcOYYfqZ4y5rixAauO-9H2zYwl5jZ5UZEdvFETug0Dxh_YzpJaaVTHKefitwMZd6Ad9DSGO1zuUXlVnY74oS32t1NRrTh4mKv4TKEN-KZibQ/s320/Copyright+2014+Thom+Reaves%252C+Nyorknishes+24+inches+x+18+inches+Acrylic+on+canvas.+Photo+credit+Andrew+Wilkinson.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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The ups and downs of bipolar illness can be frequent or they can come around gradually. My illness manifests its moods over long periods of time. I’ll go for a few years stable in my moods, then all of a sudden I will have a hiccup; a period of time where I will go way up or way down quickly. Lately, and untypically I’ve had to deal with going up – way up. Although the manias I experience aren’t as high as those who have bipolar illness type 1 (mine is type two called hypomania), the difference in me is still noticeable and keenly felt.<br />
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Twice, relatively recently, I experienced temporary highs; one which I didn’t notice at first and the second which was painfully apparent. The first was a day where I walked into work feeling good. I mean, FEELING REALLY GOOD! A coworker acknowledged me as I walked past and my response was a very loud “HI!” emphasized with an over-aggrandized wave. As I walked down the hall, my arms swung in broad motions and a big smile remained plastered across my face as I thought of a myriad of things that kept me happy. At some point I became aware that I was bouncing off the walls feeling a bit too good and I thought that it was not good thing. The second temporary high hurt. And I mean that literally. It hurt to feel that good. With that mania came agitation and the need to keep in motion. I could not sit still. I rocked back and forth in my seat and flexed my knees as I pondered running up and down the stairs. As I had experienced many times over my years of this illness, an energy built up within me that I felt was only being held in by my skin, and as such I felt the need to want to rip my skin off to get it out of me. This is why I say it hurts; it’s pent-up energy that can’t go anywhere. So, what can I do? Wait it out, keep taking my meds and get someone to talk to while I go through it.<br />
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How it affects me as an artist…Well, it depends on the day. If I’m in the middle of a motivated painting spree, it’s a spark to my mind, which starts flowing with idea after idea, which appear in my head like the way popcorn pops, suddenly, frequently and ever increasing.<br />
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It has been said to me that bipolar artists go through times of great production, then times of great scarcity in their work. It is certainly true of me. Currently, I am in that ‘up’ state, not in a physical mania, but more in my mind, where the ideas are flowing freely and quickly and I can’t paint quickly enough to keep up with the ideas. This is actually good for me this time around, for I have made some goals which I aim to attain during this period. I intend to milk this energy for everything I can get out of it and produce as much artwork as I can. (I’ve recently painted 3 paintings in 3 weeks). That is one of the ways I’m learning to deal with my gradual ups and downs; by taking hold of them and using their inertia to my own ends.<br />
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If you are bipolar or know someone who is, how do you/they get through manias?<br />
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Please see my art blog at <a href="http://www.thomreaves.com/blog">www.thomreaves.com/blog</a>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-21767893714856554552013-12-19T04:16:00.001-05:002015-05-25T01:33:27.117-04:00Sammy Rhodes' 6 ways to love a depressed personThis is a post from Sammy Rhodes at <a href="http://www.sammyrhodes.co">http://www.sammyrhodes.co/embracingawkward/13922768</a> called
6 Ways to Love a Depressed Person, in a post from Nov 22, 2013.
I think his article would be very helpful to anyone in this situation. I know I would find it to be so if when I was in a depressed state my loved ones heeded this message.
There is one line that really sticks out to me and it meshes well with the spirit of what my art represents, "...if you listen closely enough to laughter you can hear the echoes of hope."
Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-3526226509352391022013-11-14T22:48:00.001-05:002013-11-14T23:18:06.208-05:00Icon painting #2<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This is my second day of icon painting with my instructor, Peter Pearson at the Holy Cross Monastery. Here are the next in process photos of an icon of St. Michael the Archangel.</span></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z4M44hCZ8HPept6UNt3f8rSxw_zXfOBj3WAIDZWaxD3khfAOM99MkB_9sp_CvKpdHUa-yt4LJoWcf0Rt0KpfT4ttcwPv8v9eOngwf8RFjjBWn2TWHcz7cEAlcF5E_kQOFvLm9g/s640/blogger-image-273293645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z4M44hCZ8HPept6UNt3f8rSxw_zXfOBj3WAIDZWaxD3khfAOM99MkB_9sp_CvKpdHUa-yt4LJoWcf0Rt0KpfT4ttcwPv8v9eOngwf8RFjjBWn2TWHcz7cEAlcF5E_kQOFvLm9g/s640/blogger-image-273293645.