Update...on the INCIRCLES Series

For new artwork, scroll down or click on the slideshows to the right!

The INCIRCLES Series

[edited-jm]

So far, we have these pieces done and being finished...but the rest-I don't even know...we will just have to see what happens... (currently, 13 of 16)
x   1.      “The Nature of Reality”
x*  2.      “Evolution of a Perfect Heart”
x~  3.      “Tripping the Light Fantastic”
z    4.      "Politely"
x*   5.      “Dig Out Your Soul”
x    6.      “Let Me In The Sound”
v?   7.       “Wake My Mind”
x*   8.      "More Than A Dream"
x    9.      “inthered”
x#  10.     “Simple Things”
x~  11.     "Secrets"
x    12.     "Hanging by a Moment"
x*   13.     "Shove"
x*   14.     "Why Not Smile?"
x#   15.     "Falling Slowly"
z    16.     "All This Time"
-thank you all...
x=released/complete
z=near complete/not released
v=concept artwork only
k=may change
?=may be replaced or cut for a different piece

"Why Not Smile"

Hello everyone, this next piece from my "INCIRCLES Series" called "Why Mot Smile" turned out better than I had ever expected...and this one is kinda special to me for a few reasons...

Firstly, I had the idea while I was talking to a friend of mine because it seemed to me that her smile seemed to just light up the room and although this isn't a picture of her at all, I tried to capture the feeling I had and I think it came out pretty darn good.

Secondly, I really enjoyed drawing this one; this is the first that was done entirely paperless-this means no drawing scans required; everything (even all of my 'study' drawings were done with my stylist and drawing pad) and I tried very hard to keep the same idea when drawing with a traditional pencil-so there are no 'weird' filters or effects on the drawing, just deep beautiful colors and my own pen strokes.

And Lastly, again-I tried to do something that wasn't one of my traditional pieces and I think it ended up being one of my favorites of this series.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

-Miss you...
me.

"The End"

There's always something to say and I think this might be exactly what many people need to hear.
-Sometimes life just catches you right when you least want it to but regardless what happens, there's always something more to do.

“The End”

By Jason Marshall (for the book “Somewhere This Side of Forever”)

Time stops here.

There are infinite ways to know

Without ever knowing…

There are immeasurable values

Among the few we can gauge.

There are even improbable circumstances

That become more possible every day.

But before you live

You must have realized death-

To have found something worth notice

You would have had to grip some loss

And to have known the answer

You must have once gotten it wrong.

Time is time; they say it waits for no man;

It moves with a swiftness

Only few would understand.

But at the end of it all there is one thing that remains,

A vast nothingness of empty; a void within space.

And yet…within this void, there is this place…

A place where more than not nothing exists;

Yes, here there happens to be something locked from within.

Sealed with a key and protected by time

The End is the answer and the question is the rhyme.

Surrounded by the silence of a void so vast

It’s easy to understand why so few have passed.

It’s much more than just a simple absence in kind

It’s the smallest piece of the smallest part

Of the tiniest object one could imagine in life.

Albeit tiny and unobtrusive; mostly unknown to most

It’s the single most important hiding place

For every single unspoken word.

In the end it’s only the dream not dreamt;

The hand not held; the words not said.

It’s the wish unwished, the mountain not climbed;

It’s the life not lived all because of time.

The minutes tick by as the clock moves on

While the words once fresh become stale…then gone.

One second, one minute, one day, one week…

One month, one year before you say what you think;

With every tick that tocks; with every passing ray of light

It becomes more difficult to remember just why.

“One time, one life, one moment I lost…”

You say to yourself as you curse that thought.

And when it feels too late and you’re at the end

Of your minute, your hour with only seconds to spend,

Might you think that a word; a silly little word

Might it buy you more time, Might it be worth the chance;

The chance to stop time in spite of it’s hand?

In The End it is true, there IS nothing left

But remember that within nothing

There is a small place and a chance…

It is within that nothingness that’s so hard to see.

Too hard to fathom and impossible to believe;

That forever those words still wait and they keep

They wait for a day when too late is all you need.

They’ve always been there and they have always been true

And those words will always ready for that moment deep within you.

Know that simply because it’s never been done,

And just because it’s too late to say

And ultimately it won’t happen now

Means even less every day.

It’s hard to say that it’s never too late

Because The End to anything comes with no date.

Things end abruptly and without cause;

They end with out recourse, notice or awe.

You will only know the end by how much it hurts

And how much is left of your unused words.

In the end my words will be used;

I’ve said what I have because I needed to.

