Day 2

 The Adventure is upon me and Tuesday was my second day. My world has truly been shaken up a bit as I find that it will take a great effort to move most of my studio gear such as my books and supplies which are plentiful and 25 years worth of accumulation . So I plan to take my time and take a little bit when I need them to the gallery.

 I start the day by taking a broom and sweeping in front of the Gallery door and I take in a deep breath of the brisk Auburn air. What will today bring? I can safely say that I feel that each day will bring adventure if I am open to it. I have set up the front room so that passerby's can see me paint. I have placed my old art teachers Mission Style chair right next to my painting spot , that way if someone wants to talk to me they can make themselves comfortable. So far, that seat has been occupied quite frequently. So here is what happened today.

 A man walks in after he has been staring at my paintings through the window and I wave him in. He is carrying a book that I recognize  that I AM actually reading at the moment.

So I says to him... Hey...I think I'm currently reading the book in your hand! ...
He says... " No.. I don't think so!"
I says ..." oh Yes I am!"
He shows it to me and says... " I don't think your've reading THIS book"
I says " Yes.. That's the book I'm reading right now ... " A Patriot's History of the United States" by Larry Schweikart.

 He is amazed and dumbfounded. Wow! He mentions that one of his right-winger friends recommended the book and that he is enjoying the contents so far. He makes it clear that he is left of center and that he is open to another view. I can respect that. We converse on many historical topics and I find out that he is retired from working at the San Francisco Chronicle. It also turns out that he lives next to one of my students in Lincoln. There seem to be quite a few retired folks walking the streets during the early afternoon hours.

 The next person who walks in is Architect Mike. He has his footprint all around Auburn and he seems to admire my paintings. He is also a painter himself and he is enthusiastic about seeing me at the gallery. He also runs an imported persian rug business and offers to trade me a Persian Rug of my choosing for one of my paintings of his choosing. well... it seems that I will have a nice Persian Rug in the gallery soon.

 Then, there is a man whose face seems to speak of a hard life. He stares inside through the glass windows goes away for a spell and then stares again and then walks in. He is very complimentary about my portraits and asks many questions about my art. He asks my pricing. So far, I have not posted any prices and I need to do that soon. I tell him a price for a 16 x 20 portrait and then he asks if I can paint from one of his photographs. I said I can but I prefer to photograph the subject myself so that I can direct the lighting. He informs me that he would like a portrait of his deceased son. I can tell the pain in his eyes. I then offer to give him a deal and promise to do a good job for him. He takes my card..... will I see him again?

 Soon after a man sporting a marine baseball cap and standing at around 6'2" walks in . He loves my work and continually tells me that I am capturing beauty. I keep painting this time because frankly I am not getting much work done. He stares at my painting of St. Peter healing the Lame Man and starts to say that anyone who believes in Religion is brainwashed. Well... I just love these sort of conversations and I work and talk to him as he insults me in a nice way and reproves Christians for being hypocrites and believers in " A Myth" . I respectfully keep the conversation going and ask some probing questions . He says that it's okay with him if people believe in these fairy tales if it makes them feel better. He hates Christians who try to convert him. He believes this earth and the beauty of Nature is the real Heaven. He tells me ... " You seem like an educated guy and I have never had a conversation like this before, ordinarilly I avoid talking about Religion and Politics." So finally , I ask him  " What makes you so condescending and so self righteous that you think you are right..." You sound just like the Religionists that you seem to dislike" . He then repackages his diatribe in a more pleasant way but continues to batter home the point that I am brainwashed. Of course I ask him where he received his value system and where does he get his moral authority to believe he is right. He then recycles all the arguments against a Loving God... " How can a Loving God allow a busload of kids to burn alive in a crash?" He sys your Bible is a Fairy Tale. Of course I tell him ... " Would you rather have a God like the " Truman Show" where everything is perfect and no free will and God is the Ultimate Puppet Master?" He then looks at my St.Peter healing the Lame Man and states aloud... I guess you would say thay I am the Lame Man on the ground in your painting. I answer that he is not that Man. I answer that that Lame man wanted healing and needed God but that he is too self righteous to ask for a redeemer..... I got the feeling no one had addressed him that way.He ends by saying " I guess I've converted you and made you doubt " ... I respond" Actually , you've just repeated every cliche against Faith that I've either parroted myself or heard before" .  I hope I talk to Mel again .. I actually like him ... ya gotta love a Marine!

 What a day...what will tomorrow bring?..... one thing is for sure. I plan to put the chair to my right as opposed to where it is now. I can't seem to talk and look over my shoulder to my left and paint.

 I like the idea of making this spot an artists hang out. I plan to bring most of my bookcases here to share my books.

 Next thing on the agenda is to buy some frames..... and get these paintings off the floor.

 My buddy Scott and I will redesign my window. It will look like the wood floor of an artists studio with splattered paint. Any ideas?