Who Says Painting is Easy?

Ok, Sometimes I say painting is easy. Or if not easy, at least fun and satisfying. Like this little season-based quadratych (I made that up) that I worked on here and there to help pass the late winter days.

And even the get-out-of-the-ol'-comfort-zone abstract can be rewarding.

Sadly... these "hits" tend to be the exception. There have been many "misses" that were just agony ending in disaster.

Take today's exercise in futility -- the Tobacco Barns. YUK! Trust me, this is NOT what this bad boy looked like in my mind's eye.

Well, I suppose I can always painted it out and start something new. Guess that's what they mean by "Back to the drawing board!"

And the Search Goes On

Just an update on the job search...

After my last job-related post my leads ran cold. The job with the long commute turned me down 5 months after I first applied. I was only a little disappointed because that hour and 15 drive each way was not a draw.

Last week I interviewed to possibly cover someone's maternity leave this summer. The next day I had another interview at the same company to temp-to-hire for a strategic communications job. That could work. And it's close enough for a "normal" commute.

Still, now 8 months into being unemployed, I've learned to temper my optimism. This recession has made employers both cautious and in the position to be very, very choosy. Nothing is a done deal, but I'll keep pluggin'.

Discovering "Andy Warhol"

Have you ever been out and found yourself suddenly and unexpectedly confronted by ART? I mean the kind of art that grabs you by the shoulders with both hands and says LOOK AT ME! It happened to me yesterday in a little breakfast joint called The Cosmic Omelet.

The Cosmic sometimes features pieces for sale by local artists and photographers. Yesterday there was a collage portrait of an American icon -- Hunter S. Thompson.

A few things made it both compelling and startling. First, it was good. Second was the medium; it was done in paint on presumably losing Lottery scratch tickets (Thompson would have loved that).

Then I saw that it had been painted on foam board insullation!

That screamed starving artist, I must create so I'll use whatever there is at hand. It was kitchy, it was cool and I knew in an instant I wanted to buy it.

When I asked the waitress who painted it, she tossed a thumb toward one of the short order cooks. "Kyle," she said. There was a young guy in a blue bandana hustling to get out the next omelet order.

He beamed when I handed him the small stack of 20s. Evidently he had just hung it that morning. The varnish was still tacky.

Is Kyle an Andy Warhol waiting to be discovered? I certainly hope so. If you're interested, he has more pieces for sale. Right now there's a Betty Boop done on a field of Domino sugar packets. Get it while it's hot!