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lCF5IgJ55J0XjQzHREDY3MCUPmLk8nXBauk-2T1NDz92FjXF8aQ3FrCxjXaa_8onExwW-cMc2S7uDfgRQ2B0Z0T4EFFlxTrJlzsH0MigxNA-RvN0HlPVgTGeM739dqkbygMRmg/s640/blogger-image--1713621027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVhv9JL2jmz4bEdNQxG1Njlu3Wzm-_j_dYljiDnAhR7bm5A3a9piiGUgAnxntjBBXhFbPq8grOIX2OCSwTmGQc5sHtD6KjFWCGWTIiFDwbBE407N4nYY75YB4cPcekJ7GyQ6oEg/s640/blogger-image--1754282463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVhv9JL2jmz4bEdNQxG1Njlu3Wzm-_j_dYljiDnAhR7bm5A3a9piiGUgAnxntjBBXhFbPq8grOIX2OCSwTmGQc5sHtD6KjFWCGWTIiFDwbBE407N4nYY75YB4cPcekJ7GyQ6oEg/s640/blogger-image--1754282463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ2JL0yHcRiz0gXpGVsz_jaV9tdLIT4PaiuqucVp3cmsjljzXZ-FBVv4VEYFHL-MvAY8xE5CLi2OkkpZPlLQb6BnQJbtL7r8p7irMnI6qYARsBP8AnPmFYKKs-e5ocqwI5xSGpg/s640/blogger-image-1338867994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ2JL0yHcRiz0gXpGVsz_jaV9tdLIT4PaiuqucVp3cmsjljzXZ-FBVv4VEYFHL-MvAY8xE5CLi2OkkpZPlLQb6BnQJbtL7r8p7irMnI6qYARsBP8AnPmFYKKs-e5ocqwI5xSGpg/s640/blogger-image-1338867994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeUrdM7diSCHp9kxwuUHNzxGE9rVnUzt9OuyRWWfugfqDTuMeURzbmnLMPGos-_ARqApAqbHXretnivacWNN0lvlHUU7-OQZmjSnVkFdgLGOz2M6fRiLpzzlokrQU1MCGi2c0jQ/s640/blogger-image--1210813826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeUrdM7diSCHp9kxwuUHNzxGE9rVnUzt9OuyRWWfugfqDTuMeURzbmnLMPGos-_ARqApAqbHXretnivacWNN0lvlHUU7-OQZmjSnVkFdgLGOz2M6fRiLpzzlokrQU1MCGi2c0jQ/s640/blogger-image--1210813826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAsbGrXkxjamx_IxD8i6iwWpJ6L_vZZctg2qGQ2YZBFJe8w8MuYsm8vMrWCi_ROLvw-VmRNiYkNbU8L5jya4zhZzdBBRaYupDl9NErC0VRoUyXe0gZmaCb2Ta7mljfSOwAj5MFw/s640/blogger-image-130841714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span class="s2">I </span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">am staying for the week at the Holy Cross Monastery in West Park NY</span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, where some may know that I am considering becoming a monk of the order</span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. I’ve come here this time for a retreat called ‘A Brush with God’, a retreat taught by Peter Pearson, a renowned iconographer, priest and teacher. You can see his website at www.nb.net/~pearson. I am learning the art of painting an icon. What a fascinating history icons have had and</span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">they have </span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">very specific rules to painting them. Some of the techniques I am learning have reawakened me to techniques I used to use in my painting, (like glazing, which I stopped doing for some reason) while some are totally new and are ones which I will start to use. The most important thing I’ve learned about painting an icon is that it is to be done as a prayer</span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, and in an attitude of submitting your painting to God. It doesn’t matter if the final image is “beautiful” or not, it’s all about your attitude. </span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I thought I’d share the stages we’ve done so far. We are painting an icon of St. Michael the Archangel.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAsbGrXkxjamx_IxD8i6iwWpJ6L_vZZctg2qGQ2YZBFJe8w8MuYsm8vMrWCi_ROLvw-VmRNiYkNbU8L5jya4zhZzdBBRaYupDl9NErC0VRoUyXe0gZmaCb2Ta7mljfSOwAj5MFw/s640/blogger-image-130841714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5tq6pTcFbUMZGtlTv1cYr9x16fkmLim_m1yvfsZT8_i2ESX_AWl18IMc7poi7L8G8Bzz3nJ2U9akBZ-QFT0gp_u0jfvJVOuvJxCvkB3Bum_qMSp0LtulNA1fIUL37oW7HNx8Mg/s640/blogger-image--666061365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5tq6pTcFbUMZGtlTv1cYr9x16fkmLim_m1yvfsZT8_i2ESX_AWl18IMc7poi7L8G8Bzz3nJ2U9akBZ-QFT0gp_u0jfvJVOuvJxCvkB3Bum_qMSp0LtulNA1fIUL37oW7HNx8Mg/s640/blogger-image--666061365.jpg"></a></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAsbGrXkxjamx_IxD8i6iwWpJ6L_vZZctg2qGQ2YZBFJe8w8MuYsm8vMrWCi_ROLvw-VmRNiYkNbU8L5jya4zhZzdBBRaYupDl9NErC0VRoUyXe0gZmaCb2Ta7mljfSOwAj5MFw/s640/blogger-image-130841714.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeUrdM7diSCHp9kxwuUHNzxGE9rVnUzt9OuyRWWfugfqDTuMeURzbmnLMPGos-_ARqApAqbHXretnivacWNN0lvlHUU7-OQZmjSnVkFdgLGOz2M6fRiLpzzlokrQU1MCGi2c0jQ/s640/blogger-image--1210813826.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIiamtXr6PzS2Yx_ciycZy3NtiqE54x6AFIiOatOaHORyZCqzcKd_lfv_KNN_0TzzD7Qunzc61ZKfmXkHJZE_sxLB82gfVmVB33rFWIb1OYhHy7kgJLt2fYsLk0LnWU45P0DcqQ/s640/blogger-image-1363437603.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH7Un82U4PM7X9i4aTvHxG_z3GohGJ_vVbZ8GrFh3HaOSWaLZ_mFY8t2M4IiIp4vCbQXFxa27dTjot2Acf7A3tvdiWDuh4ZdA1FdW7ApPknLKBA3AMQhz93yzVBEJXPTD2yUOy6g/s640/blogger-image--751493305.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQ2JL0yHcRiz0gXpGVsz_jaV9tdLIT4PaiuqucVp3cmsjljzXZ-FBVv4VEYFHL-MvAY8xE5CLi2OkkpZPlLQb6BnQJbtL7r8p7irMnI6qYARsBP8AnPmFYKKs-e5ocqwI5xSGpg/s640/blogger-image-1338867994.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVhv9JL2jmz4bEdNQxG1Njlu3Wzm-_j_dYljiDnAhR7bm5A3a9piiGUgAnxntjBBXhFbPq8grOIX2OCSwTmGQc5sHtD6KjFWCGWTIiFDwbBE407N4nYY75YB4cPcekJ7GyQ6oEg/s640/blogger-image--1754282463.jpg"></div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKH7dKCHr59Pyhjvj82X_M2TJv8HMiXUFEOq9yW0YEe_46MAhI1VOT_BJX_ov3BqQm9C1UFojaTejhlOiKzzKrTfg2MVs21h22AXQQtBBKPOW3ImUpevQ7I4ZLpVIUC0o1KMRhyphenhyphenQ/s640/blogger-image-470140002.jpg"></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-65556707759677455222013-11-08T04:22:00.000-05:002013-11-08T04:22:01.774-05:00The Happy Pens Have Arrived! What a great gift for the Holidays! Free Shipping!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9u1Wjig9MwQv7UFGNEDmsyRJ7BEXv8aAKnRoChgr9TKgPseM4oRdchEJ8V3cSe62V8WmGcFJd_o_QAvwyPBTdU1yGlMNTnylN_SimVidcwFrp9fU1hKcWD1ztYdSjnVOGAkaiw/s1600/Happy-Vignette.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9u1Wjig9MwQv7UFGNEDmsyRJ7BEXv8aAKnRoChgr9TKgPseM4oRdchEJ8V3cSe62V8WmGcFJd_o_QAvwyPBTdU1yGlMNTnylN_SimVidcwFrp9fU1hKcWD1ztYdSjnVOGAkaiw/s400/Happy-Vignette.tif" /></a></div>
Guess what time it is! GUESS WHAT TIME IT IS! It's time to get moving on your Holiday gifts and a great gift is a 'Happy' Rollerball Pen, Business Card Case, or the 2 piece Duo, at <a href="http://thomreaves.com/collections/60508">thomreaves.com</a>, designed by Thom Reaves for ACME Studio.
