That Was Deep
May 1 2006 - Vessel: Day One

My wonderful wife invited me out on a date to the VIP screening of Volcanoes of the Deep Sea, on IMAX. It was an amazing film with real footage of shrimp and tube-worms and bacteria that survive on volcanic vents 8,600 feet below the ocean, in the pitch black. What I really got out of it is that men will give up all there time, energy and money over some crazy obsessions.

It was the perfect thing to get me started on an art project that I'm calling 'Vessel' which I will be spending the next 24 days on. My goal is to enter it in the California State Fair. Without giving away too much I will be posting images of my progress (hopefully) everyday.

Tonight We Set Sail
May 2 2006 - Vessel: Day Two



I've hoisted anchor and set out on a bold, new voyage. The preparation of this Vessel had taken more than a few long and grueling land hours, resurfacing her stubborn but worthy hull. All prepped, she's ready to sail on into imagination and discover the mysteries and dangers that await on the high seas.

The Wrath of Poseidon
May 3 2006 - Vessel: Day Three



Before the excitement of fresh adventure even had time to ware off the Vessel found herself swirling in a stew of froth and waves towering overhead commanding her to turn back. Turning back is exactly what we're not gonna do. I just wish I had packed my surf board.

Know No Scurvy
May 4 2006 - Vessel: Day Four

My supplies still look good. There's still fresh water and plenty of fresh fruit on hand. An old sailor once told me that it's very important to have fruit when you're at sea. It'll prevent you from getting scurvy. The last thing I need is scurvy if I'm gonna get this project done on time.



As far as I can tell I have all the proper instruments and tools for the journey. I am running a little low on blue though after last night. But still sailing.

Only Blue
May 5 2006 - Vessel: Day Five



It's all became blue no matter which way I flip it.

Sploosh!
May 6 2006 - Vessel: Day Six

It seemed like the scenery was never going to change. Then this mighty beast; this champion of the sea decided to make his presence know. I don't know if it was just a friendly, 'hello' or a warning that this is his territory.



Either way it made me smile and reminded me of the fascinations that led me out here in the first place.

The Man at The Wheel
May 7 2006 - Vessel: Day Seven

I've been spending my days navigating this ship through stormy and calm waters alike, but I don't claim to be the captain. No, all I can hope for is to keep a tight enough grip to hold the ship in the right direction to maybe end up where I've set out for. The passage below is to honor my captain; The Lord is his name:



"Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits' end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven." - Psalm 107:23-30 -

Taking A RISK
May 8 2006 - Vessel: Day Eight

For most men, I think conquering the world is a mentality that we cannot escape. Whether it's a childhood game or our adult pursuits, we initially seek to dominate our opponents through our ability, knowledge and power.



With this map rolled out in front of me, my conquering mentality returns. I have no intention of reigning, savagely over the people I encounter. I have no agenda of asserting myself as king over the nations by brute force. I only want to expand my horizons and see the beauty of foreign lands - but I know that my instinct for bounty travels with me. I always did hate losing at RISK.

This Ain't No Pleasure Cruise
May 9 2006 - Vessel: Day Nine



This is about as luxurious as it gets aboard the Vessel. There's no all-you-can-eat, no shuffleboard, no swimming pools, just a lot of wood, a lot of ocean, and this one funky lounge chair (which, I assure you, will be put to good use).

Instruments: Check
May 10 2006 - Vessel: Day Ten



As far as I can tell, by use of my precision nautical instruments, I am on course; but I'm feeling a subtle shift in the air.

Pirates, Storms, and Seamonsters...
May 16 2006 - Vessel: Day Sixteen





...have kept me detained. There has been too many battles and hardships for me to keep an accurate log. But I'm alive and on coarse. The chaos of the sea and its associates have been raging to drag me asunder, but the captain has a certain and steady hand on the wheel. I believe we'll reach our destination.