I’ve written and drawn as I feel and think;

I’ve yelled and I’ve fought for what I believe.

And still I will have words left to say

And words forgotten as time swept away

But the most important words I could ever have had

Were the words I’ve had for love;

A love for an hour or an eternity

Whether I’ve said it aloud or in my head

For a friend, to a mate or because of true love;

All those words were perfect in The End.

This “Somewhere this Side of Forever” I leave

Is the place where dreams happen if you believe.

It’s where I leave you to imagine what’s next

In one second, one moment, one lifetime…the end.

-fin-

Thank you for reading; I love you all.

-me

[inthered]

New for 2010-this is the next in the "INCIRCLE Series" and it's got kind of a retro feel to it.  As with all of the artwork in this series, this isn't really my style but I enjoyed dipping my brain into the deep end for a bit.

Not much of a blog post today but I promise there will be a big one tomorrow called "THE END" and then on Wednesday, you will get one of two new pieces of artwork; "Why Not Smile" or "LETMEINTHESOUND".

Anyway, here's [inthered] -I hope you enjoy it-

I love you and miss you all-
(click the image to view larger and then 'right click' large image and select 'save as' to download)

April 26th 2010

Today must be a pretty special day to have some pretty great Birthday's today.

Instead of me pointing out individuals today let me just say a few words in not so general terms.

Happy Birthday to Maria whom I've known for 30 years...it's pretty special when you can say you keep in touch with friends you went to Kindergarten with and I am lucky enough to still be in touch with most of my class.  Thank you for letting me peek into your life from time to time-and thank you for being a great person; I am proud to be your friend.

Happy Birthday to someone I have only had the opportunity to meet a couple of times in my life; you were taken too soon and one of my good friends misses you very much.  I know you're watching over her and your son all of the time.

and lastly;

Happy Birthday to you; I know you won't ever see this but that never mattered to me.  There's something amazing that happens to life when you truly realize what brings you happiness and I for one am very glad you found it.

It only takes one step along that road we all travel for everything to become clear; when we see how things worked out the way they did so that we all could be fortunate enough to be in the places we all are right now.  Every new moment is a blessing and every minute that passes by a lesson; neither is less important than the next or the last.  I have to believe that there are more amazing things in my life that have not yet happened because every day I am reminded of that by being fortunate enough to witness greatness on a constant basis.  You are all on the verge of greatness; I see it and you simply need to have a little faith in it and believe...after all, I do.

Thank you all; I love you and miss you all...especially you.
-me.

"Sometimes, Somethings, Maybe Someday"

This is a small poem that has been cut; I refer to this as the 'book version' of this poem because there was quite a bit more to it; it didn't make sense to include the confusing bits for everybody so it was trimmed down a few years ago when it was originally released.  I hope you enjoy it!  More artwork very soon...

"Sometimes, Somethings, Maybe Someday"

There are somethings (I know) that can’t be explained,

And there are somethings (I know) that are very hard to say.

There are somethings that seem so unattainable

And there are somethings right within your grasp.

Somethings might mean more to you than even breathing the air

Sometimes, it’s those little somethings that you never thought you could have.

There are somethings you have that you just aren’t willing to give up;

And then there are those somethings you want to keep but you know you just can’t.

Then you hope, with all of your might, that somethings will come back to you

After you let them go, knowing you may never get that second chance.

Somethings are destined for greatness and nothing but perfection will do

So you yield for that greater cause, knowing that somethings could do better than you.

It’s hard to say but you know it in your heart

That the best could be better when you know you’re not the one.

A wish is just a wish; a poem to the stars

A hope you try and believe in if you wish very hard.

I could wish on a star like I have in the past

For just a little happiness, just one more chance

But somethings (I know) just don’t come true

Like a wish on a star to have someone like you.

Maybe because I think I could never measure up

Or maybe because the life I could give just isn’t good enough.

For whatever the reason, this I know to be true

A simple wish for happiness is one thing I will never loose.

Sometimes, just friends (I know) are all we could be

But you can’t blame me for a wish that someday you might see;

See past my faults; see past my life,

To see past the things that aren’t always right.

Now, sometimes (I know) somethings are not meant to be.

And if in your wishes and in your dreams;

If in your heart…it’s not me…

…I promise I will not see you any different than the person I know I see.

I see your nature, your heart,

The love you give in every part

Of every little thing you decide to do;

That purely genuine everyday person that I know to be you.

To people you don’t know and people you first meet;

The sweetness in your smile and your gift to really see…

You see how life can be hard and in adversity you don’t give up.