This is my first pen design for ACME Studio and I'm so proud to have my work included with the likes of other famous designers, architects and artists. ACME Studio fine writing instruments make great gifts for anyone who loves a fine writing instrument that feels great in your hand and writes especially smooth. Acme pens and card cases are collectible with a hand-applied lacquer finish. Each pen comes in a custom, embossed, foam-lined tin in a black slipcase with one ink cartridge. The Happy Business Card Case comes in a black slipcase and holds 12-14 business cards or 2-3 credit cards.
You can order right from <a href="http://thomreaves.com/collections/60508">thomreaves.com</a>. My supplies are limited, so order now for the Holidays! Free shipping!
Happy Thom
Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-62400447335842159982013-11-01T04:40:00.000-04:002015-05-25T01:20:35.868-04:00Interview with Natasha Sherman: Artist with Bipolar illnessThis is a TV interview I did for the Natasha Show with Natasha Sherman, regarding my living as an artist with Bipolar illness.
<a href="http://vimeo.com/10613186">http://vimeo.com/10613186</a><iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/10613186?byline=0" width="500" height="375" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/10613186">Natasha</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/princetontv">Princeton Community Television</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> #bipolarartist, Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-4523688525499384812013-06-06T04:17:00.002-04:002015-05-25T01:21:30.883-04:00Thom Reaves now has two blogsThanks for visiting I now have a second blog. Whereas this one focuses on my art in relation to my bipolar illness, my newer blog focuses more on my artwork only. Please visit the "<a href="http://www.thomreaves.com/blog">Imagery of Joy Blog!</a>" at <a href="http://www.thomreaves.com/blog">www.thomreaves.com</a>. See you there. :-)Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-52752041596243439542012-01-11T21:15:00.004-05:002012-01-11T21:15:54.776-05:00A French PeacockHappy New Year to everyone! Just thought I’d post a new work- my first finished piece of 2012. Paon – French for peacock – its peculiar, I guess, that I always seem to like to use French words for my pieces. There’s an air about France that I am attracted to. Its actually the dream of France or fantasy of France, since I have never been there. It’s one that’s on my itinerary. Till then I’m gonna keep dreaming.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOUwk_N8c7ruxIcSG8EehNkgp9xZZTpy8fHsJSBQ5X9Z84PnaXLmgim6loxlEhpj_Y-zWcxdaxKRV36T1MzrBiE7nIupz8zQUEPa5JtHSl0X5Gz_gvVRN0BVaUhtC0RDopiTkdg/s1600/PAON_LR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOUwk_N8c7ruxIcSG8EehNkgp9xZZTpy8fHsJSBQ5X9Z84PnaXLmgim6loxlEhpj_Y-zWcxdaxKRV36T1MzrBiE7nIupz8zQUEPa5JtHSl0X5Gz_gvVRN0BVaUhtC0RDopiTkdg/s400/PAON_LR.jpg" /></a></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-45338133214709043722011-09-10T03:05:00.002-04:002011-09-10T03:07:55.286-04:00Remembering The World Trade CenterHere is a sketch of the World Trade Center I drew back during my New York years - around 1989 - 1990. It was drawn from one of the piers at the end of Christopher St. I thought it appropriate in order to remember the September 11th attacks and all who died that day.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KV83HtrTfhuYDG0Nf8zvub4u2bJx3Pq-iuBnWZ9y76dl7FNqd2ZRE3OOWxqQOBR2qfS6Lm7_5pYHPHzUnnuw3Y9GSCzuOA9gIP0RkB0SJrD4jqIUnEJZV9U9KF8O0FqTFaP3Nw/s1600/WTC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KV83HtrTfhuYDG0Nf8zvub4u2bJx3Pq-iuBnWZ9y76dl7FNqd2ZRE3OOWxqQOBR2qfS6Lm7_5pYHPHzUnnuw3Y9GSCzuOA9gIP0RkB0SJrD4jqIUnEJZV9U9KF8O0FqTFaP3Nw/s400/WTC.jpg" /></a></div>
Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-19914212731067171902011-08-05T12:52:00.000-04:002012-04-17T02:14:41.443-04:00Coffee Art PosterJust got a photo of a commissioned piece I did a few years ago. I was inspired by Capiello on this one.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy6AKexN5rSOmikX0l2WwbgqUwuf9tFwdn8N0WRxu0p8Wk6RFh8-mjTaIz2Qh-p8Ck_qxGezFPpLDWqtpTND02-QTeLlWDD0DJXAadGAusgf_p8lN-WypwPn0pJbs2pUNs0lW6A/s1600/Espresso2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyy6AKexN5rSOmikX0l2WwbgqUwuf9tFwdn8N0WRxu0p8Wk6RFh8-mjTaIz2Qh-p8Ck_qxGezFPpLDWqtpTND02-QTeLlWDD0DJXAadGAusgf_p8lN-WypwPn0pJbs2pUNs0lW6A/s400/Espresso2.jpg" /></a></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-11905849223704535482011-07-18T22:52:00.002-04:002011-07-18T22:56:29.613-04:00Fruit TartsIts funny how my art sometimes does what it wants to. My original sketches for these two paintings looked nothing like the finished product. Anyway, I'd been wanting to do a fruit tart series for some time.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnv_W9WFbxle7dI0vdqSJf7YUmB5YHn5GRe63qoXu7L1uw2vuQ32FTU6KAw948g2JsASDt6lffYkut1gJvoox3Xv0pLh3tABBkffxfF3m1lUBnXAbw4YbUGvGLWw5urBgdEbxxA/s1600/23RICHE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnv_W9WFbxle7dI0vdqSJf7YUmB5YHn5GRe63qoXu7L1uw2vuQ32FTU6KAw948g2JsASDt6lffYkut1gJvoox3Xv0pLh3tABBkffxfF3m1lUBnXAbw4YbUGvGLWw5urBgdEbxxA/s400/23RICHE.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkOPH6OkcgKNHoYJpr_ZJPVE6bQ6MHRjDsBbHSo8byFAVRnzGDSQLAtfzzAAJ_z1D5E8C2w1oqZJ_mYrIvOtLo_lhV6bjBaB4-Zu4jX_V4ZzSTeqIwG4a6i1bZh14o4jMJiHweg/s1600/22FRAIS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkOPH6OkcgKNHoYJpr_ZJPVE6bQ6MHRjDsBbHSo8byFAVRnzGDSQLAtfzzAAJ_z1D5E8C2w1oqZJ_mYrIvOtLo_lhV6bjBaB4-Zu4jX_V4ZzSTeqIwG4a6i1bZh14o4jMJiHweg/s400/22FRAIS.jpg" /></a></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-45621339085059678292011-07-18T21:37:00.000-04:002011-07-18T21:37:45.295-04:00Some new workThese 2 new pieces I am hoping to have licensed for a national company.