Colorful Alphabet (2005)

The alphabet was written out using a bamboo stick and latex fluid (artists' resist). When the latex dried, I applied Dr. Martin's watercolor dyes; when that dried, I peeled away the latex. I may have added a few extra spatters. It was 6 years ago so I can't recall all the details.

The Angry Pentagram (2002)

I don't know why I think of this as the angry pentagram, but I do. It was done some time ago in the large sketchbook (about 10 by 14 inches) and was done with gouache. There is a loosely constructed pentagram and 5 blue dots. Perhaps the fact that there are 5 Moran brothers explains my obsession with pentagrams and pentagons. And the math part, mustn't forget that influence.

Three Faces

Found these recently. Little watercolor faces done spontaneously on 3 by 5 inch paper. Curious to me. Who are they? Maybe if I gave them names. Any suggestions? I think I would choose Shifty, Boris and Chico, though not necessarily in the order shown. Can you tell which name would go with which face?

Totally Today 2/8/11

Another subconscious doodle using pens, ink and paper that were leftover from a recent project. That project was the creation of a small bound book that will contain farewell messages to a colleague at the college. I chose the theme "Fare Thee Well" partly because of a Dylan song that contains that phrase. The prominent FA was a practice for the book itself. Then, today, while chatting on the phone with a chatty friend, I doodled away and here's what I got. It was fun and, oddly, organized in a very loose way. I hope to be able to live my life that way: loosely organized. I guess we could come up with psychological interpretations but, hey, just a doodle. A fun doodle, but still that's all. Looks cool, though. To me. Oh yeah. 4" by 7 1/2 ".

MeMeMe Line Drawing 2002

Abstract Weave Drawing 1980

This is a very small drawing, around 4 inches by 6 inches. It was done with a fine tipped marker on paper that is definitely not acid-free! The drawing is fading and the paper is yellowing, but still, I like it. It's odd that, years later, I got interested in doing actual paper weaves, probably first seen in brother Dennis' inspiring studio space.

Abstract Drawing 1997

This never-before-seen-in-public drawing was done 14 years ago. It's in a sketchbook so it holds up well. And you can forget about it for a long time and then rediscover something from the distant past. The medium was watercolor or gouache and it's about 8 by 10 inches. Maybe I should just call it "Greenthing '97."

2002 Pentagon Collage

Back in 2002 I did this geometric construction piece with collaged graph paper, approximate 5" by 7" in a sketchbook. I don't think I ever posted this before but I realize that I like this a lot. The arrangement of ones and zeros form a counting sequence from 1 to 5 in the binary number system (base 2). The geometric construction is again quite loose, but then, I like it like that!

A Quirky Collection

The first piece is done on scratchboard. The next two are mostly done with a 1/2 inch felt marker. Then a number weave and finally a loose geometric construction. The marker pieces were done in 2011. The rest were done within the past 10 years.

Four New Sketchbook Entries (B&W series)

These were done in pairs, one in a very small sketchbook and the other in a much larger sketchbook. Marks on paper.

Another Barely Geometric

This is in a small sketchbook, 5"x 8", and it fits the same category as a recent posting. Barely geometric. The colors are quite different on this one. Of course it doesn't really say anything, except that I like overlapping circle and paint spattering.

Just for Dennis

Black and white selected just for you, Dennis. This is old though. Sometime in the early 2000s. This came from a larger sketchbook, 11"x14". I had to photograph it rather than scan because of the larger size. The lighting could be better but you still get the idea.

Barely Geometric

What's involved here: compass, ruling pen, brush, Dr. Martin's Watercolor Dyes and a willingness to try anything. This did not work out particularly well, as I see it. But it may have some redeeming qualities. If nothing else: learning experience.

A Versal "A"

Italian Manuscript Letters (15th/16th Century)

I find some of these letterforms exceptionally odd. The "K" is a good example of what I mean. The source of inspiration was Day's Alphabets Old and New (1910).

Blue Letters in 3 Sizes

The title pretty much describes what this is. Yes, I did have fun with the spattering part and the masking part. It always seems so much more planned with a border around it. But, truthfully, little planning went into this. I copied some very old letterforms and played around with different sizes and different writing tools.

Continuing Experiments with Ruling Pens

These are not supposed to "say" anything, in case you were wondering. You could classify these experiments as automatic writing, like the Dadaists practiced. Or you could classify them as the crazy scribbles of a self-absorbed person! Whatever. To me, they both have interesting qualities.

Gothic Smeared

These letterforms were freely copied from an ancient lettering book of mine. The lettering was done with water soluble markers and then smeared around using an old, cut-up credit card. I like the surprising results of this technique. The smearing liquid was Modge Podge, a kind of acrylic glue.

Oddball Alphabet Study

I didn't make these oddball letters up. They were inspired by an alphabet in a century old lettering book I own. It's a source of inspiration and amazement over the incredible diversity of letterforms.