Paradise!

How come all of a sudden, out of the blue, the applegate Art studio now sports a large black and white sign which reads Paradise?


It was an insight after reading the PBS "What is Visionary Art?" web page. It states: "Visionary artists come from all over the world and the one thing all of them most like to show in their work is the Garden of Eden - or their own paradise on earth."

I have been wondering lately why a lot of my time spent at the studio has not been only focused on a specific art project, but rather the studio itself. I used to say the studio itself is an installation. It is a piece of art within itself. It reflects my thoughts, opinions, feelings, passions, quirks.

Now I realize what I have been doing is creating my own Paradise.

Reflecting back, anywhere I've ever lived, I have always created my Paradise. I've had Paradise in basements, family rooms, master bed rooms, etc. Yet no matter where they were physically, all had the same common denominator. My Paradise becomes an area layered in concepts of ideas and color. Paradise is my voice. Only if one is willing to take the time to fully explore/experience my Paradise can they hear, otherwise it is lost to them.

So Paradise it is!

Today it happens to reside at 3 South Stafford Avenue, Richmond, Virginia.

"Jesus" Birds

Awhile back, I showed a co-worker one of my latest paintings. She said she liked the painting, but she wanted to know why I put Jesus birds in a lot of my paintings?

"Jesus birds? Why do you call them Jesus birds?"

She, still in her 20's, immediately went to Google, found the following site: www.thedowsschoolroom.com/bibledecobaby.shtml and there they were, Jesus birds. She proceeded to tell me my birds look just like all the cut out birds on church school bulletin boards and she remembers them from her childhood.

This was a first for me, but I admit she's right in that my birds sure do look like those Jesus birds. It was then that I decided that this is what my birds are, Jesus birds. Nothing wrong with this. Nothing wrong with Jesus. Maybe I've been "destined" to paint them, spreading the word on the wings of birds?