Un-Fair
May 25 2006 - Vessel: Day Twenty-five



Well, it seems Day Twenty-four has mysteriously slipped past. Vessel is still quite far from land. I painted these trees to see if I could still recall what the shores look like. I'm afraid my hopes of entering the California State Fair this year are still too small a dot on the horizon. Lord willing Vessel will make the journey next year. The Fair may be a lost hope, for now, but I'll still be seeing Vessel through to the end.

Re-value-ate
June 1 2006 - Vessel: Day Thirty-two

Missing my due date has really taken the wind out of my sails (pun intended). There's something about heavy pressure that is conducive to creation. I think nature would agree with me in many ways.

But Vessel can't stop here. So I'm planning on riding out the Spring breezes as hard as I can before I'm left stranded by the hot, still Summer air.



In my frantic struggle against the Pirates I mangled my only deck-chair in an attempt to defend myself...or was I making an escape boat? I don't remember, but either way I'm sure to get more done with no place to sit.

I've Been On Cargo Hold
June 26 2006 - Vessel: Day Fifty-seven

The Summer is here. The winds have died and the heat has been stifling. Up till now I have been creating Vessel in my garage, but the melting heat has made it unbearable. So, as heavy and cumbersome as this project is, I've moved it into my office where I can neither ignore nor avoid finishing it. I had to dismantle furniture and rearrange my whole work space just to make room for the cargo and crew.

Tides Are Turning
June 27 2006 - Vessel: Day Fifty-eight



Having the project indoors is quite a luxury. I've gotten everything arranged properly and started scribbling away again. I've been trying to get a few other things done while floating on the windless sea but now that my work space is dominated by this behemoth I will have to dedicate all of my energies to finishing it before moving forward with much else. So it's sink or swim, ay?

I just love puns.

Latitude Is Fatitude
July 2 2006 - Vessel: Day Sixty-three



If there's one thing I learned in elementary school that has come in handy on this voyage, it's that 'latitude is fatitude'. Those are the lines that go around the width of the Earth. Longitude is LONGitude - each line running equal in length over the poles, from North to South. I would cut an onion by latitude and an orange by longitude. However you want to remember it is up to you.
I've added names of countries and some key cities to the map. And with the addition of the navigational lines my sailing should have a little more direction now.

230 Years of Independence
July 4 2006 - Vessel: Day Sixty-five

Today I proudly finished the largest and most important part of the Vessel project. I'll be displaying more of it in the coming week as I begin sealing the art. It wasn't my intention, but Vessel displays a powerful message of freedom which is portrayed in a very patriotic way.



I've been enjoying hearing a lot of new Independence Day facts that I had never known; such as a day of prayer, fasting, and repentance being declared as the Declaration was sent off to England. I love hearing stories of the faith that our founding fathers lived by. I'm also very honored by the fact that my great, great, great, great, great grandfather, George Walton was one of the founding fathers. His name can be found among three others on the far left column of the Declaration of Independence. Which I just heard wasn't actually signed by most of the guys until August 1, 1776.

Hope you all had fun in your pursuit of happiness on this fine Independence Day. I was honored to be carrying on the legacy of freedom in American art.

Progress
July 17 2006 - Vessel: Day Seventy-eight



These two pictures show you the panarama of the Vessel project thus far. This piece is about 4 feet high and 6 feet wide. It's a doozy and (besides murals) I think it's the largest piece of art I've ever made. My work on this project, as a whole, is far from over, but I have recently spotted land and will be coming in for some supplies and refitting. No complaints from the crew - that's about the only benefit of having no crew.

Down in a Hull
August 31 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Twenty-three



We became lost in a maddening maze of blackened desert rock that proved to offer us no supplies, no replenishing; only continued diminishing. The stores are empty and the situation is becoming desperate. I've given up hope of finding anything among the horrible crags and have headed back out to open sea with no supplies and a growing need of repairs.

In Search
September 1 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Twenty-four



The search for supplies is on. If I don't find some generous refuge soon. It could be the end of me; though I tend to avoid this line of thinking. Also without proper careening soon it may be the end of Vessel as well. But the shining light of hope helps me believe that refuge isn't far off the horizon.

