Paper 4

("We don't want cloudy heads")

"Go out and kidnap someone TODAY!" (Paper 3)

"...the exact chance

in your real life face"

"...[where are the multitudes]

of scenes from life"[?]

-written on the back of this print-

http://scbaker.com/artwork/297592_A_Scene_from_Life_Instead_of_a_Scene.html

Retina Photo

So I finally found that picture of my inner eye that I was looking for last month. Cheers.

Giotto

My mom actually found this 4"x6" photo of a painting when cleaning out some of the treasures of my great aunt's small estate:
Italian painter/architect Giotto's rendition of Italian poet Dante. It seems to be a painting, or excerpt of a painting (?) from the very famous Bargello Palace in Florence, Italy.

So in reality, I hold a photo of a print, OR a blurry photo of the original (just printed poorly). That's the actual print quality, (look at the frame compared to the figure). If you keep reading, this train of thought gets better.

Now: it's kind of cool I guess, but maybe only for a few seconds. Really I have no recollection of this piece from any of my art history classes, probably because I was paying attention to better looking things. But the best part is on the back: Rome, 1928.
"Rome 1928", in the cutest most delicate pencil ever. I think the writing looks familiar, but who would really know. At least it tripled my interest level. In modern day, anyone can stick anything in a frame, and most anyone can print from the internet or purchase a shiny tiny print at a museum. But now we are forced to think about the art-print business of the 1920s (that I don't know anything about) or who in my family may have gone to Rome, or who cared enough to buy this little print in Rome- or even in the States (in Baltimore most likely) and so on. Did they sneak a photo in the Bargello Palace? That means they had a camera. That means they took a big trip. Now I have a good mystery, courtesy of this weird little Dante. Coming soon, some awesome-creepy photos of saint statues looking like real people, found in my aunt's boat house.

So just for the sake of sharing, here is a master copy I did three years back to date. Both of the Lucas Cranachs (younger and elder) worked in the mid 1500s, Giotto was 2 centuries before.

8"x10" Oil on Gesso Board. Copy of Lucas Cranach's "Madonna and Child with Piece of Bread".
HOWEVER: I am having terrible trouble finding out if this is the real title, or if this is even a copy of a Cranach at all, and if so is it the Elder or Younger? All I had to go by was the collection of Renaissance images that my professor had provided. He's [obviously] very credible, but if anyone has any helpful facts, send them my way! Thanks.

Games and Concrete

There once began a little game in Savannah several years ago, built upon mysteries and trying to pinpoint what may have been in the heads of your friends. Build your idea, build a stencil. Take it around town and keep it a sweet secret.. until someone wants to take a wild guess at what you put out for the whole world to see, and where. Easy. Well I suppose I wont say whether or not I ever did in that town, but I know a little town right now that could benefit from a few more cement surprises. There may be only a handful of people between last year and now (and between Baltimore to Annapolis) who I've discussed this with. So I guess it's ON. Anyone can join. The Thinker stencil I gave to a friend after being challenged to make it. I don't know if he really gives a shit, but I'd certainly hate to see this one go to waste. Maybe he still has it, and if he knew what was good for him..... he'd play the game too. HINT.

Something Better Than Nothing

Another polycrylic gem. This unfortunately dried transparent!
Blue Orchid- The White Stripes
Something better than nothing.

A Little On Preservation

Dipped my yellow chrysanthemum today. Beginning to wonder if the polycrylic is making me ill (or ill in the future). Some of these flowers seem to be shirking their preservation; the finish rolled right off the insides of those tendril-petals, unlike the rose. Then I dipped two shoulder blades (probably from a fox). They have been perched nicely in my closet for over one year and I was tired of knocking them around.

This is the skull they were found with, now gleaming and fixed to a mobile device. Lovely photograph by Melissa A. Cromwell.

This is exactly how it was discovered in Nova, Ohio.

WWOOFers

Backyard last year.
Backyard this year.

Last year's garden left us very impressed with how little we actually went grocery shopping. In the beginning, that was the core of the plan anyway (as was pure experience) AND we made out like veggie bandits despite a lot of overwatering and stinkbugs. 550 sq ft. of trial and error, some reading, some firsthand resource farmer 's aid. Just longingly wishing for a round three, too bad this year's backyard is a business. And by too bad, I mean how wonderful it is that FORREST AND I JOINED WWOOF TODAY. Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, you can go anywhere. Here is WWOOF-USA:

http://www.wwoofusa.org/index.aspx

So excited I could explode (into pea shoots).

Barcanard

This is an old charcoal and water drawing from 2002. Jonathan was nice enough to drop by my class in high school to model for us. He wore a suit. Jonathan Morrissey, 5/2/88 to 5/11/11. I remember him sometimes crying tears of happiness "for no reason at all"... He was music, passion and love.

Clear Satin

I recently had a very vivid rose, and a tendency to dip things in a gallon of Minwax Polycrylic. It seemed a good enough idea to apply this to the rose petals now half dead, but perhaps in hopes of a little preservation. They look good here, but barely kept that color overnight, making for a nice light pink and brown. Strung together with metallic gold thread I gave it to my mom on Mother's day. She said that if it were longer she'd wear it around her neck. So here's to the fleeting and beautiful..

It comes in handy

..to have a hand drum silk screen laying around.

Today is my brother's birthday. I originally made this screen for the purpose of making a ridiculously bleached and busted tee shirt with djembes or whatever for Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root to sign. Check.

Decent gift, three years later to date, check. My fave part is the "Baker" on the left one.

I should probably make another screen at some point.