Heeellllooo out there! Thought I would drop a line and get everyone caught up on what has been going on...which has been lots by the way! I have been spending a lot of quality time at the easel in Studio 8...so here are a few things I have to show for it.

Not a very good picture, but...you will get the idea. Besides, you all know by now that to REALLY see things...you need to drop by Studio 8 and see them in person! I'll work at getting a better picture up for the gallery as this one just won't do. This is "Roman Remains." It is a multi-weight graphite drawing and oil painting done on a piece of 24x24" marble. I just loved working the oil paint and graphite on the marble. It was very tedious as you had to be extremely careful and methodical with the drawing as not to smear anything...kind of intense really...but I loved the sensation and the whole process. It is now complete, and ready for you to come and visit!

This little ditty is called - "Safe at Home." It is an encaustic and mixed media painting on wood panel. I have recently been back at dabbling in the encaustic realm and really enjoying it. So much so...I wonder now why I set it all aside. Perhaps just not in the right frame of mind, but at any rate...I am happy with how this painting turned out. My favorite part about encaustic painting (besides the set-up and process...not to mention the blow torch!) is the touchability of the finished pieces. You can handle them and really enjoy them up close. I enjoyed working on this so much...that I am excited to try some different mixed media ideas that I have!

As this Friday is 2nd Friday - which means that The Artists Upstairs Studio Group will be having our monthly open studio night, I hope those that can, will stop by and see the works in person!

That also means that my monthly radio show will be tomorrow AM - Bright and damn early...and I have a GREAT interview that i did with the Indianapolis Anti-Art School Dr. Sketchy's chapter founder. It is awesome! For those out of the listening area...I will do my best to post the interview on this here blog for you to enjoy.

What's next on the easel you ask? Well...I am still working away at the unfinished series that everyone voted on (don't worry...I'm still doing that too! Haven't forgot) So I am working right now on "Keep it Clean" and "Jump Anatomy." I am also working on some other graphite and painting projects, as well as my encaustic journey. Just not enough hours in the day! Let alone easels for me!

As usual...keep the comments and e-mails a-comin' I LOVE IT!

By the way - Lots of e-mails and inquiries about Sugar...so here is a little Sugar update. She is doing fine...still very skittish and seems to waver between calming down and then freaking the hell out...but, it is that whole patience thing. We went shopping last Saturday for art supplies and she seemed very happy to have a girls shopping day out and did really well...but then proceeded to go back to freak out mode when we got home...so It is a very slow process...but I am still hopeful that she will give up the struggle, learn to trust and enjoy her little life. She sends her very best to everyone though, as I do share your wishes and e-mails with her!

OK...Whew! Until next time...Rock on everybody!

Yes indeedy doody! A finished painting...I think. Ok..yes. Maybe...alright...we will go with yes! At least I think so. OK...final answer - Yes. 

You see I always go through this little battle with myself that I have truly pushed each painting to its conclusion. To me it is a fine balance between just right, and overworked! I may get caught up in the moment after a painting session and step back and say "YES! She is alive!" (of course this is with wide eyes and fist and brush in the air and a full exclaimation at the top of my lungs...just like you are imagining) then on the next trip to my studio I walk around it, I stare at it, I sit on a stool and have a chat with it, and next thing I know...I have a brush in my hand and I'm back at it and hours have gone by...so who knows. For now however, regarding "Poetry Pants" I believe I have finished. The fun thing with this painting is that because I have been giving you updates along the way...I found myself with a plethora of tiny little footage clips that I took at various advancement stages of the painting. SO...I have put together a little video for you. Don't judge me by the shaky camera work...as most video was taken after long painting sessions which meant there was probably some alcohol involved and I wasn't the most steady on my feet! That aside, you should be able to see her come together none-the-less! I will be taking some better photography using a better camera so that I can add her to the gallery, so you can get a lookie-loo there too!

In the meantime...enjoy "Poetry Pants" A painting, 36x72 - Mixed Media. While you check it out, I will begin plans to get at the next painting on your list of paintings for me to finish...which is: Keep it clean! I will just need a tiny little break to switch mind sets.

