I read some Ruskin for breakfast.

I am so behind in titling paintings, but this one was bestowed with a title the other day.

Surfing Rococo: The Pleasure House Tide

But there are others. And a couple of them are getting ready to go in a group exhibition, so they need titles too. And Ruskin is a great place for harvesting titles. Or was. But today at breakfast, while reading Ruskin, instead of title fodder, I came across a new motto for the studio wall. He wrote it in all caps too. “EXCELLENCE OF THE HIGHEST KIND, WITHOUT OBSCURITY, CANNOT EXIST.”

Verily that.

I’ve been back in town for a couple of days and am hustling for jobs and catching up on work-related stuff. I also made some rounds in the bloggersphere (or blogosphere, as I would have preferred to spell it) to see what up with everyone. Carla has some fab work and will be in New American Paintings, Tracy's having a a great solo show and will go to AAF. She also has some really hot palette porn up. Steven posted a new painting that brought forth some interesting discussion regarding aesthetics and taste, or why a certain painting was a lighting rod for positive comments, more so than some other of his paintings. I've also enjoyed seeing a connection between Eva's work and a painting she posted by her mom.

I am, however, thinking of doing some target practice at the local firing range. Cheaper than therapy.