I've been doing what I'm vain enough to think of as some rather fantastic painting over the past few weeks. Lots of model-work, a process which is rapidly zeroing out my bank account. Not entirely sure what I'm going to do about that. Give handjobs at the bus station, maybe.

"I've just been remembering that line of yours from a little earlier; it really knocked me back to reality", said my model, as he positioned himself in a carefully-arranged awkward sprawl on the model stand. I stood nearby, holding his AR15; the rifle would be going in-frame with him when he found his own position, a match--I hoped--for the ( Read more... )

One of my facebook friends put up a post about how pleased she is that some Occupy folks in South Carolina stood up during a speech of Michelle Bachmann's and started speaking & chanting until she was driven from the podium. I would be perfectly happy if Bachmann left the national stage, never to return, but that sort of thuggish behavior sickens ( Read more... )

Back from visiting in Boston and painting in Atlanta, I hopped back in the saddle that evening--a pleasant show of energy that's mostly been lacking since I finished at the Academy ( Read more... )

Sharing a bottle of cloudy, unfiltered sake with friends. Max refills my glass 'til the liquor runs over my fingers. I'm fond of the stuff, its subtle, starchy flavors perfect for the sad contemplation of the moon on a winters night ( Read more... )

Megan McArdle quotes herself in her post Is Irish Austerity Paying Dividends?:
Related thoughts: whatever events unfold, a lot of pundits who insist on treating whatever has happened in the last five minutes as if they were the final events of the crisis, are going to look like idiots. If Spain ends up in the same place as Ireland, the virulent ( Read more... )

I have no strong opinion about Troy Davis's execution. I do, however, have a strong opinion about the following ( Read more... )

I talked with my gallerist today. As it happens, a client has a painting out on trial--that is to say, the gallerist has a check in hand, and the client has the painting to try hanging it on their wall before making a final decision. It sounds like an optimistic situation to me, but obviously, it still might not come off ( Read more... )

I feel a little bad for replying to the following facebook post:

is bad news for orchids, as a trusting friend will discover on return from holiday tomorrow. Come on, orchids, *please* wake up. *Please* stop being that awful brown colour... :'(

with this:

In this parable, the orchids represent life in the mortal realm (recalling, of course ( Read more... )

Observing that my passport would be expiring fairly soon, I sent it in to have it renewed. The new one arrived yesterday. I hadn't quite realized it would feel a bit mournful to see this stiff-covered fresh thing ( Read more... )