On the spur of the moment a trip was planned to get out of record snow in Dallas to the warmth of Houston. My friend and fellow artist had a studio tour and we played!



This is a pic of the three of us, after a great relaxing time at Winter Street Studio Tour. Billy Miller (center) has a great space and the energy of the other artists and the area is the best. When I grow up, I wanna be like him! Mando, (left) has always been a great sidekick. The 3 of us use to do Creative Sundays, which included a bottle of wine, some paint and canvas and an open mind. There were others in this circle but, the 3 of us started the tradition of layed back Sundays

Leaving Dallas, Friday afternoon. was not an easy chore, the city has no ice trucks. The side streets were not plowed and since that's all I drive at the moment, I stayed put for 2 days. When Mando came over to drive us down, I gave him a mop to scrape off the 2 days of snow that accumulated on the car, sorry, no pics, but, trust me, it was hilarious.

Getting to Houston and spending the weekend with great friends was exactly what I needed. Laughing till your gut hurts i, sometimes the best medicine.
So many great ideas for paintings. this pic reminds me of a photo Pop took in Dallas.



Towering images gave way to blue sunny sky on Sunday



A Huge Wall of water in a Houston Park was relaxing the sound was incredible



Spending time in Billy's studio is always great! Spending time with friends? Priceless



I worked on several pieces on Saturday as visitors came thru the studio, Mando and I had a blast...hell, we even found the wine! These are a pair of my jeans that I added paint to this weekend.



I've got a busy month ahead and looking forward to it.

Hear is my V.D cane, to help celebrate Singles Awareness Day, otherwise known as Valentines Day!



Not enough time to do a Mardis Gras cane, although I have a great idea for Lent...stay tuned!

If you're gonna start sometime, why not now

It snowed all day yesterday, finally ending around 10pm. Dallas received record snow yesterday, over 10 inches of wet slushy snow. The branches around the house are almost touching the ground. Today, the snow is over, but, the temps are starting to go below freezing. All that slush is turning to ice.



This is a pic out of my front door. those branches you see are not letting me go down the steps.

I did alot of phone calling yesterday setting up more art shows. I now have a show in May.

The electricity went out a couple of times yesterday, but, all is ok today. I didn't get much painting in yesterday as I wasn't sure what was happening outside my door.

I've lived in Dallas over 20 years and don't ever recall this much snow. Hearing branches break and ice fall is no fun.

I'm canceling plans and meetings for today as well. Hoping for better things this weekend. I'll try to take more pics later.

10am:

Looks like a friend will be coming over and we will be driving to Houston to visit a good friend, Billy. Weather there looks good and I am outta here, see you next week!




If you're gonna start sometime , why not now

I had Physical Therapy this morning and several errands to run before the snow came. I was too late, it started at 5am this morning and as we speak it's still coming down. Mind you it'd nothing like the blizzard happening on the east coast, but, anytime Dallas gets weather of any kind the midless drivers get even more crazy. So, I decided to stay at home, cancel appointments and enjoy the slushing noises as cars sid by...ugg.

I'm finalizing my Art Show at a local venue. I'm also working on another art show in May of this year.

Here is what Urban Dog Coffee wrote on the invitation:

Urban Dog Coffee is honored to display the dynamic and powerfull work of Artist, Jim Frederick. A well known personality whose drive, seemingly endless creative genius and love for humanity are obvious propellants toward his craft.
This month long exhibit showcases a history of Jim's life and work and additionally highlights his commitment to Lone Star Ride Fighting AIDS, a annual cycling event benefiting major AIDS service orgs in North Texas. Jim has committed a generous 40% of all art sales to this organization and their beneficiaries.
Join us Thursday Feb. 18th from 7 to 9 PM for a reception.

I'll have 16 pieces for sale and the reception will be catered.

Today I paint and clean and do some laundry...maybe take some pics of the snow, it is pretty, although I want shorts and Spring. Thinking of Mom and Pop on the beach in SC!

If you're gonna start sometime why not now

As I was listening to this song, I painted. I realized I have a secret place that enables me to forget about the day. For me it's painting, it's working on projects. My secret place is like a mini vacation into something I get to create. I forget about the stresses of life, if only for an hour. I get out of myself and I get to make a mess.

I experiment and push limits. It's not like this everyday, but, it's there for me. My secret place that I can share with others, but, it's still mine. No one has to understand, because I do.

Press Here

This is what I came up with, Dwelling Place, which is now looking for a new home!



I also sold a painting today

Boxed In, 36x36



This is one of the first paintings I did after finding out I had P.M.L. wondering if I was ever going to paint.

3 years later I'm still looking for that secret chord. The chord that lets me know all is well and I'm safe. The chord that tells me there is a tomorrow and it will kick ass. It goes back to my secret place, when I thought it was gone, my chord went flat. I was so scared of not knowing that I pretended not to care about the chord, that secret place.

Something inside each one of us, tells us that, there is something more. For me that chord is within me. I decide. I'm the one in charge of my life. Me. But, I'm a note...it takes others to make a chord. And that is my life right now, full of sharps and flats. A chord that is subtle at times and screams thru the next. The chord is constant. I'm beginning to appreciate that now

If you're going to start sometime, why not now

I sang with TCC for a conference being held here in Dallas on Creating Change in the GLBT community.

I was asked by the director to give a short speech, concerning my HIV status and my sexual orientation. I was worried all week about the mechanics of the speech. Not until I walked up and held the microphone did I realize the emotion that would be involved. I spoke about the over 60 friends I lost in TCC over the years. I spoke about us each having angels and I spoke about dreaming for my future.

I was asked to introduce a song called, Gone To Soon.

Mind you I was fighting back tears and my voice was crackling. I was realizing at that moment that I was standing, holding a microphone and reading, something I couldn't have down 3 years ago. Overwhelmed by my actions and listening to my words. My status is no secret, but, somehow saying it loud to a room full of people, was really overwhelming. A friend Will, said he saw the raw me.

The director came up to help me and I read on fighting back the tears, listening...really listening to what I was saying.

More important than my health status or sexual orientation, is my story...I'm a self-taught artist, trying to make his mark on the world.

I will do this again, I don't know where, but, something happened to me today.

I'm still chewing on this afternoon, where my life is, where I was hoping it would be...hell, that I have a life at all.

The director gave me an opportunity to share apart of myself today. As I was standing there, I began to realize I'm ok, just being me. And the me is ever changing.

I need time to think, so more later

If you're gonna start sometime, why not now