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0YL6BInTkqIx9HCDCwmGfQ9SFy6H1j_-UgTxYsqVV-6t9_Z3lvwNN_a16QQycU-P3uWhk7iVp2Ag6N_zw2ywibwp9lo6jvgH1WAKEnZu3F8hBRiXcn7RBnfCLz00-gZyIvb-iA/s1600/20EAUDELUXE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0YL6BInTkqIx9HCDCwmGfQ9SFy6H1j_-UgTxYsqVV-6t9_Z3lvwNN_a16QQycU-P3uWhk7iVp2Ag6N_zw2ywibwp9lo6jvgH1WAKEnZu3F8hBRiXcn7RBnfCLz00-gZyIvb-iA/s400/20EAUDELUXE.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPlaEJz8qPlX1DK3jQJmy_pkxn8vnREolIY_s4T6v7rnd5KVAztdkTCJk46twycXPFug4uS3J_r8iE5wET50T6wdb-PwQi36ov4ypG4dbM3GiEiGrGUJlc4lYnbacOKS_r9SN5g/s1600/21EAUDEFLEUR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPlaEJz8qPlX1DK3jQJmy_pkxn8vnREolIY_s4T6v7rnd5KVAztdkTCJk46twycXPFug4uS3J_r8iE5wET50T6wdb-PwQi36ov4ypG4dbM3GiEiGrGUJlc4lYnbacOKS_r9SN5g/s400/21EAUDEFLEUR.jpg" /></a></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-60244787214011521552010-09-30T01:04:00.001-04:002012-04-18T01:35:47.338-04:00Thom Reaves Bookstore: Art of Joy<div style="text-align:left; width:650px"><object id="myWidget" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.blurb.com/assets/embed.swf?book_id=2051930&locale=en_US" width="650" height="400"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="movie" value="http://www.blurb.com/assets/embed.swf?book_id=2051930&locale=en_US"></param><a target="_new" href="http://www.blurb.com/books/preview/2051930?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget"><img src="http://bookshow.blurb.com/bookshow/cache/P2817178/md/wcover_2.png"></img></a></object><div style="display:block;"><a href="http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2051930?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget" target="_blank" style="margin:12px 3px;">Art of Joy THOM REAVES</a> | <a href="http://www.blurb.com/landing_pages/bookshow?ce=blurb_ew&utm_source=widget" target="_blank" style="margin:12px 3px;">Make Your Own Book</a></div></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-56297432705300816052010-04-12T21:22:00.004-04:002012-04-17T02:14:06.724-04:00Biblical WatercolorsLately, I’ve been inspired to do some painting using watercolors. I don’t consider myself to be a master of the medium by any means, but I enjoy using them. <br />It seems I find a lot of satisfaction in biblical subject matter, for I keep going back to it. They’re the stories I grew up with.<br /> <br />My first picture is that of Jacob wrestling what most call an ‘angel’. I prefer not to call the person an angel because the verse says that he wrestled with a man who, from the language, can be inferred as being God. For this reason, there are no wings. Whenever I’ve seen this depicted in paintings, the wrestlers are usually both standing with their arms locked. When I think of wresting however, I think of a down-and-dirty, on the ground power match, so in my depiction, that’s how I made it. It’s not a realistic pose by any means, but I think it shows some emotion.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mRAf4CA-QldBxFjl_THpBF4j6-5ZhTpB8lURwmwzn-q2hyEs2QTO5JHheHGm-8oYeyyPkMkbU8MHafQeixbsAM-KE_XejMtdDZ41Y_KINlgUX21YVzYQJzp7Hnrfv1xDm5Azcg/s1600/Jacob.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mRAf4CA-QldBxFjl_THpBF4j6-5ZhTpB8lURwmwzn-q2hyEs2QTO5JHheHGm-8oYeyyPkMkbU8MHafQeixbsAM-KE_XejMtdDZ41Y_KINlgUX21YVzYQJzp7Hnrfv1xDm5Azcg/s400/Jacob.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459427484521885090" /></a><br /><br /><br />My second picture was inspired by Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments. I had always wanted to do a picture of Moses but never did, so here is one. It depicts Moses removing his shoes in front of the Burning Bush.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDTAw8rnSD2gZQ_lTZ-PQO1gRFUtwTrwWmtvDIQO3n8lyPBTT7p5U472TLTV93qmWYR7FFlj7o5VjPXLddar8WGQxv9voiiFYrre6bRiHPpz_t2CiY-QDpDliNsYnZ9X2_7vJjw/s1600/Moses.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDTAw8rnSD2gZQ_lTZ-PQO1gRFUtwTrwWmtvDIQO3n8lyPBTT7p5U472TLTV93qmWYR7FFlj7o5VjPXLddar8WGQxv9voiiFYrre6bRiHPpz_t2CiY-QDpDliNsYnZ9X2_7vJjw/s400/Moses.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459427489532506082" /></a>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-76972963732314821102010-03-18T22:00:00.004-04:002012-04-17T00:49:26.598-04:00My contribution to Quark Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi1iCCV7CYivRh060G0UNIaKJi9x2CLpv0EJkpL6ZTlaxkKgjBmRaAKvrPqD6h10466uWx5CBJrJZx6eJ54uGgI-PSvA-SxbNDkXRjPJ77jpy4tfQPKOLH1pol5HT-JdgUE4r9w/s1600-h/Quark+Park+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDi1iCCV7CYivRh060G0UNIaKJi9x2CLpv0EJkpL6ZTlaxkKgjBmRaAKvrPqD6h10466uWx5CBJrJZx6eJ54uGgI-PSvA-SxbNDkXRjPJ77jpy4tfQPKOLH1pol5HT-JdgUE4r9w/s400/Quark+Park+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450164526750233714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqbj3HFpLCF85bbykb5Kobl-HO5GJVcLNOul2GmDElJO_jfvXU_xvIZ5eNKXPPlhxyM0rizpAkc4uNCsAbQ1BAsDP1L3uK5ltQY3zd4s3VI__i1e2II5pgK481IkaeiM_UB7w-w/s1600-h/Quark+Park+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqbj3HFpLCF85bbykb5Kobl-HO5GJVcLNOul2GmDElJO_jfvXU_xvIZ5eNKXPPlhxyM0rizpAkc4uNCsAbQ1BAsDP1L3uK5ltQY3zd4s3VI__i1e2II5pgK481IkaeiM_UB7w-w/s400/Quark+Park+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450164522315856818" /></a><br />I haven't posted in awhile, but I'm creating. As regards to bipolar, when you're happy, its great. There just seems to be much more to dissect and pick apart when you're down. I'd much rather be up - and I am. I'm managing my illness and that's the goal.