Until next time - Rock ON! and I hope you like the painting!

Hello Artist friends and neighbors!

Well, the Holidays are over (whew and yeah!) and it is back to business! I would like to wish everyone a Happy and prosperous New Year and I look forward to sharing all the fun things that will be happening in Studio 8.

I’ll start off with the year’s first radio installment. I have to say that I think this was the best one yet…a lot of fun! So be sure to set aside some time and check it out.

WHBU - Cagney King - January Show

A really major project that has been on my plate is illustrating a children's story. WHEW! What a job! Between the planning, the learning curve and the character development, I worked on that project for nearly a year! Now that I have that done I can really not find any excuse not to really be working in studio! If I can get permission, I will see if I can share some of the illustrations and the story with you! I had never gotten to try my had at illustration, and certainly have a very healthy appreciation of the illustrators that I studied and admired in preparation for this journey. Now that the project is over, I can say that I really learned A LOT, and might just try my hand at illustrating some of my poems in the future.

Things have been rock’n in Studio 8 and progress on Poetry Pants continues! I now have the first few layers of paint on the background and once the last layer dries completely will continue to build it up! Keep your e-mails and comments coming! I really love keeping in touch with everyone! Until next time…Rock on!

Yep! For all of you who know me…I am still a scrooge this time of year…relax, nothing has changed. However, the opportunity presented itself to sit on Santa’s lap…and since Mrs. Clause was right there to supervise I figured it might be OK…this time. Even after I explained to him that I don’t understand why everyone has to have a special time of year to pretend to be extra nice and show love to people that they wouldn’t ordinarily care more than an elf about. OH well…since I was there, I figured I would ask him a few questions that have been on my mind. Like…why people couldn’t carry that loving spirit with them year round? Why does a fat man in a red suit excite these feelings in the first place? Exactly how closely was he related to clowns? And just how does he think it is at all fair to those tiny little reindeer to be strapped with his weight in that sleigh to be expected to pull his butt all across the world? Doesn’t he feel at all bad about not even considering the lap band?…well, with his ever reddening cheeks and growing eyes, he just shook his head, gently lifted me off of his knee and asked me if I would like a free ornament for my tree…Huh. The event was a United Way fundraising report gala and others were waiting their turn, so I figured I would just wait and ask him again next time I saw him at the mall or ringing one of those damn bells at Hobby Lobby.

And now to another subject…which I guess in a way I could consider my Christmas miracle. I adopted a rescue Chihuahua. Her name is Sugar. Sugar was abused and in a puppy mill that was shut down in Missouri. She was transported by rescue teams to Ft. Wayne and then to foster rescue homes in Indianapolis where I came across her. She is 4.5# and 2 years old and the sweetest thing…it is just that in her two years she has never been given any reason to trust people. So she is considered a ‘special needs’ dog, and requires a lot of patience…a lot! Did I mention she requires a lot of patience? I have had her for three weeks, which is a miracle in and of itself, since last week she dug out under the fence and ran away. My heart was broken. I had already fallen head over heels in love with her, and couldn’t understand why she would choose a cold death over my love. It never got above freezing the whole time she was gone, and given her size I just knew she would never survive. Not to mention the coyotes and angry deer that roam about. I spent two days and nights looking for her in the back fields and woods. Nearly suffering frost bite myself, if it weren’t for my ‘serial killer’ suit as I call it, which is an old hunting suit that I wear to snow blow the driveway. I was an emotional mess! I put up over 70 flyers in my neighborhood and in town and at animal controls in the county. I had nearly given up until I got a call from a neighbor that she had Sugar. Sugar had sought out her dogs for comfort and they kept her from freezing to death by harboring in the breezeway of her home. Hungry, dirty and scared to death, I brought her back home where she is safe and warm today. It is beyond me how people can be so cruel as to instill fear and hurt into something so small and precious, let alone each other. Life is life, and all life deserves love and nurturing. Not abuse and disregard. So, now she is home with me, and the suitcase of patience has been opened once again. I am slowly making progress getting her to trust me and to know that I will never hurt her, and that I just want to use her as a target for what love I do have left in my heart. Hopefully, she will one day accept it (and my own skepticism and cynicism) and truly want to stay with me and love me for who I am. Alas, for now, as I continue to work with her to gain her trust and let her know it is OK to allow love into her life, I will also think of her as a reminder of how precious love is in our own lives, and…how quickly it can be gone.

