Eat it?

Many months ago I decided that since I was painting chicken (Ed) that I would not eat chicken.  I am not a vegetarian.  It just occurred to me that I was creating a new being with new energy and he happens to be a chicken.  It didn't seem right to also destroy chicken or eat it as well.

Since I made this decision I have had several debates with people about it.  Some of them think it's great.  Some think it's quirky.  Some think it is an artistic statement.  Some think that it sucks because chicken tastes good.  It's really interesting especially because I have never asked people whether or not they think I should eat chicken -- I just say that I don't eat it because I paint Ed and then they offer their 2 cents on the matter.

The last person I told this to explained to me that the chickens (we buy at the market) were dead anyway and so I should consume them and let them contribute to me and nourish me.  I must say that this is one of the better reasons I've heard to continue eating chicken.  But, it still feels strange in my heart to be painting Ed all the time and then go and eat chicken.  It's like if Walt Disney ate duck (Donald).  Who knows, maybe he did?  It's like if Mel Blanks ate rabbit.  Who knows, maybe he did?...  Can you imagine them sitting there, drawing their characters, giving them voices, and leaning over and taking a bite of those animals?  It seems off to me.

Regardless of what others have done in the past, it still feels like the right decision to me.  It is one of respect -- respect for Ed, respect for my work, and respect for chickens.  My culinary life has not suffered because of the chicken omission and my heart feels good.  Having said that, I have no desire to create a cow character or a lobster character anytime soon...

Celebrity Chickens

We are really ramping up the effort to get the show on the road -- so to speak. Ed's art show is just around the corner on August 9th and we would love to have 500 people in attendance. In order to get that many chicken art lovers to come to the show, there has been a heavy campaign of mailings, emailings, and press releases. It really takes a village to raise a sparkly chicken.

While getting the word out, several people have mentioned various other famous chickens, chicken landmarks, chicken statues, chicken songs, chicken books, chicken, chicken chicken!!! So wonderful! So fabulous! Of course Ed and I -- and the sparkly toys -- invite all of the celebrity chickens to the show so that Ed is in the best company possible -- his superstar poultry peers.

This is so exciting!!!

The Reluctant Sparkly Artist...

I never thought I would be blogging -- that I would have a blog, be a part of the blog-o-sphere, be a Blogger ... But, here I am in the name of my art, in the name of Ed the chicken and the toy portraits that I paint, blogging for all to see. It goes to show that Art can inspire people to do many wonderful things.

When I first painted Ed about 5 years ago I knew that he was special. People immediately loved him. But, I didn't have a lot of time to work with this character that I created because I was busy finishing up law school and starting to practice law. Ed went on the back burner, so to speak.

As a form of meditation, I began painting again about nine months ago. (I have been drawing and painting and bedazzling things all my life). It was all for me -- just painting what I enjoy, what amuses me and makes me laugh. Sparkles make everything more wonderful, so I add them to my paintings. I started painting toy portraits and jeweling them as a joke, but they turned out so cute people wanted more.

Next thing I knew a lot of people were trying to find out where and how to get my paintings. This is something that I never envisioned or intended. But, here I am now, trying to share my art with as many people as possible because it makes people happy. What's better than that? (Rhetorical question).

I didn't plan for things to go this way. I would have been happy to paint and hang them all in my house for me to enjoy, but that is not in the cards. At this time, my art is on a train that is driving itself to who knows where and not stopping! It keeps saying "share me" Share Me!".

Now it's a whole other world and I'm going with the flow and putting all of the time and energy I can spare into setting up a company and structures that will facilitate getting my art out into the universe. People can use all of the positivity they can get right now.

So, here I am putting the word out and at the same time using my upcoming show as a fundraiser for Art Share Los Angeles. Sharing my work while helping others is the best thing I can think of -- and this, coming from me, who never intended for all of this -- website, show, company, products, patents, etc. -- to spring from my cute chicken and toy paintings. The chickens are now poised to take over the world!!! (To be continued...)