You see how just a little good can impact a person so very much.

You see life for what it could possibly be.

But most of all you really see the real me.

Sometimes (I know) it doesn’t seem

Like I share with you exactly what’s on my mind.

Sometimes (I know) that all I would rather do

Is tell you everything I’m thinking when I’m around you.

Sometimes, somethings are difficult to express

Especially when every other time you’ve said them

You’ve been ripped apart and hurt

Or someone thought somethings just shouldn’t have been said.

Whenever I was thinking, there were somethings in my head.

Whenever I was dreaming, it was about someday not so far away.

Whenever I was wishing, it was on that bright star.

Whenever I was smiling, it was because you were there.

But I guess that’s my point and I’m near the end

And I just wanted you to know that I was your friend.

Beyond all of the words, beyond all of this life

I will always love you, far beyond the end of time.

Whatever is meant to happen, I will understand

I’m just grateful to have ever met you and to share with you what I have.

Somethings (I know) just have to be said

Sometimes (I know) you just need to hear those little somethings

Before too much time passes and somethings just up and go away.

I suppose late is better than never at all

But because somethings (I know) are better than I could possibly do.

Somethings just confused my heart and my mind

Because I never thought I’d ever meet anyone quite like you.

-fin-

This was written a long time ago but it seems to be a favorite-I haven't had this up for a very long time so I hope you enjoy it.

I love you and miss you all-especially you.
-jason

Welcome facebook friends!

Hello all, I promise we will have new artwork from the 'INCIRCLES Series' -the new artwork series for 2010- from me soon but I have decided to get with the times and get a facebook FAN page as well as a 'share' link so everyone could see the new stuff coming out when it's released.  The new links are to the right of the page and if you click them it will bring you right to where all the action is.

The next Artwork I hope to be releasing later this week is "Nicely", "LETMEINTHESOUND" and "inthered" - hopefully you will all like them.

Tomorrow, Tuesday the 13th is my friend Brian's Birthday!  I have been friends with him for 30 years-wow and on Wednesday the 14th is my friend Jinx's Birthday so if you stop by I will have something special this week because of it...some artwork very few people have ever seen before-some of the unfinished stuff.  Happy Birthday Brian and Jinx!

I love you and miss you all-especially you.
-jason

Update...

Hi all, I have been a little under the weather lately and I apologize for the lack of new artwork; I have 4 pieces in various stages close to be completed but my head does not like to be upright for too long.  I promise I will have something new for you this weekend but not before I catch up on a couple of other deadlines I have.

And now, because I know you'd like something new to check out, I'll reach into my bag and give you a little something.
This is "Beginnings" from the book 'Somewhere This Side of Forever' which I decided to not let them publish because they just wanted to make too many changes.  Maybe someday I will publish it myself...but until then, here you have the original opening poem.  I think if I decided to publish a book today, it would need a rewrite or two-I hope you enjoy it...

Beginnings

By: Jason Marshall

Originally written: 3/7/00

Somewhere this side of forever

is a place I’d often go

to dream a little dream;

a place where I’d go alone.

It’s filled with all of the aspirations

and pleasant thoughts of the day

so you see, I wasn’t quite shocked

to find that it just wasn’t quite the same.

It didn’t take me long

to figure out what was wrong

with being in my favorite place.

The best way to understand

is to simply explain

how it was this world came to be

and, for the most part, what it is

that this inconceivable place

means to a simply complicated person like me.

You see, this place exists

deep inside your mind

to get there you need only wish

and open your heart up wide.

Somewhere this side of forever you see,

is a place where lollipops grow on trees.

It’s a place where music fills the air

it knows no prejudice to anyone who gains entrance there.

It’s like flying a kite in a vast green field

and running for the pure joy of running

in every way you could possibly feel.

Somewhere this side of forever

the clouds are made of cotton

and the unicorn lives in peace

as there are no boundaries

to this ever content place.

There is plenty of excitement

and many things yet to be explored

like the never-ending mountain tops

that disappear into the endless beyond.

Well, I think you get the idea.

It’s a wonderful place to be

and when I came upon my latest dream

I found that it was rather incomplete.

I searched and searched for a reason,

a reason I could not find.

A reason it wasn’t the place

I knew I’d left behind.

Something was missing.

Something wasn’t right.

So I raced back home

just to see if it was all

only in my mind.

When I reached my final destination

I found out what was to be the truth.

I found out that it really wasn’t as good,

as good as it would be with you.

