Revealed: The Shameless Habits that Make a Painting

Peregrine is a 3'x4' oil painting on a wood panel that took up most of my bedroom for a little over a month, and now the empty void where she prepared for battle is ever so lonely. Over the weeks I mixed, scumbled, wiped and blended, and now that she is complete, all I am left with are the memories. These memories made me realize just how much I descend into the warmest me-zone of utter comfort and shamelessness while I paint. I wrap myself in a thick armored blanket that not a single judge-beam can penetrate. These next few paragraphs highlight and explain some of those habits; just for me to reflect on and for you not to judge.


Shameless Painting Process Fact #1: 

When I sit down to work for a long time, I usually 'listen' to movies on my laptop. Can't really watch them for obvious reasons, so I just 'listen' to movies that I have seen seventy three times. Keeps your brain entertained and your eyes on your painting. Needless to say, the movies that I put on are ones that I have seen probably more than a normal human should re-watch anything. **Disclaimer: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi are not a part of this list simply because shame has nothing to do with Star Wars. You will watch Star Wars. You will love Star Wars. You will watch Star Wars again. 

Movies I can Recite:
1. ALL three Lord of the Rings (I am no man....YYEEAAAAUUGGHGHHHHRR!!!!!!)
2. Pulp Fiction (MOTHERFU)
3. Kill Bill (Guess that makes him a liar, now, don't it?)
4. Life Aquatic (Do the interns get glocks?)
5. Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Darcy is not to be teased)
6. Amadeus (There are too many notes)
7. 28 Days Later (AAUGBUHRRRRRRRFRAARRR)
8. When Harry Met Sally (There is too much pepper in my paprikash)
9. Inglorious Basterds (THAT'S A BINGO!)
10. Pan's Labyrinth (No me jodas)
11. All seasons of Peep Show (Is that sexy? Glimpse of ballsack?)
12. The list goes on....

Those are some damned re-watchable movies.

Shameless Painting Process Fact #2 


My painting pants.

I will upload a picture soon, but let me describe them first. These painting pants are the sloppiest, grimiest, most pilled and over-used old mushy sweatpants that ever graced a pair of thighs. The knees bag out in these scrotal-like pouch shapes from painting in strange positions. The waistband string no longer exists, probably due to some sudden bout of frustration where I decided I no longer wanted to deal with knots. The butt sags like a wet plastic bag, and they are covered in stains and wipes from paint, medium, coffee, beer and whatever other liquid that happens to be present while I'm at the easel. The washed-out grey color could be camouflage against a backdrop comprised of moldy scrambled eggs, and I LOVE them.

 I bought them during Sophomore year of HIGH SCHOOL, (I am now 23), on a track and field trip during a stop at some random mall in the rural parts of Northern California. At this point, they are too much a part of me to be replaced by some new-fangled fleece print pajama pants from Old Navy. They are my beloved painting pants. I can sit in any position without my knee-pits getting uncomfortable from too much unforgiving denim shoved in there. I can wipe excess paint off my brushes onto them should a paper towel be too far across the room. I can wrap the hems around my bare feet should I have forgotten to put on my slippers. They make an equally indifferent shirt possible to wear all day. I can fall asleep in them when the day is over, and wake up in them the next day and continue painting. They Rule.

More Shameless Painting Process Facts to come. Stay tuned for photographic evidence of the Illustrious Painting Pants.