11am

Just had a meeting with a potential new collector. I think that sounds better than buyer:)

Also, just found out that vertumagazine.com is dead. They were supposed to go live this month, and went to the site and it's no more. Oh well.

11pm
Goodnight Burt!
And thanks for letting me have the scraps of your pizza...you're the best...
I SAID...youfroinfdl.,ytmlkem.

Nice time tonight. Went to two art shows, one an opening at Uptown Vision and the other a closing at the White Rock Bath House and Cultural Center.

Welding tomorrow!
Hopefully painting at Chocolate Secrets.

Dream Big, Dare to Fail

9:30am

Doing some research on courage and following a dream
Found these two things interesting...one fiction, one nonfiction...

The journey
You arrive at the airline ticket counter with your bags packed and ready. You pull out a billfold full of cash, and say to the ticket agent, "I'd like a ticket, please."

"Certainly," says the agent. "Where would you like to go?"

"Someplace nice. Where I can have a good job, make plenty of money, drive a new car, live in a big house, and have a lot of friends," you answer.

"And exactly where would that be?" asks the agent.

"I'm not sure just yet," you reply. "But once I get going, I should have a better idea."

"I'm sorry," says the agent. "You obviosly have enough money for a ticket to anywhere you wish to travel. However, in order to issue a ticket, I'll need to know exactly where you intend to go. If you don't know that, I'll have to ask you to step aside. Next, please."

The person behind you steps up to the counter. "I'd like a ticket to Paris," he announces.

"Certainly," says the agent. "And how will you be paying for this?"

"I'm not sure just yet," he answers. "But once I get going I should be able think of a way."

"I'm sorry," replies the agent. "But I cannot issue a ticket without your payment. Next, please."

A successful journey has two essential requirements: a clear destination, and the means to get there. Your goals and dreams are the destination of your life journey. Your discipline and effort are the means of travel. Without one, the other is wasted. With both, you can go wherever you want to be.
___________________________________________________
and...

Life shrinks or expands
in proportion to one's courage.
-- AnaauIs Nin

Courage is not the absence of fear. Rather, it is the ability to feel the fear and do it anyway.

The biggest rewards come to those who have the courage to accept the difficult tasks, to take risks, to do the things that others find too uncomfortable. Anyone can have a great idea -- it takes courage to put that idea into action.

Frederick W. Smith had a great idea. And he risked his entire inheritance of more than $8 million to put that idea into action. Everyone told him he was crazy -- that his idea would never work. During its first two years, his company lost $27 million. Yet with sheer courage and tenacity, he made it work.

His idea, and his company, Federal Express, changed the way the world does business. In 1983 Federal Express became the fastest company up to that date to achieve $1 billion in annual revenue, and it went on to become the world's largest express transportation company.

Today, Fred Smith is worth $415 million, and Federal Express delivers 2.4 million packages every day in 210 countries. Smith's courage in following his vision has made him a fortune and added incalculable value to the world.

6pm

Long and productive day today.

Started the day with breakfast with Billy.

I then went to Starbucks to do my monthly bills with coffee. Went home to organize, and pack up the three orders going out UPS.

Shipped all the packages, went by Chocolate Secrets to confirm artwork delivery later tonight.

Then an appointment with Rebecca went really well. She took pictures of 6 pieces that she is interested in trying to sell. I should know something with that by the first part of next week.

Now it's time to pack up the car and deliver the remaining paintings that I have available to Chocolate Secrets as well as Valentines Day cards. Afterwards, meeting Robert and Jim for dinner, possibly at Green Papya.

Busy, productive day...thinking good thoughts on possible leads for art sales.

That's all for now.
Dream Big, Dare to Fail

8am
HELLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOO FEBUARY!

I have 18 sketches complete as of...well, late last night.

I love the feel. I love the energy oozing out of them.

This morning is finishing up ClearLake, so I can mail that out today! The only saving grace with that, is that no one buys valentines day cards until a couple of days before Valentines Day...why is that?

Ok, anyway, brewing a cup or two, working on orders and starting to clean my place...it's a mess right now!

