More

developments on the 'Game'... Things are really starting to fill in...
Over on the 'Boy' side, birds are very roughly laid in, as are background colors for wheels...

'Game' progress

Much of the activity in the studio now is given over to work on the project formerly known as "This Game of Life", recently re-titled "The Game of Hope & Fear" (more on that later). You can see, work is now underway on one of the 2 flanking walls, with the boy's face. This wall will be 8 feet tall by 12 feet wide, with some great birds drawn by friend Gary coming in from the right. And, of course, game wheels.
Regular updates on the project will be found on Tony's Blog:

Trout Salad (Tony's Blog)

The latest...

health update can be found over at

Today in the Garden

...and I almost feel like painting again...

Hello again...

Hi all, you may have noticed, long time, no blog post.
On Monday, I had some long anticipated surgery on a mystery lump on my neck...
It went, apparently, very smoothly and appears to be good news (benign.) Half of my face (esp. around my eye) still looks droopy, but I'm hoping it will make a comeback. Most of yesterday was spent dozing on vicadin (sp?), watching movies & eating ice cream, but I should be gradually gaining momentum... Thanks to all who were sending good thoughts my way-- it worked!

Exciting progress is happening on the 'Game' piece, as we had our first group drawing event on Saturday, and the project started to really take on the communal, collaborative feeling that we have always intended. Photos will be posted soon.

progress on the 'Game'

Things are progressing over on the south side of the studio (on the Burning Man piece). Basic colors of the gameboard are laid in... and Tony has started sprinkling drawings across the surface, weaving them together in his inimitable way. In each of the details four or more artist's drawings are included. (click to enlarge)
For info on how to get YOUR drawings included, go to:

Art Farm Motel

tree 2

Pushing this one a little further along, with more contrast and tree definition...

(before)

in a 'starting' mood

I just keep starting new paintings these days. Here's my third new tree painting started of late. Now I have to work on my 'continuing' and 'finishing' phases,

In Memorium

Robert Gavin Speirs
1931-2006

more photos at

Today in the Garden

a second new tree painting...

I'm starting another tree-- this one shown at an even earlier stage, establishing the drawing in lights and darks, again against the orange underpainting. The arcing of the branches reminds me of the early piet mondrian tree series. Then blocking in the large color areas...
... and with the other tree painting (still in progress) for comparison...

that tree painting, cont...

and it's previous pic for reference. (gradually less orange, you see.)

from the south side

...of the studio, work on 'This Game of Life'-- our big, room-sized installation of paintings for this year's Burning Man, is getting into full swing. For more about the whole project, including how YOU, yes YOU, can get involved by submitting drawings, or copies of pages from your sketchbooks-- go to:

Art Farm Motel

1. The plan for the central panel, 8 x 15 feet, a giant gameboard in the shape of a snake.
2 & 3) Tony transfers the drawing, using some...creative tools.
4) Color division, painting the 'dots'.