Monday, February 19, 2007

Seven hour Monday.






Kitchen, dining room and back hall in Hartland.
The dog's name is Pal and he is utterly charming.

Monday down....Tuesday/Wednesday I'll finish a rental house I started last week, then paint a bunch of ceilings on Thursday and Friday.
Told a contractor I know sure, I'll drive as far as Livonia for a large job but sheesh that's a haul. Still, this time of year is slow...
Minimum hour each way commute, plus I'll pay the petsitter lady to come visit my dogs ; I do that on long work days because, because, ummm, I spoil my dogs.

Happy President's Day!

Friday, February 16, 2007

Howard Hodgkin and wild beast painting.






Howard Hodgkin is a 75 year old English artist, these pieces are from a current Tate exhibition.
I think his work is beautiful, especially the paintings like the top three - his prints don't resonate for me as much. I like the sureness and unexpected color combinations.
Quite a few of the paintings - look at the second one down - spill over onto the frame so it's part of the piece instead of containing it. I love coloring outside the lines.

There's something I've always thought would be fun, as a housepainter. Paint completely outside the lines using whatever colors I please. Give me a house with front yard, driveway and trees. Let me paint everything. The grass, roof, windows, tree trunks, the whole enchilada. Leopard spots, stripes, big messy abstract brushwork. Whatever I want!
Decorate the roof shingles, paint tartan designs on the windows, tiger stripe the front door, spray the lawn pink, roll the driveway glossy black...heck leave a car, the family dog and your toddler playing in the driveway and I'll paint them too.

After 27 years of having to be precise and neat and painting the color YOU want, that would be pretty damn fun.

(Fauvism was an artistic style popularized by Matisse, about 100 years ago. Artists working in this style were dubbed Les Fauves, French for "wild beasts.")

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Taxidermy pieces for sale.



From my local craigslist:
Taxidermy pieces for sale.

The Flint Children's Museum has several taxidermy pieces for sale. These are not mounts, but full-size animals. The pieces are a Polar Bear, Moose, Black Bear, Bear Cub, two Mountain Lions, and a Jaguar. Please view the images and contact us for more information.

Flint Children's Museum
1602 W. Third Avenue
Flint, MI 48504
810-767-5437

Would'nt these look cool with your new earthen floor?

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Down and dirty - feel the earth beneath your feet.



For a fraction of the cost of hardwood floors, dirt flooring is making a comeback - doesn't it sound cool?
Start by pouring several wheelbarrows full of mud on your existing floor. Spread it around. Repeat. Let it dry for a few days. Brush on several layers of linseed oil, followed by a finish coat of beeswax.
Directions here.
The flooring only gets better with age, acquiring a lustrous patina like a favourite leather jacket.
I kinda want one.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Brrrr. And a wee lull.

OK, update.
I have done nothing wildly interesting over the last couple of weeks.
It's been horrendously cold.
Things painted:
Much of the downstairs of a Grand Blanc house, being painted to go on the market. Beige, and Lisa did a leather finish in the half bath.
One kitchen ceiling, repaired after a leak and painted.
Sprayed a couple of ceilings.

Jeez, that's about it. Right on schedule, work is slowest during Feb-March. This week I have been mostly lounging about eating bonbons and watching daytime TV. No, that's a lie. I've been out and about and quite busy, and have work scheduled for the next several weeks. I've been doing Dog Things, Friend Things and Writing Things.
I am volunteered for a $10.00 rabies clinic (proceeds to rescue) on Friday & Saturday. I posted that craigslist ad, which is why I snuck in a recent photo of one of my dogs and her cat.
Saturday night I am going to see the movie The Queen, which I am really looking forward to! Sunday is my birthday. Oy vey. I'll be 49.

Oh, Pedro is fine. He is hibernating in my truck.