It's been a hectic few weeks, but I am glad to be home again in order to help Noelle through her illness. 

I've started to work with Myron Barnstone on Monday nights, just to keep the knowledge flowing, and to have some intellectual "me" time away from all of the B.S. that comprises my day-to-day, so its a good start.  I have more shows coming up overseas, besides the summer residency in Nice, so I am trying not to get derailed too badly by all of the chaos lately. 

Meanwhile, I am catching up on American "TV" since while in France they have American shows, all dubbed in French, which is pretty comical, especially when you aren't fluent in the language.  With the approach of Easter, I have been watching out for interesting new shows, and here is one I've never seen before on the Discovery channel:  "Who framed Jesus?" 

According to a fellow blogger:

Who Framed Jesus?

A friend writes about the new Discovery Channel special.

Discovery Channel: Who Framed Jesus?

Logline: New suspects emerge in the death of Jesus.

I'm pretty much speechless. I was unaware the case was open. That said, good luck getting the Procurator of Judæa to prosecute. Guy's got a serious conflict of interest.

Based on my knowledge of cable tv, I hypothesize the new suspects are:

1. Freemasons
2. Ghosts
3. Bigfoot
4. Midgets or dwarfs (TLC only)
5. Nostradamus
6. Hitler
7. A bridezilla
8. Flava Flav or Bret Michaels
9. The Real Housewives of Galilee
10. Some shirtless guy on Cops.

Just a guess,

Update: A fire-hose response from readers says my friend left out a key suspect: George W. Bush.

Haha...with that, I am off to run some errands and other annoyances on this miserable slushy day...I'll have some new paintings up soon, just been too busy to photo and post them.  Maybe tomorrow...

Paris, Night Four

Evening in Artist's square, Monmartre, Paris

Valentine's Day in the Romance capital of the world is not a place to spend alone, so rather being branded "unloveable" by a restaurant full of French patrons for being the only single in the place, I decided to retreat to my room with some Chinese takeout and along with some delectables from the local bakery and a quart of fresh milk....man, do the French know their pastries!!!!
I will remember that delicious vanilla custard and strawberry tart forever!!  The pastry shell was so light, buttery and delicate, the custard so smooth and flavorful, and the strawberries perfectly sweet, mild and glazed, paired with a quart of perfect tasting milk,...I was in fat person's heaven!

I got all of my online work done, and have completed another two paintings...my goal is to get at least another two done tonight, maybe three if I can push myself through it.  Tomorrow, off to the Marais to the gallery meeting...sigh, the worst part of this business hands down--dealing with curators (no offense to any out there) and answering all the annoying questions, etc.  I wish I had a body double that enjoyed that, so I could send her instead!!!

So, I basically just hung around my room working today, slipping out here and there for a break and a stretch of the legs, but I got a lot done, so I don't feel like I wasted any time.  Tomorrow is my last day here until June when I do my residency between Nice and Paris, so I will get done as much as I can, and then go back to the States knowing it was a fruitful trip.  I may even have time to pop into the Louvre for a few hours if I wake up early enough.

It either rained or snowed every day I was here, but tonight the weather is warmer...I have my window open and the breeze is quite gentle and refreshing, and makes the room cool and sweet.  I love Paris, but again, this time the trip was a bit different--I had many issues pressing on my mind when I got here, and it was all business for me, even the visits to the museums (that's education).  I really didn't have chat or light conversation with anyone except the hotel clerk the entire time I was here...kind of odd to be in such a big city and to slip around almost like a ghost...that's OK because it's what I wanted.  I could ponder and think things through without distraction.

So, going to move one foot from my desk to my "artist station" and sleeping quarters: my bed, and start another painting....

Paris, Night Three

I had a good day in that I found Sennelier and was able to bolster my art supplies.  Then I spent time in the Musee de l'Orangerie, which although was small, had some amazing paintings.

