Can’t get these out of my head…
I thought you might enjoy a glimpse of what's been renting space in my mind the past couple of weeks.
300-pound hot pressed watercolor paper.
I've always worked with cold pressed paper which has moderate texture. The pigment settles in the dimples of the paper. You'll also hear artists mention this as "the tooth of the paper." Cold pressed paper is often referred to as NOT paper, meaning it is "not hot pressed," and has a moderate texture or tooth in between rough and hot pressed.
Rough paper is very rough and has an almost lumpy texture to it.
On hot pressed paper the colour is much smoother and uniform across the surface.
From left to right: rough, cold pressed, hot pressed.
Ball Point Pens
I've somersaulted from gel pens and fine-liner technical pens (microns for example) into a whole new world of ball point pens. It's drier on the page, can be manipulated into shades and values, and does not bleed when wet.
I caught myself lusting after the slender (slim) body of my new pen while writing and sketching at a coffee shop this morning.
It's called the OHTO Slim Line .5.
She's beautiful!
Lea Michele's back on Broadway...
And not everyone is happy about it. She was "canceled" in 2020 and "accused of disparaging behavior on the set of 'Glee'."
News broke of Lea's return to The Great White Way in July when I was in visiting The City and frequenting the theater on Wednesdays. I've always loved her voice and personal attachment to the character of Fanny Brice (Funny Girl). In fact they wrote this into her character's story line on 'Glee'.
The New York Times published an opinion piece the day Lea took over the role (September 6, 2022).
I agree with journalist Jessica Bennett, "The question is not whether she (Lea) deserves a second shot but what she does with it."
"I happen to believe that people should be able to make mistakes and learn from them, even when they should have known better. That it is possible to both hold people accountable and be open to the possibility of change. But they must also show that they have evolved. This can be hard: Dr. Bies said that what makes celebrity redemption arcs so unsatisfying is that we don’t have a window into how or whether people have atoned. Ms. Michele’s trajectory may come down to how others receive her — co-workers who share the stage with her and admirers who will choose to spend money or not to see her perform. In which case, maybe the question is not whether she deserves a second shot but what she does with it." (read the full article)
Interesting additional head lines within the first 7 days:
Lea earns four standing ovations before intermission in her debut performance, and was celebrated again at the final curtain
Lea Michele forced off Broadway stage for 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19
The cast of 'Funny Girl' has been tackling a tremendous wave of COVID with close to a dozen company members currently out
Lea Michele takes 'Funny Girl' to $1.6M in first-week box office, setting show record
A TikToker is calling out Funny Girl for a not-so-subtle fatphobic costume change (Lea's final dress vs. Beanie Feldstein)
Of course I'm looking at tickets this week for my October visit to New York. The prices keep rising. As of today I can get a single seat for $300. They're going fast.
Revisionist History Podcast
I'm just discovering this series and love it so much. Seven seasons (about 10 episodes each).
"Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past — an event, a person, an idea, even a song — and asks whether we got it right the first time. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance."
East Fork's summer seasonal glaze, Secret Beach, won't stop yelling at me. I haven't made the purchase yet but I'm close.
"We make pottery with care and intention, rooted in community, celebrating those who make it and those who use it."
Rhiannon Klee
I've been following this artist and adventurer for several years now. Her landscape style has certainly inspired my art. I've tried a couple pieces in the spirit of Rhiannon.
I'm prepping to buy a print of her Monument Valley landscape painting.
*I had a deep realization, an embodiment of silence and stillness, here, at Monument Valley, in 2017.
Summer circa 2002
A significant summer that changed my life. I scored a paid internship in Eastern Europe that led me to Greece, France, Switzerland, Italy and Romania.
Picture from Summer 2002 | Thassos, a Greek Island in the North Aegean Sea
On Viral Mindfulness the Podcast I produced a three-part series on my amazing summer abroad (my first time leaving the United States at age 29).
I published part three yesterday. You can listen and enjoy wherever you get your podcasts.
Summer circa 2002 (Part 1) The Seed
Every great Summer starts with a challenging Winter and an idea of something better (Spring). In my case the idea came from Daphne Maramaldi at the Graduate School of Social Work (University of Utah). “David” she said, “What if you applied for an international practicum for the Summer?” Join me over the next few weeks as I take you along the summer that changed my life. I read to you from Ocean Vuong’s novel about beauty and being gorgeous, and share one of my favorite quotes on travel (it’s painted and printed in my very first sketch book).
Summer circa 2002 (Part 2) Watering Seeds With Effort, Heart & Imagination
In part two we'll talk about how I met perceived obstacles with effort, heart and imagination. The seed had been planted for me to apply for financial aid and a paid social work practicum in Easter Europe for the Summer of 2002. In Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria. I found the essay I wrote to win the scholarship and practicum. I wanted to read it to you. It's called 'Music Lessons.'
Summer circa 2002 (Part 3) My Big Takeaways from a Summer in Europe
In case you're wondering, the autumnal equinox—also called the September equinox or fall equinox—arrives on Thursday, September 22. This date marks the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Sending you much love, as always!
May you find ease and cultivate more peace.
Yours Bluely,
Alexander
