High Contrast Grey.

I finished the painting of the girl and her accordion enough to take it in for the critique in painting class. I still kind of want to darken the background a bit more to make her stand out more as well as add detail to the ‘speaker’ on the accordion, but perhaps I also just need to be finshed before I ruin it.

The critique was a bit of a disappointment. The reactions from all the other students was that it was kitsch and not a true represenation of France. The professor added in that it was painted well, but in a style that has been outdated for almost a century. Again the language barrier prevented me from defending myself adequately. Although after class I went up to the professor to ask if he had any recommendations on contemporary artists I could look up, which I hope helped him see that I am not an idiot.. So now I would like my next painting to be a bit more ‘modern.’ I have another piece of cardboard in my room that I think I would like to use of this new idea, but as I want to push the idea out all I can seem to come up with are tiny details that I would like to do. Like cutting the cardboard to break the rectangular shape and using string wrapped around part of it to create 3 dimensional detail. Perhaps borrowing some influences from art nouveau..?

Saturday market and a punk rocker playing an accordion.

Not having good change I ended up getting over charged 10 euros. Another one of those times where I wish that I didn’t feel like language was a barrier, since I couldn’t think of how to bring up that I wasn’t given my change..

On a good note I did get some fresh figs which I have been cutting up and putting in with my yogurt.

The Yard Dogs @ The Top Hat, Missoula.

Musical burlesque.

We did the steam roller printing yesterday. Thankfully I finished in time (although I forgot to carve in the horizon line, but just ignore that) and was able to print. For some odd reason when I take classes from Elizabeth I end up doing this accordion figure again and again. Sure, he repeats in a lot of my work, but usually only in my mind as the ‘accordion man’ and not with an accordion. Random. The process of printing was very coordinated and it seemed as though I was standing on the side while my print was put through the process, which I am definitely not complaining about since dealing with a 4’x4’ block on my own would have sucked.

It feels so nice to be done with this print because it seemed to be consuming my life for this month, where as there are many other things trying to do the same thing, such as the application process for studying abroad. Since I only have one class today in the later afternoon I thought it appropriate to have just a small celebration after French club where I ended up running into a few Butterflies at the Top Hat.

It seems that I keep taking more and more photos of me messing around with my accordion while in my living room. Now if only I would actually work on practicing my accordion at the same time instead of getting distracted with making beautiful somber noises.

This time I did it for a reference for my steamroller print for the upcoming Day of the Dead (which I should have gone to work on today, but instead stayed home and worked on architecture and study abroad instead… These next two days are /really/ going to suck for me). It seems be be coming along nicely and I will probably just need to spend a few more hours and get a hold of the drill that I have heard about to finish it up.

Sometimes I think that I romanticize the bohemian era too much, as I take sips of a mixed absinthe drink from the flask in my vest pocket.

On a lighter note.. Halloween costumes and how I have yet to really think about that at all. With the mustache back, perhaps Dali?

Time to fall asleep as I attempt to memorize Roman architecture for a test tomorrow.

Slowly but surely I am turning my apartment into a French bordello. I bought some really cheap green latex house paint to paint some stripes down the newspaper, but Stephanie made me remember that newspaper isn’t very thick and it would probably end up getting onto the wall behind. I’m already covering the walls in little holes that I am going to have to plaster up, I don’t think that housing will like me too much if I then put some green paint onto the walls. But really, fuck these white boring walls. It’s becoming easier and easier to start working on art in the living room now. Nothing like nesting.

I don’t like flash very much, but I think that if I develop this as a lithograph that it will help counteract.

I think that I will compile some of my already compiled pictures of accordions and bohemian kids for developing. Perhaps Cassandra on the porch can be put into a Nat Sherman fag box as an old pocket photo box. Meh, I really just need to get this done and over with and stop trying to over think the assignment.

The Key’s Knees playing at Spruce Street.

The Key’s Knees playing at Spruce Street.

“Yiddick is an alien.”

House party at the Spruce Street house opening with Javier playing songs on the guitar, organ, and accordion as we all sat around on the floor gently rocking back and forth to the music.

A cover of Nantes by Beirut.

Cassandra and Mikey playing their accordions in their accordion band.

We all sat in chairs arranged as though we were sitting on an airplane. No awkward indie kid shuffle here.

Cassandra playing her accordion on Aaron and Chris’ porch.

Her accordion came with tape on the keys telling what notes they are. Only one note sounds pretty when pulling out, but horrendous when pushing in. Its one of those beautiful mistakes that she has been trying to work into a song though.

Playing around with the Lensbaby lens that I borrowed from my alternative photo class. It’s kind of a bitch to focus.. I wish I had the nikon focusing circle on my canon to handle this. Then again that might not even work with this lens..

I want to actually write a song or two for my accordion. Not really knowing how to play makes this an issue, but I think I will give the buttons all new names, like Fred Baby and the Good Morning Cord.

Feeling more and more homesick for Seattle. I’ve been trying to push it out of my mind and preoccupy myself, but it’s not working. This cold sliding around everywhere on the ice thing here just isn’t really all too appealing to me. I’ve been trying to find some hole in the wall cafe, but so far no luck. Meh.

I’m heading in early tomorrow morning to try and get into the figure drawing class.

On an upside I like the shadows that this horrendous ceiling light makes.