Here's a part of something I am working on at the moment. The more I look at something though, the less I like it. I had better stop looking.
Wednesday 31 March 2010
work in progress
Here's a part of something I am working on at the moment. The more I look at something though, the less I like it. I had better stop looking.
Today
[at the beach]
Today I went for a long walk that lasted 2 hours (Queen & Woodbine to Kingston rd. & Victoria Park), and ended up at the beach. I waited a long time for this area to become clear so I can get this shot. In the mean time the light faded. Two separate people saw me taking photos with my camera on delay mode and offered to take the pictures for me but I said no. No particular reason - just had the idea of doing it myself and wanted to carry out that idea. I need to bring my tripod with me more often.
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Sunday 28 March 2010
Appeals
So I listen to two podcasts regularly and both are really truly wonderful. They are well written, full of mind-bogglingly fascinating content, and totally free of charge. But actually they are not free of charge - every episode comes with appeals to listeners to donate to the podcast. To be honest I really, really like this system. I'm the kind of person who (if I really enjoy a service) would be willing to pay for it. I donated a tenner to Wikipedia, and I'm going to put a few more websites on my donations list (need to get my new credit card first): Radiolab, This American Life, and also Transmission (a Mac torrent client).
This reminds me very much of my street-performer friends and their often practised 'hat-lines,' i.e. the bit where, just before the finale of their act, they tell you that this is what they do for a living, and if you've just enjoyed a good show for nothing, well, how's about digging deep in your pockets to help support the person who's just swallowed knives, juggled battle-axes, or walked on a bed of nails for you?
When this honour system of financial contributions work, it's a very wonderful thing. Perhaps these radio stations and freeware developers should watch more street-shows and learn from the masters of of hat-lines whose sweat soaked toppers have the magical ability to turn your money into their money.
I leave you with this video for the German band Einstürzende Neubauten... a VERY good appeal video. As the band leader sagely points out: 'Did you ever consider subscribing?... and maybe if you did consider maybe you'd want to consider again and maybe you'll really do it this time. You won't get the record otherwise.'
Friday 26 March 2010
Tuesday 23 March 2010
Sunday 21 March 2010
Life Drawing
[life drawing in compressed charcoal with orange conté on newsprint]
On Saturday mornings I have life drawing class at the TSA with Thomas Hendry. Today we worked on composition. This one is my final piece of the day. Three windows onto different areas of the same pose. The model (Derek) really liked the three drawings I did today (I don't have pictures of the others) so I offered to give them to him. That was flattering. I'll probably take the same idea further... I intend to do a series of self-portraits - maybe something like this?
Friday 19 March 2010
Tuesday 16 March 2010
Sunday 14 March 2010
Saturday 13 March 2010
Bertrand Rusell
The problem with the world is that the fanatics are so sure of themselves while the wiser people so full of doubt.
Friday 12 March 2010
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Prayer for Marriage
When we are old one night and the moon
arcs over the house like an antique
China saucer and the teacup sun
follows somewhere far behind
I hope the stars deepen to a shine
so bright you could read by it
if you like and the sadnesses
we will have known go away
for awhile--in this hour or two
before sleep--and that we kiss
standing in the kitchen not fighting
gravity so much as embodying
its sweet force, and I hope we kiss
like we do today knowing so much
good is said in this primitive tongue
from the first surprising ones
to the lower dizzy ten thousand
infinitely slower ones--and I hope
while we stand there in the kitchen
making tea and kissing, the whistle
of the teapot wakes the neighbors.
- Steve Scafidi
Monday 1 March 2010
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