Well, we all have to start somewhere.

I never thought I would ever enter into the world of blogging. But, I have a dear friend who blogs every day about her little watercolors, (and her little dog as well), so I thought...why not.

I have reached a point in my life/career where believe it or not, I am open to new ideas and new experiences. Now, the trick is going to be to remember to find the time to make daily entries.

For those who do not know me, and I am sure that is almost everyone, I am a retired architect, among other things, but for over 50 years I have been a painter, an artist. I prefer to refer to myself as a painter.....I will leave it to others to determine if I am an artist. As I said, I've been an architect, a marine fisheries observer/researcher, senior estimator for a nationwide stone and tile contractor....but always a painter.

I guess I retired from architecture for two reasons: one, it was getting in the way of my painting, and two, the economy was tanking as far as construction and development was concerned in the mid eighties. So, I did what any insane painter would do. I closed my office, helped find my employees find other jobs, opened a small gallery....and was off to the races, (not really realizing that it was going to be a lifetime marathon, not a 100 meter dash.

In 1986, or was it 1985, I forget, I opened Third Coast Gallery a half block off the Strand in Galveston, Texas. I ended up in various locales over the next fifteen years, other Strand locations, and eventually to Post Office Street.

There were good times, and not so good times. For some reason, in 2000, I decided that I was "burning out", lost my muse, frustrated...so, I closed. Sold most of my inventory and started trying to determine what to do next.

As luck would have it, I just happened to be having a drink at O'Malley's on Post Office Street, and basically just fell into a job opportunity. For the next 3 1/2 or 4 years I worked as a marine fisheries observer for a not for profit in Tampa, Florida. I never went to the office, I just answered the calls and went off to whatever fishing port that had a boat waiting for me. Basically, to make it as simple as possible, I was testing and tweaking the TEDs (turtle excluder devices) and BRDs (by catch reduction devices) in the nets of offshore commercial shrimping vessels. Yes, I was shipping out, but not on idyllic ocean cruises.

The trips were from 14 days to over two months at a time. My territory was from Brownsville, Texas to the North Carolina/Virginia border, but I never ventured East of the Florida Panhandle. The work was not strenuous, just time-wise tedious, documenting the catch and the results. I did catch up on my reading, however, as on most of the Texas boats I may very well be the only one on board conversant in English.

After about 3 1/2 or 4 years, I had had enough of the adventure, returned to shore, and took a "real job" in the construction industry. After about 8 years, I had had enough, said adios, and returned to painting.

 

 

The painting above is one that I had completed prior to my avoidance of painting for about a dozen years. The one below is one of the first that I completed when I regained my senses and started back "slinging a brush" in about February of 2012.

I attempt to paint daily. I, along with my son Charlie, have reopened Third Coast Gallery in Galveston, Texas. I am there daily, even having a small apartment within the building. On some days the painting comes so natural and easy, and others...well...it approaches being a job. And now, I have added another task to the life I wanted so dearly to simplify.

So now, let's see how diligent I can be in finding time to jot down a thought or two on a regular basis. I think I have all the "history and background" out of the way, and can, hopefully, remain current.