Merry Christmas, and remember to love each other.

Until next time…Rock on!

Hello art friends! Well, I have been hard at work in Studio 8. Spending lots of quality time working on Well Worn Poem, which I am thinking of re-naming Poetry Pants! And, speaking of poetry, check out my poetry page, as I have added three new poems that I have written.

Been very busy on several projects...as usual. One of which is the popular WHBU and Studio 8 interview series. Check out Decembers radio interview!

Poetry Pants update...

As you can see, I now have all of the inking done and (not so easy to see in this picture) also the graphite layer. (click on the picture for more detailed pics) Next step is to spray her down with fixative to seal in my graphite layer and then let the painting begin! I'm excited to start working in the paint layers. Wow...I went through A LOT of ink! I have been running around with black fingers for a while...but I think it is going to wash off eventually. I am still contemplating that white triangle in the middle...hummm, what to do? If anyone has any ideas don't hesitate to jump in! Otherwise, I am going to probably attack it with some paint...I have had some e-mails asking just how big she really is...she is roughly 4x6'.  I have really been giving the easel a work out moving her up and down to work on her. Thank goodness for the high ceilings in my studio! 

I am looking forward to getting ready for tomorrow night's 2nd Friday event. The building is looking very festive with all the Christmas lights and trees and such. Even for an old scrooge like me it looks nice and festive.

As usual, keep the e-mails and comments coming! Until next time...Rock on!

Thank you to ALL who voted and e-mailed me about the unfinished paintings! What an overwhelming response...just awesome! OK...so, you voted, and here are the standings.

The winner by a near landslide of majority is:

Well Worn Poem with 43% of the votes! So this is the Unfinished canvas that I will FOCUS ON and FINISH! I'll do my best to also post updates on the paintings progress. This canvas will also be featured tonight at the Artists Upstairs Open Studio Night! So come out and see her up close and personal!

The other canvases finished as such:

Keep it Clean with 21% - Pulling Through with 18% - Jump Anatomy with 11% - Juarez Girls with 7% of your votes and poor old Pears had no votes!

Thank you again for jumping in and getting involved! You are all awesome to help me get my stuff in order!

Before I sign off to get ready for tonight, I also want to draw your attention to the two radio show posts for your listening pleasure...be sure to enjoy those!

Until next time...ROCK ON!

My good friend Matt Rust invited me to come onto WQME and talk about our building, gallery and my studio. Check it out! I had such a good time visiting...here is the interview!

Hi gang!

I interupt the voting temporarily to bring you the latest installment from Cagney King - WHBU's Artist in Residence! Listen and Enjoy!

Keep the votes coming! Remember the 'poll' closes at 4:00 tomorrow with the winning Unfinished Canvas being displayed at Studio 8 for the 2nd Friday Open Studio Event!

So here is what happens. I get ideas for paintings...and I mean ALL the time...so, I get excited about the next painting idea. No matter what I am working on, I stop and go in a different direction and get started on the idea - after all, I don't want to forget it right?...then perhaps I will work on that for a while...then...I'll HAVE to start another idea. You get the idea. And so it goes and goes.

 So at this particular moment in time...I am feeling overwhelmed! I want to paint - bad. As a matter of fact, when i can't paint it is just bad for everyboday. But, I'm not sure which one to paint - or...maybe I should start on a new one...oh, wait...no, no, no...sorry - forgot what I was doing...oh hell, maybe I shouldn't paint any of them...well, I guess YOU get to help me decide.

So here is my idea. In the spirit of the elections...I took pictures of 6 paintings that are in various stages of completion so that I can let all of you out there in Cagney Fan Land VOTE on which one I should stay focused on and FINISH (Just 6...not ALL of them  - that would be too much! Remember, we are already overwhelmed!)