I know it might sound silly to some

but definitely not to me,

for before I knew not anyone

that made me feel as free.

Just remembering what you’ve said

and how your eyes seemed just so soft

when all of your attention

was focused on my words and my thoughts.

It gave me such a hope

and quite a bit of faith

in so many things

I thought would not happen

for so many years in so many ways.

Somewhere this side of forever I know

is a place that I can no longer go

This day, this time, I do know why.

It’s just not as amazing anymore

It’s very difficult to explain

but so very simple to say.

For but a moment of having you around

is far better than being

this side of forever.

Just the moment, just the split second

of a quickly passing thought

gives me every reason in the world

to continue to believe.

That someday in the not so distant future

I am able to have that kind of happiness

A little closer to home, right here on earth

so I may be able to share it with someone like you.

-fin-

Thank you all for hanging in there;

I love you all...even you.

-me.

"Shove"

I wasn't going to release artwork today or tomorrow but I just couldn't wait.  New from the 'INCIRCLES Series' -this is "Shove".

Pretty self explanatory so, I won't explain it.  Have fun and have a happy and safe Easter!

I love you and miss you all...especially you.
-me.

"Secrets"

Hello all...I am horrible at sitting on artwork that's done, I wasn't gonna give this up until tomorrow but oh well...I just want to give them all to you.

-Here's the latest from the 'INCIRCLES Series' called "Secrets" - this was one of those pieces that grew out of others things I was working on, kind of a huge happy mistake actually.  But all the drawings for this were done and put in separate pieces and I happened to have all of them open at one time and I was sitting back, eating an eggroll and then it just hit me-the eggrolls got cold and you got some artwork, fair trade I suppose.

Anyway, I hope you like this one - there's some cool stuff in it-this actually took three days to do once the idea hit me...it just needed to be right.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and know that I love you all very much.
-jason

"Dig Out Your Soul"

Hello everyone, I couldn't wait anymore...here it is, "Dig Out Your Soul" from the 'INCIRCLES Series' - I released a very early version a short while ago and this version is closer to the preview I released than the version I originally intended on putting out - I decided on this version because it's way cleaner with a simplified color scheme instead of the complex, busy version.  In short, I liked this one way better and I feel it fits my reason for doing it without losing any meaning along the way.


I just feel that sometimes, feelings might get buried and caught under all of this unimportant mess of everyday muck that seems to get in the way of what's really important until one day, a little love decided to grow out of the mess.


So, if there is one thing I'd like to leave with all of you to think about, it's that once in a while you need to really get in there and dig it out to find the little bit of truth hiding...it might be hard to see but you'll know it when you see it.

I love you and miss you all.
-me.


PS: and a special thanx goes out to a friend of mine who pretty much made sure (without knowing it) that I needed to draw this heart and not the other hundreds I must have done and thrown away in the process...now that's inspiration.

"Thyme" (a little poem from jason)

I write all sorts of things, some of them make perfect sense...some of them don't but I am sure to everyone-there is at least a line that gets them to think and I just figure that as long as I can get someone to think about why the line means something-I have done a good thing.


-I love you all;
...here's Thyme.

“Thyme”

By: Jason Marshall

Thyme is a very interesting thing;

Everyone always wants more

When that clock strikes three.

You’re never really ready for Thyme to end

Even though you should spend it living

You’d rather spend it looking instead.

Beginning with memories of Thyme well spent

I remember all of the stories of adventures I’ve had.

Not in a castle with a knight atop his great horse

Not a wizard or a princess or a dragon with a sword

Not a fable over Thyme that swells with misquoted words

Just a simple story about love that stays true to it’s course.

I know Thyme waits for no man; not even for me

And someday for me there will surely be

The clock in the tower just chiming away

My day will come and Thyme will be done

The hands will strike three and I will be gone.

I will love while I can and as much as you want

Love you I shall with every last thought

For my Thyme should be savored and not spent in haste

Remember my Thyme until your dying days

Because in that Thyme that will surely pass

You may forget my smile, my look and my laugh

But remember the stories of the Thyme you did have;

They were the greatest adventures I could have ever had.

I’ve loved every second of every moment with you

I’ve wanted more Thyme than you ever knew

But at least I had the best instead of the rest

I’m lucky to have had a few minutes at all in the end

I know I’ll be watching your precious Thyme

From my perch above with tears in my eyes

I’ll be right beside you as you go through life

Through all those special moments like I’ve had in mine.

I want you to know that I love you the most

You’ve made my Thyme slow and grind to a halt

When I needed you most and had no Thyme at all.

