Shelf life

For a while the appeal of box sets of tv shows escaped me entirely. My attitude was that it was only worth buying something if you were confident that you’d get your money’s worth by watching it several times over, exploring all the special features, and so forth. Even then, I found it hard to [...]

Maison et Confort

Not that this blog is going to turn into an endless series of posts mocking catalogue tat, but I found this one lying around, inexplicably abandoned in a bookshop the other day, so I had to pick it up. Pictures can be clicked to view large on flickr.
Erik and sgazzetti - you’ll both be receiving a [...]

The point of art

From a book I’m currently reading:
“But art, if it means awareness of our own life, means also awareness of the lives of other people - for style for the writer, no less than colour for the painter, is a question not of technique but of vision: it is the revelation, which by direct and conscious methods [...]

SkyMall

During our recent flight to New York, having exhausted all other entertainment possibilities, I took to browsing the SkyMall catalogue which was to be found in our seat-back pockets. Imagine my surprise to find such a cornucopia of delights, a small selection of which can be seen below.
I don’t feel the need to comment on [...]

The beautiful people

Believe it or not, beautiful people make terrible models.
I just got back from my last life drawing session (next week I move to a new job in a new building in a different part of town, so I’ll no longer be able to participate). The model was gorgeous. A perfect set of classical curves (of course, [...]

Halfway to seventy

My wife bought me food porn for my birthday.
Ask and you shall receive.

Decisions, decisions

I realise how difficult it must be for you, dear reader, at this time of year – what to give the man who has everything for his impending (one month’s time) birthday? What gift could fully express your gratitude and admiration? Allow me to make a few modest proposals: 

Wind Leaves, or Turbulent Orb
Kaiseki (lunch or dinner)
Fox [...]

Mud balls

I have nothing to say about this other than “ohmygodthat’ssocool!”. 

It’s never too early to start thinking about Christmas

Fine art photography at bargain prices. 

Visual Purple

After my life drawing class the other day I received comments, not for the first time, to the effect that my drawing was accurate, but rather severe and unflattering. I realised that this is because, unlike some of my fellow sketchers, I draw lines (which means, in the cases of faces, wrinkles, creases, folds, spots, [...]