Ology Magazine, published by Omnibucket

How important is knowledge of art history to a successful art career?

I was primarily self-taught for many years until starting an education in fine art at the age of 26. I found that art history was primarily in how you digest it and the doing is far more important. I took in the information learned in those classes but utilized it to be more of my own person thus creating my own artwork from it.

Do you have other avenues for creativity?

I recently traded some work to start fencing lessons and I like that idea because the form seems to be so closely related to my true passion, which is painting.

Any thought positive or negative about using digital tools to make art?

I've never really used digital tools but I recognize that their presence in the art world is there and is important. I've also always been very influenced by photography throughout my life yet I choose not to use these tools though because they lack a presence and a soulfulness that you can't really capture with physical aspects of creating art. I like physical works because it forces the viewer to solve and feel more of the art and create more of their own vision and meaning behind it.

What are you most afraid of?

I'm not so sure now what I am most afraid of because I have gone on that walk through the Valley of Humiliation. It would be a shame to die now though after all of the work that it has taken to get to the point of where I am at because I have barely scratched the surface of art and how is affects people and the soul of a human being. I feel extremely privileged and blessed to be able to do what I'm doing with my life and will continue to do so.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

I'm more influenced by things and surroundings rather than particular artists. Music, such as Van Morrison, and literary works play a definite role in the creation and flow of my pieces, but we, as artists, have our own responsibility to use intuition with the sense of reality to be individuals. I like who I am and don't wish to be any other artist but me. This pushes the lines of presence and soul more in my pieces and helps me to force the viewer to be more of a part of that work.

To learn more about Randall LaGro please visit www.amusegallery.com.

SKETCHBOOK by Angie Needels www.adneedels.com

Concept sketches for gate at God’s Acre cemetery, with final wire-sculpted gate.

To learn more about God's Acre please visit www.omnibucket.com/godsacre.

Norman Criddle Part 2 :: Encounter
Story by Scott Lambridis Art by David Senecal

Here's a quick preview...

Right about this time Norman met a woman, lord only knows how, but met one nonetheless. She talked to him like a normal person, and he found he could talk to her without stumbling and muttering like a ninny. They met a few times at some location nearby to his apartment, and he was becoming quite smitten. Each night he returned home and told his ravens all about her. Each time he would finish his story, some of the ravens would leave and arrive back with new trinkets for him. He knew it was a sign of their being just as happy for him. Some of these he decided would make great gifts for his new fancy and he'd bring them along with him to his next meeting and give them to her as a surprise.

“Oh Norman , you find the strangest things. They're quite darling,” she would always say. And each time she did, he wanted to give her more and more. But he had yet to find the courage to tell her all about his ravens, thinking he'd scare her off. Certainly he hadn't dared to invite her to his apartment.

One day after coming home and telling the ravens all about her for the umpteenth time, a raven dropped a shiny ring in his lap. It wasn't the nicest ring in the world, as assuredly they'd found it on the ground somewhere, but Norman was struck with an idea.

“It'll be perfect”, he thought aloud, making the link in his head between his love of the ravens and his new love for this real woman. He thought it would be only proper considering the ravens' help in allowing him to realize his new dream.

So, the next day he met her at the Laundromat that he'd met her the very first time, and, fueled by the ring waiting at home he asked her to come to his apartment when she was done. She agreed, with what Norman gathered as obvious enthusiasm.

{ ...continued... }

To learn more about God's Acre please visit www.omnibucket.com/godsacre.

Tour Diary, by Bill Jordan

“Let’s Keep Debbie a Secret.”

With Dez at the wheel again, we were laughing our asses off from the time we left till we reached Dayton, when we blew a tire. So, we sat on I-70 for an hour, waiting for a tow-truck, because our jack didn't work. I was leaning against the side of the van when I heard Finkelstein inside, singing a Debbie Gibson song...each of us joined in as we remembered the words....that's when a highway patrolman walked up. Thankfully, he ignored the singing. And we pretended like it didn't happen. It was best that way. The cop made sure we were OK and left us to wait for the tow-truck. We didn't sing anymore. Finally the tow-truck guy arrived and fixed us up. We tied the blown tire up with duct tape and put it on the back of the van. "Fückin' duct tape'll fückin' fix any sh!t, man," said the tow-truck guy. Yes it will. About 90% of our van's interior is duct tape.

We arrived at the Emerson in Indianapolis in time to see the band before us from Cincinnati, Foxy Shazaam. Their stage show was an acid trip. I was certain the singer was insane...he tried to fit a mic up his butt at one point (this is why I bring my own). The keyboardist was like a younger version of Dez, but played with his keys strewn around the stage, leaning on speakers. The whole band went completely apesh!t, punching each other, spitting on each other, and diving off shit. They turned out to be very cool, intelligent people. A young band set on pushing the boundaries.

As it was our time to play, Dez's keys wouldn't work. After what felt like an eternity, the soundman finally figured it outand we proceeded to tear it up with Valium Sunday as the opener. It was one of our most intense sets in a long time. Not very many people saw us, but those that did responded well. The ride home sucked balls. I drove and could barely keep my eyes open. Otis and I listened to some crackpot on Art Bell. I'm glad I didn't crash. Got home at about 4:30am...earlier than usual.

To learn more about Eleventy Billion Miles Away please visit www.omnibucket.com/eleventybillion.

Horrible Celebrity Anagrams

1| Tona Danzy; 2| William Robins; 3| Mt. R
Answers: Tony Danza; Robin Williams; Mr. T

Movie Reviews... of the Future !

(or...I have seen the future, and it is crap.)

Any jackass can give you a review of a movie that’s already been released. (Take that Ebert!) By the time a flick reaches the theaters, you’ve already seen the trailer so often you’ve memorized the dialogue. You need to get reviews before the movie is released (or written, or thought of). That’s where I come in. I have seen the future, and it is crap.

Sin City 2: Electric Boogaloo - From the mind of Bill Cosby. Vulgarity is replaced with hilarity! Cosby and Robin Williams lead a wacky crusade through the streets of Sin City (renamed Akron in this sequel). Cosby and Williams teach each of the various street gangs to settle their differences with a break dancing contest. There are no survivors.
Defining moment: “Coming atcha with music and fun. And if you're not careful, you may learn something before it's done!”

Star Wars Episode 7: Chewbacca vs. Alien vs. Predator - Sure, Revenge of the Sith was pretty good, but that doesn’t make up for episodes I and II. The only way George Lucas can make up for those lame-ass prequel is to give the people what they want. And what the people want can only be Chewbacca in his own kick ass sequel! (And tickets shouldn’t cost more than a dollar, George). Early in this flick, Chewie is framed for a crime he didn’t commit. He tracks down the Alien in an attempt to clear his name. The Predator is the only one Chewie can trust…or can he?
Defining moment: Predator lets the Wookie win.

i B10gg3d J00r M0m (read from the bottom, just like a real email string)

-----Original Message----- From: Fernando Weatherall

To: Otis Baltrics MD

Are you saying people conduct business in your wang? Because your mom conducts business on my wang.

-----Original Message-----

From: Otis Baltrics MD To: Fernando Weatherall

Yeah, I took your mother on vacation.

She went to the top of the Sears Tower. Then we went to Chicago.

-----Original Message-----

From: Fernando Weatherall To: Otis Baltrics MD

Ever been to Chicago?

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Why are there so many damn songs about rainbows?
We don't know, but what we do know is that you take care of the people that take care of you, like these two.