Wolf It Down

So, I've been instructing classes both private and groups up at Mt. Spokane for a few weeks now. I love it, though it has been tough. The mental and physical strain it puts on the body and mind is huge. Especially for people who actually care about what we do. How we are percieved (am I professional, do I sound professional?). I think it's important to constantly recognize yourself and your actions, especially in a work environment. I started a log book that pertains to my ski certification and things I've learned in my classes/clinics. This helps to get my jumbled thoughts out and see what the real issues are, without the distractive thoughts, of which I have many. I have had some real learning experiences with people as well as my damn self. This is one of the infinite reasons I love to ride. My progress on the mountain is helping my progress in everyday life/society.

For me riding has meant freedom for so long, but that has to change now. I have to be there for the students now, not for myself. It may sound strange, but it takes getting used to. After skiing for about 40+ years, I now show up to the mountain and nurture someone else's love for snowsports. Sure, I get to freeride and work on my own tasks between classes until my little heart is content, and attained a season pass. These sessions feel more like 'palette cleansers' now and the times I get to ride with Kat actually feel like freerides! We are still hurting for snow, and our ops team has resorted to 'farming' snow from surrounding areas. I have to say though, the groomers yesterday were great as can be for the amount of snow weve gotten this season thus far.

To wrap it up I have a current shot of my newest acrylic piece. I showed a quick study sketch in my last post and have progressed a bit since then.

My next session I will re-claim some of the hair detail in his body and probably add some texture to the fur using the same method I used on the rocks. So, yeah, this has been a fairly quick update to my online blog/journal and the goings on in my life. As usual I appreciate you reading my spillings and we will blog at ya soon.

Finished Fett

Okay folks, first off, Happy Holidays. I hope this chilly PNW evening finds you surrounded by loved ones and good food. It's important to have friends and I truly hope this holiday surrounds you with all sorts of good cheer and joy. I'm pretty joyful to call Boba Fett done. I have a shot here of the 'finished' piece. I have a couple small details to finish up, but this is it.

I think I'm happy with it though there are some things I would change about the process nextime I dive into more detailed works. I'm trying to get my details down to barely anything and even with the thinest brush in my arsenal it's still tough. Though all in all i'm pretty stoked on it. It's colorful, has decent comp, and it feels more dynamic than most of my art. Also, I wanted to give an update on the ski situation...all the snow we recieved a few weeks ago melted and currently were experiencing flooding here in certain parts of Washington. Course all this flood water used to be snow, but climate change is a hoax, right? In the last week or so the temps have fallen back down in the mountains and that's a big sigh of relief for the ski/board industry. I still have 2 more days of training but I wanted to let you know that I passed! Our 'try-outs' are now training clinics and yesterday was my last 7 hour training session on the mountain. It was an awesome experience that made me feel very, very old. The majority of the candidates are in their teens, and I'm turning 52 next month. We did recieve a storm that dropped some snow here a day or two ago so the mountain is slowly opening up, but we are literally inching along right now. Here are a couple shots of training from yesterday.

I am pretty proud of myself for getting certified and getting a job in the industry in my allotted time of 2 years. Another thing I learned in the training clinic from yesterday is that; I am not a great skiier. I have A LOT of work to do with particularly my hands. I was called out yesterday for having too much movement in my hands and arms. I thought I was incorporating style when in reality I'm compensating and using those pole plants not just to slow rotation in my upper body, but as a crutch. So I've been given the task of practicing for a while without my poles. I've been taken back to my youth! they've taken my poles! Which I think is a great idea. I rely too much on them, but it was my AH!-HA! moment The good news is that my lower body mechanics are working well, but I should be able to complete the same manuevers even w/out my poles.

Anyway, my friends I leave you with this; It takes guts to learn something new and even though I have skiied my whole life i'm no where near where I would have considered myself up until yesterday. Even Jack (Pictured Below) Was told he didn't have the guts to do a keg stand....well.

Quick update; I have started the studies/sketches of my next piece. I have couple of shots from this morning. I wanted to do something easier than my last one...so I went werewolf.

Wax on, Wax off

Howdy, Well tomorrow is the start of try-outs at Mt. Spokane for ski school instructor. The process takes 4 days and spans 2 weeks. By the end they have who they want and cut who they don't. I'm excited to move forward with my certification and will be shooting fr a level two within the next couple of years. I also have a short vid of a new waxing technique I have adopted since moving to the colder region of the pacific northwest. First though let's take a look at Boba Fett, my current acrylic piece I've been plugging away on for the past couple of months. Here is a current shot of the piece as of this morning

I have been enjoying working on this one. I am learning a lot more with color mixing to add different depth and lighting to the armour. Yes, I still have to start his rifle but as I stated this one is going kinda slow. My sessions on this piece are about 30 mins to 1 hour at a time as there are quite a few details in the armor and lighting. This will probably be my last update on this piece then I will move on to the next adventure with art. I will say that I am glad I have art as an outlet. Sometimes life hands us a big old pile of crap and says 'enjoy.' When times are tough it feels great to be able to head into the studio and shut the world out for a while even if it is 30 minuets. America has lost it's color, literally. As a member of a federally recognized tribe it's sad to see the hate and destructive actions set fourth by our current administration. So, to escape into the studio means everything especially since I had nothing for so long. I don't ever take my talents or 'things' for granted. Never forget your roots. Okay! SKi talk time. I spent a couple hours yesterday waxing and tuning my Mindbenders for tomorrows start of tryouts. I have a short vid with a description of my newly adopted method. I pretty excited to be working on the mountain. I am also stoked to be learning something new. I have skiied my whole life. The last thing my father and I did together before having his heart attack was ski Mt. Reba (Bear Valley). I feel close to him when I ride the mountain. I know it probably sounds corny but it's true. This blog is also my journal. I have no kids to carry my story, so I guess leaving a blog as my testimony is as good as it gets for me, folks. I appreciate you reading my spillings. I will post my finshed Boba Fett piece as soon as it's done. I feel like I have another month or so, but we'll see. I will also take a couple shots from the mountain tomorrow and I can update with those from tryouts as well. Take care, and happy holidays.