<br /><br />The other reason to post today are these photos of Quark Park: A collaboration of science art and architecture. This was sculpture garden,an art installation built in October 2006 in Princeton, NJ in an empty lot. It was a spectacular venue and I'm glad to have been a part of it, although I came in at the eleventh hour. I was given the opportunity to paint an oil can/fountain to be titled The Cosmology of Cosmetology. I painted a very fun image of Albert Einstein on a Cosmopolitan cover. For the life of me I can't remember what the rationale for this was (It wasn't my idea)but it was great to paint. Here's some photos taken by Chris Tengi.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-58771242201981956012009-10-12T21:26:00.003-04:002012-04-17T02:17:34.144-04:00Southborough: A drama of families and the city. My latest creative endeavor<a href="http://www.southboroughproject.webs.com"></a>Who says an artist has to have just one outlet of creativity? I admit I haven't been doing much painting lately, but I have been filling my artistic time with a major creative endeavor. I have written a pilot for a soap opera! That's right, a dramatic serial. It was written years ago, but I came to a place where I said that I need to stop talking about it and just do it. So, I'm doing it.<br />We haven't started filming the story at this time, but we have created our first promo for the show by showing "portraits" of characters, short bits to give the viewer a hint some of the personalities of the show. <br />You can find out more about the show at my website www.southboroughproject.webs.com. <br />We are looking for donations to help make the show if you should be so inclined. There is a button on the website for that. I hope you enjoy what we've done so far. Enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnZSlBUB81s&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YnZSlBUB81s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="230"></embed></object>
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<iframe width="340" height="230" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XBWaZrBBXsg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-67495562273382399122009-08-11T23:45:00.001-04:002009-08-11T23:45:36.368-04:00Becoming NormalBecoming normal; it’s like just waking up one day and realizing “I’m back to myself”. That’s honestly, how it is. You don’t feel the change as you’re going through it; it just happens and there you are – back to where you should be. I know normalcy is different for different people. For me, as much as I am outgoing and friendly, I am just the same, quiet and introspective. It’s about 50/50. My doctor, my therapy and my medicines have brought me back. I’m here, life is LIFE, and I’m home; back to normal.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-60184825150145918432009-08-05T21:22:00.002-04:002009-08-05T21:36:44.377-04:00Being on the other end of Mental IllnessA close friend of mine recently tried to commit suicide. I was the one who took him to the hospital. Although he did not injure himself very badly, it was imperative that he go to a place where he could be helped mentally as well as physically. As he was driven away in an ambulance I started to cry. It was at this point that the realization came to me about mental illness and its effect on loved ones. I was now on the other end of mental illness; one having to watch as this disease saps the sanity from a person’s mind and chronologically sets a course for its self destruction.<br /> <br />My helplessness was tangible. I could do nothing but watch as they drove off down the road trying to make myself feel better knowing that he was going to get help. MENTAL ILLNESS IS EVIL!<br /><br />He’s home now and the combination of medicines, therapy and a lot of prayer are helping him to start from scratch in managing his situation. There is hope. I've learned that for myself and now him.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-60014682034131023702009-07-09T00:39:00.000-04:002009-07-09T00:40:08.216-04:00Hospitalization - AbandonmentOne thing that has come up in my life regarding episodes leading to hospitalization is that of abandonment. I have the pleasure of having very close relatives and friends whom I can count on through thick and thin, yet acquaintances that couldn’t care less about my problems, bipolar or otherwise. I am sad to say that that statement was turned on its head, and that turn slapped me hard. I sat in that hospital under a cloud of despair, hanging on to anything that gave me hope; anything that I could grasp to prevent the yearning for the void of death from consuming me. I needed someone. I needed someone who loved me to tell me so – to come to me and tell me so and what I got was “I can’t come”, “I can’t bear to see you there with those people”. Talk about darkness! It was one time that I could say unselfishly that it was about me and I was handed a reason that was about them. These are people who I love and whom I thought loved me. It made my darkness even darker. The only ones I could count on were my parents and those in the hospital along with me. I was abandoned. Now I know how it feels. It makes me feel even worth less than the worthlessness I already feel. It makes me realize that all the “I love you”-s and “I’ll be there”-s perhaps don’t mean anything at all – or at least not as much as one had hoped.<br /><br />“Look at it from their side” I tell myself. A mental hospital to them is straight-jackets, padded cells and people screaming and banging their heads on walls. What else are they to think, for that’s all they see and are shown. Television, radio, history in general has given us this vision. And they’re scared to see us in this environment, so they say – broken, literally at the end of our rope. I must say, it’s not like that! Not that it was a pleasant experience by any means, but it was for the circumstances of my being there and the things needed to help my mind become even; not for any of those perceptions.