(no subject)
Well, it's been a little while, I admit. I'm not very good about the whole post-every-day/week/month thing. But I'm trying.
Break was nice, but too short. I got to see Andy a bit, over New Year's, though he had to work more than he was supposed to. It's good to see him -- I wish I could get down there more often, and I wish there was more I could do for him. Life has sort of beaten him down, made him more sober, more serious. Risibility has taken a bit of a back seat, while he tries to deal with some of the blows that life has dealt him. Poor Appalachia has been wearing on him, I think: the lack of money, white-trash/redneck culture in the part of Western North Caroline he lives in, the lack of any real appreciation for his music, or use for his degree... He's not in a place where his passions can come fully into play, and the things that ought to be in the background are pushing up to bother him, to scratch at him, to pull him down. Of course, really I'm just guessing at the whys: all I really know is that he's sobered, and saddened.
For Christmas, I went to Richmond. Saw some people, rested, had a good time. Sarah had a bit of a medical problem Christmas morning that landed her in the ER for a few hours, but she was fine after a little while, and nothing is seriously wrong with her, it seems. Gave us a good fright though, that's for sure.
Otherwise, I'm just working, and making art. I'm going to try stretching a piece of watercolour paper when I get home: I hope it works, because it's a seven dollar piece of paper. It'd be a shame to ruin it. It'll be neat to see if it works: the point of stretching the watercolour paper is to make it so you can wash heavily without the paper buckling. I'm going to do a large format version of a painting I did many years ago, that Marshall owns now, of a lighthouse. I was studying Tolkien's watercolour works at the time, and am planning on emulating some of his stylistic flourishes in the new version as well. I hope it turns out well: it'll be one of the more extravagant projects I've taken on recently.
Oh, and I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow. That'll be fun. Woo hoo.
And here's a picture for you, because I know that's the only reason any of you come here. This is one of Brandon and my collaborative pieces, though this one has a stronger touch of Brandon in it. It's called "Why do you always have to beat her down?" and tells a story of abuse, transcendence, and hope.
Break was nice, but too short. I got to see Andy a bit, over New Year's, though he had to work more than he was supposed to. It's good to see him -- I wish I could get down there more often, and I wish there was more I could do for him. Life has sort of beaten him down, made him more sober, more serious. Risibility has taken a bit of a back seat, while he tries to deal with some of the blows that life has dealt him. Poor Appalachia has been wearing on him, I think: the lack of money, white-trash/redneck culture in the part of Western North Caroline he lives in, the lack of any real appreciation for his music, or use for his degree... He's not in a place where his passions can come fully into play, and the things that ought to be in the background are pushing up to bother him, to scratch at him, to pull him down. Of course, really I'm just guessing at the whys: all I really know is that he's sobered, and saddened.
For Christmas, I went to Richmond. Saw some people, rested, had a good time. Sarah had a bit of a medical problem Christmas morning that landed her in the ER for a few hours, but she was fine after a little while, and nothing is seriously wrong with her, it seems. Gave us a good fright though, that's for sure.
Otherwise, I'm just working, and making art. I'm going to try stretching a piece of watercolour paper when I get home: I hope it works, because it's a seven dollar piece of paper. It'd be a shame to ruin it. It'll be neat to see if it works: the point of stretching the watercolour paper is to make it so you can wash heavily without the paper buckling. I'm going to do a large format version of a painting I did many years ago, that Marshall owns now, of a lighthouse. I was studying Tolkien's watercolour works at the time, and am planning on emulating some of his stylistic flourishes in the new version as well. I hope it turns out well: it'll be one of the more extravagant projects I've taken on recently.
Oh, and I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow. That'll be fun. Woo hoo.
And here's a picture for you, because I know that's the only reason any of you come here. This is one of Brandon and my collaborative pieces, though this one has a stronger touch of Brandon in it. It's called "Why do you always have to beat her down?" and tells a story of abuse, transcendence, and hope.