Reading the last chapter of my text, "The Failure and Success of Cézanne", it recounts how his art was panned early on, described as child-like, naive beginner's work. While both academics and avant-garde were tearing him apart in Paris, he suffered a number of personal blows, including Zola's cr . . . (More)

"Like a man who falls in the snow, Manet has made a hole in public opinion." - A man called Champfleury, writing to BaudelaireThe moment I read this, I thought of great artists of no little controversy (then again, which great artist isn't?) of all periods of history -- Michelangelo, Titian, Dure . . . (More)

In the midst of tacking together an essay on Fernand Léger, I wrote in a brief comparison to the female nudes by Renoir. As I reread a few paragraphs, I saw that the phrase "Renoir's nudes" was clearly making too many appearances, and without another thought, swiftly rewrote it into the more l . . . (More)

YAY!

I love Sharpies. They cater to my every body decorating need, demanding neither pain nor consequence, as well as giving me my daily dosage of transdermal ink! So, on Sunday, when I acquired eighteen at once -- in black, blue, light blue, brown, orange, green, aqua, yellow, red, purple, raspb . . . (More)

Splodgey. This bird had my favour because its texture always reminded me of the undersides of well-worked hands, of age and history.

One of Wesley's many block structures. The moment I saw them, I thought of the temple at Karnak, and the forum ruins in Rome.

A small number of individuals have been expressing curiosity about my physical appearance. And I confess, I can no longer hold the fort. Your persistence has overwhelmed me.   So, I present to you, me. On the back: Ever the mercenary. I'm glad Wesley is turning out better than I have . . . (More)

Art doesn't need a reason. I present to you: Rex the Warsquid. Why does he wear a crown, you say? A crown, ladies and gents, is a symbol for kingship. Why kingship? Kingship, because "rex" is Latin for "king."Where, then, you persist, is the "war" in "warsquid"? Well. To be completely fran . . . (More)

A broadband exercise: Why does bad art happen to good mythological figures? Apollo and Daphne ... then Apollo and Daphne. Pygmalion and Galatea ... then Pygmalion and Galatea. Leda and the Swan ... then Leda and the Swan. Nymphs and Satyr ... then Nymphs and Satyr. And Icarus the strip . . . (More)