The Artwork of Brian Kliewer

Thanks to all who emailed me. 

I am on leave from the web...indefinitely.  Sorry, but this can't be helped.  I'm battling health issues that have taken me away from painting and may very well put an end to my painting for good.  I don't know.

UPDATE:

2/18

I discussed this a few years ago but my hand trembling is back...with a vengeance. I can't paint with it or do much of anything with it...even typing can be a problem.  (But it particularly shows up when doing highly delicate work, like painting.  I can't control the brush.)

This is something I've had coming on for years.  When it interfered with my painting before, I attributed it to a hand injury I had a few years ago but that wasn't completely true.  The injury only exacerbated an already existing problem.  In years past, it never showed up while painting or interfered with it in any way...now it almost always does.  I've been living in denial, in fear that it might come to this at some point but not wanting to believe it.

Anyway, I'm going to try to get treatment and see what happens.  So I won't be around here or online at all for a while.  Despite what the blog footer below says, this is why I'm not accepting comments on this post.

Well, back online... 

We fared pretty well here except for losing the Internet.  The power went out briefly but other than that, it was mostly a windy storm that didn't do a whole lot of damage here.  Nearly 90,000 in Maine did lose their electricity for an extended period, however, so we're very thankful we weren't among them.

So sorry for all the folks in New Jersey, New York and throughout the surrounding areas in the Northeast.  It's so sad to see so much damage and destruction.  Thoughts and prayers for everyone.

"A Press Handstand" 24"x18" oil on panel © 1977 Brian Kliewer

I found this the other day and sort of flipped when I saw it.  Had no idea it was still around.  It's a painting I did when I was 14 of my first 'studio.'  Nadia Comaneci was still big in the news after the 1976 Olympics and I was working on some drawings and thought a painting would be challenging. 

The 'studio' was just an end of an inside hallway but when the door was closed, it worked out quite well for my needs at the time.  In the painting you can see the book, "Nadia," on the easel and its reflection in the glass window in the door.  On the wall in the background is a drawing of the Owls Head lighthouse, with a partial view of the painting on a table below it.  The flowers in the pot?  Don't ask, I have no idea what I was thinking on that. Below the easel a hammer rests on a block of wood and an old "Black Label" beer box was used for storing supplies.  If you look closely at the door, you might be able to spot my initials, "BK" carved into it.  I didn't actually carve them in...a little artistic license.

The painting was partly inspired by Norman Rockwell.  I remember buying a book about his work at the time, liking how he handled interior light, and wanting to see what I could do with it myself. 

The cord you see in the lower left went to my radio.  I remember listening to "Easy" by the Comodores, "Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart and "Strawberry Letter 23" by The Brothers Johnson. 

Good memories. 

"At 644 feet, The World is the largest privately owned yacht on the planet."

I remember hearing about the ship when it launched in 2002.  I never expected to see it drop anchor outside my kitchen window.  Took this photo around 11:30 this morning and was glad to see that these folks apparently ordered better weather (below) for later in the afternoon so that  we 'serfs' might benefit, too.

Hmm, I see that among other things, classes in art are offered onboard.  Now that might make for an interesting 'workshop' experience.

I've read online that they're going to be here for a couple of days and then head south Sunday evening. 

From the Bangor Daily News:

"The unique ship is a floating city, owned by 130 families from 19 different countries who occupy with their guests 165 private condominium residences. Launched in 2002, The World continuously circumnavigates the globe, and it has now visited 800 ports in 140 countries. The ship’s 2012 itinerary is taking those aboard to 31 different countries. Beyond Eastport, the ship is scheduled to stop in Bar Harbor, Rockland and Portland before heading on to Boston. Its last port of call before heading to Eastport was in Canada at St. Andrews, N.B."

Anyone care bo buy an apartment?  http://aboardtheworld.com/

Good night to The World!

Several birds were at the feeder this morning, mostly Nuthatches and Chickadees.  I took this photo of a Goldfinch a while back.  I'm still not getting the variety I would like, but this beats the Red Squirrel...

Guilty!

I watched this little guy try to figure it out for a few weeks, never seeing him on it.  Then one morning I saw this.  But he hasn't been around for quite a while now...not that I can tell, anyway. 

Eventually, if I can get enough good reference material, I might do some small bird paintings....or small paintings of small birds.

Squirrels are notoriously crafty when it comes to bird feeders.  This feeder has a cable that's covered with a rubber coating.  A couple of times, I saw this guy gnawing at it just above the roof.  I couldn't figure out why he'd be so interested in wearing it down, and then one morning I looked out and saw the roof had been lifted up off of the feeder itself. The clip just above the feeder grasps into that rubber coating, holding the roof in place.  Could it be that the squirrel knew this and that's why he gnawed away at it?  That clever or not, it happened.  I've since had to keep a close eye on that clip, making sure it stays fastened down.   

The squirrel might even show up in a painting at some point.   I hold no grudges.  :)