This design was hastily crafted in anticipation of an interview with ABC who unfortunately couldn't make it out due to late-breaking news. We didn't have much beach to work with so things are a little smaller than we were hoping to do, but it worked out well nonetheless and the image that resulted is an awesome addition to our prints and has made it into the postcard set.

Ember says this design makes her dizzy to look at. It is quite busy, my eyes are constantly moving around the image. 

Definitely there will be a much larger version of this when the beach permits...

Back to Rothbury, the festival in Michigan that drew over 40,000 people. It was a blast, and Ember and I created a huge installation that builds upon last year's explorations.

This was our centerpiece, located pretty much in the center of the festival, within the Sherwood forest. It consisted of strands of 'Cubits', which are 3 dimensional shapes  (contrasted to last year's "Pixel wall ' made of 2 dimensional shapes). Each strand was on its own motor (this shot was a few seconds long to show the movement). 

The design turned out to be more dynamic and interesting than I was expecting. I mean, I was expecting something cool, but you never really know what you're gonna get until you can step back and see it in real life...

Another beautiful, cloudless day although there was a chill wind coming from the west. My 3rd workshop and it continues to refine. There was lots of positive, unsolicited feedback about how revelatory the content of my talk was. That's satisfying- the topics certainly have been revelatory for me in terms of how I perceive and interact with the world. Sign up for my mail list and be informed of future workshops and see for yourself what I mean!

Together we created this design which feels reminiscent to the weathered rock of the beach.

The interesting aspect to doing these designs with the public is the nature of what I am trying to accomplish. Take a group of random people with wildly varying capabilities and outlooks and artistic sensibilities (although all have in common an appreciation for my art- thanks!) and create a coherent design in which I am not micromanaging. My goal is that each person can operate independently yet still be integrated into the design as a whole. Its a challenge and each time out is an opportunity to try different approaches.

Here's a few items I have learned so far:
-Straight lines are hard to do!
-Everyone has a different idea of what a particular shape looks like and is made.
-Moving with the rake is a skill that I can easily take for granted (having spent hundred of hours pulling one)
-The process is more important than the result. While I always strive for an end image that can be useful for a print, its not something I get hung up about. It makes the random, human element of the process easier to take in stride when its not going quite like I would have done it myself
-What I thought I wanted is not always what is most interesting. An assortment of people can create variations far wider than I would have on my own.  I am developing an appreciation for what results from such 'imperfections'.
-wabi-sabi , baby.

My second Playa Painting workshop was held on an unexpectedly beautiful day after almost a week of storms. There was a nice turnout for the talk and painting. This image is the design that resulted. Thank you's to all who participated! 

Its been a bit since we've been able to invite the public. This piece involved 7 of us. I saw the principles of the design on a sigg bottle, of all places. I wish I could get a shot directly overhead, the 'waviness' of the design would be more apparent.

This piece is a direct inspiration from the artist Marge Rector. She has been creating abstract art for nearly 50 years, meticulously engaging her art and keeping amazing records of everything she does. We had the pleasure of visiting her at her studio near our home and learning about her fascinating and liberating process.

The series that this playa painting is a part of is in tribute to the inspiration we came away from our visit with Marge.