4pm

Oprah time...but I thought I would catch you up on the day.

The order for ClearLake is drying, the same with the Omaha order.

I took an hour long walk on the KATY trail with Gracie.

I am also halfway done with the downstairs reorganizing.

I'm going to workout and then to dinner with friends.

I'll try to put in one more entry tonight before bed.

It was a good day today! Febuary is already kickin ass!!!

11pm

Great time tonight! Burt, Jason, Jim and myself all went to Monica's for wednesday night cheap margarita's and lot's of eye candy! MEN EVERYWHERE!

It was great going out and kicking back a few.

Looks like there is another artist confirmed on the tour. It's starting to get exciting.

Watching Project Runway.
Then Bed.

Dream Big, Dare to Fail

12noon
Last day of the month...can I jump up and down!? I'm so ready for to get into February.

Sketches are still going well. I have a little over 12 complete now. I have ideas for 7 more. We'll see how things go...I'd really love the first level of sketches on canvas complete by tomorrow.

The orders for Clear Lake and Chocolate Secrets is almost complete. I'll be mailing the Houston order tomorrow.

Going to continue sketching today, take a walk with Gracie and have dinner with my friend Tim tonight.

That's it for now...maybe more later

12:00am

Had a really nice dinner tonight with Tim at Salun Resteraunte on Fitzhugh. It was good food and great conversation. I always enjoy our talks.

I came home and continued sketching a little then went to Zippers to see Billy ooohhhh and ahhhh over his new muse....if you have questions you can go to Billy's website...he made a triptich of Robb.

Anyway, they were all feeling no pain and having a good time, but I had to get back to the house and sketch some more...It looks like I will have 18 sketches complete before bed tonight! Very excited.

Got some good vibes from Tim on the sketches, and now Burt will be coming by tomorrow for some feedback as well.

I've got a really good feeling about the show...I also have some interesting ideas for the final project on welding...more on that as soon as I know if I can do it or not.

The place is an absolute mess. I'm going to clean up tomorrow as well as continuing the card orders and taking down one of the bookcases and rearranging the studio...it's really a mess right now. OH WELL!

Finishing up on a couple of sketches and then going to bed, I promise...have to work tomorrow!

Goodbye January 2006!
Dream Big, Dare to Fail

9pm

The day was slow. I continued sketching for the show. I'm planning on going to get more canvas tomorrow.

The sketches are looking good.

I had my first guitar lesson tonight with Jace. I think it's going to be a good thing. I'm going to give it a month to see how it progresses, but it was a good start...he's a nice guy.

Went to work out very briefly and back here on the couch watching bad monday night t.v. Feels good to sit and do nothing.

Will be moving forward tomorrow on more sketches and finishing up the card order for the bookworm and clearlake flowers.

January is almost over. Really wanting to have almost all of the ideas sketched before wednesday. Or at least the first run of them!

Big congrats go out to Billy for his new project of teaching a creative class at COH! Very happy for him!

Also, anyone out there get the turtle creek people or lakewood paper? Apparently the Palomar is being featured and my artwork is in the photographs.

That's all for now.
Dream Big, Dare to Fail

10pm.

I had to stop sketching for tonight.

I have 10 paintings sketched out.

The reason why I had to stop is because the feeling I am getting from these are overwhelming.

I've been crying the last hour. I think I know now, why I've been having such a tough month...

This idea for the show has been haunting me since last October. Memories of my first series, "I Feel" was a turning point in my artist life. In my life period.

I've been hiding behind making goals, staying busy, paying rent. But, with art, the truth comes to you sooner or later, even if you don't know what it is a the moment...the truth is, you do, you're just not ready to see or hear it.

The humanity series for me is about the crowds of us all. The coming and the going of spirits...touching our lives.

Those people who come into our lives for a long period of time, and those that are here very briefly.

It's about all of us, and one of us...the one that matters the most...the one you try to understand...the one you try to cuddle...the one you attempt patience with...the one that is with you everyday...YOURSELF.

And so, humanity is plural and singular. It is an action...It is all of us and one of us...it is you...it is me.