<br /><br />Going forward, I do not know how this shall affect me. It cut deeply. It ripped a hole with a jagged edge; one which I can’t say can be mended. I will remember. How else can I protect myself? Which leads me back around to isolating. Conundrum.<br /><br />So where’s the hope? I guess people aren’t perfect. And there is a saying about not throwing the baby out with the bath-water.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-50430005772341772212009-07-03T01:09:00.003-04:002009-07-03T01:27:56.977-04:00My BookI've had alot of time on my hands; time to recoup, regroup and get myself better so that I can get moving with my life again. I feel almost embarrassed to be talking about depression again, but depression is morbid and that is the tunnel that I am working my way out of right now. I should not be up this late writing this right now, as I am disregarding one of the first rules of my recovery - to stay on a schedule and get enough sleep. My excuse is that I felt that I had to write something - that's it(Operative word here is Excuse). I understand that my manias heve been a bit more apparent the last few months (like Easter Sunday I decided in a split second that I was going to come home, pack my clothes and drive off to who knows where, forever). In that same manner I've decided that I'm going to make a book about me and my art. I've spent the last 2 days retrieving photographs. It started out to focus just on my posters, but I'd like to talk about myself and what I go through in this life that is so highly spiced with bipolar illness; something like I do in this blog already, but with a bit more detail. I suppose that someone may want a copy at some time, though that's not the reason I'm making it. I kinda want something "substantial"; something I can hold in my hands. I'll definitely make an announcement when its available.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-60085181034715739572009-06-25T19:02:00.003-04:002009-06-25T19:18:18.763-04:00Hospitalization post #2: RestrictionsI was not very happy to be in the hospital. In fact, I was downright depressed over that fact alone. There were many restrictions. For one patients were not allowed to go outside, among other things. In this frustration I started to write my feelings. This was how I felt at the time:<br /><br /><strong>Animal in a cage.<br />Impulses of rage.<br />Imbalance in the brain.<br />Depression, guilt and shame.<br />Branded like a cow.<br />Not nuts before till now.<br />Herding us around.<br />No straps or strings allowed.</strong><br /><br />It was rough those first few days. I must say though, that it has helped. Funny how no matter what I'm going through, I'm still creating in some way.Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-76233655522397409602009-06-25T01:11:00.002-04:002009-06-25T01:16:13.394-04:00Interview during 3 Guys Art Exhibition<object width="440" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ikjh3SPp-Qs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ikjh3SPp-Qs&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-13227475542038525912009-06-24T23:05:00.004-04:002009-06-24T23:46:16.531-04:00My Recent Hospitalization<div><div><br /><div>Boy oh boy, alot happens in just a few week's time. My June 1st post spoke about my mixed state of mania and depression. Sometimes what is going on inside me is more apparent to others than it is to myself. In the June 1st post I mentioned that thoughts of death come upon me - first about other things and then on to myself. Well, that is a bad sign. Whenever those thoughts even have the inkling of starting, I'm already shifting in to a bad place. The bad place was apparent to my doctor and he quickly had me whisked away to a Behavioral Hospital, that's "mental institution" in plain language. This is where I've been the past two weeks. Its the second time in my life I have been hospitalized and I must say, I thought that I was long past the thought of ever needing to go there again. Its not a place where people are tied up in straight jackets and in padded rooms - at least that's not where I was. I don't have to go into all the details, but even though its not the greatest place to be, it has helped me and I feel much better now; much more like myself. How does this effect me as an artist? That's one of the main reasons I started this blog is to write about this darkness, this hell and how it relates to the joys of creating. In many, many artistic people, these two things are closely intertwined.</div><br /><div>I had some freedom and although I could work with pencils no longer than 3", I was able to do some artwork. </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xQK-Dghd4uzXzZ99uLK2cP9SNrfdpcdkdmoRM67oralLdNAdQDs2VC7MHwidUUVvgzc0R3uJ3E-BWHZH8XXq7oWGLNLzDJUkeNnYb-9oyGJdgxEanEKNx8ObEmMTWfSMnUh85Q/s1600-h/Hospital+Bush.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351105518223838802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 288px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xQK-Dghd4uzXzZ99uLK2cP9SNrfdpcdkdmoRM67oralLdNAdQDs2VC7MHwidUUVvgzc0R3uJ3E-BWHZH8XXq7oWGLNLzDJUkeNnYb-9oyGJdgxEanEKNx8ObEmMTWfSMnUh85Q/s400/Hospital+Bush.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This is a large bush that was right outside my window. I was inspired by it somehow. It reminded me of Moses and the Burning Bush. I think I may make a painting of that. Through the window when it rained, the bush looked as if its colors were running - melting almost. That image I will retain because I want to paint it as well.</div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOglOyKGmyPkwcv0GxlXu2QNNBiTdQ81kt6mRtCYYCcKDJ6G1qavDh7Awl3vlNR754WEBqbT3HQjODhPldK4ah-FEGeKrCbpHapvh2C55y66hChpbnyIerN0w21xEDihYVQYP-mA/s1600-h/Hospital+CrazyEights.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351105524209657106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOglOyKGmyPkwcv0GxlXu2QNNBiTdQ81kt6mRtCYYCcKDJ6G1qavDh7Awl3vlNR754WEBqbT3HQjODhPldK4ah-FEGeKrCbpHapvh2C55y66hChpbnyIerN0w21xEDihYVQYP-mA/s400/Hospital+CrazyEights.