The Harrowing of Hell Concludes

Just a brief post, for those who know my current domestic situation , my home-life has been less than halcyon.  David and I moved to San Diego to  better tend to his mother. It  would be safe to say it has been less than rewarding. After mutual agreement amongst all parties we are moving along.

All I can say is Hallelujah!

Although we had made plans to move next June to Portland we are now heading back to Los Angeles, a move that makes me very happy. I’m excited to be back in a liberal , enthusiastic and forward looking environment with a vital arts culture. Plus David’s practice is in Beverly Hills and we will actually be able to have dinner with one another every evening-I’ve really missed that.

 Our new home is walking distance to LACMA-heaven after the cultural wasteland of East County San Diego. I’m saddened that our well laid plains to the Pacific Northwest have been stalled but perhaps the old gods are directing us to follow the light of LA.

In the throes of dissatisfaction with my personal situation I made this unkind doodle of the mother-in-law (with her evil cat MaryLou)-I know a puerile prank, but hard to resist.

IMG_4143Catnip from Hell

My petulance has subsided and my newest demoness is softer and gentler, she is  part of a study for a large complex painting I plan on starting  when I settle in.

IMG_4144study for upcoming epic

I’m up to my ears in packing supplies and puppies eager to play  with empty boxes. I am making grand progress, almost 80 boxes just for our books. The following image shows that even Our Lord and Savior is safely packed and ready for His new digs.

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Christ in a Box

I most likely will not be posting until after the dust has settled in our new home. It all seems like such a fresh start,  just moments ago  I sold our second car as it is a difficult to park in our new neighborhood and the bus line stops almost at my front door. I have been giving lip service to a greener way of living, now I am giving it a shot.

Wish me luck!

Until next time, take care,

Lg

Bringing Randy Blue Fauns to Class

I’m taking an introduction to digital photography class and frankly I hate it.

Although it is an intro class, a working knowledge of Photoshop is in order (something I was unaware of).  I might very well be the only person in class who has never worked with the program; my fellow students zip from one application to another.  I feel like a dinosaur.

Our first two assignments have thankfully been hands on, and I have done  relatively well. It is not without a bit of smugness that I  have observed my fellow students’ inability to render.

The following is a silly exercise in which three pared down elements must be synthesized into a narrative. In spite of hating the class, the assignment was fun; I might do another version.

This effort was inspired by Sartre’s No Exit. 

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visual exercise II

The following is the assignment sheet:

IMG_4122

My printmaking class is going very well, this is my third semester and although I have produced only a few prints I can claim  to like,  I am learning a lot. Thankfully my anxiety that my professor did not like me or my work has proven to be  due to ridiculous insecurity. He has proven to be very helpful and supportive of my work in spite of our aesthetic differences. I look forward to afternoons spent at the press in spite of the oppressive California heat- apparently printmaking studios do not warrant air conditioning.

The following image  is the final version of my first dry point exercise . Again, I see flaws but I now know how to better handle the technique , next I plan to combine drypoint with aquatint. 

IMG_4118Temptation of St Anthony

drypoint intaglio print

Well that is it for this evening , have a lovely weekend and to my fellow Landsmen, L’Shana Tovah!

Take care,

Lg