We are not seperate.

I am not seperate.

6pm
Just got back from installing the show at FlowerMound Theater.

I had a great time today at brunch at Bob and Joe's place. Jim and Robert went as well. It was really nice to see them and catch up this morning.

The sketching went really well last night. I got a second and third opinion from Jim and Robert and I am on the right track!

I'm taking a break for a little bit tonight, and then back at it!

I'm tired, but think I can pop out a couple more sketches tonight.

Not going to stay up late tonight...I have to work on cards tomorrow. Houston and Omaho go out by tuesday of this week!

That's all for now.

Dream Big, Dare to Fail

3AM
Ok, the sketching got out of hand..I am now going to bed. The sketches I've got are really cool!

Can't wait till I figure out how to paint the crowd scenes I did tonight!
Good night...goodmorning

9pm

Busy day! Went to my third week of welding class this morning with the boys...it was great. Learned how to puddle, and braze and cut. We were going to arc weld this morning, but it was raining and arc welding requires electricity, so there you go.

I'm getting more an more comfortable with working with the torch. I'm having a good time learning all of this.

Afterwards Tim, Mando and I went to lunch and then Mando and I went over to Billy's to be witness to his first printing on the new Epson. It was really amazing. I am so happy for him...I just have a feeling that all of this is going to mean big things for him!

Afterwards, Mando and Billy and I went for coffee at Starbucks...met up with Burt and had a really nice talk catching up with everyone.

Came home and continued sketching. Good news on that...it looks like my idea for the crowd scene line art is a go! It translates really well.

I'm really wanting to get 6 pieces sketched before tomorrow night. I have 2 right now...one is a diptich, and one is a triptich...I'm halfway done with the 16 piece human race sketch. I'm working on ideas for the solitude pieces...have ideas for 6 of them right now. My idea is almost a sketch like piece on canvas...very loosely drawn, some almost abstract. I also have an idea for another pod piece. I'm hoping that these will all get me going in some direction for other ideas for the show....

The line sketches are really cool...I have two of them, may do another piece, not sure yet...

Tired, but going to sketch some more tonight...really want to get half of the show sketched sooner than later!

Tomorrow, is brunch at Bob and Joe's, then installing my first show of 2006 at Flower Mound Theater Arts Center.

Grateful for coming out of the dark this month...

Dream Big, Dare to Fail!

planting a seed...

A tiny seed becomes a tree. That tree produces many more seeds, which become trees, which produce seeds, and so on. So how many trees are in the seed?

There are no trees in the seed. Crack it open, and you won't find even a single tree. The seed contains only the idea of a tree, the potential for a tree, and the plans for building that tree. The tree itself appears only when the seed is nourished with water and soil and sunlight.

The people you meet, the new things you learn, the experiences you live, the choices you make, the days and moments of your life -- all are seeds with limitless potential to bear fruit. But only when placed in fertile ground and nourished.

That's where you come in. Though you can't always control the seeds that fall into your life, you can control the way they're planted and cared for. In every moment is a lifetime of possibilities. Think of that! You can change the course of the rest of your life right now, this very instant. By deciding which seeds to plant, which choices to make, which relationships to nurture. By giving the seeds of opportunity a fertile soil in which to grow.

6pm

The day is starting to wind down. I've decided to pass on painting outside at the opening of Urban Blossoms in Addisson.

The weather tonight is chilly, and I would be outside, and I just don't want to risk getting a cold. I'm planning on painting there in February, so stay tuned.

I had a really great day today. Met a really nice and talented artist...here is his website...www.baronfarha.com. He is just starting out, and getting a feel for where he wants to go with his work. Baron has got great energy! It's going to be fun getting to know him better.

I also have a million thanks to hand out to Sarah Jane. She put things in line for this newest installation that was confirmed today.

I will be installing my work in the lobby of an office building in Dallas. That is a first for me, and it is a huge step toward getting my work out there in front of large amounts of people!

I have the dimensions, I have the idea on composition, now it's starting the process of sketching.