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>There was free time and quite an array of "characters". Here there was a game of spades being played, but I thought I'd be cheeky and call it "Crazy Eights".</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtuDyHkzkdkzetHBecyrsgJjxvCyoRJYC684KDUQrKOiz-ati3fOjFdCqL3bewruMN-XkO3GM-b25s9AX88ZJFIRQBmBPVh146QC_UMwJR-VF5cp0bSkbi8CwYIgdiWoQV9_hvA/s1600-h/Hospital+LonelyLunch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351105529043227154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgtuDyHkzkdkzetHBecyrsgJjxvCyoRJYC684KDUQrKOiz-ati3fOjFdCqL3bewruMN-XkO3GM-b25s9AX88ZJFIRQBmBPVh146QC_UMwJR-VF5cp0bSkbi8CwYIgdiWoQV9_hvA/s400/Hospital+LonelyLunch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqXOTtb7704ro4KaYasgxmf0GjVdwV1I9k1xlxb6-lkWYtfd1xzV6-o_25PqxPyjrJw4lZLCGjCE6vY_fyzykEy_ZS2cd2TnVcBWqxtetNBZrInmYy3AWYM28_RtN4BC2p8KLgA/s1600-h/Hospital+Gediera.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351105532379326210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 343px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqXOTtb7704ro4KaYasgxmf0GjVdwV1I9k1xlxb6-lkWYtfd1xzV6-o_25PqxPyjrJw4lZLCGjCE6vY_fyzykEy_ZS2cd2TnVcBWqxtetNBZrInmYy3AWYM28_RtN4BC2p8KLgA/s400/Hospital+Gediera.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>As a side note, It was so wonderful to see people come in so sad & dejected or angry and within a few days with medication, their spirits lifted. It was just a wonderful transformation.</div></div></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-70350202604494278192009-06-06T03:19:00.004-04:002009-06-06T03:37:06.875-04:00My Sketch Book Pages<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7LqHd0qxKpgkDfz7GKq-lSKW0XedTTvxywWdujWC17Pgs7VcTHU7LuxDEYZf-JrT-L-3EdFa3DobjOMDiN5VSNIhvFoESOMqk3_lYQGU32Q_eVKqVFKIbuEqCEfyZM1I-Mpegw/s1600-h/Sketch+Raven+Fountain+6-24-01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344114275496884498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 259px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7LqHd0qxKpgkDfz7GKq-lSKW0XedTTvxywWdujWC17Pgs7VcTHU7LuxDEYZf-JrT-L-3EdFa3DobjOMDiN5VSNIhvFoESOMqk3_lYQGU32Q_eVKqVFKIbuEqCEfyZM1I-Mpegw/s400/Sketch+Raven+Fountain+6-24-01.jpg" border="0" /></a> My sketchbooks have always been pretty dear to me. They pretty much document all of my ideas at different times in my life. Its funny to look back through them and remember all of the crazy ideas I've come up with aver the years. <div><br /><div>I have a ritual with my sketchbooks; that I will start by using the pages from the front, then I will turn the book upside down and over and start from the other end as well, meeting in the middle. I don't remember when I started this, but I've done it for years. I've also consisdered my sketch books to be kinda 'sacred territory'. I've had people offer me money to buy pages from them because they liked how much was going on in them, but to no avail. "Eeeekk! I would think. "That would be Sacriledge!" Its like cutting out a piece of history. They're my babies.</div><div></div><div>Anyway, I've changed my mind. I did a sketch of a fountain years ago which is where I met my "special someone" and I'm cutting it out and giving it as a gift. I must admit there's still a part of me that's cringing at the thought, but as a gift it's perfect.</div><div></div>Here's the sketch, plus another example of pages.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfK1nYZTzVry2ynbMMQV-lAXWxE_G3jRdTzvOzDwU9PiaRabvzW6sfRBPTxJwfGY9rTOMTka_R9ceI8qyFpRfnv4Pe-wwymWyA-e238iPRCOUnq70JYuH2AkTfFz0fQcQgk7TcQ/s1600-h/Sketch+Random-Trento+etc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344114269078991282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfK1nYZTzVry2ynbMMQV-lAXWxE_G3jRdTzvOzDwU9PiaRabvzW6sfRBPTxJwfGY9rTOMTka_R9ceI8qyFpRfnv4Pe-wwymWyA-e238iPRCOUnq70JYuH2AkTfFz0fQcQgk7TcQ/s400/Sketch+Random-Trento+etc.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38902451.post-4875122902625735202009-06-01T02:45:00.009-04:002009-06-01T03:33:54.547-04:00Young Thom Reaves: Master of Paper Dolls<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL7LEdeeSd6VuzUgYMvrGj9CUHuBF5k1UNWKIjhyNBk-JsyS3xBiOIPBytF3L1sptdTDlmWDjWRZzYitFz7vmSEWo2Hv2zVUGl7S0GkrMMemw1r-wCMrj2d_kN6A_lg0RCAD4mg/s1600-h/PaperDolls3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342253868804500482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 393px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPL7LEdeeSd6VuzUgYMvrGj9CUHuBF5k1UNWKIjhyNBk-JsyS3xBiOIPBytF3L1sptdTDlmWDjWRZzYitFz7vmSEWo2Hv2zVUGl7S0GkrMMemw1r-wCMrj2d_kN6A_lg0RCAD4mg/s400/PaperDolls3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJETdTX4CfI5tZgoMEUkp-8dChnTgyOwCxylu3c2ceEZxKuzlXkMQacvveaUMTffTXAcCa21T0q-6uKzMb3eEsghcforD4vdNKXgSzNYbYeRjBmVGv1LLW-m7nM0H0Yzu4PP8QpA/s1600-h/PaperDolls3b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342253873600521746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 388px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJETdTX4CfI5tZgoMEUkp-8dChnTgyOwCxylu3c2ceEZxKuzlXkMQacvveaUMTffTXAcCa21T0q-6uKzMb3eEsghcforD4vdNKXgSzNYbYeRjBmVGv1LLW-m7nM0H0Yzu4PP8QpA/s400/PaperDolls3b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzu6oOBIt0aLNLWCnMxs-kH663vtSEnAe6CEJLTdMd09ynG3yZ5nU-4haC_-IgrYz45cKbWLbrrON_b8oZIvr5wpGn2FLLxL_12jA-gq64pf8DbWeYOUB0Mxmfm_H6vhu2ZiGr3A/s1600-h/PaperDolls7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342252978058086658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzu6oOBIt0aLNLWCnMxs-kH663vtSEnAe6CEJLTdMd09ynG3yZ5nU-4haC_-IgrYz45cKbWLbrrON_b8oZIvr5wpGn2FLLxL_12jA-gq64pf8DbWeYOUB0Mxmfm_H6vhu2ZiGr3A/s400/PaperDolls7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Get