good morning!

i woke to the smell of coffee and oil paint. delicious.

i got my little make-shift studio set up yesterday morning and got straight to work. i painted all day long, pushing The Almighty Jog back to late afternoon, and each of the 4 big oils are now hanging on the walls, pleading for more attention. the house is permeated with their gorgeous scent. i can't tell you how happy this makes me- to be moving forward again at a healthy pace, serious and excited and playful all at once. and it's a breed of joy i've missed. it's a breed of joy i've needed.

maybe i'll start work on THE BEAST today- a gargantuan canvas that will not fit in the truck. i'll eventually need to rent a moving van to transport this thing. totally fucking awesome! i haven't worked on a canvas this big since my senior year... and actually this canvas is a bit bigger than that. oh, it's gonna be fun! so much room to spread out in, roll around in, root around in like a dog. but first, i've got to prime the monster and that'll take a couple hours. the grunt work. i hate it. but ever since i started stretching my own canvas, i simply can't make do with the pre-fab stuff at the art store. it's just not nearly the same and, now, feels like shit to paint on. the gesso doesn't even feel the same. i am becoming quite a snob about this stuff. ha! but it's true what your teachers tell you... quality materials make your work SHINE!