I will be sure to add the installation to the new formated website.

I also had a very productive meeting today with Silvia and Ann. We are moving forward on getting contacts of possible artists for the tour. I'm really excited about adding Ann to the mix...she is very organized and like Silvia, has lot's of energy!

So, I'm staying put tonight. Sketching on canvases...prepping canvases and getting things going for the Humanity Show in March! I've got some great ideas...now it's all about putting them on canvas and coming up with a game plan for producing them all!

Here's my plan...I have 4 paintings complete for the show. I am looking at the possibility of 25 different canvas ideas.

It all depends on if the ideas translate to canvas...we'll see.

If the 25 pieces don't pan out, it's still all good. I have several pieces that I can add to the Humanity Show that are related to the show.

That's all for now. Welding class tomorrow morning! And it looks like my first guitar lesson is Monday...hey, I'm going to need something to break up the routine of painting, right?:)

Taking a deep breath and thankful. It's all in being patient. It's all in trusting the process. I'm just beginning to start to understand the process...so don't ask me for any pointers...I've been a mess this past month...of course, you probably already know that if you've been reading.

Dream Big, Dare to Fail
and sketch, sketch, sketch!

5pm

What a day!

I have the potential of getting a comission for an office building in Dallas. One piece is a 30x48, and the other is a tripdich, triptich...not sure how to spell that one, anyway, that is a 48x66 piece.

We are going over negotiating right now, but looks like it's going to happen.

I'm going to an ArtMixer tonight at the Ashton. Going to say hello to an old friend and see if we can't maybe set something up in the way of a show later in the year.

I'm scheduled to paint tomorrow at the grand opening party for Urban Blossoms in Addison...they are the new client I got earlier this month. I'm hoping it doesn't rain, and I'm also hoping that it's not too cold tomorrow night.

I have got about 10 sketches I'm working on for All of Humanity, the show.

Gotta run.
Will let you know how everything goes later tonight, or tomorrow.

Dream Big, Dare to Fail.
(by the way, update on the sunburn...or bed burn as it were...it's changed to a tan, but I'm ready for it to peal any day now!)

Inspiration...
I have several ideas for the All of Humanity Show in March. Abstract crowd scenes, reflective solitary moments, Religion perhaps?
Our lives interconnected.
Our souls interwoven.
Seperate yet together.
Together yet a part.
A part of a greater whole.
A whole lotta nothing.
nothing more.
more than...

First steps!
Ok, I almost forgot...when you get a chance go to www.stevefrederickphoto.com. Pop has reserved the name, and the site is being constructed as we speak! I'll make sure and announce the official live premiere of the site when it takes place later this spring!

It's a huge step! And just wait till you see the images when the site goes live.

Congrats Pop!

6pm
Waiting for a 7pm appointment with a person who is interested in my artwork. Thought I would do my bloggy, bloggy while I waited.

The day was good.

I had breakfast with Billy, and we went over some things including a great brochure that he put together for project P.A.C.E. ArtPatrol. It looks great!

On the way home I saw where Chocolate Secrets will be reopening on Oaklawn over by Kinkoes. I spoke to Pam, and she wants to talk about Valentines Day cards, as well as potentially painting at their grand opening the weekend of the 3rd.

I got home and picked up the information I needed to talk with Jack. That was a huge relief, and I feel much better, even though nothing is done yet...thanks to you Jack for helping to ease my freakiness!

I took the rest of the time this afternoon and took a walk on the Katy Trail and was thinking about the next month...
After the walk, I went to Target and bought a basketball..yep, that's right...a basketball...to play with...yep...that's right. Not sure what's happening to me, but the welding thing has been so much fun that I thought I would revisit some childhood nightmares and move on!
Who knew that there were so many basketballs to choose from. I was going to get a WNBA official ball, but thought better of it...there was also a really cool gold ball there, but again...figured I would be attracting enough attention on my own, and I didn't need the help of a colorful ball!

My final choice was an official street ball...very gangsta:)
I also went to the guitar store and looked into lessons...they didn't offer lessons, but gave me some information on where I could go.

