So, I've got it in my head to actually follow through with something. At least until late summer-ish. Two weeks from now, I'll be out of a real job and self-employed, so, I've decided to take a serious crack at selling my art. I've always had drawing as a creative outlet, and over the years I like to think I've honed my talent, succinctly whittled my historical interests down to a somewhat individual style. Even though I tend to jump from medium to medium, I'm hoping that each piece is a signature EV one-of-a-kind. I'm not really so vain as to think that every painting or drawing that gets splashed or scribbled onto a piece of paper is entirely my own. My mind is like a sponge, so whatever the slosh that gets wrung out, it's always going to be what some people (those who use the word "mine" a lot) may deem plagiarism. I'm sorry, but elements of Kay Nielsen, Brueghel the Elder, or some random Art Nouveau dude are going to find their way into my lines...but that's the whole of art history.
Yeah I don't understand people who are overly protective of their subject or style or whatever...man, your stuff originated from someone else. Influence is the word. And if it's not another painter, it's nature or some kind of mind-altering substance...and don't think you're the only one to have ever experienced something so bizarre...not as strange as you might think. I respect the individualism of each person and believe you should embrace what makes you unique, but not to the point where it separates you from everything else.
I have no idea where that came from, but there it is.
Anyway, I did this pic a few weeks ago, tried something new. I want to focus on childhood imagery, but not so much traditional notions of it. My childhood was fun but not necessarily overly normal. So, yeah.
Still painting away and honing my technique. I started painting this piece of Fragonard's Diana and Endymion last week...it's actually just a close-up of Endymion. He's just so beautiful, I had to try him for myself...and we have the original right here at the National Gallery in D.C.
Last post until early July because we're going to California! Yay, vacation time is here for 11 days. From San Fran up to Mendocino to Humboldt Redwood Forest to Tahoe and Yosemite, Gold Country, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park to Napa and Sonoma and Big Sur and Santa Cruz. Whew. 
Yay! Put the final touches on new cards I'll be adding in my brand new Etsy store soon!
I have so new art, spawned from an old ink drawing I did, first of a couple, I think. I did the ink when Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette came out. I really liked the whole stylization of the film a lot...and I loved the fact that people were pissed about the pink (and decidedly anachronistic) Chuck Taylors. Psh. I'm going to put it up in my Etsy store eventually, as a print and a postcard-style note card, accompanied by a nifty envelope I just picked up from Paper Source. God, I love Paper Source.
So I finished a bunch of new card designs, several of which I have to add a few effects to...I figured the mushrooms would be plaid with kind of a scratchy, canvas background. The deer and the trees will be several kinds of Japanese patterns, color scheme being purple, greens, and mustard yellow--a little earthy.
Beach weekend was fun...I wasted $5 at the slots and spent $11.95 on cigarettes at Caesar's. W.T.F. Regardless, I was expecting some serious inflation. Juno shat in the house about four times. I think it messes up her sphere of territory when we take her to four different houses consistently, three of which are humongous...and the one that she has no problem with isn't a house. Our apartment is 650 square feet, which doesn't leave a lot of room for disorientation. She knows where to go and where not to go.
This is a plate from Tabulae sceleti et musculorum corporis humani by Bernard Siegfried Albinus (1747), drawn by Jan Wandelaar. When we visited the Mutter Museum in Philly, I took home this postcard. The original is part of the collection at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. 
More new art...just finished this piece tonight. I really want to keep with this style--a little bit whimsical, ornamental, soft but not too soft. Can you find the whale in there?? I know it's pretty early on in bloglife to ask for comments and feedback, but if there's anyone willing to say their piece, I'd be grateful. 