And one day when Thyme tries to take it from me

I pray my last moment are of the Thymes like these.

The Thymes you’ve read all of the things that I wrote

All of the poems, the stories and I wondered what you thought.

All of the drawings for you-and how I thought you didn’t care

But when in the end what mattered was the Thyme you were there.

Love me a little; I’ll love you a lot

For all Thyme; Forever; for Always know you are

The one and only no matter what comes along

My eyes are for you and my Thyme has nearly gone.

Don’t cry there’s always one more moment of Thyme

It’s always right in front of you when you’re looking behind 

And just as it goes there’s another one there

All it takes is for you notice to have the Thyme to care.

prologue

This Somewhere This Side of Forever that is…

Thyme everlasting, ever changing, beyond all the years. 

It’s filled with chances at Thyme’s second passes

Where your chance at happiness would have the best chance at happening.

But when you’re there, remember- what ‘there’ really is

It’s not your life, it’s not your Thyme, it’s not what you chose to live

It’s what could be-not what really is, that’s why you’re even allowed to see.

Because if you changed Thyme you would only want it the way that it couldn’t be. 

See, it’s nice to imagine the way things could be

If you used your Thyme more wisely or just differently

But Somewhere This Side of Forever isn’t there to show you your faults

It’s there to show the whole of us what it could ever have cost.

Some of us are afraid of life, and some of us just don’t understand how

And some of us can’t seem to find someone to use the Thyme they have now.

There are even some who think that their Thyme for things has passed

But when you travel to forever, you will clearly see that Thyme is not cast.

Anything can happen and it usually does;

It has a habit of being when there’s no chance at all

You need to embrace it, all of the Thyme that you have

And realize it’s there for you before it’s gone in a flash.

Please don’t ever grow up like me; wasting your Thyme on foolish dreams

Wondering when and wishing how…hoping for a day when you happen upon love.

It’s there; you see it-everyday of your life; realize it and take it and never let it die.

In Thyme you will understand; in Thyme you will know; learn from my life and cherish your Thyme ever more. 

I know that for me, there is Thyme left

And I can try wisely to use the Thyme that I have

But even though all is not lost, Thyme is not a luxury that I posses

And that is why Somewhere This Side of Forever is where I’m at.

I can’t tell you how to use it; it’s your Thyme to waste

Thyme to do whatever may be that is important to you today

And as Thyme passes by and the moments, they go

You only need that Thyme to say those three little words

Once they are said and the world stops cold

My Thyme would be yours and together we’d grow old.

I know everyone has something important to say but no one ever does...it's never too late.  Time has a way of getting away from everyone-don't ever let it get to far but if you ever think it has, just stop and make it right.

Next artwork:  "Dig Out Your Soul"

I love you all...I really do, with all of my heart even if you think I couldn't possibly...I do.

-jason

"Hanging by a Moment"

Hello everyone, today is 'Cheap Trick Day' (or April Fools for those of you who don't live in Illinois) and I have no tricks for you today-rather, something completely opposite.  The new artwork I have is not something I can take complete credit for; it's true I drew it, arranged it and made it look the way it does but the idea for the figures came from a wedding invitation set that I had to match-and although it is NOT a perfect copy of the original, it is close enough for me to push some of the credit away-

Congratulations again to Chris and Trish who were married on the 13th of March - without you this wouldn't exist.

Now, "Hanging on a Moment" is a very simple piece but sometimes the meaning gets lost in my more complex stuff and I think this says what it need to right away.  I just wish I had more moments to hang onto...and if you happen to find yourself in one of these moments in the future at some point, hold onto it for as long as you can-time moves quicker than the best of us could possibly predict.

*Next piece - either "Dig Out Your Soul" or "Secrets" as soon as I figure out which one I want to throw you first...

**ALSO-The piece "The Nature of Reality" has been updated; I guess I wasn't paying attention to what I posted earlier and what everyone saw was an early version but the final version is up now, sorry about the oops.

-I love you and miss you all...and who knows, I might actually see some of you soon.
-me

First things first...

I am one of the happiest people on the face of the Earth!  Know why?  Because I just know that after so many years of doing what I thought was right and good - people have stopped judging me!  Oh sure, there are no more people left that think that there is something wrong with me because I'm not married or that their jealous of me or that they think whatever it is they think!  Great huh?

Not hardly, I'm an idiot-not stupid; I know even when you think I couldn't possibly know.  [beep] is what it is.

More artwork on Thursday.

-me.