I autographed 115 copies of my new book for people who ordered signed ones.

After I posted yesterday's painting, I also put it up on my social media. Got a fair bit of feedback on Facebook [sorry], all of it kind. But a couple people there suggested that I sell my painting — I guess trying to imply that it's good enough to sell. I said that felt a bit too much like plagiarism, but they said as long as I clearly attribute the source then it would all be above board.

And then, somewhat to my surprise, I received a comment from the original artist Jeremy Ford himself!

Well done John. You can sell it. Just write "after Jeremy Ford" after your signature.

How swell is that, eh?

My 34th acrylic is a study of a piece I found in Jeremy Ford's book Painting Pastel Landscapes [wot I got outen da lie-bury]. He was demonstrating working with pastel on black paper. I got thinking that I had a canvas lying around that I had long ago undercoated with black, and still didn't know what to do with it. I kinda liked Ford's painting and so I gave it a shot.

This is my first time doing a study of someone else's work in a different medium than what they used. The experience was a pleasing eye-opener for me — it seems to suggest larger possibilities. And I think this one turned out okay enough.



Oh, and here's a scan:

While I was out tooling around yesterday, I had what I can only call a premonition -- almost like a little voice in me, saying, “If you go to HomeSense today, you will find gouache”. For those of you who don't know, HomeSense is a discount store that seems to deal in off brands, end of runs, and other odd things. Basically, what they stock is whatever they could find that day. You never know when a new item will show up, or another one will disappear. So you can't go there counting on finding anything.

But I decided to heed my inner voice, went there, and lo and behold but what did I find one lone example of?



Mont Marte is a halfway decent brand, so extra score.

Moreover than that [as one of my art profs used to say], I also found this:



Just the day before, I was reading about mixed bristle brushes. Watercolour brushes [and consequently gouache brushes, which are the same] are usually either natural (animal hairs) or synthetic (nylon fibers). Each has its own subtle strengths and weaknesses, and different people prefer different kinds. But I was reading about mixed brushes, where it said they offer a blend of the advantages of both. I thought that sounded interesting, and I was curious enough to want to try them out and see what I thought. But I didn't recall seeing them anywhere.

Until now. Yet another bonus score!

On my second day of major migraine, I am grateful that I was able to duck out of all my obligations relatively unscathed and just rest without mucking up my life too badly.

I am a creature of habit.

One of the first things I do every morning is listen to my favourite song [The Big Blue by Sulk]. And I eat the same breakfast [Quaker Oatmeal Squares with blueberries]. Several times a week I drop by my fave coffee shop [Puffle Café] before lunch and order a large black americano. For lunch I have peanut butter.

Day in, day out.

Some people wonder, “Don't you get bored? Don't you wanna have something different?” No -- if I wanted something different, I would get something different. I actively enjoy all these things and look forward to them every day. It's not just their comforting ritual aspect, I enjoy them for their own sake. I can find fresh pleasure in things and not get tired of them, just like I never get tired of seeing a sunset or a robin.

It doesn't take much to make me happy.

getting another good blood glucose reading this mornin

I was diagnosed with diabetes almost twenty-five years ago, and since then I have done a decent job of maintenance and keeping it under control -- a lot less scary now than when I first heard about it.

watching the sun light the tops of the trees first

My Christmas presents every year usually include books, and this past Christmas was no exception. But it wasn't til now that I thought to share them here. As happened the last few years, they tend toward art themes, and you don't hear me complaining:

messages of love and support