Burst Reach #37

We have a bird feeder set up at our front window, and over time, more and more birds have been showing up to feed. This morning, one in particular informed me that it was empty, by sitting on top of it and pecking at it. We’re out of seed, so I need to pick some up after work.

I wrote last month about going out more often, getting more involved in the local art community, doing what I can to be present in the world if nothing else, and it’s been nice. So has going to play the Digimon card game with a group of folks every week. I’m still tired all the time, as I have been for who knows how long, but it’s a better sort of tired. I feel more fulfilled I guess, now that I’m putting more time into these things.

And here’s where I’m going to talk about figure drawing a bunch again:

Embodied Life Drawing at the Bristol Public Library was a smashing success, with roughly 20 people joining us. My teaching went pretty well, considering that it was my first time. I know I was too self-deprecating and that I kind of hurried through it and left some things out. I asked several of the participants for feedback a day or two later and got some GREAT notes and can better equip myself for the next one.

The next TWO, actually.

This month, July 25th, I’ll be a guest at Yard pARTy, hosted by EAT/ART Space, and will lead a short session there that I still need to hammer out the details on. It’ll be less of a class and more of a demonstration.

And in August I’m teaching a paid class at the Arts Depot! I wandered in to leave a flyer for Embodied Life Drawing, casually mentioned wanting to do something there too, and they immediately asked when I could do it! I didn’t expect the ball to get rolling so quickly when it comes to bringing my favorite art practice to the public, but I’m thrilled.

I also attended a local session last week, to stay in practice:

Outside of figure drawing, my practice has slowed down a lot. I’m falling behind on my Godzilla portrait project, I keep getting closer to my deadlines on Asada & Mischa (new strip this Sunday for paid Planet Nude subscribers!) than I’d like, and it’s hard to find the time and energy to work on other things I have on my to-do list. That’s just how it is sometimes though.

I DO have a new painting debuting in a group show this weekend though:

Curated by my good friend Brandon Moorman, better known as Tennessee Geek Art, Saturday Morning Cartoons is a love letter to the shows we grew up watching as kids. My piece is a painting based off of Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad, known in Japan as Gridman, and as usual with my tokusatsu art I used some of my own toys to help as reference. I’ll be posting it tomorrow to my own socials.

For all that I have going on, I also haven’t gotten to dance much at all, and that’s one thing that’s really killing me. I haven’t been exercising either, and need to get back to it. And eating better! Sheesh!

Life is so many things!

Okay, I think that’s it. In trying to use Substack more I’ve started posting daily pictures in my Notes, inspired by my wife’s daily picture project that she’s been doing this year. So there’s something to look at from me between newsletters if you’re not on my other socials. I’m not great at it, but it’s better than a lot of alternatives.

The birds have new birdseed in their feeder, by the way. And I saw a black squirrel on my way back from checking on some family pets.

Do whatever you can to be present in the world, find small ways to help others, and take care.