New Instructional Book

I just completed writing this new instructional book "Painting the Red-Phased Eastern Screech Owl". It is a supplemental to the "Carving & Painting the Western Screech Owl" book. I am in the process of printing up the initial batch of books now. If you are interested in ordering this book I can turn it around within the week. The cost is $25.00 plus $6.00 for S&H. That will go out priority mail.

First Art Show for 2012

Last week I participated in my first art show for the year. It was the Western Heritage Artist Group Show held in Great Falls Montana. The show was a success in many ways. Not strictly looking at the dollars at the end of the show, but looking at the whole package.

Having been out of my mind and element for so long it felt good to get back out there and interact with people again. Being able to catch up with a number of friends I haven't seen in over a year. Discuss future projects which is always good to be looking 1, 2, even three years down the road. Work out trades between fellow artists for each others work. And simply get a change of pace to help my mind continue to move forward.

It will still take some time, but I do feel as though I'm making progress and each show, each class, each competition, and each project helps keep me moving in the right direction. I might only have the mind and energy for 50% mode, but at least it's moving now.

Just yesterday I was finally able to sit down and go through all my projects that were placed on hold over the past couple years and re-prioritize and layout the next years work I have on the books. Just doing this turned out to be a lot of fun for me as it meant my mind is getting ready to turn things on. I even worked in my studio until about 9pm painting an Eastern Screech Owl in Red coloration. I'm calling this my "Catch Up Year". Catch up on all those projects that were placed on hold.

This Screech Owl project I'm working on once done will then turn into a painting book that many people have been anxiously waiting for. A couple more weeks from no I hope to have that book available for everyone. Those who have been patiently waiting I have to thank for your patience while I get my head back in line.

Until my next posting, thanks to everyone again for your patience and support.

Jerry...

A site for Kate

Hello everyone. It has been awhile since I've been able to get out to my blog. As you can imagine, my time has been spent taking care of Kate in a variety of forms over the past few months. In order to aid the communication of her status I went to a site called CarringBridge and created a link for Kate. From this site we will be able to do journal entries which should be a much better and timely means of keeping people updated.

Here is the link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kateparkin

You will be able to select email notification so anytime we create a journal entry you will be able to get an email with that entry.

Soon I hope to get back out on this site with informative posts and even continue where we left off with that Kestrel project.

Thanks and I hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you a Happy New Year.

Jerry...

Latest News - Home Front

Hello everyone,

It has been awhile since many of you have heard from me. Things have been quite busy and hectic this year. Well, things just became much more hectic and I wanted to let everyone know what is going on.

Over the past month Kate had been in and out of the doctors, etc. As of Wednesday of this week, we finally received enough information and specifics to know what is going on. Unfortunately it's not good news.

She was diagnosed with stomach cancer (poorly differentiated signet cell adenocarcinoma). This is a difficult form of cancer that has 0% cure rate. It is currently in stage 4.

On Monday she went into the Hospital due to her kidneys being blocked so stints were put in to see if that will get them flowing again normally. I was able to bring her home yesterday (Thursday). Currently she is resting and hanging out on the coach. Still low on energy and strength. I'm watching over her pretty much all day. Monday we go in and check the kidneys to find out if they are continuing to improve or not. If not, we will be looking at another option (placing tubes in the back). This will then allow full function again.

Once the kidneys are back in proper form, she can then start Chemo treatments. If we have to go with the tubes in the back, it will be a couple weeks before we can start Chemo. Chemo is the only option at this point to give her some time. Surgery is not possible unless we see a reduction in the cancer which only Chemo will be able to do if it can. It will be about 2-3 months after the start of Chemo before we know if the treatment is having any positive impact on the cancer.

That's the latest situation as I know it today. It is my main focus right now until we can get Kate back on her feet. Sorry that I haven't been able to let you know in person or via phone.

Please don't hesitate to pass this along to other friends, family, etc. as I may not have everyone covered. I hate to cut this short, but I at least wanted to get this out while I had a moment.

Thanks, Jerry...