You will all have one week to vote, so that at the next Artists Open Studio Event - November 14th - I will announce AND display the winning "For the love of God Cagney FOCUS!" painting on my main easel. And the following week I will post the winning painting with comments.

So...here we go - here are the candidates! They are in no particular order, and have temporary titles. To vote just hit on the comment link at the top, or if you want to have a confidential vote go to the e-mail tab and send me your vote!

On behalf of my temporary sanity...thank you for your vote!

1. Jump Anatomy

2. Keep it Clean

3. Juarez Girls

4. Well Worn Poem

5. Pears

6. Pulling Through

You know you have heard it a 1000 times growing up...time flies faster than ever the older you get...well, I guess I have finally hit that milestone where I can actually say it is true! I have been so busy that I have completely lost track of time and day! I have to say, I think this is a good thing, kind of nice not knowing what time it is or caring what day it is...However, I think the bad part of it is that people start to worry about where I have been...and just what I have been up to! Well, good or bad - I want to thank everyone who has been e-mailing me to see if I dropped off the planet or not and if I was OK. The answer is a resounding YES - I'm great! SO...let's catch up shall we?

Here is a picture that my fellow artist friend and Watercolourist, Cathleen sent me. It is me on camera in Studio 8 doing the FOX 59 interview. If you didn't get to see the segments you can go to the post on my blog: http://cagneyking.weebly.com/1/post/2008/10/cagney-tv-and-radio-shows.html and check them out! I continue to run into people that say they saw me on TV, and several people at the Artists' Upstairs Open Studio Night in October came to find me and tell me they saw me and wanted to meet me! So much fun!

As a local artist, I was asked to include a painting for a Masquerade Ball Benefit for the Center of Mental Health. Here is a picture of the painting - "Apples" at the event waiting for her bidders. I was informed that the event was a success, and that my painting became the focus of a bidding war, and that she ended up going to a very good home! I'm so glad to have been a part of the event, and very honored that my painting was able to make some people happy.

I always have this fear that when people buy my work that I'll be walking through goodwill one day and see my paintings leaning up against old recliners and sofas looking up at me all sad...I have been assured this will not be the case, so we will see. It is precisely for this reason that I will generally buy paintings that I see in the goodwill, because I can't stand the thought that they are lost and forgotten.

Here is a picture from a Watercolour and Oil Painting en Plain Aire workshop I attended with Frank Constantine.  That is me over Frank's shoulder with the wind burnt red face! Frank is an Archetechtural Illustrator, National Watercolour Society Artist, and all around fantastic guy! He hails from Boston, and he was voted the Archetechtural Society of Illustrators 2008 Illustrator of the year award, and had several of his works on display at the Art Institute of Indianapolis. It was a real honor to work with Frank. It was a cold and windy day, but we all endured. I had a great time meeting the instructors at the Institute and especially painting with Frank!

I tend to generally stick to the comforts of my studio to paint, and given the climate of this day kept thinking that was best, but I have always been curious about en Plain Aire painting and would like to do more. So Frank was just the boost I needed! Since the workshop, I have gotten out and done a couple of paintings and will have them on display (good or bad) in Studio 8 for the next show.

So, you ask...What's next!? Well! Since you asked... 

This Thursday AM (November 6th) I will be appearing on WQME FM 98.7 with my good friend Matt Rust to promote our next 2nd Friday event coming up on November 14th.

And of course! As WHBU's Artist in Residence I will be back on-the-air for the Leland Franklin Anderson Live show on Thursday, November 13th from 7 - 8 AM.  So tune-in!

I will be sharing an interview recorded in Studio 8 which will be the first in a series of interviews to occur over the next several months! After all...you don't just want to listen to me all the time do ya?

As usual, I will work at recording and editing the segments so that those of you out of the listening area can enjoy!

Other than that...be on the look out for your next 2nd Friday Reminder e-mail...November 14th!


Oh, and yes! I have been painting...believe it or not! So I will gather some up-to-date photos of what's hanging out on the easel and share that with you next time!

Until then...Rock ON and keep in touch!