Blog
July 22nd, 2025
I left the gallery that was representing me 2 weeks ago. I grew tired of the standard 50 percent I had to give up with every piece sold. I decided that I would once again take control of my work and my sales. Call my own shots and be the boss of me. I’ve had good sales over the years and earned a following that I am very proud of. I am starting this website as of now to hopefully propel myself forward. Nothing is easy and it never has been. I’ve had to work for everything I have. Art and the constant search for the NEW has given me a great life. Art has absolutely enriched and sustained me. HARD WORK fulfills, thrills, and energizes me. And so—I go on.
Clonts
This is STELLA. She is our 125 pound Pyrenees/Mastiff mix. She is my constant companion while I’m in the studio working. She loves to lay near me and snore. Nothing gets done without Stella.
August 8th, 2025
Music is extremely important to me and is a constant in my studio. My work is improvisational and fires from my head and heart—music helps drive this. My tastes are eclectic. During long sessions in the studio I might listen to Jazz—Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Coltrane, Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Django, Miles, and on. Just as easily I might switch to classical, with Mozart being my absolute favorite. I grew up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s so rock and roll is ever present. I fell in love with the punk movement in 1978 and it has never left me. Some favorites from that genre: Black Flag, Minor Threat, Husker Du, Circle Jerks, Bad Brains, The Damned, The Stranglers, The Vandals, X, Angry Samoans, T.S.O.L., Fear, and on. Other music listened to on a regular basis: Pixies, Roxy Music, Tom Waits, The Replacements, Sonic Youth, Echo & the Bunnymen, Camper Van Beethoven, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Gang of Four, Polvo, Pavement, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, BOWIE, The Psychedelic Furs, IGGY, and on. For good measure, the occasional round of Mountain, Blue Cheer, James Gang, very early Grand Funk (before they became radio dogs), Captain Beefheart, and on. To round things out: Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, The Mills Brothers, The Ink Spots, and on. And late at night—always Soul—Aretha, Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Stevie, Sly & The Family Stone (my go-to favorites), Supremes, and on. THE MUSIC IS ALWAYS ON AND IT ALWAYS DRIVES ME.
I look at a lot of artists. I’m inspired by - I suppose I shouldn’t say “inspired”, but it’s not really influenced. I am inspired. Art comes from art.—Cy Twombly
Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.—Richard Diebenkorn
If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers, it shows he is a citizen of the world.—Francis Bacon
It is true that every artist has his own religion.—Robert Motherwell
I don’t mind being miserable as long as I’m painting well.—Grace Hartigan
Art has a will of its own. It has nothing to do with the taste of the moment or what’s expected of you. That’s a formula for dead art, or fashionable art.—Helen Frankenthaler
Do not fear mistakes—there are none.—Miles David
It’s a hell of a thing to be born, and if you’re born you’re at least entitled to your own self.—Louise Nevelson
Some of the marks found on the backs of my paintings—
The footprints are reduced ink-prints made of my grand-
daughter’s feet, 4 days after they were born. The example
on the left is an older photo when there were only 4. We
have another now—hence the example on the right. FIVE
GRANDDAUGHTERS. Their nicknames are below each
footprint: “Bean-Bean” (Bela), “Bee-Bo” (Olive),
“Vi-Vi” (Vada), “Bird” (Hazel) and “Lo-Lo” (Willow).
Every piece of work I create is dedicated to Taeko—my
Wife. The square red stamps are “Clonts” in the Japanese
Language. Taeko had them made for me on several of her
visits back to her home island of Okinawa.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Maleta Forsberg passed away today. This incredible woman was my very first art teacher. I began taking lessons with her when I was around 7 years old. She taught me the color wheel. She taught me perspective. She helped me begin to SEE. Over the years we stayed in touch. She had moved to Lindsborg, Kansas years ago and transformed an old school house in to her studio. She was a prolific artist. She had received her training from the Kansas City Art Institute and over the years had workshops with a number of nationally recognized artists. Upon my return to Wichita she regularly attended my openings. She was in fact at my very first opening in Wichita. She always supported me through the years. One of my great honors was to serve with her on a board for the Birger Sandzen Memorial Gallery.
She passed today in her 94th year. I shall miss her greatly. She was truly one of the sweetest people I have ever known. Always so gracious and soft spoken. She was lovely in every way.
She is pictured here with me (on the right) and Ron Micheal—artist and Director of The Sandzen Memorial Gallery, (on the left). Ron and I had a show together in Lincoln, Kansas several years back and Maleta showed up to give her great support.