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Update - Quick Status

As you may have noticed, I've been out of communication for awhile. I was tied up taking care of Kate (my wife) as she tore her rotator cuff back in Feb. and had to have surgery in April. She was in the sling for six weeks after surgery which meant she couldn't do anything. She just got out of the sling which means she can start doing Physical Therapy. It will take some months yet to get back to full speed, but she is starting to work on the mobility and strength. This means I can get back to my work and eventually get to full speed as well.

Over the next three months I will be working on a life size hawk which has to be completed by the first of September. During this time I might end up out of communication mode yet again. However, I will try and pick up where I left off on the Kestrel project along with some other topics that I started awhile back.

Until the next posting...

Competition - Harlequin Drake Decoy

This year I wasn't able to make it back east to the Ward World Championships. However, I was able to get a bird back there through the aid of a local friend/carver (Andrew Speer). Because I couldn't attend and hand carry or deliver my latest greatest pieces I decided to send a nice decoy. The one I did during the Spokane class back in January and March. This being the Harlequin Drake decoy which you can see a couple posts down on this page.

Turned out this bird competed quite well back east. It took best in species (other divers - Harlequin) in contemporary decoys. I'm pleased with this result given the fact it wasn't painted to the highest level of detail that would be needed for the CD category.

The bonus to this bird was the fact it was also entered into a show over in Havre de Grace the weekend after worlds. It had to go into the smoothie category as it was too fancy for a working decoy. In smoothie it took best in species and second best diver. Again, I couldn't be happier with this result. Under the smoothie category it wasn't painted with the highest level of detail one would expect for that category.

I consider myself fortunate to have placed at both of these shows given the fact I didn't do a bird specifically for any given category or competition. The most important thing was doing a bird I really wanted to do for myself (aside from it being a class project). Even if it happens to fall in the middle of the pack as far as detail or lack of detail didn't matter. I have a great bird for my mantle and eventually it will end up on someones mantle to enjoy for many years.

In the Studio

For those who have been following my blog you might have noticed I've been in quite mode for the last couple weeks. There is a good reason for the quite mode. Actually, a number of good reasons.

First, I was out for a week teaching a painting class in Spokane, WA where we painted a Harlequin Drake decoy. This class was a follow up to the carving which was done back in January. I have to say, March was a much nicer time of year to travel and work on this project over in Spokane. This was such a fun class and fun bird to paint. The more of these birds I carve the more I enjoy and appreciate there beauty. The initial plan was to make this a basic/traditional hunting decoy. Well, when I got to the painting stage, it ended up falling outside the traditional painting style since I just wanted to keep adding more detail and flare to the piece. As was the case with the example bird. With this bird I just couldn't help but put in the little extra flare and realistic feathering. By the time I was done it was clear that it was a little better looking bird than the example bird I did before the class in January. This isn't anything new, since I find each time a do a piece it's a little better than the last. Even if I do the same bird back to back. Part of the reason for this is that I'm always looking for ways to improve a piece. I'll post a photo of the finished bird within the next week so you can see it.

The other thing consuming my time when I am back in the studio, I'm work on another project (besides the Kestrel). This project is the subject for my next study cast and book, the Screech Owl. I have a customer who wants a Western Screech Owl, plus I will be teaching a class on this bird later this year (Oct - Nov). Right now I have him roughed out with feather groups all in place. A couple more days and I should be into the texturing. For those interested in the Eastern Screech, not to worry. I will work on the Red phase painting as a supplement to the Western. You will be able to use the Westerns coloration for the Gray phase Eastern. I'm hoping to have the life size study cast available by the first of May.

Just when you thought that was enough going on, I also have an art show that I'm getting ready for. The 5 day Western Heritage Art Show over in Great Falls, MT. This is one of my bigger shows for the year so it's taking a bit of my attention to assure I'm ready for a good show. The show begins Wednesday the 17th. I always look forward to this show as I get to compete with other artists and art mediums with a single piece that is placed in the main lobby area. Last year I was fortunate enough to not only win best carving, but also best of show. I will be hoping for a repeat performance this year as I will take my World piece (Saw-whet Owl), and see how he stacks up against all the other artists in the show along with there various art mediums. I say, hope since there is no way to know what will happen in an apples - oranges judging situation. No matter what it will still be fun and it will be my main piece to show in the lobby this year. As they say, any given day, judge, situation, anything can happen.

Until the next posting, I best be getting back to the few things on my plate.