Discovery?
September 3 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Twenty-six



The dizziness of those harsh, uncharted islands left me lost of all sense of direction. But after cruising many shores I can see with certainty that I've not run into this bountiful mass before. The tall timbers of the coastal ridges are enough of a promise to assure me that I'll find all the supplies and materials for repairs that I need. And if this is, in fact, the discovery of a sacred, unfound land then I will have found much more.
Full Sail!!

Arrival
September 6 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Twenty-nine



I've found berth among these foreign (but somehow familiar) shores. Once the ship is careened, cleaned and repaired - and after I lay in some supplies I think I'll do some exploring up-river to see if I have, in fact, discovered new land. It's been an amazing journey to get here (where ever here is) and Vessel has proven herself quite worthy.

Life In General
September 18 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Forty-one



I guess the responsibility of the ship slipped my mind for a bit as I took a well-needed hike out into this alien frontier. I have seen several living things - but what I'm really seeing is life in general; Lost for a while in an episode of nature-hiking reflection. Vessel has been an amazing project - and has reminded me that sometimes we really have no idea how big of an adventure we are stepping into when we first set out. What was supposed to be a short, 20 day, voyage has lasted over one hundred and forty days and has taken me to an entirely new land. So far I've seen nothing that would give me reason to think this land has been discovered but, for now, I need to get back to tending the ship.

Coming Clean
September 23 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Forty-six



It's good to finally be getting to those repairs. Once they're all done I suppose I'll have to decide whether to stay and inhabit this land or simply plant my flag and head back out to sea. I have grown rather accustomed to cruising along the vast mystery of blue; and I don't know if it's really in me to stay still on the motionless shores.

And besides...I'll admit it...There's already people on this land. I'm no discoverist. Yeah, I could take credit for a discovery. But I think I'd rather keep this place a secret - and give these humbley advanced, peace-seekers a longer head start on loving eachother and making their living from the earth's bounty while enjoying their love affair with the ocean waves.
Why should my pride be their demise? I've found nothing. And I'm sailing on.

Bilge Water, Blather and Bullion
September 27 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Fifty



Well, I've scraped, sanded, painted, sealed and all that good stuff. I even emptied the bilge and dumped the rubbish that I've been carting around the high seas. And WOW!; when I was down there I came across a big chest of gold that I had won from those bloody pirates in the malstrom of squabbles that beset me early on.



I sail in the morning.

What's The Meaning Of This?
October 3 2006 - Vessel: Day Hundred Fifty-six



So what is all of this nautical crazy talk that I've been calling VESSEL for the past five months!?

Well, Vessel is a metaphor of something real; a very crucial object for my performance as an artist. It's something that will transport me (Lord willing) far into the future of my career as an artist/creator. I've been careful to not leak the secret of Vessel's true identity on my log entries, but I have been faithful in presenting images of the entire project and I want to unvail it as a completed piece.

The Unveiling!!
October 25 2006 - Vessel: Day of Truth

So what is it? What is it, indeed. This crazy, year-long project is the new center-piece of my office. MY DESK. Up until now I have been working on the same, tiny, 2'x3' (if that) desk that I've had since I was in the 6th grade. Sure I've had various awkward, hand-me-down tables and drafting boards come in and out of my work flow... but this...THIS is like a whole new beginning.

I stumbled across VESSEL while selling telecom door-to-door in the Fall of 2005. I had just bought a pick-up truck and in one of my potential customer's front yards I saw this worn out spider infested hull of a ship (I mean desk). So I persuaded him to give me the desk in exchange for me not selling him telecom. He helped me load it into the truck... and now hours of grueling sanding, stripping, coloring, staining, sawing, and sealing later I have a beautiful, one-of-a-kind work envirionment that reminds me all too well that my creative persuits are a labor of love. And so this is where I labor:



By the way; I have modified this 1960's, oak, office-beast with the said lawn-chair to give it full, adjustable, drafting table tilt. It was quite the engineering exercise. Now I'll be getting back to work and blogging like a normal human instead of in oceanic riddles. Sail On Sailor. Sail On.