Early this week I was surprised to find the sky startlingly bright when I went to close my curtains before going to bed after a long session at the computer. "Oh, it must be the full moon," I thought. But then it kept getting lighter and I realized, "This is what dawn looks like!" It happened to me again the other night, after working on a little painting in my studio from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. I had just wandered into my studio to take a last look at the painting I'd struggled with earlier in the day, but then I was seized with an impulse to change a little something in it, which led to a bigger something needing adjustment, and so it went, quietly and with great concentration and energy, oblivious to the passing of the hours.
This is an already altered photo of stitching by a friend of mine. The two images above are the result of a couple more hours worth of fiddling with this photo and a blurry one of my daughter, then converting them both into "brushes" in Photoshop. The brush actually works like a stamp, so I can use it again and again, willy-nilly, anywhere I want, within the confines of Photoshop. How cool is that!? Cool enough to keep me up till the wee small hours of the morning.
I must admit, I do feel extremely bleary-eyed at the end of the day and my glasses seem to stop working long before I do. It's all about artistic vision I guess, and bearing witness to the darkest hour just before dawn.
(Perhaps the biggest challenge with staying up so late, or going to bed so early, is whether or not to have breakfast before going to sleep. Peanut-buttered toast with sliced peaches and a big glass of milk...mmmm. Better not. Signing off now, 3:00 a.m.)
P.S. Couldn't leave well enough alone. Began my computing day at 11 this morning and puttered about in Adobeland some more.
I think I may need an intervention!
Thats thr touble with you arty-farty folk. Too clever!
ReplyDeleteLove all of these, are you sure we're related? I can give youo some Milk Of Amnesia to help youo sleep...
Saj,
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of the trouble with being arty makes me feel much better about the affliction. I'm sure your Mother's Milk of Amnesia will do me even more good and have me sleeping like a baby in no time. I imagine that our brOwen will come galumphing in here with a big bottle of Phillips Milk of Amnesia to proffer, but I think I'll stick to your brand. I'm betting the alcohol content will be a lot more medicinally effective (ie.higher) in yours.
Could you put it in a sippy cup for me?
wonderful manipulation of images
ReplyDeleteyou stayed up all night?
gosh
hope you are asleep now!
Thanks, Elizabeth. I guess I could also have titled this little exposé "Why I am Still in my Nightgown at 3 p.m."
ReplyDeleteThere surely are many a thoughts, deeper than every night. Currently being shortly after half past two in the night, I'd like to wish you a good start into the new month and week as well.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Robert, I know you are a night owl yourself. As an owl is a symbol of wisdom it's not such a bad thing(isn't Athena portrayed as carrying one her shoulder? Could get messy,I'd think). Rather unavoidable with a small child at any rate. I hope you're having a hoot of a summer.
ReplyDeleteCertifiable !
ReplyDeleteCertifiably wunderful, that is...
ReplyDelete:-)
Who needs to sleep, anyway, it's just a waste of perfectly good time...
ReplyDeleteGalumph, galumph !
ReplyDeleteOh, and is it ok to say that I love this round of images ??? Back to the sixties, ahead to the twenties... the model for the first two, in those stark minimalist hints of portraits, still comes across as perfectly lovely. In the fourth one, with the looking glass eyes, someone has obviously gone into hallucinatory overdrive, which can happen in the wee hours of the morning...
ReplyDeleteLove it !
Galumph ! Slurp ! (that's me drinking some of the amnesiatory milk...)
ReplyDeleteBut you really better get those glasses checked, I'll bet you were thinking there were six comments here, but in fact you're just seeing ttrrripppllleee now... This can happen with sleep deprivation... Hope you at least squeeze in some naps in these stretched out days and nights...
ReplyDelete;-)
Yo bro...
And as for that Saj, going on about arty farty party people... I like the Arty part... She's got the wind in her sails again, I think...
ReplyDeleteOwen,
ReplyDeleteI've figured out why your straightjackets are so popular. It's because they're French straightjackets. All those peek-a-boo holes and black lace and velvet straps. Ooh-la-la. And the pair of attached fish net stockings make them look just that much naughtier. Just that much. Just enough to bamboozle the lunatic hordes into ordering more, more, ever more. Yes, the vision came to me as I was sitting here all bleary eyed and milk-of-amnesiaed, wafting about in this arty-farty existensial creative angst of the post-midnight hour. Seeing multiple comments by my imaginary brother floating before the burned out sockets of my zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Losing all track of time.. and losing yourself in it.. it is like a separate world...
ReplyDeleteone of the best parts of being of the "Artistic Persuasion" !!!
..love where you have gone with your nightlife impulses!!
...take care
You are truly too much !
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think there may be a telepathic link going on here... it's as if you were reading my mind in your answer here.
You're wondering why ?
Well, just go look at what I'm about to post; a photo from a little stroll in Paris yesterday...
Unbelievable... maybe we were twins in utero ???
:-)
I love your work and I can understand the time you need to do it :-)
ReplyDeletehave a good night now !
Peek-a-boo ?
ReplyDeleteLOL !
Gwen,
ReplyDeleteI love how you refer to being of the "Artistic Persuasion." A world apart right there, it seems. Obviously, you're very familiar with being in the zone. It is a great place--or placelessness, isn't it! Not so much, though, if one really "should" be doing something else. I guess that's where a little sef-discipline would come in handy.
;-)
Owen,
ReplyDeleteWhat did you say over at your place about me seeing you in the Emperor's new clothes?! I mean, that's not exactly seeing through you, if you know what I mean.
Merci, Karine! I'm so pleased you came by and liked what you found.
ReplyDeleteBrOwen,
ReplyDeleteTake a little advice from your big sis--I think your Emperor's new clothes could use a bit of peek-a-boo lace in a few strategic places. I'm just sayin'...
Owen,
ReplyDeleteHow do things get so out of hand when you come by? Now just look at this place! Bits of tatty lace flaking off all over everything, milk of amnesia spilled on the keyboard and the floor, big galumphing footprints meandering down the hall, fishnet stockings draped over the speakers, and now you're laughing and playing peek-a-boo with your reflection in the computer screen. I think I'd better get a new post posted post- haste! It always starts out in such a hopefully pristine and orderly fashion...
:-)
There's no hope !
ReplyDeleteOr is there ?
My dear brother Owen,
ReplyDeleteThere's a Buddhist saying that advises one to abandon all hope. It's supposed to help you accept what is and live in the moment. On the other hand, there's the old maxim about how it's better to travel hopefully than to arrive. I guess one could set out hopefully and then abandon hope and accept the inevitable mess? Then set out travelling hopefully again? And so on and so forth...
In any event, I'm glad to have you along as a sidekick on the voyage, as hopelessly messy as it usually gets.
Nearly half past three, have to admit, that I enjoyed very much reading the comment section !
ReplyDeleteRobert,
ReplyDeleteI hope you didn't slip in all that milk of amnesia that Owen spilled! I'm glad you were amused by our antics and banter. I had to close up shop here and move on to a new post as things were getting a bit too out of hand. Glad you followed us on out to the yard...Saj is bringing a crate of white wine to go with the lobster...