Wow, I'm glad scientists were so on their scientific toes, otherwise modern artists wouldn't know the long lost ancient technique of glazing. The only thing I saw in there was maybe the exact formulation used to paint the Mona Lisa. Back in old yankdom artists blended their own formula's of paint. Today, its a more exact science, and luckily, standards are maintained to the highest quality across the board. Thanks for thinking of Old Trip when you saw that Jenny.
On another artistic front, I think I found one of the reasons for my artist block. When I was at college, I had all sorts of fellow artists to commune with on a daily basis. The atmosphere just oozed with creativity, and a common interest. Talent sparked talent, and when an issue arose, somebody was always there to talk it out. I live in a very rural area. There are other artists who live in the area, but getting together presents many obstacles. The local art league focus more on crafts, quilting, writing, with an emphasis that lean towards women folk. Oh, men are invited to the events, they don't discriminate, but, though I love a well made quilt, I don't want to sew one together myself, so I be sheet out of luck. I'm friends with several artists here, but one owns a famous restaurant/mountain climbing outfitter store, so he's busy. Another is a fairly famous painter (I'm a better figure artist), but he stays busy traveling, or as a naturalist, or crafting his well made vine furniture. Another is a very creative college professor who's actually a biologist/herpetologist, and stays too busy to do much art himself. I have several friends, and fellow artists who live on an old Hippie Commune, but they live a quiet, almost hermit type of lifestyle. They don't get out much, and they really live off the beaten path, good people though. One guy builds puppets, they're awesome. He's a fine water-colorist as well. Anyway, they're here, we just can't get together.
Most of the people who belong to the art league are actually crafters. I'm not downing crafters, because they're very good at what they do, but our interests differ enough to not help. The art league does focus on some art forms, but mostly of the performance variety, and writers, but that's cool. I tried to start a club for the visual arts, but as I said, most of the fine artists were too busy to make time to get together.
I kind of miss living in an area with a thriving art community. Country living has its place, but I miss the creative excitement of a good old college town. Art wise, I was at my best then. The funny thing is, I experimented so much, I thought my work sucked most of the time, but experimenting brought art to life for me. Maybe if I sink further into insanity, the voices in my head will offer enough stimulating conversation to spur my creativity onward past this damned block. I think I'd rather be constipated. Hey, you know what, that's my diagnosis. I'm artistically constipated, and I need an impressionistic enema, or at least a surreal colon cleanse... Trip