ready for a trip down my Memory Lane. I have a collection of paper dolls that I made over a period of years when I was young. I guess I was about 9 or 10. I would sit in front of the TV and draw the characters I saw on what seems like reams and reams of paper. Then I'd go draw <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ljNucjANQTXbDJ-CWWKFoUwgGHO-J0ZsoyngGlwu6QHvbvjmSRz8-goFaTPSTJEK0Okpp-VRSL7gOGZ5hRy2wMCysLOSI00_ro2zYsUhIZ6qqS_tHdlg-RKHf_-KO37gnsGxLA/s1600-h/PaperDolls6b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342252971312253538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ljNucjANQTXbDJ-CWWKFoUwgGHO-J0ZsoyngGlwu6QHvbvjmSRz8-goFaTPSTJEK0Okpp-VRSL7gOGZ5hRy2wMCysLOSI00_ro2zYsUhIZ6qqS_tHdlg-RKHf_-KO37gnsGxLA/s400/PaperDolls6b.jpg" border="0" /></a>them on cardboard (usually the backing that my <div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANOSSwexR5Fa-EO4M93-VAEDTHDBj3KVMqVbOXve1CPZnp0UyYaYK8VbrDnsNnsM14mzy44nTHsrTvyxQhmxP4cbUcudcnZTbj_UpJoeXXhKIgOXJBWE7aHQH7JXGwn99a_To5w/s1600-h/PaperDolls7b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342252982517045010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANOSSwexR5Fa-EO4M93-VAEDTHDBj3KVMqVbOXve1CPZnp0UyYaYK8VbrDnsNnsM14mzy44nTHsrTvyxQhmxP4cbUcudcnZTbj_UpJoeXXhKIgOXJBWE7aHQH7JXGwn99a_To5w/s400/PaperDolls7b.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_oum9HE1BltKuGdMW5K36QoOSeB_2I1rWia3Zw5I7yTyQuuee1k9MdGKRStcJdYFUM6dLscbL-tNz7kpe_G9jd4CjX6f1qo4ywyXieW2zlR5Nk5UGKIl_QkJi2I5JwazRGvvYQ/s1600-h/PaperDolls6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342253884460444866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_oum9HE1BltKuGdMW5K36QoOSeB_2I1rWia3Zw5I7yTyQuuee1k9MdGKRStcJdYFUM6dLscbL-tNz7kpe_G9jd4CjX6f1qo4ywyXieW2zlR5Nk5UGKIl_QkJi2I5JwazRGvvYQ/s400/PaperDolls6.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>grandmother got in her stockings packages), cut them out and play with them. For years they've been stored in a clear plastic bag until I got the bright idea of putting them into sleeves in a 3-ring binder. I've brought them as a display at my most recent art showing and people seemed really fascinated by them. I guess one of the things that they found so peculiar is that I drew the characters from the front as well as the back.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_oum9HE1BltKuGdMW5K36QoOSeB_2I1rWia3Zw5I7yTyQuuee1k9MdGKRStcJdYFUM6dLscbL-tNz7kpe_G9jd4CjX6f1qo4ywyXieW2zlR5Nk5UGKIl_QkJi2I5JwazRGvvYQ/s1600-h/PaperDolls6.jpg"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANOSSwexR5Fa-EO4M93-VAEDTHDBj3KVMqVbOXve1CPZnp0UyYaYK8VbrDnsNnsM14mzy44nTHsrTvyxQhmxP4cbUcudcnZTbj_UpJoeXXhKIgOXJBWE7aHQH7JXGwn99a_To5w/s1600-h/PaperDolls7b.jpg"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_oum9HE1BltKuGdMW5K36QoOSeB_2I1rWia3Zw5I7yTyQuuee1k9MdGKRStcJdYFUM6dLscbL-tNz7kpe_G9jd4CjX6f1qo4ywyXieW2zlR5Nk5UGKIl_QkJi2I5JwazRGvvYQ/s1600-h/PaperDolls6.jpg"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FHrqSt6veU3a5Q-2VWKRokZJwbUqo1zXyG3cUD1q8NyDPfgzq4cJ5Yoiuuh5hjQ_f7QTdekiOk9IjaqfjRnj9LMQgC6ga-AIUxlHwG6Rt9mp35vTgzOjt3s0rOFdJUer0iPMhQ/s1600-h/PaperDolls5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342253882052583378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 343px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FHrqSt6veU3a5Q-2VWKRokZJwbUqo1zXyG3cUD1q8NyDPfgzq4cJ5Yoiuuh5hjQ_f7QTdekiOk9IjaqfjRnj9LMQgC6ga-AIUxlHwG6Rt9mp35vTgzOjt3s0rOFdJUer0iPMhQ/s400/PaperDolls5.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div>Those are really fond memories of me making them. They spanned years as I said, but also subject matter. I had many favorite TV shows and that's what I did alot of. The Flintstones, Bullwinkle and Rocky, Underdog, Dudley Do-right, Flash Gordon. About 1976 I bought my first comic book - then I was a superhero nut; The Justice League of America, The Legion of Superheroes (in those shown I was copying the style of a cartoonist called Hembeck. I loved it at the time. I also made dolls of Greek Mythology, Night time TV shows like Carter Country and Dallas. And get this, I even drew NEWSCASTERS. I've posting a few different kinds. If you'd like me to post more, give me a holla. T.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9K_9u06Ir16OnvHeWx9Fni1Rf7V8J1qjXzB4kgxT9omUC03GZ2Anx1mX4_vAObmIPwl0t5LWB-aZR443U8TJrKKrIL0VRov48joK6WeUZE9sJsaTP4lDvo0wUkZ-NLyiUGNugw/s1600-h/PaperDolls8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342252988104574914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9K_9u06Ir16OnvHeWx9Fni1Rf7V8J1qjXzB4kgxT9omUC03GZ2Anx1mX4_vAObmIPwl0t5LWB-aZR443U8TJrKKrIL0VRov48joK6WeUZE9sJsaTP4lDvo0wUkZ-NLyiUGNugw/s400/PaperDolls8.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQWlaiKXymPAkcmQO4-nX6wb722TUZPWDCJiJJQR2n99EqSn8j5qvdSuDEFt7rz3uUtMhvZXRWSRAY97gUxVcnHVLpSouJG6j8Z8Ig2gmXM0aY8qMkJc5sSf0hHRSIWSrCxHguQ/s1600-h/PaperDolls8b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342252996140350850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQWlaiKXymPAkcmQO4-nX6wb722TUZPWDCJiJJQR2n99EqSn8j5qvdSuDEFt7rz3uUtMhvZXRWSRAY97gUxVcnHVLpSouJG6j8Z8Ig2gmXM0aY8qMkJc5sSf0hHRSIWSrCxHguQ/s400/PaperDolls8b.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU8Ork_95SWbUFDrsK61sMdZXMwpRaHV3xjEjCqOsUwaU-5s87R6FhCQo9c4z6DLmq1w-Hk-k_rC48YMJ0BtP7CGBiMp0vemedBQzLW7lQteTV4tRaU0yMaLx4937gDpZHGt4Cg/s1600-h/PaperDolls4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342253874980368386" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 361px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEU8Ork_95SWbUFDrsK61sMdZXMwpRaHV3xjEjCqOsUwaU-5s87R6FhCQo9c4z6DLmq1w-Hk-k_rC48YMJ0BtP7CGBiMp0vemedBQzLW7lQteTV4tRaU0yMaLx4937gDpZHGt4Cg/s400/PaperDolls4.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Thomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17329845211909639551noreply@blogger.com0