I'm sitting in my little room, listening to French TV, and am quite amazed by how much they like American music--I mean, they have their own musicians, but the most often played music and most popular is American music...they really seem to like Katy Perry, which is cool because so do I, and various rappers...strange selection.

I listen to the music so I can hear some English haha!  It's interesting to watch American shows here (another thing they play tons of) like CSI: New York, called, "Le Experts, New York" and it's all dubbed in French.  I like to read Gary Sinise's lips and try to figure out what he's saying--you can actually understand a lot just by watching the show even if you don't know what they are saying....pretty cool.

I have been painting like a mad person...have done seven so far, and will probably complete 10-12 while here in Paris...so I'm staying in tonight, and no, not just because I'm in the city of Romance on the most romantic night of the year, and am alone like a big loser eating in the restaurant ;-)

The paintings are dark and mixed media, so they are something quite different from what I usually do, but my mind has been in a dark place for a while, and I really don't care what protocol dictates:  I paint what I want.  So that's it for now.

Paris, Night Two



Musee D'orsay

Today was quite nice.  After oversleeping (and yes, I'm still in the throes of insomnia since it is 1:30 a.m. here right now) and being awakened by housekeeping at 11:30 this morning to change rooms, I took a hasty shower and out the door I went.  I arrived at the Musee D'orsay at 12:30, and after an hour's worth of waiting in the miserable frigid weather, finally got in, after all previous other attempts on past visits had always failed.  It was worth the wait.

Their Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection was absolutely stunning, and I spent the entire day wandering and taking some notes and sketches of ideas for my new series (no photos allowed, not even in the cafeteria, LOL). It was a thoroughly enjoyable day, and I was sad when they kicked us out at 5:45...I would have slept in there if I could.

I went out for a walk along the Seine, but the weather was just too bitterly cold with the wind, so I went and found a nice cafe with strong outdoor heaters and had a ham and cheese crepe with some salad, and then headed in.

The new room is so tiny, it's like a jail cell or a room in a hospital institution.  But, it's quiet, and warmer than the other, even though the mattress is a little lumpy, again, it's quiet.  I found the source of the incessant hideous music last night--the cafe next door.  I couldn't endure another night of that, so I took another room in desperation, and this little closet was the only one they had.  At least it's cheaper, and quiet.  I don't really care about it being literally 9 feet by 9 feet.  I only spend a little time in here anyway.

So, out for more reference material tomorrow, and also more sightseeing.  I may attempt the Catacombes...or, the Louvre followed by the Musee D'leOrangerie...it depends on the weather.

Now, if only the Sandman hadn't stayed in America...he is a real asshole.  He's never around when you want him ;-)




Paris, Night One

Here in Paris...it was a bumpy ride getting here, but now that I am here, I have some distinct plans as to what I am doing with my time.  I will spend the time immersing myself in the museums, one day a piece, and create a series of preliminary works and sketches for a more in depth series.

On Wednesday, my final day here, I will be in the Marais to meet with some new gallery curators, and hopefully strike up some interesting connections.  I always like to have meetings with them, and will continue to press forward even after my somewhat disorienting arrival!

I am staying in a hotel in Monmartre, and although it is quite clean, modern and well-equipped, I have a noisy neighbor who must have his music on a loop, since the same bass beat has been playing since I checked in this afternoon, and now it is just driving me nuts, hence my blogging at 1 a.m. 
I would call the night desk and complain, but they probably wouldn't understand me anyway, so what is the point??  I will just try to put some tissue in my ears, and take an Advil p.m. 

So, tomorrow, off to the Musee D'orsay as my first stop.  I did have a relaxing evening after an exhausting day so I hope to have a very interesting and productive day tomorrow in the museum, and a relaxing evening to follow.

So, that is the itinerary for tomorrow.  I did have some lovely photos of Sacre Coeur from tonight, but I am too lazy to get out of bed and get my phone and upload them, haha.  Tomorrow. Time to try and get some sleep, if possible with all of that racket.  Goodnight all.