December 28

The Monday after Christmas. Mark called Mom, she enjoyed the conversation about the kids at the house. Her hip feels a little better she thinks. Aunt Shirley is on the mend we hope.

Mom is coming here for the new year's. We will pick her up on Thursday after lunch then we will go to the new years eve church service at Cross .She will spend the night and we will do something the next day, mabe lunch at Strobels.

I have to work on my collage today. I need to put more color and contrast into the design. This will meanb that I have to cut some more colored tissure paper for collaging.

Will try to get the submission done for the Austin Show

December 27

The christmas season continues for another week or two. on January 6th is Epiphany. then as should be now we see the man that is God.

In perfect harmony. this our forgiveness from 6od.

Because sin separates us from god. it is forgiveness that brings us together.

God's love us unending from his son, binds sand unites everyone and everything.

December 25

christmas is finally here, let us all with gladsome voice praise the God heaven for this wonderful birth.

isaiah 52:7

Is it possible that jesus was born in a cave with the animals because they knew who he was. he was their creator, as well as our redeemer.

all who believe in him will be saved. many will not, they do not believe.

December 24

December 24

It starts out fresh, my painting mot the day. Working on a leaf motif with watercolor and other water media to keep my hand in it, also on some drawings.

Finished the new website. Http:// www.kamprath-drawing.com, not with out some problems but its all up and running. Now, I have to figure what to do with jimkamprath.org.

Things change and they stay the same. Which path do you choose.

I still am trying to get the website to work.

December 23

It is so close now I can feel it.Went to see Avatar yesterday. every thing I have read has said that it worth the cash to go and see it. Well I am here to tell you tell you that it definately is worth the time and money. I haven't been invigorated by a movie since first saw the day the earth stood still in the 60's. It is visually aluring, like My Painting professor told me in college it has to have a lot of eye candy to keep you looking for more. There are a lot of things you have or thought you have seen before. Real villians some real assholes, some really great moving scenes. Some scenery that is utterly fantastic.

The charevcters are for the most alien particularly in their blue appearence. although the females have breasts, they have navels. That would mean they were mammilian. the have some of the sam foiybles as we do the cover ther genitals and brests, they have a tail. They fall in love, the fight but are spiritual.

They say that earth is all but a dead world, we have killed all that is green. but they are going to fix it with something this planet has that we can take and fix ours. Sounds like Harry Reid,

The idea of a planetary conscienceness is not new but intriguing the way it is developed here. A lot is predictable but fun to watch,

December 22

It's so close to Christmas now that you can almost smell it. Not Almost you can smell it nrom satcow. The smells of baking, cooking and preparing the cookies , cakes, salads. All getting ready for the end of the week.

But there is the underlying smell of deceit that has been given to us by a democratic majority that really stinks. A real Christmas stab in the back paid for with our own money. In this Christmas season we are to be thankful for the gifts we are given.

I have begun a new larger format collage based on the tufts of grass behind moms place in Seguin.

How I approach this will help me develop a routine for these larger pieces. I want it to get to the point where I don't have to start from scratch each time I begin.

I have done the photograph format, picked the angel, picked the values I need to use, chosen I which to use to collage. the materials have all been picked, cut and sorted.

Yet I still hesitate to really get going.

December 21

Christmas lumes in the clear future, It is inevitable, inescapable a constant in the math of the present. We can not now ignore it or shove it aside.

Christ functionally effects the time of the year and the season. We Christians must contend with the need of those who do not believe, to not want to use the name of our Savior, because of their fear of those people who would put their faith in someone they can't see, They will not see him who daily intervenes for us. There are none so blind as those whi will not see.

Christmas has become a reality for business as well as for advertisers. So they battle as to weather say merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. In the 60's it was keep Christ in Christmas.
Things don't change they just get more or less press.

Behold the darkness encrouches upon us.

December 19

It seem that we are on the verge of being engulfed in socalized medicine in America. It would also seem prudent that people understand that the government doesn't care that the majority of America don't want the changes these are about to pass. So where is the hope and change.

December 15

24" x 36" water media and collage

on collaged paper

2009

It has taken a while but I now feel certain that shrub is completed, now. I put it on the website this morning. I feel good about how this has turned out, it works well and the varied shapes help pull it all together.

I finally stopped asking myself the questions I do in my mind, is this done yet?. It would seem that it is.

December 14

As I take the time to make substan revisions in the current piece "Shrubs", I also encounter the same old piece of me that constantly says are you doing what you must to achieve optimum results in your work?

As the work progresses, I continue to ask this question, less and less frequently as the work progresses. When I stop asking I can usually be assured that the work is done. I have as of yet not reached that point in its creation. When one makes radical changes one ask questions. When the questions are answered the work can continue to grow.

If not they are not answered or ignored then one must settle the internal dispute or suffer future consequences. If an artist can not listen to its inner voice then there is no check.

December 13

Advent is "the coming" this is week three of four. rejoice in the lord, always.

In painting I want to emphasise the linear elements in the painting.work on finishing the linear elements with inking and filling in the sections with a semi-opaque while then refill with semi transparent color. I still have problems calling painting on paper painting, although i'm not sure what I would call them,papering. no that does not sound good. it does not convey the conscept. Spent a great of time this afternoon working and gained some headway. the picture is becoming closer to what I think it should be. Time will tell,

December 12

Off to mom's today to visit and see how she is doing. We haven't seen her since before Thanksgiving. We Just found out that Mark and Paula will not be down before Christmas. So we have to work out about Christmas, who and where we will gather if at all.

Breakfast at the Kettle in Seguin. on the way to mom's for the day. I cleaned off my drawing table in preparation for work but now it will have to wait until we get home. guess it won't get done unit next week.

December 11

it would seem that everytime the senate does something, it hurts people. Now the senate has set limits on the amount it will allow insurance companies on the coverage of certain diseases. it would seem that it is possible that people will be cut off from care on the certain Disease. at a time when I am totally dependent ontario my insurance coverage to help with the cost of my diabetic supplies. since currently my medicare coverage does not cover my diabetic supplies which currently costs me in excess of $250.00 per month.

Almost finished shrub I was concerned because If did not know if I wanted to put in the time and effort, if I should put in the time to finish I want it to be worth what I put into it. It is something I wasn't sure I wanted to do this.

I have settled my internal strife, will continue the piece until I finish. I will try to post at that time.

December 4

It's Friday already. It's a week past Thanksgiving. Getting ready for Christmas and the end of the year. Trying to get a couple of things ready for the Christmas Art Show in Seguin. Would like to get "Something New" framed and reasdy but sdon't know if I have enough time. I would also like to get "Shrub" up and finished to see how that would look also.but time is short and there is so much else to do.

December 3

Beyond the normal frustration of everyday life, when you add in driver it becomes crazy. I have a need and a desire to achieve at least a virtual success, my end. not what the others choose, but the end that I choose, what I decide to accomplish.

I am after all a child of god and will dutifully try to fully use the gifts god has given me.

December 1

It gets kind of distressing as you watch time go by and you are not really involved in it. I guess thats why we retire. We are mp l;omger need in what weere we now have to make aRe selves neded in what we do now. So often a feeling of uselessness can over come and cause distress, This is the body telling you to get busy and do something.

I continue to work on my latest collage "Shrub", things are moving along nicely, will post when I have a cit closer to breing finished.

I also want to get "something new" framed to submit in a show. All of these plans as time runs out. Have some Ideas foer what comes next.