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MG: Watered
1999.

When I first moved to San Francisco (1976)
I thought about changing my first name (Martin)
to my first and middle initials (MG, for Martin Greg).

When I did a little stand-up comedy in 1980-81
I went by "MG."

It turned out to be WEIRD, and I would often fail to respond
to my stage name. "Huh? Oh, ME! MG...yeah, that's me!"

Now I use my FULL NAME:
Martin Greg Whitney
and I "sign" my paintings with the two connected hearts...
the M morphing into G,
and connecting back to the M...for the W.

Here's a poem about me becoming an artist...

ALL WET

I thought I would remain high and dry
When I made my big splash.

I thought I would remain the same,
When what I did made a huge difference.

I created this painting in early 1999. I used Crayola washable
felt pens. When I was done I laid the piece on a towel (on the dryer)
and mist-sprayed it with water. Then I blotted it with a paper towel.
I repeated spraying and blotting, about ten times,
until I ended up with the "watercolor" effect I liked.
I drew it (like everything I draw) on 140 lb. watercolor paper...
so I call it a WATERED Color Painting,
instead of a Watercolor Painting.
I wonder...am I all wet?
Maybe...

Oh yes...I also sprayed this piece with TEN coats
of high-gloss ceramic sealer.

I really like it, and I like the SCAN (25% of actual size), too.

Come, see the tile applied as a slice of the fabric of SpaceTime!

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