Poppy Z. Brite's Blog, page 30
October 16, 2012
Drawing Blood HC Sale
Because I need to get my blood drawn to check testosterone levels, for which the hospital will quite unreasonably want money, I'm having a sale of Drawing Blood hardcovers. Get it? I'm selling Drawing Blood because I need to get my blood drawn? ... OK, I'm not Jerry Lewis, but I'll still be here all week. In the meantime, these mint-condition, first-edition, signed, personalized-if-you-request-it hardcovers are just $20, which includes U.S. shipping. $5 gets you worldwide shipping.
I also have a larger-than-usual selection of paintings available, which of course I'm petrified means they suck. But if you think one of them doesn't suck, please don't be scared to make an offer. I don't accept them all, but I often do, and at the least I'll send you a counter-offer. Frankie's vet bill hit us hard last week, so this could be a good time to get a bargain.
I also have a larger-than-usual selection of paintings available, which of course I'm petrified means they suck. But if you think one of them doesn't suck, please don't be scared to make an offer. I don't accept them all, but I often do, and at the least I'll send you a counter-offer. Frankie's vet bill hit us hard last week, so this could be a good time to get a bargain.
October 15, 2012
With Friends Like These ...
"Pot will never replace pharmaceuticals. It has no medical use. It causes anxiety and it can't get rid of pain. I don't smoke the crap, but I still think it should be legalized, because potheads are gonna smoke it and why waste resources prosecuting them?"
-- Some dipshit on WWL talk radio
If even people like this dipshit favor legalization, how seriously can we take anyone who still opposes it?
-- Some dipshit on WWL talk radio
If even people like this dipshit favor legalization, how seriously can we take anyone who still opposes it?
What Is Loss? II
"What Is Loss? II," acrylic paint, ink, pottery shards, and glue on canvas, 11" x 14", $100 (or make an offer)
Original text by me reads as follows:
In the caves you find
The artifacts that reveal your
Futures and pasts,
Joys and heartbreaks,
Passions and losses,
Blind things that have never seen the sun.
October 14, 2012
October 13, 2012
Lady On The Beach
"Lady On The Beach," acrylic and enamel paint on canvas, 11" x 14", $100 (or make an offer)
I'm currently working on a series of "October" paintings, the first of which I'll put up tomorrow -- well, later today now.
The Yellow Wallpaper
"The Yellow Wallpaper," acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20", $125 (or make an offer).
I will donate 50% of this painting's purchase price to Developments In Literacy, an organization that builds schools and promotes education for underprivileged children in Pakistan, particularly girls. This painting happened because I was reading a column by Nicholas Kristof about Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot by the Taliban this week. The column included several photographs of other Pakistani girls and women, and I just fell in love with this girl's face and wanted to try painting it. It may also be worth noting that I accented her white dupatta (head covering; I hope I have the right word) with my favorite new color, smalt, an ancient blue-purple pigment from the cobalt family.
Question: Girls' Education in Pakistan
For people who know more about these things than I: if you wanted to make a donation toward schools that educate girls in Pakistan, would you give to Developments in Literacy, The Citizens Foundation, or some other group?
October 12, 2012
Work Area
Thanks for all the good wishes yesterday, here and on other media.
To cheer me up, Grey took me on an excursion to what turned out to be the best store ever, David Art Center in Metairie. Neither of us had been there before, and we wandered around in awe for what must have been a couple of hours. No offense to Michael's, but it was kind of like only having ever shopped for groceries at Sav-A-Lot and suddenly wandering into Whole Foods. I'm almost glad I didn't go to a store like that when I first started painting back in June, because its completeness might have paralyzed me; I would have felt I didn't dare put brush to canvas until I knew what gouache was, or owned those millions of colors and brushes instead of the few crappy ones I had, or could mix my own paint, or whatever. Now I've had a chance to expand my collection of art supplies bit by bit, buying what I really needed/wanted instead of What A Painter Ought To Have, and to get curious about them at my own pace, and today I got a book about the history of pigments and composition of paints. It's interesting but basic; I already want a lot more detail. What is phthalocyanine? What's the difference between Mars black and ivory black? Who was the Davy who invented Davy's Grey? Why work with "fugitive colors"? I could see getting obsessive about this. Paint has always seemed yummy to me.
Here are two pictures of my work area:
Oh, and have a bonus, me with "Pearls Before Swine" creator Stephan Pastis at his Garden District Books signing tonight. These were the first books we've had signed to us as a couple. Stephan drew us a croc and an angry Pig! Isn't he adorable?
It was a sad day in my heart, but somehow my baby made it nice for me anyway. (He took that last picture, too.) I think that's a rare talent.
To cheer me up, Grey took me on an excursion to what turned out to be the best store ever, David Art Center in Metairie. Neither of us had been there before, and we wandered around in awe for what must have been a couple of hours. No offense to Michael's, but it was kind of like only having ever shopped for groceries at Sav-A-Lot and suddenly wandering into Whole Foods. I'm almost glad I didn't go to a store like that when I first started painting back in June, because its completeness might have paralyzed me; I would have felt I didn't dare put brush to canvas until I knew what gouache was, or owned those millions of colors and brushes instead of the few crappy ones I had, or could mix my own paint, or whatever. Now I've had a chance to expand my collection of art supplies bit by bit, buying what I really needed/wanted instead of What A Painter Ought To Have, and to get curious about them at my own pace, and today I got a book about the history of pigments and composition of paints. It's interesting but basic; I already want a lot more detail. What is phthalocyanine? What's the difference between Mars black and ivory black? Who was the Davy who invented Davy's Grey? Why work with "fugitive colors"? I could see getting obsessive about this. Paint has always seemed yummy to me.
Here are two pictures of my work area:
Oh, and have a bonus, me with "Pearls Before Swine" creator Stephan Pastis at his Garden District Books signing tonight. These were the first books we've had signed to us as a couple. Stephan drew us a croc and an angry Pig! Isn't he adorable?
It was a sad day in my heart, but somehow my baby made it nice for me anyway. (He took that last picture, too.) I think that's a rare talent.
October 10, 2012
Frankie
My Frankie died this morning. Probably kidney failure. Very sudden. I am in shock.
October 9, 2012
Playing Ketchup
I've finished a couple more paintings, but am not putting them up until I get caught up on shipping the ones I've already sold. Here are the ones that have NOT gone out yet:
"Duma's Daughters"
"The Night Watchmen"
"Everything She Might Have Been"
"Self-Portrait With Bones"
"I'm Trying To Get Motivated"
"What Is Loss?"
"The Cock Loves The Object of His Demise"
I'll get all of these shipped by Friday, I promise. For a change, I'm not actually being lazy, just a little overwhelmed with obligations. Thank you for buying the paintings, and for all the comments on them, and the nice e-mails, and everything.
"Duma's Daughters"
"The Night Watchmen"
"Everything She Might Have Been"
"Self-Portrait With Bones"
"I'm Trying To Get Motivated"
"What Is Loss?"
"The Cock Loves The Object of His Demise"
I'll get all of these shipped by Friday, I promise. For a change, I'm not actually being lazy, just a little overwhelmed with obligations. Thank you for buying the paintings, and for all the comments on them, and the nice e-mails, and everything.