So, all of this said, I'm really glad that January is almost over. Billy would say that January happened for a reason, my Mom would agree and say that it would all make sense down the road...my Dad would say, quit your bitchin, it could be worse, and Karen would say, yeah...whatever, you think you have problems;)

I was thinking on the trail today that I need to push back.
So, with that in mind, chew on this...

When life pushes you down, push back! That's what you're here for. You're capable, you're creative, you're full of life and energy. You have what it takes to move yourself forward around any obstacle. Don't let anything stop you. Take strength from meeting the challenges, and move ahead.

Think back over the past year. Consider the ways in which you've grown, the things you've learned, your accomplishments. Most of these probably came from overcoming some challenge or adversity which initially stood in your way.

A year from now, when you look back at today, you'll see that the problem you're so concerned with right now, was another valuable lesson waiting to be learned.

Dream Big, Dare to Fail

9pm

So last night, I went to work out after I walked Gracie. I decided to do the tanning bed for 15 minutes. I thought a little bit of color would do me good.

Well, all was well until I got home and got to bed...I was sweating and aching...I got up and was going to take a couple of aspirin...turned the light on to a freakin tomato. 15 minutes, and I am a big red stop light, flashing, wrong, wrong, wrong!

So, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I slept today off and on, and didn't do much.

Still, not feeling great, plus, now I'm glowing...literally.

Tomorrow I'm back on track...I have to be. I have two appointments tomorrow.

Is January almost over?
I put in my gratitude box today that I was gratefull I didn't stay on that damn bed for 30 minutes.

Dream Big, Dare to f...ry!

10am
Think outside the box.
Defy the code.

stuff to ponder

I hate that you don't get points for just breathing.

No matter how hard we try to ignore it or look around it, sometimes, the most creative thing to do is not planning a show, or putting yourself out there...it's just taking a damn breath and breathing, and getting thru the day...whether creatively or not.

There are plenty of people out there that are just trying to survive. I'm one of them.

There are plenty of people out there looking for something more. I'm one of them.

There are tons of people out there that hurt everyday, alone, or with friends, wondering what's next. I'm one of them.

There are individuals who pretend everything is ok, waiting for everything to be ok...but not sure what ok is. I'm one of them.

The prize of life? The price of life? One is a reward, the other is a consequence...how ironic, that we are all a part of our own solution. And sometimes the answers are as simple.

So...maybe in the long run you do get points for breathing. Maybe, the fact that we can get up out of bed and move toward something, even if it's just the end of the day, than that's a start.

So, remember to breathe and I'll do the same.

There is an entire human race out there that breathe without thinking, they take it for granted...I'm one of them.

What would there be without breathing? You got it...

9am

The day yesterday was powerblasted with activitiy.
Totally made up for the day before not feeling well.

The day started with the second day of welding...and how did it go you ask.

IT ROCKED.

Mando and Tim and I all know how to work a blow torch now. And don't ask me the specifics, just know it's true...first the red knob, then the green knob, 70/30.

And each of us now has the first piece we ever welded. Tim did a very cool abstract wallhanging, Mando did a 3-D Roster...(I think just so he could keep saying look at my cock, do you like what I did with my cock?

And I did a sculpture of pod people for the humanity series. It's pretty cool. More importantly, the time flew by, and I'm going to really enjoy this class.

Afterwards, Silvia and I interviewed and accepted our first participants in the Studio Tour. They are close to me up the street a way at Elsworth. Great couple...will share more soon.

Karen and I did a walk on the KATY trail from my place. It was alittle over an hour. We ate some stew afterwards and then were off to GayBingo. If you've never gone, go...it's a blast.

Billy, won $250.00 for one game. We all had a table and blasted beer and pizza till 9:30pm, at which time we met up with Jim and saw his new digs, partied a little more and took off to J.R's bar and grill and then TMC. Dancing till around 1:30am...or at least me, I had to go home.

This morning I'm laying low and trying to figure out my day...I'll keep you posted if anything worthwhile happens;)

Enjoy your Sunday...


Dream Big, Dare to Fail